Explore Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
Explore Careers
Explore Professions
Best Companies
Explore Companies
Trader Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a trader. Traders usually study finance, business, or economics. 78% of traders hold a bachelor's degree, and 12% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 7,025 real trader resumes to see exactly what trader education sections show.
The most common colleges for traders are the New York University and the New York University.
There are also many online trader courses to help get the education required to be a trader.
There are certain trader certifications that you should consider. These trader certifications include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM).
What education do you need to become a trader?
What degree do you need to be a trader?
- Bachelor's, 78%
- Master's, 12%
- Associate, 5%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a trader?
- Finance, 26%
- Business, 22%
- Economics, 15%
- Accounting, 5%
- Other Majors, 32%
Most common colleges for traders
Trader Common College  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| New York University | 11.90% |
| University of Chicago | 7.84% |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | 6.24% |
| DePaul University | 6.10% |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 5.95% |
Best majors for traders
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | 26.3% |
| 2 | Business | 22.0% |
| 3 | Economics | 14.7% |
| 4 | Accounting | 5.4% |
| 5 | Political Science | 4.6% |
Best colleges for traders
The best colleges for traders are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A trader with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for traders. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become traders.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
20 best online courses for traders
Advertising Disclosure
1. Market Risk Management: Frameworks & Strategies
This course provides the foundation for understanding the frameworks used to develop market risk management strategies. You will identify the market risks associated with each type of financial instrument. You will be introduced to techniques for estimating the risk associated with each class of investments. By the end of the course, you will be able to select the most effective derivatives for managing risk of a single asset and a portfolio of assets, develop asset selection strategies for...
2. Interest Rate Swaps: Structure, Pricing & Risk Management
Interest Rate Swaps Risk Management Hedging OTC Clearinghouses Swap Valuation Floating Interest Rates...
3. Capital Markets Immersion: A Financial Markets Introduction
Capital Markets Financial Markets Financial Risk Financial Math Yield Curves Derivatives Swaps Options...
4. Create Your Own Hedge Fund: Trade Stocks Like A Fund Manager
Learn How To Trade Mean-Reversion Setups And Properly Leverage Your Account For Big Returns...
5. Comprehensive Guide to Financial Markets, Investing &Trading
A comprehensive (advanced) introduction to global financial markets, investing and trading in all financial assets...
6. Options Trading: Technical Analysis Trading System (2023)
Technical Analysis For Stock Options & Binary Options Trading - How to Win The Stock Trading Game Like a Pro!...
7. Stock Market Trading: The Complete Technical Analysis Course
Stock Market Technical Analysis, Day Trading, PT Technical Analysis Trading, Candlestick, Options, Swing Trading, Chart...
8. Learn How To Trade NASDAQ Like Big Institutions
How to trade Nasdaq and Beat The Market Like A Non Commercial Trader...
9. Options Trading MasterClass: Options With Technical Analysis
Learn Options Strategies Options Basics & Greeks (3-Course Bundle) For Stock Trading & Day Trading By Technical Analysis...
10. Product Management Marketing: Dekker's Product Marketing MBA
Be a Product Marketing Manager - Product Management : Product Manager MBA : Product to Market : Product Owner Launch GTM...
Top 10 most affordable universities for traders
The most affordable schools for traders are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.
If the best universities for traders are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for traders.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,262
Cost of Attendance
14,046
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Cost of Attendance
21,034
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Cost of Attendance
16,714
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for traders
The hardest universities for traders to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for traders are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for traders based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
4%
SAT Average
1,497
4. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions Rate
10%
SAT Average
1,514
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for traders
The easiest schools for traders to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame college, and kean university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a trader without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for traders.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
2. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
994
3. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
86%
SAT Average
991
4. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
5. Iona College
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
88%
SAT Average
1,089
Average trader salary by education level
| Trader education level | Trader salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $111,354 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $90,194 |
| Doctorate Degree | $102,920 |
Search for trader jobs
Loading...
Loading...
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025