Best Online Master’s in Finance Programs of 2021
February 18, 2021
If you have an eye for detail and a head for numbers, there's never been a better time to pursue a career in finance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that jobs for financial managers will grow 16% between 2018 and 2028 — a rate more than double the national average — and other careers in the field also boast strong growth potential.
What Are the Best Online Master's in Finance Programs of 2021? Here Are Our Top 10:
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| #1 | Georgetown University Washington, DC |
| #2 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL |
| #3 | Webster University Saint Louis, MO |
| #4 | Creighton University Omaha, NE |
| #5 | Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, PA |
| #6 | Colorado State University Aurora, CO |
| #7 | West Texas A&M University Canyon, TX |
| #8 | University of Scranton Scranton, PA |
| #9 | University of Houston - Clear Lake Houston, TX |
| #10 | Texas A&M University - Commerce Commerce, TX |
Related Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you will make. We want to help you navigate the college selection process by offering school rankings that are transparent, inclusive, and relevant for online students. Our rankings are grounded in a few guiding principles and use the latest statistical data available from trusted sources. Read our Ranking Methodology. We hope our approach helps you find the school that is best for you.
2021 Best Accredited Online Master's in Finance Programs
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Located in Washington, D.C., Georgetown's online master's in finance delivers skills to professionals interested in pursuing finance jobs or improving their current career trajectory. The program offers part-time and full-time tracks.
Available through the McDonough School of Business, the degree combines intensive coursework, real-world applications, a global outlook, and commitment to ethical values. Learning outcomes focus on investment evaluations, efficient portfolio building, and ethical standards. Specific classes include financial markets, investments, financial statement analysis, and options pricing.
Students work on a case competition with peers during a week-long opening residency on campus. A capstone project completes the degree requirements. Students can visit the campus for seminars, conferences, and talks.
Georgetown is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and its business school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $2,403 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 32 credits
- Program Length: 21 months
- Format: Online, with one on-campus residency
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 or higher preferred
- Standardized Tests: GMAT or GRE required
Contact the School
UM offers a master of science in finance that helps online students build advanced portfolios and become experts in the field. Flexible options allow participants to tailor studies to their particular interests, needs, and career aspirations. Fortune 500 companies, such as JP Morgan, United Airlines, and Kellogg, employ program alumni.
The eight-course degree requires students to take one seven-week course at a time. Classes include applied corporate finance, derivatives for financial modeling, financial decision-making, and international investments and valuation. Students may add certifications in corporate finance or financial decision-making.
UM, located in Coral Gables, Florida, is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This master's program boasts accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $2,170 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 32 credits
- Program Length: 16 months
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: No minimum requirement
- Standardized Tests: Not required
Contact the School
Webster's online master's in finance provides participants with a quantitative and comprehensive examination of the finance field. Students learn about corporate finance, investments, markets, and institutions. They also take supporting classes in accounting and economics. Graduates learn how to determine financial asset value, analyze a corporation's financial decisions, and evaluate credit and interest rate risks.
Offered through the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology, the curriculum focuses on investments, capital budgeting, and corporate investments. To finish the program, students complete a capstone project focused on mergers and acquisitions. The program also offers advanced certification opportunities for aspiring analysts and financial planners.
Webster is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The degree program has accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $780 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 36 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 2.5 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: Not required
Contact the School
Creighton, located in Omaha, Nebraska, offers an online master's in finance degree. Available through the Heider College of Business, the program teaches a deep, practical understanding of finance, as well as the tools needed to think critically about portfolio management. Graduates can pursue a variety of careers, including accountant, auditor, financial analyst, and certified financial planner.
Classes focus on quantitative and financial analysis, portfolio management, leadership, managerial finance, and ethics. Students can also pursue a master's in finance/MBA dual degree.
Creighton is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Its business school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Finance
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $927 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 33 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: GMAT required for applicants without work experience
Contact the School
SJU's online master's in finance degree teaches learners important problem-solving and critical thinking skills they can apply to the world of finance. The degree offers three career-specific tracks: financial analysis, financial planning (preparing students for the CFP exam), and real estate finance.
Online classes last eight weeks, with most featuring a synchronous evening session a week. Studies focus on topics like shareholder value management, portfolio management, and mergers and acquisitions. The program is one of only a few finance graduate programs in the U.S. that holds accreditation from both the Certified Financial Planner Board and the Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
SJU — located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $1,107 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 30-42 credits
- Program Length: 1-2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous and Synchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: No minimum requirement
- Standardized Tests: GMAT or GRE required
Contact the School
CSU Global offers an online master's in finance that helps professionals hone leadership abilities, obtain an international perspective, and boost finance operational skills. Students add expertise in financial management, investment, and applied research to their current abilities. They also use emerging business trends and the latest business technologies to create financial strategies, analyze risks and investments, and make effective decisions.
Coursework covers topics like corporate finance, quantitative analysis, and effective organizations, and the program concludes with a capstone project. Available degree specializations include accounting, fraud management, and human resource management.
Based in Aurora, Colorado, CSU Global is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Its finance program boasts accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master's in Finance
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $500 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 36 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 or higher preferred
- Standardized Tests: GRE or GMAT optional
Contact the School
WTAMU's master of science in finance and economics prepares graduates to work at finance institutions, consulting firms, or community service organizations. Delivered through the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business and designed for professionals, the program allows for ample customization to meet the specific goals and objectives of students.
Core courses focus on corporate governance, asset valuation, corporate valuation, and international business topics. Prerequisites include nine credits of classes in finance, accounting, and statistics; however, students with a related undergraduate degree need not take these leveling courses.
WTAMU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Its business school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance and Economics
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $504 per credit (in-state); $552 per credit (out-of-state)
- Credit Requirements: 36-45 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: No minimum requirement
- Standardized Tests: GMAT required for applicants with a GPA below 3.0 or less than 10 years of professional experience
Contact the School
The University of Scranton, located in Pennsylvania, offers an online master's in finance. The program provides students with a well-rounded understanding of finance, and participants study financial securities, markets, institutions, and risk. The school is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S.
The degree emphasizes the importance of financial management, investment analysis, quantitative analysis, and responsibility, sustainability, and justice. Elective coursework includes options like financial institutions, treasury management, and macroeconomic analysis.
Students may opt to attend a three-day, on-campus residency, featuring an interactive experience in the Alperin Financial Center. The center allows students to engage in stock trading-floor simulations.
The University of Scranton is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The university's Kania School of Management is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $965 per credit hour
- Credit Requirements: 30 credits
- Program Length: 12 months
- Format: Online, with an optional three-day residency on campus
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: GMAT/GRE requirements waived through 2021
Contact the School
Offered through UHCL's College of Business, this online master's in finance merges quality with convenience, providing comprehensive training that prepares students to become financial leaders. Graduates may qualify for advanced careers in fields including corporate finance, investment banking, real estate investment, and money management.
Classes focus on portfolio management, international finance, and quantitative finance methods. Required core classes cover topics like managerial economics and international finance, while electives include treasury management practices and a finance internship. Students may also add a healthcare administration concentration to their plan.
The University of Houston-Clear Lake is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and its business school holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $1,895 per three-credit course (in-state); $3,464 per three-credit course (out-of-state)
- Credit Requirements: 30 credits
- Program Length: 18 months
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 minimum required on an applicant's last 60 undergraduate credits
- Standardized Tests: GMAT required for students with a GPA below 3.0
Contact the School
TAMUC's online master's in finance program teaches students to apply financial theory to real-world situations. Taught through the university's College of Business, the program teaches students the managerial tools needed to meet global business demands. Coursework also offers certification exam preparation in areas like tax accounting and business analytics.
Studies focus on derivatives and risk management, fundamentals of financial planning, and principles of real estate. Additional topics include econometrics, financial modeling, and fixed-income analysis. The degree also requires a financial planning capstone. Students may add minors, such as business analytics, cybersecurity, marketing analytics, or real estate.
TAMUC is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Its College of Business boasts accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $424 per credit (in-state); $833 per credit (out-of-state)
- Credit Requirements: 30 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: GRE required
Contact the School
Located in Providence, Rhode Island, JWU oversees an online master's in finance program that teaches students about financial software and theory. Graduates learn to apply classroom concepts to real-world issues, using quantitative and qualitative methods to solve financial challenges across a variety of industries.
Studies focus on financial management, financial planning, fundamentals of investment and portfolio management, and retirement planning. The program offers two tracks: students focus on financial planning or pursue a chartered financial analyst designation. The financial planning track features the Certified Financial Planning Board's CPF Certification Professional Education Program. Only a handful of colleges or universities offer this component.
JWU is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education. Its business school holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $817 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 30-36 credits
- Program Length: 15-24 months
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 2.85 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: Not required
Contact the School
UMass Lowell's online master's in finance features 10 courses and provides students with a deeper understanding about how markets work. Students build expertise in capital strategy, statistical analysis, global financial markets, financial modeling, and corporate decision-making. Graduates can pursue careers in banking, financial analysis, risk management, and valuation.
This flexible, online program, taught through UMass Lowell's Manning School of Business, focuses on security analysis and portfolio analysis, financial derivatives, and financial statement analysis. Elective options explore topics like fixed-income securities, bank management, and global financial markets and monetary policy.
UMass Lowell is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, and its business school holds accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $655 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 30 credits
- Program Length: 18 months
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: GMAT required
Contact the School
Located in Manchester, New Hampshire, SNHU's online master's in finance program teaches students financial analysis, decision-making, and quantitative skills. Founded in 1932 as an accounting school, SNHU continues to offer popular finance-related degrees. Graduates may qualify for a variety of jobs, including directors of finance, portfolio managers, and investment analysts.
The curriculum features foundation classes, major courses, and major electives. Topics include managerial economics, financial modeling, and quantitative analysis. Participants conclude the program by completing a finance capstone. The program also offers two concentrations: corporate finance and investment & securities.
SNHU is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Its business programs hold accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $627 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 36 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 2.75 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: Not required
Contact the School
UM-Dearborn offers an online master's in finance degree through its College of Business. Participants learn how to convey detailed financial knowledge through effective communication. Students can choose to learn online, on campus, or through a combination of both.
Classes include financial statement analysis; derivatives and risk management; and investment process, analysis, and management. Students select either a corporate finance or investments concentration. The corporate finance concentration helps students understand financial tactics and business strategies, while the investments concentration teaches learners how to analyze investments and build investment portfolios.
UM-Dearborn is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Its business school boasts accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Finance
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $810 per credit (in-state); $1,437 per credit (out-of-state)
- Credit Requirements: 30-33 credits
- Program Length: Not indicated
- Format: Online or Hybrid
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous and/or Synchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: No minimum requirement
- Standardized Tests: GMAT or GRE required
Contact the School
Located in Gainesville, Georgia, Brenau's online master of science in organizational leadership in finance provides professionals with the skills needed to move into upper management or deeper into the field of finance. Students focus on investments, valuation, corporate financial policy, risk management, and international finance. They also learn about organizational theory and leadership.
Core courses cover resource management, leading the learning organization, and strategic leadership planning. Finance classes include value-based management, entrepreneurial finance, investments, and corporate risk management.
Brenau is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Science in Organizational Leadership in Finance
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $742 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 36-39 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 2.5 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: Not required
Contact the School
The sheer number of online programs available today can make finding the right degree a daunting prospect. The following list compiles some of the country's top online finance programs, each of which offers a mixture of strong academics, online flexibility, and affordable tuition. While no ranking can ever be truly definitive, this list serves as a starting point to help you narrow down your options.
Programs can differ widely in terms of their academic focus, campus requirements, and educational philosophy, so it's always important to research each school carefully. Never hesitate to contact individual schools to learn about specific programs and admission requirements.
Check out the master's in finance degree page to learn about the ins and outs of this challenging degree, from admission requirements to common concentrations and courses.
Completing a degree is only the first step to a successful career. Check out some of the most popular careers for finance majors to understand your options after graduation.