Posted by Welcome, this article will guide prospective students on their educational finance journey, by highlighting the 100 best universities for finance in 2023.
Finance is the lifeblood of business, and the demand for financial professionals has always been on the increase.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Why Study Finance?
Studying finance offers a broad range of applications across various industries, making your skillset adaptable and valuable.
It improves problem-solving abilities, makes your CV stand out, and demonstrates expertise in financial management, risk assessment, and strategic decision-making.
A finance degree also keeps you updated with industry trends and technological advancements, ensuring you stay competitive.
Finance jobs are well-paid and in demand, with companies recognizing the importance of effective financial management, providing graduates with excellent growth opportunities and job security.
Different Fields of Finance
Here are some of the most common fields of finance:
- Corporate finance
- Investments
- Banking
- Insurance
- Risk management
- Financial planning
- Financial analysis
- Financial technology (FinTech)
List of the 100 Best Universities for Finance
Below is a table showing the best 100 universities for Finance:
20 Best Universities for Finance
1. University of California – Berkeley
The MFE program at Berkeley Haas is a 12-month, full-time program that prepares students for careers in quantitative finance, financial engineering, and risk management.
- Founded: 1965
- Location: Berkeley, California
- Ranking: 1 (U.S. News & World Report)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: Available
Courses
- Financial Mathematics
- Financial Modeling
- Portfolio Management
- Derivatives
- Risk Management
- Machine Learning for Finance
- Computational Finance
- Big Data Analytics for Finance
2. University of Chicago
- Founded: 1890
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Tuition fee: $55,000 per year
- Ranking: #1 in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: Available for both domestic and international students
Courses Offered.
- Financial Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Investments
- Derivatives
- Risk Management
- International Finance
Here are some additional details about the program:
- The program is offered by the Booth School of Business, which is one of the top business schools in the world.
- The program is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of around 10%.
- The program is full-time and takes two years to complete.
- The program is offered in the fall semester only.
- The program is offered in English.
3. Stanford University
Stanford University’s Finance program is a top-ranked, highly selective program that offers students a rigorous education in the fundamentals of finance.
- Founded: 1927.
- Location: Stanford, California.
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for the Stanford University Finance program is $62,454 per year.
- Ranking: The Stanford University Finance program is ranked #1 by Bloomberg Businessweek and #2 by U.S. News & World Report.
- Accreditation: The Stanford University Finance program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: Stanford University offers a variety of financial aid options to students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses
Some of the courses offered in the Stanford University Finance program include:
- Corporate Finance
- Investment Banking
- Financial Markets
- Financial Engineering
- Derivatives
- Risk Management
- Quantitative Finance
- Applied Finance
- Entrepreneurship
4. University of Pennsylvania
- Founded: 1881
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Tuition: The tuition for the program is $60,000 per year.
- Ranking: #1 in the United States by U.S. News & World Report
- Accreditation: The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: Available for students who qualify.
Courses
- Corporate Finance
- Investments
- Financial Accounting
- Derivatives
- Risk Management
- Financial Modeling
- Entrepreneurship
- Venture Capital
- Real Estate
- Sustainable Finance
Here are some additional things to consider about the Finance program at Wharton:
- The program is very competitive. The acceptance rate is around 10%.
- The program is demanding. Students are expected to work hard and to be self-motivated.
- The program is expensive. However, the school offers generous financial aid packages to students who qualify.
5. New York University
- Founded: 1922
- Location: New York City, NY
- Tuition: $58,000 (2023-2024)
- Ranking: #12 in the US (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: Available
Courses
- Financial Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Investments
- Derivatives
- Risk Management
Here are some additional details about the program:
- The program is offered by the Stern School of Business, which is one of the top business schools in the world.
- The program is full-time and takes two years to complete.
- The program is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of around 15%.
- The program graduates students who are well-prepared for careers in finance, such as investment banking, consulting, and corporate finance.
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Founded: 1914
- Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Tuition fee: $53,696 (for the 2022-2023 academic year)
- Ranking: #1 in the world (according to the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: Available for students who demonstrate financial need
Courses
- Financial Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Investments
- Derivatives
- Risk Management
- Financial Modeling
- Data Analytics for Finance
- Behavioral Finance
- Sustainable Finance
7. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
The Finance program at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor is a top-ranked program that offers students a rigorous education in the fundamentals of finance.
- Founded: 1817
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Tuition fee: $50,000 per year
- Ranking: #12 in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: The University of Michigan offers a variety of financial aid options for students who demonstrate financial need. These options include scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses
- Financial Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Investments
- Derivatives
- Risk Management
- Financial Modeling
- Behavioral Finance
- Applied Ethics in Finance
- Sustainable Finance
8. Harvard University
- Founded: 1636
- Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Tuition: The tuition for the Harvard University Finance program is $57,630 for the 2022-2023 academic year.
- Ranking: 1st in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: The Harvard University Finance program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: Harvard University offers financial aid to students with demonstrated financial need. This can be in the form of scholarships, grants, or loans.
Courses
- Financial theory
- Investment analysis
- Corporate finance
- Derivatives
- Risk management
- Portfolio management
- Behavioral finance
- Applied finance
- Entrepreneurship.
The Harvard University Finance program is a highly competitive program, with an acceptance rate of just 5%.
9. Columbia University
- Founded: 1923
- Location: New York City
- Tuition fee: $58,000 per year
- Ranking: #1 in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: Available for students with demonstrated need
Courses Offered
- Financial Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Investments
- Derivatives
- Risk Management
- International Finance
The program also has a strong research component, and students have the opportunity to work with faculty on research projects.
10. Cornell University
- Founded: 1916
- Location: Ithaca, New York
- Tuition fee: Tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year is $55,000 per year.
- Ranking: The program is ranked #12 in the United States by Bloomberg Businessweek.
- Accreditation: The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the highest standard of accreditation for business schools.
- Financial aid: Financial aid is available to students who need it. Cornell offers a variety of scholarships, grants, and loans to help students afford the cost of attendance.
- Courses: The program offers a wide range of courses, including corporate finance, investments, financial markets, derivatives, and risk management.
11. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford’s Finance program is one of the oldest and most prestigious finance programs in the world.
- Founded: 1900
- Location: Oxford, England
- Tuition fee: $50,000 per year
- Ranking: #1 in the world by Financial Times
- Accreditation: The University of Oxford Finance program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: Available for students who qualify.
Courses
- Corporate Finance
- Financial Markets
- Investment Management
- Derivatives
- Risk Management
- Financial Accounting
- Financial Economics
- Data Analytics for Finance
- Behavioral Finance
12. Princeton University
The Finance program at Princeton is a small, highly selective program with an average class size of 20 students. The program is designed to give students a rigorous foundation in financial theory and analytical skills.
- Founded: 1903
- Location: Princeton, New Jersey
- Tuition: The tuition for the Finance program at Princeton is $55,000 per year.
- Ranking: #1 in the United States (U.S. News & World Report)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: Available for both domestic and international students
Courses Offered
- Financial Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Investments
- Derivatives
- Risk Management
- Financial Econometrics
- Behavioral Finance
- Applied Finance
- Sustainable Finance
- FinTech
13. University of Toronto
The Finance program at the University of Toronto is one of the oldest and most prestigious in Canada. It is consistently ranked among the top finance programs in the world.
- Founded: 1904
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for the Finance program is $58,000 per year.
- Ranking: #1 in Canada, #15 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: The Finance program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: Available for eligible students
14. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge Finance program is a one-year Master of Finance program that is designed to give students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the financial industry. The program is taught by world-renowned faculty and offers students the opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field.
- Founded: 1990
- Location: Cambridge, UK
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for the program is \$50,000 per year.
- Ranking: Ranked #1 in the world by Financial Times
- Accreditation: Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: The program offers financial aid to students who qualify. The program also offers scholarships to students from developing countries.
- Courses: Offers courses in financial accounting, financial analysis, financial markets, and financial management.
15. London School of Economics and Political Science
- Founded: 1895
- Location: London, UK
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for the LSE Finance program is £26,250 per year for international students and £9,250 per year for home students.
- World ranking: 1st in Finance (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: The LSE Finance program is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA), which is a global body that accredits business schools.
- Financial aid: The LSE offers several scholarships and financial aid options for eligible students. These include scholarships based on academic merit, financial need, and extracurricular activities.
16. Yale University
The Yale School of Management offers a Master of Finance (MFin) degree that prepares students for careers in investment banking, asset management, and other financial services.
- Founded: 1976
- Location: New Haven, Connecticut
- Tuition: $75,000 per year
- Ranking: 10th in the world (QS Global MBA Ranking 2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: Financial aid is available to qualified students.
Courses
The program curriculum includes courses in:
- Financial theory
- Corporate finance
- Investment analysis
- Portfolio management
17. University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign
The University of Illinois is a public research university and is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States.
- Founded: 1867
- Location: Urbana, Illinois
- Tuition: The tuition for the Finance program at UIUC is $13,164 for in-state students and $34,338 for out-of-state students.
- Ranking: #66 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Business Schools
- Accreditation: The Finance program at UIUC is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: UIUC offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans. Students should apply for financial aid as early as possible to increase their chances of being awarded assistance.
- Courses: The Finance program at UIUC offers a wide range of courses, including corporate finance, investments, financial markets, and derivatives.
18. Duke University
- Founded: 1924,
- Tuition fee: The program is tuition-based, with an annual tuition of $55,000.
- Ranking: The program is ranked #12 in the United States by Bloomberg Businessweek.
- Accreditation: The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: Financial aid is available to students who qualify.
- Courses: The program offers a variety of courses, including corporate finance, investments, financial markets, derivatives, and risk management.
The Duke University Finance program is a rigorous program that prepares students for careers in finance. Graduates of the program go on to work at top financial institutions, such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JP Morgan Chase.
19. University of California – Los Angeles
- Founded: 1919
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Tuition: $13,204 for California residents; $43,874 for non-residents (2022-2023)
- Ranking: #10 in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: UCLA offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Courses
The Finance program at UCLA offers a wide variety of courses, including:
- Corporate finance
- Investments
- Financial markets
- Financial analysis
- Risk management
- Derivatives
- International Finance
- Sustainable finance
- Financial engineering
The Finance program at UCLA is a rigorous and challenging program that prepares students for a variety of careers in finance. The program graduates students who are well-equipped to succeed in the financial industry.
20. Ohio State University
- Founded: 1870
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Tuition: $10,000 per year (in-state); $27,000 per year (out-of-state)
- Ranking: #15 in the United States (US News & World Report)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: Available for qualified students
Courses Offered
- Financial Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Investments
- Risk Management
- Derivatives
Here are some additional details about the program:
- The program is offered by the Fisher College of Business, which is one of the top business schools in the country.
- The program is 120 credits, and it can be completed in four years.
- The program has a strong alumni network, which can be helpful for students after graduation.
FAQs on the Best Universities for Finance
What criteria were used to rank these universities?
We considered a range of factors including faculty expertise, research output, student satisfaction, alumni success, and international reputation.
Why is a finance degree important in 2023?
Finance remains a critical field in business and economics, and a degree in finance can open doors to lucrative career opportunities in various industries.
Are scholarships and financial aid options available at these universities?
Yes, Many of the universities on our list offer scholarships and financial aid packages to eligible students. It's advisable to check each university's website for specific details.
Recommended Articles
- Top 100 MBA Colleges in the World
- Global Law Schools with Scholarships
- 35 Best Film Acting Schools in the World
- Top 80 Best Universities in Belgium.
Conclusion
The institutions featured on this list have proven themselves as beacons of financial knowledge, guiding countless students toward successful careers and making indelible contributions to the financial world.
We come to the end of this article, we wish you good luck on your pursuit of a finance degree.
Share and Help us Reach out to Other Students