Top Business Schools for Finance or Financial Services 2023

Each year, many students are interested in studying an MBA in Finance. And why not? Strictly in terms of salaries, there are very few job paths that are more lucrative than a post-MBA career in finance or financial services Jobs can be found in the financial services firms (such as J.P Morgan), as well as in credit unions and banks.

An MBA in Finance can address specific issues related to these career paths. A Finance MBA’s program typical curriculum may include classes in macroeconomics, corporate finance, global economics, financial markets, and derivatives, for example. 

It’s worth noting that those who are interested in pursuing a career in finance after their MBA may not need to specialize in the topic, as most accredited MBA programs will cover finance topics in their core curriculums. However those who are looking to transition into the financial services career after their MBA often consider studying in financial hubs, such as New York, London, or Hong Kong. 

Post-MBA positions in financial services can include everything from a risk management specialist to a financial analyst or even an asset manager. For students interested in this area of business, many business schools offer MBAs in Finance, as well as in related fields like Accounting and FinTech.

For a more analytic understanding of finance, some business schools also offer one- or two-year Master of Finance programs. Students interested in landing financial jobs in non-finance organizations might also want to look into the best MBA programs for Corporate Finance.

See below for the top 10 MBA programs for Finance or Financial Services.

New York City, New York 158 Followers 259 Discussions
Columbia CBS

The “Finance and Economics Division” is by far Columbia Business School's largest division, and offers almost half of all the courses at the school. Columbia's proximity to Wall Street means that students don't have to go far to network with financial executives. Of the MBA class of 2021, 36 percent of students went into roles in the financial services industry (including investment banking, hedge funds, private equity firms, and other parts of the industry). The school also offers a five-month online certificate in Corporate Finance.

View School Profile
Chicago, Illinois 42 Followers 149 Discussions
Chicago - Booth

In any particular year, up to 40 percent of MBA graduates go into the financial industry. Finance-minded students can choose to pursue Booth's long-standing Finance concentration, or drill deeper into the theories with a unique specialization in “Analytic Finance.” Booth’s Fama-Miller Center produces a range of research in financial topics.

View School Profile
New York City, New York 177 Followers 249 Discussions
NYU - Stern

Where some MBA programs offer a single concentration in finance, NYU Stern offers six, including a specialization in Financial Technology—“FinTech”—that was launched in 2016. Students regularly go on to land finance jobs with the Federal Reserve Bank and Nomura Securities, as well as into a wide range of corporate finance roles. Thirty-five percent of the class of 2021 went into careers in financial services, in industries like investment banking and private equity.

View School Profile
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 67 Followers 171 Discussions
UPenn - Wharton

Of Wharton's MBA class of 2021, over 35 percent of graduates went into financial services companies, including large firms like J.P. Morgan, Credit Suisse, and Goldman Sachs. A growing percentage has also been going into firms specializing in financial technology—FinTech—as well. MBA students can choose to pursue the school's popular concentration in Finance and build a network through its Finance Club.

View School Profile
Kingston, Canada 36 Followers 74 Discussions
Queen's

In any given year, up to 40 percent of the school’s MBAs go into the financial services sector, one of the highest rates of all the Canadian business schools surveyed by FIND MBA. Finance-minded students can pursue an MBA specialization in Finance or choose to pair their MBA program with a Master of Finance. In recent years, Queen’s MBAs have been snapped up by firms like Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Capital One, and Credit Suisse, among other firms.

View School Profile
London, United Kingdom 168 Followers 475 Discussions
London Business School (LBS)

A Tube ride away from the London Stock Exchange, London Business School is at the heart of one of the world's most active financial centers. The school offers a robust range of finance electives, including classes in derivatives and hedge funds. Over one-quarter of 2021 LBS MBAs went into finance-related industries. Goldman Sachs and citi are among the school’s top recruiters.

View School Profile
Beijing, China 8 Followers 52 Discussions

The past couple decades have seen a gradual opening-up of the Chinese financial system, and this coupled with unbridled economic growth has encouraged the development of a strong financial industry. Guanghua, with its Beijing location and some specialized curriculum, is in a good position to land grads in this growing field. In recent years, over 35 percent of the Guanghua MBA cohort has gone into the finance sector

View School Profile
Hong Kong, Hong Kong (PRC) 20 Followers 77 Discussions
CUHK

CUHK placed 33 percent of its MBA class of 2021 into the finance industry (including banking, investment/asset management, venture capital and private equity), one of the highest rates of any school surveyed by FIND MBA. The school’s MBA concentration in Finance prepares students for finance roles in Hong Kong and the Asia more broadly. 

View School Profile
Hong Kong, Hong Kong (PRC) 43 Followers 85 Discussions
HKU

Hong Kong—one of the world’s financial centers—is a great place to do an MBA in Finance. As part of the program, students can also study for four months in other financial centers like New York or London, with partner schools LBS and Columbia. In recent years, over 30 percent of graduating MBAs have gone into the financial services industry, many landing jobs in some of Hong Kong’s biggest financial firms.

View School Profile
Frankfurt am Main, Germany 113 Followers 83 Discussions
Frankfurt School

Over the past two years, Frankfurt has become a destination for some banks and other financial services company fleeing London, amidst the uncertainty of Brexit. This is good news for finance-minded MBAs graduating from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, who now may have more job possibilities as a result. In recent years, over one-quarter of the MBA cohort from the school has gone on to finance roles.

View School Profile

Related MBA News

Jun 29, 2021

The Financial Times Updates Master in Finance Rankings for 2021

Jun 29, 2021

More MBA News

Related Articles

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

How FinTech is Making Its Way Into MBA Programs

Sep 12, 2017

FinTech is disrupting global financial markets in a big way; here’s a look at how MBA programs are turning a focus to the sector.

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.

More Articles

More Top 10 Lists

More Top 10 Lists

Related Discussions

Binghamton or Albany MBA for Finance?
Mar 20, 2023  489  Duncan
MSc Finance Cranfield Vs Bayes (Cass) vs Queen Mary Universi...
Feb 20, 2023  493  Duncan
HKUST - Finance
Apr 15, 2022  565  Inactive User
MBA with Focus on investing / financial markets
Mar 01, 2022  336  Duncan
Advice needed
Nov 15, 2021  294  Duncan
Do people work in finance after an MBA?
Nov 02, 2021  380  laurie
MBA in Finance
Oct 08, 2021  627  laurie
Best MiF degrees for International student placement
Feb 19, 2021  673  Duncan
MBA or MSc for Career change to Finance Industry?
Sep 28, 2020  313  Inactive User
Master in Finance - EMLyon or Grenoble Ecole de Management
May 20, 2020  863  Duncan
MSc Finance: Warwick vs ESADE
May 11, 2020  663  Duncan
Msc Finance UEBS vs Msc Corporate Finance Cass
Apr 28, 2020  544  Duncan
How good is Skema for a Master in Finance?
Dec 18, 2019  3,192  Duncan
MSC in finance in Henley business school
Nov 13, 2019  884  Razors Edg...
Best Courses/Degree/Diploma Program for Finance
Jul 30, 2019  142  Inactive User
Sustainable Finance MBA
May 22, 2019  554  Inactive User
12 years work-ex ( 4 businesses so far) - Career change to F...
May 09, 2019  568  Inactive User
MBA for Finance/ MiF with experience
Mar 07, 2019  1,255  Duncan
Mba in finance, financial services or consulting.
Jan 18, 2019  768  Spreadsmil...
Best online MBA for Investment Banking and Finance?
Jul 30, 2018  918  maury
The FT's 2018 Best MBAs for Finance Ranking
May 17, 2018  378  Inactive User
Real Estate / Finance MBA
Dec 13, 2017  957  Inactive User
MBA Programs for Finance (US)
Oct 11, 2017  330  OliverBusc...
Quantitative Finance vs Corporate Finance
Sep 27, 2017  852  Neelam Cha...
Canada: Finance rankings highlight low wages
May 10, 2017  773  Razors Edg...

Go to FIND MBA Discussion Board

Advanced MBA Program Search
KEYWORDS (optional)
COUNTRY / REGION
SPECIALIZATION
LANGUAGE
PROGRAM TYPE
INTAKE
SHOW ONLY
AVERAGE GMAT
AVERAGE WORK EXPERIENCE
TUITION
DURATION