The general employment outlook for financial and business professionals is strong, with growth forecasted for financial analysts, personal financial advisers, loan officers, real estate appraisers, and other related occupations.
Financial manager jobs are forecast to increase by 17%, which is much faster than average. Many of these positions will be filled by candidates who have master’s degrees, specifically MBAs.
People who have master’s degrees earn an average salary of $79,000 a year, while those with bachelor’s degrees bring in about $67,000 annually.
This list features some of the best MBA 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 accredited by agencies 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 MBA 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.
An MBA in finance is similar to a master’s in finance and a master’s in accounting, but there are important differences that set the MBA in finance apart. A master’s in finance focuses on financial principles, but it doesn’t cover the business principles that are incorporated into an MBA. A master’s in accounting specializes in accounting rather than finance, and it’s the gateway to licensure as a certified public accountant (CPA). All of these degrees have their use, but an MBA in finance is the most extensive of these degrees and can set you up well for working in finance.
When you graduate with an MBA in finance, many employers will ask about your academic qualifications and industry experience. If you don’t already work in finance, look for a program that includes an internship so you have some relevant experience when you apply for your first job in the industry.
If you’re looking at online degree programs, understand the in-person requirements. Some might have internship requirements, and some may also have short on-campus sessions. You’ll want a program that accommodates your schedule and budget.
Take these questions into consideration when looking at MBA in finance programs:
Once you’ve determined which programs fit your needs, research the admission requirements and application deadline of each one. This information can be obtained from programs’ web pages or by directly contacting admissions departments.
Paying for your MBA in finance degree is another important consideration. To learn about available funding, ask programs about their financial aid and scholarship opportunities. If you work in business already, your employer might offer tuition reimbursement.