Last Updated on March 4, 2023 by MBA Gateway Team
This article is a part-of ‘MBA Careers’ Series
Best MBA programs for a Career in Finance
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in finance, an MBA can be a great way to gain the skills and experience needed to excel in the industry. An MBA can provide you with a strong foundation in financial theory and analysis, as well as the practical skills needed to navigate complex financial transactions and lead teams. Here are some of the best MBA programs for a career in finance:
- The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania: Wharton is consistently ranked as one of the top MBA programs for finance, and for good reason. The school offers a robust finance curriculum, with courses in corporate finance, investments, and financial institutions and markets, as well as a variety of experiential learning opportunities, such as the Wharton Investment and Trading Group.
- Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago: Booth is another top-ranked MBA program for finance, with a curriculum that emphasizes analytical rigor and quantitative methods. The school offers courses in topics such as financial accounting, capital markets, and corporate finance, and is known for its strong ties to the financial industry.
- Columbia Business School: Columbia is located in the heart of New York City, making it an ideal location for students interested in pursuing a career in finance. The school offers a variety of finance-focused courses, such as corporate finance, investment banking, and private equity, as well as a range of experiential learning opportunities, such as the Student Investment Management Fund.
- NYU Stern School of Business: NYU Stern is another top MBA program located in New York City, with a strong focus on finance. The school offers courses in topics such as corporate finance, investments, and financial markets and institutions, and also offers a variety of experiential learning opportunities, such as the Stern Investment Management and Research Program.
- Harvard Business School: While Harvard is not traditionally known as a finance-focused MBA program, the school offers a strong finance curriculum, with courses in topics such as corporate finance, investments, and financial institutions. The school is also known for its case method of teaching, which can be particularly useful for students interested in finance.
Table: Top 20 Business Schools for Finance
| Business School | % Students going into Finance Industry | # Students going into Finance Industry |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard Business School | 29% | 206 |
| Stanford Graduate School of Business | 25% | 144 |
| The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania | 36% | 304 |
| Columbia Business School | 34% | 260 |
| Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago | 34% | 190 |
| MIT Sloan School of Management | 29% | 129 |
| Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University | 35% | 215 |
| Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College | 28% | 77 |
| NYU Stern School of Business | 39% | 262 |
| Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley | 28% | 103 |
| Yale School of Management | 25% | 68 |
| Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan | 33% | 157 |
| Fuqua School of Business at Duke University | 27% | 85 |
| Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University | 24% | 63 |
| Anderson School of Management at UCLA | 27% | 111 |
| McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin | 31% | 132 |
| Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC Chapel Hill | 32% | 104 |
| Marshall School of Business at USC | 25% | 90 |
| Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University | 21% | 36 |
| Goizueta Business School at Emory University | 29% | 72 |
