Best Online MBAs in Finance

Published: Sep 16, 2021
Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find top-ranked online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance degree programs here. Students pursue this advanced degree to further their careers in accounting, finance, investment banking, and the stock market, among others.

University of Arizona
Syracuse University
Wayne State University
University of Delaware
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
University of Maine
Seton Hall University
Thomas Jefferson University
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Texas at Arlington

Marshall University 97%
Southern New Hampshire University 96%
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 96%
Stetson University 94%
University of Maine 94%
University of Central Arkansas 91%
Montclair State University 91%
Thomas Jefferson University 89%
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 88%
Roosevelt University 88%

University of Texas at Arlington 24 to 1
Southern New Hampshire University 22 to 1
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 19 to 1
University of Alabama at Birmingham 18 to 1
Nova Southeastern University 17 to 1
University of Arizona 17 to 1
Montclair State University 17 to 1
Marshall University 16 to 1
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 16 to 1
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 15 to 1

Syracuse University $60,135
University of Redlands $55,678
Stetson University $52,320
Seton Hall University $48,960
Manhattan College $48,658
Thomas Jefferson University $44,350
Nova Southeastern University $36,300
Roosevelt University $33,068
Northwood University $31,600
Mercy College $21,358

Syracuse University $43,428
Northwood University $37,080
Seton Hall University $33,528
University of Redlands $24,060
Roosevelt University $22,764
Thomas Jefferson University $22,509
Nova Southeastern University $22,062
Manhattan College $21,420
Golden Gate University $19,620
Southern New Hampshire University $18,900

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Montclair State University
Northwood University
University of Central Arkansas
Thomas Jefferson University
Arkansas State University
Marshall University
Nova Southeastern University
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University of Redlands

Northwood University
Mercy College
University of Central Arkansas
Southern New Hampshire University
Golden Gate University
Arkansas State University
Nova Southeastern University
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University of Redlands
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Syracuse University 52%
Arkansas State University 70%
University of Delaware 74%
Wayne State University 75%
Seton Hall University 75%
Nova Southeastern University 76%
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 79%
Northwood University 80%
University of Texas at Arlington 81%
Manhattan College 82%

Northwood University 8 to 1
University of Redlands 10 to 1
Manhattan College 11 to 1
Stetson University 11 to 1
Roosevelt University 11 to 1
Golden Gate University 13 to 1
Thomas Jefferson University 13 to 1
Wayne State University 14 to 1
Seton Hall University 14 to 1
University of Maine 14 to 1

Arkansas State University $6,888
University of Central Arkansas $6,950
Marshall University $7,190
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $7,770
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley $7,857
University of Alabama at Birmingham $8,832
University of Texas at Arlington $9,206
Golden Gate University $11,088
University of Arizona $11,210
University of Maine $11,640

University of Central Arkansas $5,133
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $6,138
Arkansas State University $6,282
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley $7,002
Marshall University $7,520
University of Alabama at Birmingham $8,424
University of Texas at Arlington $9,015
University of Maine $9,738
University of Arizona $12,348
Montclair State University $13,740

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About MBA in Finance Degrees

An MBA 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.

Go to Online MBA programs with no GMAT requirements

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a computer responsive test designed to assess certain analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and English reading skills used by graduate management programs, such as MBA programs, to assist with admissions selections.

The GMAT is still required by many graduate schools of all shapes and sizes – elite research universities, public universities, liberal arts colleges, online colleges, etc. There’s no real common denominator for which types of schools require the GMAT, or don’t.

If you are considering a graduate business school that requires the GMAT, then you certainly want to do well on the exam. Even if schools you’re considering don’t require it, you may want to take the test because a high score could still help your application, and because there may be another college that suddenly interests you, and it might require successful completion of the GMAT.

If you’re going to take the test, at minimum you’ll want to study with solid guidance provided by quality resources. People have many different opinions about which GMAT test prep resources are the best, therefore we recommend that you start looking at and comparing the best-selling GMAT test guides.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you are aspiring to be admitted into an elite university’s program, you may want to work with a graduate or business school admissions expert. An admissions consultant can give you the most customized information about your prospects and many will work with you on whatever specific need you might have – test prep, applications, personal essays, and even help with finding meaningful internships.

There is a growing number of high quality MBA programs that don’t require the GMAT. Furthermore, there are a lot of highly reputable colleges and universities offering online MBA programs that do not require the GMAT. If standardized testing simply isn’t a strength of yours, you may want to move your search to focus specifically on online MBA programs with no GMAT requirements.

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

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.

With an MBA in finance, graduates can advance to leadership roles or pursue careers like compliance officers, accountants, investment bankers, actuaries, and stockbrokers.

Learn more about what you can do with an MBA in finance.

What’s the Difference between an Online MBA and Traditional MBA?

How do we determine the best finance master's degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

25 Best Online MBAs in Finance

Career Outlook for Students with Finance Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Finance

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $11,117
Avg. Expenses*: $16,401
Avg. Starting Salary*: $49,486
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $66,101
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 9 years
Job Growth: 5.79%
Number of Jobs: 6,097,600
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	-8.21%	$161,191
Financial Managers	15.98%	$125,312
General and Operations Managers	4.20%	$94,699
Financial Risk Specialists	8.15%	$89,827
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	7.01%	$86,765
Financial and Investment Analysts	7.63%	$82,451
Budget Analysts	3.30%	$78,432
Personal Financial Advisors	12.82%	$78,430
Credit Analysts	-4.25%	$69,568
Financial Specialists, All Other	6.03%	$69,218

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$49,734	$80,742	$134,183

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#2 New York	5% higher than average	$116,857
#3 Virginia	5% higher than average	$93,080
#4 Michigan	15% higher than average	$79,830
#5 Ohio	14% higher than average	$80,280
#6 North Carolina	11% higher than average	$81,347
#7 Missouri	16% higher than average	$76,689
#8 Illinois	7% higher than average	$83,724
#9 Delaware	2% higher than average	$92,054
#10 Minnesota	4% higher than average	$85,359
#11 New Jersey	13% higher than average	$100,855
#12 Georgia	13% higher than average	$77,059
#13 Alabama	13% higher than average	$76,569
#14 Wisconsin	7% higher than average	$82,555
#15 Texas	10% higher than average	$78,351
#16 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$73,670
#17 Indiana	11% higher than average	$75,859
#18 Pennsylvania	5% higher than average	$79,799
#19 Kentucky	14% higher than average	$71,908
#20 Colorado	3% higher than average	$86,407
#21 South Dakota	7% higher than average	$76,600
#22 Iowa	9% higher than average	$75,102
#23 Nebraska	6% higher than average	$77,306
#24 Utah	4% higher than average	$79,103
#25 Kansas	9% higher than average	$74,845
#26 Florida	6% higher than average	$76,451
#27 Oklahoma	13% higher than average	$69,781
#28 Rhode Island	20% higher than average	$96,027
#29 Washington	7% higher than average	$85,324
#30 Connecticut	18% higher than average	$93,610
#31 South Carolina	8% higher than average	$72,641
#32 Oregon	11% higher than average	$87,297
#33 Arizona	5% higher than average	$74,504
#34 New Mexico	7% higher than average	$72,227
#35 California	26% higher than average	$96,567
#36 Vermont	13% higher than average	$86,481
#37 Maryland	18% higher than average	$90,005
#38 Mississippi	18% higher than average	$61,795
#39 North Dakota	average	$75,277
#40 Idaho	7% higher than average	$69,290
#41 Arkansas	16% higher than average	$63,052
#42 West Virginia	11% higher than average	$66,444
#43 Massachusetts	24% higher than average	$91,607
#44 Louisiana	9% higher than average	$66,754
#45 New Hampshire	13% higher than average	$82,189
#46 Alaska	23% higher than average	$89,002
#47 Nevada	5% higher than average	$75,827
#48 District of Columbia	49% higher than average	$107,443
#49 Montana	3% higher than average	$69,005
#50 Maine	9% higher than average	$77,114
#51 Wyoming	2% higher than average	$68,976
#52 Hawaii	40% higher than average	$77,520

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	$161,191
Financial Managers	$125,312
General and Operations Managers	$94,699
Financial Risk Specialists	$89,827
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$86,765
Financial and Investment Analysts	$82,451
Budget Analysts	$78,432
Personal Financial Advisors	$78,430
Credit Analysts	$69,568
Financial Specialists, All Other	$69,218

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

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.

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.

See our complete guide to MBAs for more information.

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Best Online MBAs in Finance

Top 10 Online MBA in Finance Degrees

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About MBA in Finance Degrees

Why get an MBA in finance?

Do Online Finance MBA Programs Require the GMAT?

How long does it take to get an MBA in finance?

What courses will I take while getting an MBA in finance?

What can I do with an MBA in finance?

What’s the Difference between an Online MBA and Traditional MBA?

25 Best Online MBAs in Finance

Career Outlook for Finance degree at Syracuse University

Online Degrees

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Arizona

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Nebraska–Lincoln

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Delaware

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Wayne State University

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Stetson University

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Manhattan College

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Roosevelt University

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Seton Hall University

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Golden Gate University

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Maine

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Mercy College

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Southern New Hampshire University

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Texas at Arlington

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Alabama at Birmingham

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Redlands

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Nova Southeastern University

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Marshall University

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Arkansas State University

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at Thomas Jefferson University

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Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Central Arkansas

Online Degrees