Finance

Finance is the study of how individuals and corporations make investment and fund raising decisions. 

The finance major prepares students for careers  in corporate finance, investment management, and financial services. Learn more about finance careers.

Finance at Smeal focuses on real world experience. The Nittany Lion Fund, a multi-million dollar student investment fund, is one of the first of its kind in the country. The Nittany Lion Fund provides students the chance to make investment fund decisions while exploring the intricacies of the financial world. Smeal students also track the rise and fall of the stock market in our state-of-the-art Trading Room, where tickers, stock boards, and workstations connect them to Wall Street. 

In addition, a majority of finance students obtain real world experience before graduation through summer internships and co-ops.

Finance faculty provide research and teaching expertise in a variety of areas emphasizing corporate finance, international finance, investment management, and financial services.

Smeal has built an international reputation for finance research, especially in the areas of corporate financial policy and the operation and regulation of securities markets. Our faculty members publish research in leading journals of finance and earn international recognition from academic and professional organizations.  Several finance faculty have earned recognition for their teaching excellence and service to students.

Smeal finance alumni  are placed at all levels of regional companies, the Fortune 500, and Wall Street firms.  This network is an invaluable resource as you build your finance career that starts here.