About this Department

Finance — the art and science of managing money — is about making decisions that add value to corporations, private businesses, nonprofits, and individuals. As a discipline, finance also includes investment management for individuals and institutions, as well as the management of financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies.

Undergraduates may select concentrations in Finance or Financial Services. A Finance minor is also available. MBA students may choose to specialize in Fintech. The Financial Markets Center supports students’ coursework with access to analytical tools and capabilities from Bloomberg, FactSet, Morningstar, and MSCI. Bryant is also a participant in the prestigious CFA, CFP, and CAIA University Affiliation Programs.

Students can tailor their choice of electives by choosing courses that prepare them for various professional opportunities. The available tracks are: Corporate Finance, Investments, Banking, and Financial Planning/Wealth Management. Capstone courses and experiential learning opportunities exist in each track. 

Our Faculty

The department’s faculty members disseminate knowledge through teaching, publications, conference presentations, and engagement with private and public organizations and groups. As dedicated teachers, they work closely with students in collaborative research, by supervising internships, and by advising them about graduate school and careers. The faculty includes individuals with strong academic credentials and individuals with significant financial market experience.

Concentration in Finance

Finance appeals to students with an analytical mind and quantitative orientation. Courses focus on corporate financial management, investments, capital markets, and financial institutions. The globalization of business activities and the availability of capital from sources around the world are a major focus in all advanced finance courses.

Concentration in Financial Services

Financial services is a distinct field of study, with a focus on investments, financial institutions, financial planning, risk management and insurance, and individual taxation. Graduates are prepared for careers in retail securities brokerage, financial planning, real estate investment management, insurance, and financial institutions management.

Students present results of the Archway Investment Fund

Department Highlight

The student-run Archway Investment Fund provides Bryant students with the opportunity to manage one of three different portfolios associated with specific Finance electives. Students learn the principles used by financial professionals around the globe. With faculty guidance, students develop the skills to utilize fundamental and quantitative techniques to evaluate potential investments, construct portfolios that balance risk and return, and analyze and report on their investment performance. The three portfolios together are worth approximately $3.3 million.

Financial Services Forum

The annual Financial Services Forum at Bryant University brings alumni in the finance industry back to campus to share their experiences and expertise with students. The day-long program includes panels and a keynote speaker covering topical issues in banking, finance, and financial services. The 2024 program was the 18th annual event.

Robert Schunder '24 (left) led a fireside chat with Joe Fazzino '02, VP and Deputy CIO of Raytheon Technologies at Bryant University's 17th Annual Financial Services Forum.

Financial Markets Center

We aim to provide finance education that is current with finance practice. Our Financial Markets Center provides an all-encompassing educational experience in which students are immersed in a state-of-the-art financial market environment. Students can observe the flow of financial information in real time and use industry-standard analytical platforms that they will encounter in the real world. Classes held in the FMC incorporate these tools into the curriculum, providing seamless integration of theory and practice.

A Bryant University professor teaches in the C.V. Starr Financial Markets Center.

Inspired Faculty

Our esteemed faculty includes award-winning educators and mentors who have had success in the fields they teach and in research. They include a former senior financial economist with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, a former vice president of two banks, and a financial planner and wealth consultant in industry and private practice. Among them is:

Asli Ascioglu, Ph.D.
Professor of Finance

Bryant Professor Asli Ascioglu speaks to students.

Student Profiles

Odette Mansour ’24

Odette Mansour ’24

“I wanted a close-knit community that resembled my upbringing in Lebanon — a school that would support me in becoming a trailblazer in my profession. I chose Bryant because it felt like home from the day I stepped onto campus.”
Kylie Truong '23

Kylie Truong ’23

“I really feel like Bryant prepared me for the next chapter of my life. Bryant has given me the tools and resources I need to get internships at a professional level. As a student, I was able to complete three different internships at three different companies.”
Jake Williams '23

Jake Williams ’23

“We’re top ranked in business, top ranked in athletics, and in the top 1% for ROI, but we’re also so much more. Sometimes people call Bryant a hidden gem. I think it should be recognized as the gold standard for higher education.”

Where our students go

Graduates of Bryant's programs within the Finance Department go on to prestigious graduate schools and are in demand by business, government, and nonprofit organizations.

Apple, Inc.
Blackrock
Boston College
Citizens Bank
Columbia University
Cornell University
Credit Suisse
Dell EMC
EY
Fidelity Investments
Harvard University
John Hancock Investments
Liberty Mutual
Merrill Lynch
PwC
State Street
University of Chicago
Wake Forest University School of Law