Why This Matters

  • FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POSITIONS RISING 17%

    Typically, management positions like chief financial officer, cash manager, or controller require an advanced degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the addition of 123,100 financial manager jobs by 2031.

  • 50K NEW FINANCIAL ADVISING JOBS PREDICTED

    As baby boomers plan and invest for retirement and companies move away from traditional pension plans to individual retirement accounts, the demand for personal financial advisers will increase by 15%.

  • EARN $6,000 MORE PER YEAR WITH A MASTER’S DEGREE

    According to Payscale.com, individuals with a master’s degree in this field earn an average salary of $81,000 per year, compared to $75,000 annually with a bachelor’s degree.

Our Research

This list features some of the best online master’s in finance 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. Many programs have specialized accreditation from agencies like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

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 online 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 online master’s in finance 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 Programs

Best Online Master's in Finance Degree Programs
01
Intelligent Pick
Auburn University Harbert College of Business
01
Best Finance-Economics Degree
West Texas A&M University
01
Most Customizable
Northeastern University
01
Best Faculty
University of Miami
01
Fastest Degree Completion
University of Scranton
01
Most Flexible
Creighton University
01
Best Blended Option
Georgetown University
01
Best Public University
Indiana University
01
Best for Veterans
Penn State World Campus
01
Most Affordable
UMass Lowell Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies
01

Raymond A. Mason School of Business
01

Stevens Institute of Technology
01

UNL College of Business
01

Saint Joseph's University
01

University of Washington
01

Purdue University Global
01

Johnson & Wales University
01

University of Houston at Clear Lake
01

University of Missouri
01

Texas A&M University at Commerce
01

Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
01

University of Wisconsin at Whitewater
01

University of Michigan at Dearborn
01

University of Illinois at Springfield
01

The University of Oklahoma
01

Walsh College
01

Southern New Hampshire University
01

Mississippi College
01

Webster University
01

Rowan University Global Learning and Partnerships
01

The University of Texas Permian Basin
01

Cambridge College Global
01

University of Houston
01

Liberty University
01

University of Cincinnati
01

Bentley University
01

Loyola University Chicago
01

Golden Gate University

What You Should Know About This Degree

Whether you are looking to enter the finance field or further your career in finance, earning a master’s degree is a good option if you already possess an undergraduate degree. A Master of Science in Finance isn’t your only option, though. Many individuals opt for a Master of Business Administration (MBA), which is a more general degree that typically includes coursework in business, management, and organizational leadership, in addition to financial skills.

Depending on your career goals, you may want to consider an MBA, although the more specialized MS in Finance is becoming increasingly popular among employers. Some schools offer a dual MS/MBA program, allowing you to earn both degrees in a more condensed time frame.

You may also want to research master’s degrees in accounting, which is a closely related field to finance. Both careers involve working with money, but there are some important differences between them. Your career goals will guide which type of program is right for you.

While many of the programs on our list have coursework that can be completed totally online, some have optional residency or internship programs. There are many benefits to completing an internship as part of your master’s degree, especially if you don’t have any professional experience in finance.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching Online Master’s in Finance programs:

  • Does this program offer the specialization I want? There are many options for concentrations within finance, including corporate finance, investments and securities, and fraud management. If you are planning to focus on one of these areas, be sure to select a program that allows you to concentrate in your area of interest.
  • Am I eligible for this program? At the graduate level, most programs require either prerequisite coursework or professional experience in the subject. If you do not have a degree or undergraduate coursework in finance or a related field, you may have to take some prerequisite classes prior to enrollment in the master’s program.

Be sure to research the program’s admissions procedures and deadlines as well. Having this information will ensure a smooth application process to your selected programs. This information is typically available on the school’s website, or you can contact their admissions department.

You should also consider your options for financing your education, including loans, scholarships, and assistantships. If you are currently employed, find out if your employer offers any kind of tuition assistance benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions