Est. Earnings (1yr)
$81,074
Est. from DC median (5 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$22,192
Est. from national median (246 programs)

Analysis

In Washington, DC's competitive finance market, comparable programs suggest first-year earnings around $81,000β€”substantially higher than the $54,000 national median for finance bachelor's degrees. This positioning reflects DC's concentration of financial institutions and federal agencies rather than anything unique to this program, but it still matters: similar programs in the district appear to deliver strong initial returns relative to an estimated debt load of $22,000.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 looks manageable on paper, though it's worth noting these figures come from peer programs rather than UDC's actual graduates. What this really tells you is that DC finance programs generally produce workable numbers, not that this specific program has a proven track record. With 43% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are taking on real financial risk based on outcomes that remain unverified.

The practical challenge is that you're essentially betting on UDC graduates competing against students from Georgetown ($106,000), American ($84,000), and other established programs in a city where institutional reputation often drives hiring. The estimated earnings suggest DC's finance market can support bachelor's-level graduates broadly, but without actual data on where UDC students land, you're making this decision somewhat blind.

Where University of the District of Columbia Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in District of Columbia

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in District of Columbia (6 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of the District of ColumbiaWashington$6,152$81,074*β€”$22,192*β€”
Georgetown UniversityWashington$65,081$106,218*$126,672$16,877*0.16
American UniversityWashington$56,543$83,505*$86,053$22,625*0.27
Howard UniversityWashington$33,344$81,074*$81,023$19,959*0.25
George Washington UniversityWashington$64,990$73,833*$101,012$19,000*0.26
The Catholic University of AmericaWashington$55,834$64,618*$87,663$24,620*0.38
National Medianβ€”$53,590*β€”$23,332*0.44
* Estimated from similar programs

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 University of the District of Columbia, approximately 43% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 5 similar programs in DC. Actual outcomes may vary.