The Top-Ranked Colleges for Financial Planning
An evidence-based ranking of college and university programs for financial planning.
The Top-Ranked Colleges for Financial Planning
An evidence-based ranking of college and university programs for financial planning.
The Top Colleges for Financial Planning: Methodology
To rank the on-campus, full-time, four-year programs of study for financial planning, we surveyed 109 of the 130 colleges and universities registered by the CFP Board. To be included, a program had to have an enrollment of at least 10 students for the 2018 academic year. A total of 67 schools, or 61.5%, responded to our survey request. Schools that did not respond to multiple requests for participation, or replied with incomplete responses, were not considered.
Wealth Management ranked the programs on a weighted average of the following indicators: Degrees granted—5 points for minor or specialization, 10 points for BA/BS in financial planning, 15 points for MA/MS/Ph.D. terminal degrees; number of full-time faculty equivalents (FTEs)—10 points per FTE; number of faculty with advanced degrees (CFA, CPA, JD, LLM, etc.)—5 points each; Capstone course offered, 0 or 100 points; CFP certified faculty teaching the Capstone course—0 or 25 points; ratio of faculty with earned CFP certification—percentage multiplied by 10 points; number of CFP completions reported to CFP Board in academic year 2018—multiplied by 10 points; minimum number of courses required to graduate—multiplied by 5 points; number of elective courses offered beyond the minimums required by CFP Board—multiplied by 10 points.
The weighted scores were totaled, and the corresponding programs ranked in descending order of raw scores. The methodology had to account for a number of constraints. The pass/fail rates for students taking the CFP examination would be a meaningful indicator. Regrettably, the CFP Board declined to provide pass/fail rates for the CFP examination by individual program. The pass/fail rates reported by individual financial planning programs are unreliable and were not used in this survey. The ideal study would measure outputs (job placements, investment returns, salaries or assets under management after five years). Such metrics are unobtainable. This survey, like almost all college rankings, considers inputs that are believed to serve as reasonable proxies for excellence.
The complete rankings of all the programs can be found below:
John Kador is a business author and frequent contributor to Wealth Management. Katie Tschida, a recent graduate of San Diego State University, is beginning her career as a wealth advisor associate at a national financial services firm.
Rank of School | Name of College | Degrees Offered | Full Time Equivalents | Faculty Degrees | Capstone course taught by CFP certificant? | Percent of Faculty with Earned CFP | CFP completions reported | Number of financial planning courses offered | Number of classes offered above minimum | Capstone course completed by 5 or more students | Program Name | Program Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Texas Tech University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning; MA or MS degree in Financial Planning; PhD in Financial Planning | 13.5 | CFP, PhD in Personal Financial Planning, CPA, JD or LLM | Yes | 70 | 111 | 9 | 17 | Yes | Texas Tech University, Department of Personal Financial Planning | Vickie Hampton, Professor and Department Chair |
2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 7 | CFP | Yes | 66 | 80 | 8 | 5 | Yes | University of Wisconsin, Madison, Personal Finance Program, School of Human Ecology | Linda Lepe, Director, Consumer Finance & Financial Planning, University of Wisconsin-Madison |
3 | Utah Valley University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning; MA or MS degree in Financial Planning | 8.5 | CRC, RFC, AFC, PhD in Personal Financial Planning, CPA, JD or LLM, CFA | Yes | 65 | 39 | 17 | 11 | Yes | Utah Valley University, Personal Financial Planning | Luke Dean, CFP Program Director, Associate Professor |
4 | University of Missouri | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning; MA or MS degree in Financial Planning; PhD in Financial Planning | 9 | CFP, AFC, MBA, CRPC, CRPS, PhD in Personal Financial Planning | Yes | 67 | 15 | 21 | 16 | Yes | University of Missouri Department of Personal Financial Planning | Frances Lawrence, Chair of the Department of Personal Financial Planning |
5 | University of North Florida | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 5 | PhD in Accounting, CPA, JD or LLM | Yes | 65 | 21 | 7 | 16 | Yes | University of North Florida B.B.A Financial Planning | Ron Heymann, CFP Adjunct Professor |
6 | California State University-Northridge | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 13 | PhD in Personal Financial Planning, CPA, JD or LLM, CFA | Yes | 40 | 47 | 7 | 2 | Yes | California State University--Northridge | Inga Chira, Associate Professor of Finance, PFP Program Director |
7 | Central Michigan University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 5 | CFP, PhD in Accounting, JD or LLM | Yes | 75 | 16 | 7 | 6 | Yes | Central Michigan University, Personal Financial Planning, Department of Finance and Law | Mark A. VanVoorhees, CFP Program Director |
8 | Indiana Wesleyan University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning; MA or MS degree in Financial Planning | 2 | PhD in Management, CPA, CFA | Yes | 80 | 15 | 7 | 0 | Yes | Indiana Wesleyan University, MBA with a specialization in Personal Financial Planning and BS with a major in Business Administration and a specialization in Personal Financial Planning | Duane Kilty, Program Director for the Personal Financial Planning Program and Program Facilitator for the Master of Science degree with a Major in Accounting |
9 | Delaware State University | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 1 | PhD Finance, CFA | Yes | 100 | 1 | 6 | 2 | No | Delaware State University | Nandita Das, Associate Professor of Finance, Director of Financial Planning Program |
10 | Kansas State University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning; MA or MS degree in Financial Planning; PhD in Financial Planning | 11 | PhD in Personal Financial Planning, CPA, MFT, AFC, | Yes | 70 | 0 | 14 | 3 | Yes | Kansas State University | Martin Seay, Program Chair and Associate Professor |
11 | University of Akron | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 6 | CFP, PhD in Personal Financial Planning, CPA, JD or LLM, CFA | Yes | 40 | 32 | 8 | 7 | Yes | The University of Akron, College of Business Administration, Financial Planning Program | Barry Mulholland, Director, Financial Planning Program |
12 | University of Utah | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 4 | CFP, PhD in Personal Financial Planning | Yes | 50 | 32 | 7 | 2 | Yes | University of Utah, Financial Planning Program | Zhou Yu, Associate Professor and Program Director |
13 | University of Delaware | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 4 | CFP, PhD in Accounting, CPA, JD or LLM, CFA | Yes | 40 | 22 | 7 | 7 | Yes | University of Delaware, Financial Planning and Wealth Management | Richard Jakotowicz, Program Director |
14 | Shippensburg University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 2 | PhD in Personal Financial Planning, JD or LLM | Yes | 50 | 10 | 7 | 7 | Yes | Shippensburg University, Personal Financial Planning Concentration | Fan Liu, Associate Professor of Finance, Director of the PFP program |
15 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 3 | PhD in Risk Management, CPA | No | 50 | 3 | 6 | 18 | Yes | Minnesota State University-Mankato | Dan Hiebert, CFP, MSFS, CFP Program Director |
16 | University of Alabama | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 6 | CFP, CLU, CVA, FLMI, CPA, JD or LLM, CFA | No | 33 | 23 | 7 | 6 | Yes | University of Alabama, Minor in Personal Wealth Management | Robert W. McLeod, Program Director |
17 | University of Missouri-St. Louis | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 5 | PhD in Finance, PhD in Accounting, CPA, JD or LLM | Yes | 40 | 21 | 7 | 0 | Yes | University of Missouri-St Louis. BSBA, Finance emphasis, Financial Planning Track | Thomas Eyssell, Professor of Finance |
18 | Western Kentucky University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 8 | CFP, PhD in Finance, JD or LLM, CFA | Yes | 25 | 30 | 10 | 2 | Yes | Western Kentucky University, Department of Finance | Ron Rhoades, Director, Financial Planning Program |
19 | Stetson University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 2 | CFP, PhD in Finance, MBA | Yes | 50 | 10 | 7 | 3 | Yes | Stetson University, BBA in Finance, Concentration in Financial Planning | Stuart Michelson, Department Chair, Director of CFP Program |
20 | Purdue University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 5 | CPA | Yes | 20 | 35 | 10 | 4 | Yes | Purdue University, Financial Counseling and Planning | David A. Evans, PhD Continuing Lecturer |
21 | Wright State University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 2 | CFP, CPA, JD or LLM, CFA | Yes | 50 | 9 | 7 | 2 | Yes | Wright State University | Marlena Akhbari, Chair, Department of Finance and Financial Services |
22 | University of North Texas | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 2 | JD or LLM | Yes | 50 | 8 | 6 | 1 | Yes | University of North Texas, Financial Planning Program | Marcia J. Staff, Director and Dr. Stephen Poe, Program Coordinator |
23 | George Fox University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 3 | PhD in Personal Financial Planning, PhD in Accounting, CPA, JD or LLM | Yes | 67 | 0 | 7 | 1 | No | George Fox University, Financial Planning major | Ryan Halley, CFP, Professor of Financial Planning |
24 | University of Colorado | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 3 | PhD in Accounting, CPA,JD or LLM, CFA | Yes | 50 | 7 | 6 | 0 | Yes | University of Colorado - Boulder, Personal Financial Planning Track | Harry Starn, Director Personal Financial Planner Program |
25 | Colorado State University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 4 | PhD Finance, PhD in Accounting, CPA, JD or LLM, CFA | Yes | 25 | 23 | 7 | 6 | Yes | Colorado State University, BS in Business Administration with Financial Planning Concentration | Chris Stein, Program Director |
26 | Virginia Tech University | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 5 | CFP, PhD in Business/Finance, PhD in Human Sciences, MBA, PhD in Accounting; CPA, JD or LLM, CFA | No | 10 | 48 | 9 | 1.5 | Yes | Virginia Tech University, BS in Business, Major Finance, CFP Certification Education Option | Ruth Lytton, Financial Planning Program Director, Professor, Financial Planning |
27 | Missouri State University | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 10 | PhD in Accounting, CPA, JD or LLM, CFA | Yes | 20 | 16 | 10 | 0 | Yes | Missouri State University, BS Finance major Financial Planning track | James Philpot Associate Professor |
28 | Winthrop University | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 3 | CFP, PhD in Personal Financial Planning, CPA, CFA | Yes | 25 | 14 | 7 | 3 | Yes | Winthrop University, BSBA Finance Option Financial Planning Track | Philip Gibson, Associate Professor of Finance and Director of Financial Planning |
29 | Widener University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning; MA or MS degree in Financial Planning | 4 | PhD in Finance, CPA, JD or LLM, CFA | Yes | 10 | 20 | 11 | 6 | Yes | Widener University, BS in Finance with the Financial Services Track, MS in Taxation and Financial Planning | Kenn Tacchino, Director of Financial Planning Programs |
30 | Iowa State University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning; MA or MS degree in Financial Planning | 7 | PhD in Personal Financial Planning, PhD in Economics, PhD in Consumer Studies | Yes | 15 | 12 | 11 | 5 | Yes | Iowa State University, BS in Financial Counseling and Planning, MS in Family Financial Planning | Jonathan Fox, Professor |
31 | Clemson University | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 5 | CFP, PhD in Accounting, CPA, JD or LLM, CFA | Yes | 25 | 12 | 6 | 3 | Yes | Clemson University, College of Business, Department of Finance, B.S. in Financial Management, Concentration in Financial Planning | Josh Harris, Lecturer, Program Coordinator |
32 | Winston Salem State University | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 3 | CFP, CFA | Yes | 35 | 11 | 7 | 2 | Yes | Winston-Salem State University, BS Finance-Personal Financial Planning track | Alexander G. Kondeas, CFA, CFP, Chair Department of Accounting, Economics, and Finance |
33 | Eastern New Mexico University | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 1.25 | PhD in Personal Financial Planning, PhD in Accounting | Yes | 50 | 3 | 7 | 0 | No | Eastern New Mexico University | D. Veena Parboteeah, Assistant Dean |
34 | Old Dominion University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 12 | PhD in Accounting, CPA, JD or LLM | Yes | 20 | 6 | 7 | 10 | No | Old Dominion University | Bruce Rubin, Associate Professor Finance |
35 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | CFP, CPA | Yes | 50 | 0 | 6 | 0 | No | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, BSBA Business Administration Personal Financial Planning track | Jonathan K. Kramer, Ph.D., CFP | |
36 | Olivet Nazarene University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 4 | CFP, Chartered Life Underwriter, PhD in Accounting, CPA | No | 10 | 20 | 6 | 2 | Yes | Olivet Nazarene University, Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance with a CFP Concentration | Douglas Nielsen, MBA; Assistant Professor |
37 | University of Houston | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 6 | CFP, PhD in Accounting, CPA | Yes | 20 | 16 | 7 | 4 | Yes | University of Houston, Bauer College of Business. Personal Financial Planning Track | John C. Lopez, Senior Professor of Practice |
38 | University of Northern Iowa | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 5 | CFP, CFA | Yes | 20 | 8 | 4 | 0 | Yes | University of Northern Iowa, Personal Wealth Management Program | Steve Yerkes, CFP Faculty Instructor |
39 | Clarion University of Pennsylvania | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 7 | PhD in Finance, CPA, JD or LLM | No | 0 | 17 | 6 | 0 | Yes | Clarion University of Pennsylvania | Jeffrey D Eicher, JD, CPA, Program Director and Department Chair |
40 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 11 | PhD Finance, JD or LLM, CFA | No | 0 | 18 | 7 | 0 | Yes | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, BS Business Administration, Finance with Financial Planning Emphasis | Gene M. Toboyek, Senior Lecturer and Program Director, CFP Certification Degree Program |
41 | Park University School of Business | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 1 | CFP, JD or LLM, MS in Personal Financial Planning | Yes | 25 | 1 | 6 | 1 | No | Park University School of Business, Personal Financial Planning program | Robert Lyle Jones, Program Coordinator - Personal Financial Planning |
42 | Shepherd University | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 5 | PhD in Personal Financial Planning, PhD in Accounting, CPA | Yes | 20 | 4 | 7 | 3 | No | Shepherd University | Janine Scott, Assistant Professor & Director of Financial Planning |
43 | Michigan State University | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 2 | CPA, CFA | No | 33 | 0 | 4 | 0 | No | Michigan State University, Broad College of Business, Financial Planning and Wealth Management Program | Stephen Schiestel, Professor of Practice |
44 | University of South Florida-Muma | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 2 | CFP, PhD in Personal Financial Planning, JD or LLM | Yes | 20 | 0 | 7 | 7 | Yes | University of South Florida, Personal Financial Planning Muma College of Business | Laura Mattia, CFP Raymond James Personal Financial Planning Program Director |
45 | Biola Univeristy | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 1 | CFA, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) | No | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | Yes | Biola University | Shane Enete, Associate Professor of Finance |
46 | State University of New York at Cobleskill | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 2 | CFP, CPA, JD or LLM, Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) | Yes | 100 | 3 | 7 | 1 | No | State University of New York-Cobleskill, BBA in Financial Servicers and Certificate in Financial Planning | Charles A. Moran, JD, Professor and Director of the Financial Planning Program |
47 | Salisbury University | BA or BS degree in Financial Planning | 1 | PhD Finance, CFA | No | 0 | -- | 7 | 0 | Yes | Salisbury University, Business Administration, Major in Finance, Financial Planning track | E. Tylor Claggett, Ph.D., CFA - Professor of Finance |
48 | West Virginia University | Financial Planning minor, track, concentration | 2 | PhD in Finance, CPA | No | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | No | West Virginia University, John Chambers College of Business and Economics | Amanda Hall, Program Manager |