Many ambitious students consider dual degree finance programs as they enroll in their first undergraduate programs, and this is actually something that can help graduates get ahead as they put their skills to work. Many universities that offer financial majors also encourage students to consider a “cross-discipline” dual major in a business-related field. This might include something like accounting, management, marketing, or economics. By combining two degrees in business-related areas, students double the number of jobs and long-term career options they have available. They also stand the best chance at maximizing the ROI of their chosen school and its tuition charges. The most popular programs should serve as food for thought for today’s students.

A Dual Major with Accounting

Accounting is the single most popular dual major choice for students considering a financial services career. Accounting makes sense for one key reason: It’s often considered complimentary to financial management or financial services. Students will learn everything from analyzing free cash flows to determining the real profit and earnings per share of a company’s activities. This makes them versatile enough to be a CFO, senior accountant, or budget analyst. These two skills, combined together, also bode well for public sector employment and advancement into senior roles within public accounting. The salary potential for these two fields, combined, is one of the best in the business world.

A Dual Major with Management

Management is a very broad skill that students can take with them into virtually any occupation. In terms of the financial sector, a dual major with management would allow students to graduate and work toward becoming a financial manager, CFO, or CEO. With one eye on the business and another on its long-term fiscal health, graduates with this dual major option routinely appeal to employers. They know how to balance long-term leadership goals with significant business costs, and they understand the difference between a theoretical profit on a balance sheet and the profit needed to maximize wealth for shareholders.

A Dual Major with Economics

Who understands economics better than someone who also knows the financial nature of major corporations? When it comes to studying the economy and making sound recommendations to corporate and government officials, students who have financial and economic knowledge are the best of the breed. This dual program also benefits from having many overlapping courses, which may allow students to double up on skills without significantly increasing how long it takes to graduate. For those students with a financial mindset, this is double attractive: It appeals to their desire to maximize ROI, make the most of their investment, and leave college on sound footing for a long-term career.

Related Resource: What is a Master of Financial Economics Degree?

A Dual Major with Analytics

The world of business analytics is growing rapidly, driven by major advances in technology that can finally harness the full power of “big data.” Much of this data relates to financial problems and opportunities for corporations of all sizes. Graduates who choose to study both areas in equal measure will be in high demand by employers. Both the financial sector and the analytics sector of business are growing at nearly double-digit levels in the 21st century. Combining the two fields is a recipe for success.

A Great Way to Maximize Tuition Investment

Many students have done the math on a double major and have concluded that the slight increase in time until graduation is worthwhile. When it comes to dual degree finance programs, students will enjoy faster career advancement, healthier career growth, and versatility that will make them more immune to economic downturns going forward.