Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degree) at Santa Clara University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$79,929

95th percentile

80th percentile in California

Median Debt

$16,201

31% below national median

Analysis

Santa Clara's Finance program delivers exactly what selective private universities promise but often fail to provide: exceptional early earnings without crushing debt. Graduates start at nearly $80,000—ranking in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile in California—while carrying just $16,201 in median debt. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.20, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their entire debt burden in under three months of gross earnings.

The comparison to California peers is telling. While Santa Clara trails University of Phoenix and Loyola Marymount in starting salaries, it achieves similar outcomes to these top programs while maintaining remarkably low debt loads. By year four, Santa Clara graduates reach $106,444, outpacing the state median by over 75%. This trajectory matters: the 33% earnings growth suggests graduates are landing roles with genuine advancement potential, not just high-paying entry-level positions that plateau quickly.

The small catch is Santa Clara's selectivity and cost structure—with only 11% of students on Pell grants, this opportunity skews toward families who can afford significant upfront costs. But for those who can access it, the program offers a rare combination: elite-level outcomes in both earnings and manageable debt, positioning graduates for strong financial returns from day one.

Where Santa Clara University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all finance and financial management services bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Santa Clara University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Santa Clara University	$79,929	$106,444	+33%
University of San Francisco	$64,972	$98,950	+52%
Loyola Marymount University	$70,542	$90,660	+29%
University of San Diego	$64,819	$88,295	+36%
California State University-San Marcos	$54,408	$74,510	+37%

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (25 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara	$59,241	$79,929	$106,444	$16,201	0.20
University of Phoenix-CaliforniaOntario	—	$70,963	$59,017	$48,469	0.68
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles	$58,974	$70,542	$90,660	$19,500	0.28
Menlo CollegeAtherton	$51,070	$69,684	—	$24,500	0.35
University of San FranciscoSan Francisco	$58,222	$64,972	$98,950	$24,347	0.37
University of San DiegoSan Diego	$56,444	$64,819	$88,295	$23,508	0.36
National Median	—	$53,590	—	$23,332	0.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with finance and financial management services graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

$102,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Insurance Underwriters

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

$79,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Santa Clara University, approximately 11% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 91 graduates with reported earnings and 85 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.