Is The Complete Financial Analyst Course Worth It? [2024 Review]
If you’re serious about launching or boosting a career in finance, “The Complete Financial Analyst Course” on Udemy keeps popping up as a top choice. But is it really worth your time, money, and effort? In this detailed review, we break down everything you need to know before enrolling—from what’s inside the course to how it stacks up against competitors, and what real students are saying.
Looking for an honest breakdown you can trust? You’re in the right place.
What Is The Complete Financial Analyst Course?
“The Complete Financial Analyst Course” is one of Udemy’s most popular finance courses, designed to transform beginners into job-ready analysts. While it’s not a university degree, this course promises practical skills like Excel modeling, business valuation, and financial statement analysis—key tools of the trade for any analyst role.
You can view the official course page here: https://www.udemy.com/course/the-complete-financial-analyst-course/
Who Is This Course For?
This course is for:
- College students or recent grads aiming for investment banking, private equity, or corporate finance jobs
- Professionals making a career switch into finance
- Entrepreneurs who want to analyze business financials more effectively
- Anyone tired of boring theory and wants hands-on financial skills
It’s beginner-friendly and built to progress into real-world, intermediate-level analytical techniques.
What You’ll Learn: Skills That Employers Actually Want
Based on an analysis of course content and typical modules offered in training for financial analyst roles, this course likely covers:
- Reading and interpreting income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports
- Mastering Excel for finance—including PivotTables, VLOOKUPs, P&L modeling, and budgeting
- Business valuation methods like Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) and Comparable Company Analysis
- Investment analysis strategies and key performance ratios
- Building data dashboards and visualizing financial KPIs
Unlike many academic finance degrees, this course focuses more on tools and skills you’d actually use in the workplace. It includes practical templates, downloadable exercises, and step-by-step demos.
What Makes This Course Stand Out?
Let’s face it: “Financial Analyst” is a saturated course category. So what makes this one different?
- ✅ Hands-on Learning
You’re not stuck watching slides. Students learn by doing—building models and working through realistic examples. - ✅ High Production Value
Udemy courses vary in quality. But this one’s been updated regularly with over 18+ hours of HD video content and well-produced modules. - ✅ Strong User Base
With more than 380,000 students enrolled, this program consistently ranks among Udemy’s top finance picks. For context, Stacklist.com says that popular financial courses tend to have enrollments over 100k. - ✅ Cost-Effective
Compared to alternatives like Wall Street Prep ($499+) or Wharton Finance ($79/month on Coursera), this course offers serious value, often under $100 when on sale.
A Few Drawbacks to Watch For
No course is perfect. Here’s where this one might fall short:
- ❌ No 1-on-1 Mentoring
Unlike programs from Financial Edge or BIWS, there’s no personal coaching or resume feedback. - ❌ Self-Paced = Less Accountability
You need discipline. This isn’t a live cohort or bootcamp, so it’s easy to fall behind. - ❌ No Exam or Accreditation
While it may offer a certificate of completion, it’s not an industry credential like the CFA.
How It Compares to the Competition
Here’s how this course compares side-by-side with other online financial analyst training programs:
| Feature | The Complete Financial Analyst Course | Wall Street Prep | Financial Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Often under $100 | $499+ | $500–$1,200 |
| Certification | Udemy cert | No | Yes |
| Excel-Based Modeling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Real-World Case Studies | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Personal Coaching | No | Some | Yes |
| Corporate-Level Detail | Basic to Intermediate | Intermediate to Advanced | Advanced |
If you’re hiring or learning on your own dime (vs being sponsored by a firm), this course is a smart, affordable choice for getting your feet wet.
What Do Real Students Say?
While the course doesn’t have much buzz on Reddit or finance forums, its Udemy reviews (over 80,000 ratings with an average rating above 4.5 stars) are promising.
Search queries like “Is Udemy financial analyst course worth it?” and “best financial analyst course for beginners” frequently include this course as a top result—a good indicator of real-world relevance.
“I loved how this course went from absolute basics to real-world modeling. It helped me land an internship last summer, and now I feel ready for more.” – Udemy review
How Much Does It Cost?
Udemy uses dynamic pricing. So while the retail price may be $129 or more, it’s usually on deep discount—sometimes as low as $19.99–$24.99.
For a complete breakdown, visit the official page here.
If you’re budget-sensitive or just want a solid starter course before diving into expensive programs like the CFA or NYIF’s bootcamps, this is hard to beat.
How to Know If It’s Right for You
Here’s a quick checklist to help you decide if “The Complete Financial Analyst Course” is right for your learning and career goals:
- ✔ You’re starting a finance career and want an affordable, fast-tracked skillset
- ✔ You’re overwhelmed by theory-based finance degrees that skimp on Excel and practical tools
- ✔ You want real-world financial modeling skills—without spending $500+
- ✔ You’re a business owner or consultant who needs financial fluency
Still not sure? Check out this helpful side-by-side comparison from Adam Enfroy’s blog that ranks top financial courses by ROI and effectiveness: https://www.adamenfroy.com/best-online-financial-modeling-courses
Verdict: Is It Worth It?
If you need high-level credentials (like passing the CFA), this isn’t the only tool you’ll need. But if you want to hit the ground running with practical financial skills, The Complete Financial Analyst Course offers serious value.
At under $50 (most of the time), it delivers on content, convenience, and beginner-to-intermediate skills employers look for.
So… yes—it’s worth it.
But make sure you treat it like what it is: the start of your journey, not the finish line.
Ready to Start Learning?
Invest in yourself and take the first step toward becoming a confident, competent financial analyst—without spending a fortune.
Final Thoughts
The job market is competitive—but not impossible. Whether you’re looking to break into investment banking or just want to make smarter business decisions, knowing how to analyze financials gives you an edge.
The Complete Financial Analyst Course is a solid, affordable step toward mastering those core skills.
Just remember: Like any online course, your results depend on your effort.
Get started, stay committed, and let this course be the launchpad for your finance career.