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Why This Matters

  • FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT JOBS ARE GROWING BY 17%

    Financial manager positions are expected to grow by 17% through 2031. A master’s in finance will help you qualify to become a chief financial officer, controller, cash manager, or similar management position.

  • 50,000+ NEW FINANCIAL ADVISER POSITIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE

    As Baby Boomers enter their senior years, more financial advisers are needed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 330,300 financial adviser jobs in 2021 and expects another 50,900 to be added over the next decade.

  • EARN ANOTHER $9,000 ANNUALLY

    Professionals with a master’s in finance earn an average annual salary of $81,000, compared with $72,000 for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in this field.

Our Research

This list features some of the best master’s in finance degree programs at top colleges across the country. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. The programs on our list are available at accredited institutions, including The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), both reputable organizations who assess business programs for educational excellence and a commitment to quality education.

We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for on-campus students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

Next, we compared this comprehensive list of master’s in finance degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The Top 50 Master’s in Finance Degree Programs

Best Masters in Finance Degree Programs 2023
01
Intelligent Pick
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management
01
Best Public Program
University of California at Los Angeles
01
Best for Accelerated Admission
Texas A&M University Mays Business School
01
Best Accelerated Program
The University of Texas at Dallas
01
Best for Combination Degrees
University of Florida
01
Best Specialization Options
University of Virginia
01
Most Affordable
Texas Tech University
01
Best Private Program
Villanova University
01
Best Full-Time Program
Indiana University Kelley School of Business
01
Best for Practical Training
University of California Irvine Paul Merage School of Business
01

Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
01

University of Maryland School of Business
01

University of Arizona
01

West Virginia University
01

Auburn University
01

Arizona State University
01

Princeton University
01

University of Southern California Marshall School of Business
01

Harvard Extension School
01

University at Buffalo School of Management
01

University of Cincinnati
01

Creighton University
01

University of Alabama Manderson Graduate School of Business
01

University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
01

University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business
01

University of Wisconsin School of Business
01

Louisiana State University
01

Brandeis University
01

The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business
01

Tulane University
01

University of Rochester
01

Illinois Institute of Technology

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What You Should Know About This Degree

Master’s in finance degrees are most often officially known as a Master of Science in Finance (MS in Finance or MSF). These degrees primarily focus on advanced technical skills, and they differ somewhat from a Master of Business Administration in Finance (MBA in Finance). An MBA in finance is likely to be a more general program, covering business, organizational leadership, and management, along with financial topics.

Whether an MS in Finance or an MBA in Finance makes more sense for you depends on your career aspirations. Some graduate schools offer dual-degree programs that provide an accelerated format for earning both degrees.

Accounting is another related field that deserves consideration, and Master of Accounting degrees are also available. Think about whether you’d prefer the finance or accounting focus before enrolling in a program.

Most of the online programs listed here can be completed entirely remotely, but a few might require a brief in-person stint. For example, they might have a short residency or internship requirement. Take into account any in-person requirements as you evaluate whether programs are compatible with your situation.

What’s Next?

As you evaluate master’s in finance degree programs, consider these questions:

  • Am I eligible for this program? Most graduate programs require an undergraduate degree, and some schools ask for an undergraduate degree in a related field. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in finance or a similar subject, you might have to complete a few prerequisite courses before enrolling in a master’s in finance program.
  • How long does it take to complete this online degree? Most master’s in finance degrees take about a year of full-time study to complete, although a few programs have curriculum structures that extend that time frame slightly. This is one advantage of pursuing an MSF rather than an MBA in Finance, which usually requires two years.

When you identify a program that seems promising, contact the program or check its webpage to see what the admission process entails. Make sure you know which materials must be submitted and when the school needs them.

Also give thought to how you’ll pay for your degree. Ask schools which scholarships and financial aid you might qualify for, and ask your employer if it offers tuition reimbursement.


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