Economics or Finance?

Question

I want to major in finance but my current school does not offer it. So I was thinking about majoring in Economics and take finance related courses. I am also applying to internships to add on expereince. I was wondereing if it would affect what kinds of jobs can I get after graduation? Also, which degree is more prestigious and harder to achieve???

Answer 1

Many top schools do not have an undergraduate business school -- so students wanting to study finance do exactly what you are thinking of doing -- studying economics and taking as many finance related classes as possible. In fact -- only one of the Ivy League universities (Penn) has an undergraduate degree in finance -- but all of them have undergraduate degrees in economics.

I wouldn't say one degree is more prestigious than the other. An economics degree from Duke (which does not allow undergrads in the B-School) is more prestigious than a degree in Finance from St John's. But a degree in Finance from Wharton ( is more prestigious than a degree in economics from Slippery Rock State College. Incidentally -- those studying finance at Wharton get a BS in Economics -- while those getting a degree from the economics department at Penn get a BA in economics.

As for jobs -- there are lots of directions you can go with a finance/economics degree. You can do anything from investment banking to corporate finance.