Best Master’s in Finance Degree Programs of 2023

The Sloan School of Management at MIT offers a graduate program for seriously high-performing students pursuing a Master of Finance degree. The program's coursework follows a STEM-classified curriculum across 18 months. However, MIT does provide an accelerated track that allows students to complete the program in as little as 12 months. Students can look forward to a hands-on experience from MIT's signature "Action Learning" approach through the school's Finance Lab and ProSeminars. These real-world environments allow students to tackle real financial challenges presented by working financial practitioners and engage in corporate-sponsored research and data analysis. Graduates of the Master in Finance program can look forward to an abundance of career success support through the university's advisors, employer relations team, Career Development Office, and Career Advising & Professional Development Office.

The Master of Financial Engineering degree from UCLA is provided to students through the Anderson School of Management. This degree program establishes a deep understanding of the current financial needs and challenges of the 21st century and equips students with the quantitative skills necessary to find solutions. With a 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the program's professors can better connect with their students as not only a teacher but professional mentors. During the summer semester, students have the opportunity to get real-world experience in a business setting through the annual internship, and the Applied Finance Project immerses students in real client projects with a chance to build their professional network while they're still in school.

The Mays Business School at TAMU is responsible for administering the Master of Science in Finance degree program. Students are required to complete 36 hours of coursework, 10-15 hours of weekly summer homework, and two "mini-semester" Boot Camps. Core program courses cover finance and accounting, followed by six elective credits. This program was designed for undergraduates who have completed a degree outside of the finance discipline. One unique feature offered by TAMU is an Accelerated Admission process. TAMU sophomores can take 14 hours of M.S. in Finance courses priced at the undergraduate tuition, saving both time and money. Graduates of this program will be prepared to sit for professional designation exams such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam and the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) exam.

UT Dallas offers a Master of Science in Finance through the Naveen Jindal School of Management. This school runs a graduate program designed for students with or without a background in finance who have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and meet grade point and test score requirements. Students can choose from two program options: The M.S. in Finance or the M.S. in Finance Cohort. The first option can be completed full-time or part-time, taking anywhere from 18 to 24 months. The second option is an accelerated full-time format that can be completed in as little as 12 months. Outside the core program coursework, students can choose from five concentrations: Financial Analyst, Corporate Finance/Investment Banking, Real Estate Finance, Financial Technology, or Financial Management.

The University of Florida has offered a Master of Science in Finance degree program through the Warrington College of Business for the last 20 years. Today, UFL students are taking this program primarily to earn a combination degree, completing their undergraduate and graduate M.S. in Finance degrees within four years. This track saves students time and money as they are able to swap out select undergraduate courses for graduate-level finance courses. Most students entering this combination degree track are studying accounting, finance, economics, mathematics, or engineering as their undergraduate majors. Graduates of this program will be on track to eventually earn a Ph.D. or legal joint degree from the university's law college.

The Master of Science in Commerce degree program offered by the University of Virginia was designed for students working on a non-business major such as science, engineering, or liberal arts. This 10-month, STEM-designated program is offered in a full-time format on campus in Charlottesville, VA. Most of the coursework is taught through the program's Integrated Core Experience, which combines an interdisciplinary curriculum, real-world case studies, team-based projects, and classroom discussions. During the program, students will choose one of four specialty tracks to focus on their unique goals: Biotechnology, Business Analytics, Finance, or Marketing & Management. Students will also undertake the Global Immersion Experience, learning about global business dynamics and their impact within Charlottesville and overseas through a three-week international study abroad opportunity.

The Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University runs the Master of Science in Finance degree program at the Lubbock, TX, campus. This program requires students to complete 36 credit hours of coursework over 12 months. Once a foundational understanding of finance is established, students can choose between two concentrations depending on their career goals: Commercial Management or Investment Management. This program is an excellent choice for students looking to save money, with a per-credit tuition rate of $265 for residents and $492 for non-residents. The university even offers an accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's program, empowering undergraduate students to begin the process of earning both degrees in as little as five years.

Students looking for a finance graduate program at a top private institute will find just that at Villanova University. The Villanova School of Business administers the Master of Science in Finance degree program, a full-time intensive opportunity for students to learn financial theory and customize their degrees with over a dozen elective credits. This nine-month program will equip students with 30 credit hours of the latest knowledge in finance taught by a team of 25 faculty members. Villanova also offers a handful of graduate career success programs: Professional Development, Gmelich Lab for Financial Markets, Networking Practice, Mentorships, Internships, and more. One unique option the university offers is the Master of Science in Finance Fellowship program, a graduate assistantship position that allows students to receive reduced tuition charges and paid research experience.

Students interested in earning their Master of Science in Finance at Indiana University can apply for the program through the Kelley School of Business. This full-time program was designed for students who want to grow their financial expertise but have earned their undergraduate degrees in an unrelated field. Over the course of approximately one year, students will complete 30 credit hours of intensive finance curriculum taught by a faculty of professors and working industry practitioners. This mix of faculty members provides a wealth of knowledge on theory and practice. Students will learn skills in the following areas of expertise: asset allocation, capital budgeting, currency management, financial modeling, and treasury management.

The STEM-designated Master of Finance degree program administered by the Irvine Paul Merage School of Business is just one of many graduate programs offered by the University of California. Students are required to complete 13 courses, half of which are electives. These elective courses enable students to customize their degrees with instruction on topics such as real estate, corporate finance, wealth management, and many more. Toward the end of the program, UCI's ProSeminar course will equip students for success through career management as they prepare to enter the workforce. After graduation, UCI provides the opportunity to complete up to 36 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT). Eligible students must apply and be accepted to participate in this program.