Schwab gift expands financial education, launches new Certificate in Personal Finance at Illinois
URBANA, IL — The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has received a meaningful gift from Schwab Advisor Services and the Charles Schwab Foundation to expand the Financial Empowerment Initiative and support the launch of an undergraduate Certificate in Personal Finance. Together, these initiatives will help provide students with lasting financial literacy.
Housed within the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, the new Certificate in Personal Finance allows students from any major at Illinois to build foundational skills in personal finance and financial planning at no cost. Support from Schwab has enabled additional sections of high-demand courses, expanding availability and access for students. To earn the certificate, students complete four courses across a broad personal finance and financial planning curriculum.
“We’re thrilled to launch the Certificate in Personal Finance. This program will empower thousands of Illini with a strong foundation in managing money, making wise credit decisions, investing, and insurance,” said Craig Lemoine, director of the financial planning program at Illinois. “Support from Schwab allows us to remove cost barriers, expand access, and provide students with skills and knowledge that will last a lifetime.”
Funding from Schwab also provides a free e-textbook for ACE 240: Introduction to Personal Finance & Financial Planning, a required course for the certificate and one taken by many ACES students. More than 2,200 students have already received complimentary access.
“We are proud to expand our support for the Financial Empowerment Initiative, which is helping broaden access to financial education and career pathways in wealth management,” said Jon Beatty, head of Schwab Advisor Services. “This investment underscores our commitment to career access and developing the next generation of talent.”
Students interested in strengthening their financial knowledge can enroll in the Certificate in Personal Finance online by scrolling down to click “Start certificate.”
