Invest in Your Future with a Course on Financial Literacy
Why College Students Should Consider a Financial Literacy Course
Many college students aren't just learning challenging course material; they're navigating a whole new world of "adulting" — and the bills that go with it! College may be the first time many young people have been responsible for some or all of their finances, with or without the help of financial aid.
Yet, surveys show that many adults (much less students) in the U.S. don't understand financial literacy. The Unbiased 2023 Financial Confidence Survey revealed that only 33% of people consider themselves somewhat confident in their financial knowledge, with 17% stating that they do not feel financially confident.
Wise financial stewardship is biblical and built on a solid foundation in financial literacy. That's why investing time in a financial literacy course during college can pay dividends now and in the future.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." - Colossians 3:23 NIV
What Is Financial Literacy?
Financial literacy is an intelligent, competent relationship with money. Sure, it involves budget planning for college students. Still, it's ultimately the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, like tracking personal spending and managing debt responsibly, making informed financial decisions, and investing for the future.
It can also help propel your professional and personal callings — from continued education to raising a family, helping others, tithing, and supporting retirement goals.
Why Is Financial Literacy for College Students Important?
The earlier you begin wisely stewarding your finances for God's glory, the more confident you will feel. Here are a few reasons why financial literacy is vital for college students — and why taking a financial literacy course can pay dividends:
It Can Help Prevent Mistakes
While many people make financial missteps that they wish they had done differently, financial literacy can help support your path to more intelligent decisions, solutions, and success — personally and professionally. You'll learn to decode financial lingo about everything from interest rates to 401(k)s, loans, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), and so much more. Even the smallest, seemingly innocuous financial decisions could have negative long-term implications if not informed by education.
It Can Help You Reach Your Goals
Financial literacy will help you along the way, no matter what God has laid on your heart to pursue. With a better understanding of how to steward your finances — how to budget, save, spend, invest, and give — you'll be better prepared to set a plan, achieve attainable goals, and follow your dreams.
It Prepares You for Rainy Days
Sometimes, emergencies happen, and they can be devastating if your finances are not in order. From losing a job to a family crisis, health issue, or another unexpected expense, these things can all have significant implications—especially if you're unprepared for the unexpected. Through financial literacy, you'll be equipped to weather any storm.
It Is Empowering
There's no question that decision-making is complex, especially decisions involving significant financial investments and expenses. That's because they can have long-term consequences, both positive and negative. Financial literacy is empowering and invokes confidence because it gives you the information and understanding you need to make good life choices and know the proactive things you can do to plan for the future.
Become Financially Literate at DBU
While there are other ways to become financially literate — through books, podcasts, and finance professionals — why not capitalize on subject matter experts right on DBU's campus?
We offer two courses worth considering to help you invest in your financial literacy.
- Personal Financial Planning
The personal finance course — FINA 3307 Personal Financial Planning (S-L) — is a broad overview of the financial planning process with areas of emphasis that include cash and debt management, life and health insurance, investments, college funding, retirement planning, and estate planning. Taxes and inflation in the financial planning process are also covered. This course also contains a field-based service-learning component, which is an incredible benefit that students really enjoy.
- Corporate Financial Management
The corporate finance course — FINA 3301 Corporate Financial Management — covers fundamental concepts in finance and decision-making techniques in corporate financial management. You'll learn about financial markets, financial statement analysis, financial planning, time value of money, loans and interest rates, risk-return relationship and CAPM, security valuation, capital budgeting techniques, cost of capital, debt policy, and more.
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DBU is committed to providing students with all the holistic support needed for spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and social development, enabling them to become Christian servant leaders worldwide. Learn more about our finance courses.
