Best Online Master’s in Finance 2025

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Find top-ranked online master’s in finance degree programs to help students advance to leadership roles or pursue careers like compliance officers, accountants, investment bankers, actuaries, and stockbrokers.

Key Takeaways

  • Top online master’s in finance programs offer specialized tracks in areas like investment management, financial analysis, or corporate finance, allowing students to tailor their degree to align with their career goals in specific finance fields.
  • The programs in our ranking are designed to accommodate working professionals, offering flexible schedules, asynchronous courses, and self-paced learning options that allow students to balance their studies with work and personal commitments.
  • Many top finance programs provide virtual networking events, guest lectures from industry leaders, and access to finance-specific resources like trading simulations or financial databases, giving students valuable connections and practical experience in the finance industry.

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best online master’s in finance saw a fair amount of shuffling. Johns Hopkins University was able to move into the top ranking position as the university introduced a flexible, part-time format to its online master’s in finance program that allows students to balance their studies with professional and personal commitments. The curriculum now includes a significant portion dedicated to the CFA Institute’s Candidate Body of Knowledge, effectively preparing students for the CFA exams.

Additionally, the program offers access to experiential learning opportunities, student organizations, and networking events, ensuring online students receive a comprehensive educational experience comparable to in-person programs.

Featured Programs

25 Best Online Master’s in Finance Degree Programs

  1. #1

    Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore , MD
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1545/34

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Johns Hopkins University

    Cost of Degree: $65,956
    Expenses: $22,725
    Starting Salary: $128,042
    Salary after 4 years: $160,023
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Applied Economics And Certificate In Financial Management
    • Required Credits: 45
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  2. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $65K

    Acceptance

    12%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    54K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/33

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Southern California

    Cost of Degree: $68,128
    Expenses: $22,216
    Starting Salary: $127,325
    Salary after 4 years: $159,127
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Financial Compliance
    • Required Credits: 19
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MS in Financial Engineering
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  3. #3

    Boston University

    Boston , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    14%

    Graduation

    89%

    Student body

    44K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1425/32

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Boston University

    Cost of Degree: $64,712
    Expenses: $21,195
    Starting Salary: $108,828
    Salary after 4 years: $136,010
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Financial Management
    • Required Credits: 40
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  4. #5

    University of Missouri

    Columbia , MO
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    75%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1240/26

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Missouri

    Cost of Degree: $13,029
    Expenses: $18,142
    Starting Salary: $84,105
    Salary after 4 years: $104,223
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Finance
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 1 year
    • Format: Online
    MS in Personal Financial Planning
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: 1-2 years
    • Format: Online
  5. #6

    University of Cincinnati

    Cincinnati , OH
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    86%

    Graduation

    72%

    Student body

    48K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1260/26

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Cincinnati

    Cost of Degree: $14,902
    Expenses: $19,772
    Starting Salary: $73,852
    Salary after 4 years: $91,518
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Finance

    Concentrations

    • Corporate Finance
    • Investments
    • Risk Management
    • Real Estate
    • Required Credits: 30-38
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  6. #7

    Fordham University

    Bronx , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    54%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    19K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1400/31

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Fordham University

    Cost of Degree: $25,954
    Expenses: $27,583
    Starting Salary: $96,067
    Salary after 4 years: $120,062
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Global Finance
    • Required Credits: 36-40
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MSRE in Real Estate

    Concentrations

    • Real Estate Finance
    • Required Credits: 6
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  7. #8

    University of Kentucky

    Lexington , KY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    95%

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1180/24

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Kentucky

    Cost of Degree: $14,330
    Expenses: $21,886
    Starting Salary: $80,241
    Salary after 4 years: $99,436
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Public Financial Management
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  8. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    65%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1225/25

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Nebraska–Lincoln

    Cost of Degree: $8,168
    Expenses: $18,548
    Starting Salary: $78,310
    Salary after 4 years: $97,042
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Finance
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    MS in Family Financial Planning
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MBA in Business Administration

    Concentrations

    • Finance
    • Required Credits: 48
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  9. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    46%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    9K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1445/32

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Stevens Institute of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $42,988
    Expenses: $20,900
    Starting Salary: $131,770
    Salary after 4 years: $164,682
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Finance
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    MS in Financial Analytics
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  10. #12

    Liberty University

    Lynchburg , VA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $23K

    Acceptance

    99%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    131K

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Liberty University

    Cost of Degree: $8,340
    Expenses: $21,458
    Starting Salary: $59,361
    Salary after 4 years: $74,187
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Finance
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 1-2 year
    • Format: Online
  11. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $46K

    Acceptance

    76%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1313/29

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Creighton University

    Cost of Degree: $19,676
    Expenses: $16,790
    Starting Salary: $100,512
    Salary after 4 years: $125,617
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MA in Finance
    • Required Credits: 33
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    MIMFA in Investment Management And Financial Analysis
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  12. #14

    Rowan University

    Glassboro , NJ
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $15K

    Acceptance

    77%

    Graduation

    68%

    Student body

    22K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1195/27

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Rowan University

    Cost of Degree: $17,645
    Expenses: $23,642
    Starting Salary: $82,322
    Salary after 4 years: $102,014
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Finance
    • Required Credits: 30-36
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  13. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Acceptance

    86%

    Graduation

    71%

    Student body

    22K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1259/28

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Massachusetts Lowell

    Cost of Degree: $16,050
    Expenses: $17,994
    Starting Salary: $84,996
    Salary after 4 years: $105,328
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Finance
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MS in Business Analytics

    Concentrations

    • Accounting
    • Managerial Decision Making
    • Big Data Analytics
    • Marketing Analytics
    • Finance Analytics
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  14. #17

    Youngstown State University

    Youngstown , OH
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    81%

    Graduation

    49%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    995/21

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Youngstown State University

    Cost of Degree: $6,615
    Expenses: $15,608
    Starting Salary: $59,735
    Salary after 4 years: $74,024
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MA in Financial Economics
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  15. #18

    Golden Gate University

    San Francisco , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Golden Gate University

    Cost of Degree: $17,070
    Starting Salary: $118,005
    Salary after 4 years: $147,479

    Online Degrees

    MS in Finance

    Concentrations

    • Corporate Finance
    • General Finance
    • Investment Management
    • Required Credits: 45
    • Completion time: 2.5-3.5 years
    • Format: Online
    MS in Accounting

    Concentrations

    • Financial Accounting and Report
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MS in Financial Planning
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MS in Advanced Financial Planning

    Concentrations

    • Estate Planning
    • Financial Life Planning
    • Taxation
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MBA in Business Administration

    Concentrations

    • Finance
    • Required Credits: 54
    • Completion time: 3-4 years
    • Format: Online
  16. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $15K

    Acceptance

    96%

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    224K

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Southern New Hampshire University

    Cost of Degree: $20,469
    Expenses: $24,000
    Starting Salary: $71,979
    Salary after 4 years: $89,957
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Finance

    Concentrations

    • Corporate Finance
    • Investments
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MS in Accounting Finance
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MBA in Business Administration

    Concentrations

    • Accounting
    • Business Intelligence
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Finance
    • Human Resources
    • International Business
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
    • Operations And Supply Chain Management
    • Project Management
    • Public Administration
    • Sport Management
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  17. #21

    Purdue Global

    West Lafayette , IN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Graduation

    20%

    Student body

    66K

    Online Degrees

    MS in Finance

    Concentrations

    • Financial Analysis
    • Financial Planning
    • Required Credits: 56
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MBA in Business Administration

    Concentrations

    • Finance
    • Health care Management
    • Human Resources
    • Information Technology
    • Marketing
    • Project Management
    • Required Credits: 60-76
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  18. #22

    North Central College

    Naperville , IL

    Tuition + fees

    $43K

    Acceptance

    61%

    Graduation

    63%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1130/25

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at North Central College

    Cost of Degree: $15,822
    Expenses: $15,568
    Starting Salary: $74,990
    Salary after 4 years: $93,720
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MFM in Financial Management
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: 1 year
    • Format: Online
  19. #24

    Bellevue University

    Bellevue , NE
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    19K

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Bellevue University

    Cost of Degree: $12,432
    Expenses: $16,440
    Starting Salary: $86,747
    Salary after 4 years: $108,414
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Strategic Finance
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  20. #25

    Walsh College

    Troy , MI

    Tuition + fees

    $21K

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for Finance degree at Walsh College

    Cost of Degree: $17,157
    Starting Salary: $89,902
    Salary after 4 years: $112,356

    Online Degrees

    MS in Finance
    • Required Credits: 30-36
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MBA in Business Administration

    Concentrations

    • Finance
    • Information Technology Leadership
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 18 months
    • Format: Online

Career Outlook for Students with Finance Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Finance

Degree Level: Master's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Cost of Degree*: $12,007
  • Avg. Expenses*: $18,863
  • Avg. Starting Salary*: $80,560
  • Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $99,831
  • Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 4 years
  • Job Growth: 7.69%
  • Number of Jobs: 6,304,000
  • * denotes ‘annually’
  • ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Chief Executives5.48%$206,680
Financial Managers16.51%$156,100
Financial Risk Specialists8.35%$106,090
General and Operations Managers5.80%$101,280
Personal Financial Advisors17.10%$99,580

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Chief Executives$206,680
Financial Managers$156,100
Financial Risk Specialists$106,090

Frequently Asked Questions About Finance Degrees

A master’s degree in finance can help working professionals not only advance in their careers, but it can also ensure those in the industry are staying current with industry practices and standards.

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This 30- to 40-credit degree can typically be completed in two to three years either online or in person.

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Additionally, students often have the option to choose from a concentration, like wealth management, investment banking, international finance, and public sector finance. Although courses may vary depending on a chosen program and concentration, courses will cover topics like negotiations, risk management, business ethics, and portfolio management.

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With a master’s in finance, graduates can advance to leadership roles or pursue careers like compliance officers, accountants, investment bankers, actuaries, and stockbrokers.

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Learn more about what you can do with a master’s in finance.

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Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And in many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Resources for Prospective Grad Students

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

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