The MBA degree and corporate finance go together like bread and butter. Corporate finance generally refers to the activities that go on in a firm’s finance department, which can include everything from analyzing financial statements to managing capital funds; these areas are all addressed significantly in most MBA programs.
Beyond core classes, MBA students who are interested in corporate finance roles would probably want to take as many quantitative-oriented electives as they can, in topics like accounting and financial analysis, for example.
Indeed, many who aim to go into corporate finance jobs find that an MBA that’s heavy in quantitative and analytical curriculum can be a safe bet. Some students aiming for corporate finance jobs opt to do an MBA specialization in Finance, which can give them the quant skills they’re looking for to succeed. Even so, most MBA programs will include a fair amount of finance classes in their core curriculum.
Post-MBA careers in corporate finance range from financial analyst to chief financial officer (CFO).
See below for a list of the Top 10 MBA programs for Corporate Finance. You can also see FIND MBA's Top 10 MBA Programs for Finance or Financial Services.
Booth’s highly-analytical curriculum helps grads land jobs in a variety of corporate finance roles. Typically, at least one-third of Booth’s MBA grads go into functional roles in finance. The student-led “Corporate Finance Group” is a great networking resource for Booth MBAs who are interested in the field. Students can choose to pursue Booth’s MBA concentrations in either Finance or Analytic Finance.
View School ProfileFordham’s MBA students interested in corporate finance can pursue a specialization in Corporate Financial Management, or one of several other finance-related specializations. In recent years, almost half of the school’s MBA class has gone into functional roles in finance (depending on the year).
View School ProfileThrough the school's MBA concentration in Finance, students have landed jobs in Fortune 500 financial firms like Bank of America and Morgan Stanley. In the past, the Financial Times has listed Simon as a top-ten school for finance in its Global MBA rankings. Thirty-three percent of Simon’s MBA class of 2021 went into functional roles in finance. The school says that corporate finance is the most popular career path for graduates.
View School ProfileThe school’s Nicholas Center for Corporate Finance and Investment Banking puts on a range of events and helps students land corporate finance jobs. The school offers a specialized MBA in Corporate Finance and Investment Banking, which gives students some practical experience through some corporate finance consulting projects.
View School ProfileCox is one of the few business schools where students can do a specialization in Corporate Finance specifically. Typically, at least 40 percent of each MBA class tends to go into functional roles in finance.
View School ProfileThrough the school’s Managerial Finance Immersion program, MBAs can understand how corporate finance works in theory, and then through site visits and practicums they can see how it works in practice. Generally, between 30 and 40 percent of each of the school’s MBA classes go into functional roles in finance. Cornell offers MBA concentrations in Corporate Finance, Finance, Financial Investing and Financial Analysis.
View School ProfileThe Frankfurt School’s unique MBA concentration in Corporate Finance covers mergers & acquisitions, investment banking, and other topics important to students interested in careers in this area. Projects and case studies provide some practical application of the theoretical concepts. Typically, some 40 percent or more of MBA graduates go into functional roles in finance.
View School ProfileAs part of Northeastern’s MBA concentration in Finance, students can delve into corporate finance topics through classes like business turnarounds, finance strategy, and more. They can also opt to focus on a corporate finance role as part of the MBA program’s corporate residency, which means taking away real work experience. Around 30 to 40 percent of Northeastern’s MBA classes tend to go into functional roles in finance or accounting.
View School ProfileThe school publishes a range of research on finance-related topics, through several different research centers. Generally, between one-quarter and one-third of each of the school’s MBA classes go into finance roles. Students can opt to do an MBA concentration in Finance.
View School ProfileIn recent years, upwards of twenty-six percent of Schulich’s MBA class has gone into functional roles in finance, one of the highest rates of all Canadian schools surveyed. Students in the school’s MBA program can pursue a specialization in finance, which covers topics like capital budgeting, capital structure, and capital management, among others.
View School ProfileRelated MBA News
The Financial Times Updates Master in Finance Rankings for 2021
Jun 29, 2021
Related Articles
Post-MBA Careers in Finance: Fintech Options Grow
Mar 06, 2019
As machine learning and blockchain technology change the face of finance, business schools must keep pace with their MBA degrees
MBA Careers in Finance: Where Are the Opportunities?
Mar 28, 2018
The doors are open to MBAs in finance, including fintech, wealth management and venture capital
MBA Programs in Finance: Back with Some Twists
Jun 11, 2013
Interest in finance-oriented business programs remains strong, even post-crisis
Islamic Finance Finding a Place in Western Business Schools
Nov 10, 2011
New specialized MBA and MSc programs appeal to professionals looking to work in this surging niche sector.