As the Class of 2014 walked toward getting their diplomas, here at LifeHealthPro we thought it would be timely to investigate which college programs are leaders in life and health insurance undergraduate fields of study. Most of the colleges that we researched include the degree in insurance as part of their business school programs, which means that you get a well-rounded education in everything from finance to business management, to courses specifically tailored for becoming part of the insurance industry.
With 34 of the 50 states possessing universities or colleges that offer life and health insurance majors as part of their undergraduate programs, you can pick and choose where to get your degree.
Right now, the insurance industry is looking for more candidates to pass on their baton to the next generation. There's a lot of opportunity and demand for millenials to enter the field. And, it's one of the few industries that offers room for growth with an already established path and training programs, so it takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation.
When it comes to choosing a college or university, the College Board recommends that you check if the business school of your choice is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), as well as check if the program offers specializations such as health care and risk management, internships, if there are special requirements, if the program will help you job search and what the recent graduates are doing now.
In the following pages, you will find the top-ranked educational institutions by LifeHealthPro for getting your bachelor's degree in insurance, with life and health insurance careers in mind.
6. Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
Programs: BBA Risk Management and Insurance, BA Actuarial Science
Tuition (estimated): In-state – $6,537; Out-of-state – $21,703
FSU is a public university whose Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) program was established in the 1940s. The program touches subjects from microeconomics to marketing, to life and health insurance products, employee benefits and even some accounting courses. They also help place graduates with internships and jobs. This program has limited access, which means that they have very strict admission requirements.
5. Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Programs: BBA Risk Management and Insurance with a major or minor in Health Care Risk Management
Tuition (estimated): In-state – $14,340; Out-of-state – $24,710
You will find a nationally recognized RMI program and Health Care Risk Management major or minor programs at Temple University's Fox School of Business. The school has offered these programs since 1968 and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (ACEHSA). Temple also encourages students to become part of Sigma chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, their national award-winning professional student organization in RMI, and provide internships and employment for undergraduates. It is a selective university.
4. Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia
Programs: BBA Actuarial Science; BBA Risk Management and Insurance
Tuition (estimated): In-state – $9,928; Out-of-state – $28,138
Coming in fourth in the U.S. News & World Report and sixth on Campus Explorer, Georgia State University has the largest business school in the southern U.S. and three of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business undergraduate programs are in the top 10 according to U.S. News. The College of Business is accredited by the AACSB. Their RMI track is more focused on risk management, but has a few courses on life insurance, insurance operations and personal financial planning.
