Date of Award
8-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Department
Accounting, Business Law and Finance
First Advisor
Sara Aliabadi
Abstract
Financial literacy has become a prominently debated topic recently. After the 2008 crisis, the necessity to educate the masses about financial literacy, particularly young adults who were the most affected demographic, became evident. While research shows that the level of financial literacy is influenced by several variables such as gender and social class, college education plays a significant part. Further research shows that business students exhibit a higher level of financial literacy. However, financial literacy is a combination of two attributes – knowledge and skills. The majority of previous studies measure the level of financial literacy in terms of knowledge, with minimal emphasis on the practice of skills. Due to this distinction, this study examines if indeed the higher levels of financial knowledge exhibited by business students translate to the practice of these skills in their personal financial lives. Using survey data collected from juniors, seniors, and graduate business students at a midwestern university in the US, the results reveal no statistically significant relationship between financial knowledge and the practice of personal financial habits. These findings challenge the assumption that academic exposure to financial concepts necessarily leads to real-world application, highlighting the need for more integrative, practice-oriented financial education models.
Recommended Citation
Katushabe, Rodney Asaba Eben, "Does Majoring in Business-Related Fields Lead to the Practice of Personal Financial Management Skills among College Students?" (2025). University Honors Program Senior Projects. 64.
https://neiudc.neiu.edu/uhp-projects/64