Risk Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this program develop a comprehensive understanding of how organizations identify, evaluate, and respond to financial and operational risks. The curriculum emphasizes strategic decision-making in uncertain environments, equipping learners with tools to protect assets, ensure compliance, and support long-term business resilience.
- Business Analytics: Utilizes data-driven methods to assess risk exposure and forecast potential outcomes, enabling informed strategic planning and performance monitoring.
- Foundations of Insurance and Risk Management: Explores core frameworks, regulatory standards, and ethical considerations in managing risk across industries and organizational structures.
- Investments: Focuses on portfolio strategies, market behavior, and risk-adjusted returns to align financial goals with risk tolerance and organizational objectives.
- Life and Health Insurance: Covers policy design, underwriting principles, claims management, and regulatory compliance in personal risk protection systems.
- Loss Prevention: Applies proactive measures to reduce the likelihood and impact of accidents, fraud, and operational disruptions within business environments.
- Property and Liability Insurance Risk Assessment: Involves evaluating physical and legal exposure to determine appropriate coverage, premiums, and risk mitigation protocols.
- Risk Control: Develops techniques to minimize risk occurrence through policy implementation, safety protocols, and internal controls.
- Risk Financing: Examines methods for funding potential losses, including self-insurance, captive insurance, and alternative risk transfer mechanisms.
- Security: Addresses both physical and cyber security strategies to safeguard assets, data, and infrastructure from internal and external threats.
Risk Management Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Risk Management Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Risk Management degrees, including Financial Managers, Actuaries and Financial Risk Specialists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 4,595,520 professionals.
National Average Salaries
Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Financial Managers 11-3031 | $161,700 | $86,490 - $239,200 | 818,620 | $77.74 |
Actuaries 15-2011 | $125,770 | $75,240 - $206,430 | 28,340 | $60.47 |
Financial Risk Specialists 13-2054 | $106,000 | $62,270 - $182,310 | 56,320 | $50.96 |
General and Operations Managers 11-1021 | $102,950 | $47,420 - $239,200 | 3,584,420 | $49.50 |
Insurance Underwriters 13-2053 | $79,880 | $51,640 - $138,020 | 107,820 | $38.40 |
Risk Management Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $77,225 in Arkansas to $143,406 in District of Columbia—a 86% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, New York, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 4,595,520 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Risk Management by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 13 institutions offering Risk Management programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Risk Management is found at Temple University (110 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (12 graduates), Le Moyne College (12 graduates), Robert Morris University (RMU) (10 graduates), and St Petersburg College (SPC) (9 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 180 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
110 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Other Award
|
12 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
Le Moyne College |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Syracuse, New York | Private | lemoyne.edu |
Robert Morris University (RMU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Private | rmu.edu |
St Petersburg College (SPC) |
Other Award
|
9 | St. Petersburg, Florida | Public | spcollege.edu |
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) |
Other Award
|
5 | Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fsw.edu |
Seton Hill University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
4 | Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Private | setonhill.edu |
Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Other Award
|
3 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
Broward College (BC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
Saint Johns River State College (SJR) |
Other Award
|
3 | Palatka, Florida | Public | sjrstate.edu |
University of Iowa |
Post-Master's
|
2 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | online.jwu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Risk Management programs
How much can I earn with a Risk Management degree?
Salaries for Risk Management graduates vary by role and location. Financial Managers earn a median of $161,700 annually, while Actuaries earn around $125,770. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $143,406 compared to $77,225 in Arkansas. Approximately 4,595,520 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Risk Management programs?
Currently 13 accredited institutions offer Risk Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Temple University (110 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (12 graduates), and Le Moyne College (12 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
What career paths are available with a Risk Management degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Financial Managers, Actuaries, and Financial Risk Specialists. Related occupations employ approximately 4,595,520 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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