2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Finance
ON THIS PAGE
Overview
An online master’s degree in finance is designed for students and established professionals seeking to further their skills and knowledge in finance in order to obtain employment in the ever-evolving field. Prospective students can expect to explore topics like financial analysis, portfolio management, and international finance. Some examples of potential courses in a finance graduate degree may include Corporate Finance, Global Financial Management, and Portfolio Management. Future students can also expect to complete a capstone course or a seminar before graduating and pursuing careers, like accountants, financial analysts, and financial planners. Similar programs to an online master’s degree in finance are accounting and business administration.
View our methodology for more details about our list or learn more about OnlineU.
Learn more about how we make money. ">ADVERTISEMENT
Online Finance Master's Degrees You May Be Interested In
Southern New Hampshire University Online
Grand Canyon University
Liberty University
Annual Tuition: $8,475
8 Programs (view all)
2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Finance
| Rank | School | Salary Score | Median Starting Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | $104,741 | ||
| Northeastern University Global Network | 88 | $100,801 | |
| Boston University | 71 | $87,851 | |
| Saint Joseph's University | 62 | $83,139 | |
| La Salle University | 61 | $82,610 | |
| Pennsylvania State University | 60 | $82,006 | |
| Seton Hall University | 59 | $81,535 | |
| University of Michigan - Dearborn | 59 | $81,478 | |
| Johns Hopkins University | 55 | $78,878 | |
| Texas A&M University - College Station | 54 | $78,564 |
2023 Online Colleges Offering Master's Degrees
Ranking Details
#1 Georgetown University
- Salary Score: 91
- Median Starting Salary: $104,741
- Locations: Washington D.C.
- Accreditation: MSCHE
Georgetown University is a private, nonprofit, and a Catholic/Jesuit-affiliated institution. It offers two online master’s programs in finance: (1) Master of Science in Finance (14.5 credit hours) and (2) Executive Master of Laws in Securities and Financial Regulation (24 credit hours). Overall, it can take 10-21 months to complete the first program and 1 ½ to 3 years to complete the second program.
Georgetown facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning through the learning management system (LMS) Canvas. A master’s in finance curriculum provides practical business applications. Sample courses include Exempt Securities Offerings, Corporate Finance, and Big Data. The first program requires a two-day in-person orientation visit, a week-long in-person residency, and a capstone project. Graduates' prospective careers include finance directors, financial planners, and quantitative analysts.
#2 Northeastern University Global Network
- Salary Score: 88
- Median Starting Salary: $100,801
- Locations: Boston (MA)
- Accreditation: NECHE
Northeastern University Global Network is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Finance that totals 30 credit hours. Part-time students can complete the program in just 16 months. Prospective students can choose two tracks: (1) Corporate Finance or (2) Investments.
Northeastern facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning via the Canvas LMS. The program’s curriculum delivers coursework to help students become financial experts. The program’s online courses include Investment Analysis, Financial Strategy, and International Financial Management. Students can also expect to complete a seminar. Graduates may enter careers like chief financial officers, financial risk managers, and controllers.
#3 Boston University
- Salary Score: 71
- Median Starting Salary: $87,851
- Locations: Boston (MA)
- Accreditation: NECHE
At Boston University (BU) — a private, nonprofit institution — prospective students can pursue an online Master of Science in Financial Management requiring 40 credit hours. The program lasts between 18-24 months, and it offers two concentrations: (1) International Finance and (2) Investment Analysis.
BU students complete their online coursework, which is delivered asynchronously and synchronously, through Blackboard. The financial management degree at the graduate level hones in on the globalization of finance, covering international finance and similar topics. Sample courses include Financial Regulation and Ethics, Corporate Finance, and Quantitative Methods for Finance. Potential careers for graduates include financial managers, economists, and financial examiners.
#4 Saint Joseph's University
- Salary Score: 62
- Median Starting Salary: $83,139
- Locations: Philadelphia (PA)
- Accreditation: MSCHE
Saint Joseph’s University (SJU) is a private, nonprofit, and Catholic institution that offers an online Master of Science in Finance totaling 30 credit hours. Full-time students may take at least a year and a half to complete this program, which offers three tracks: (1) Financial Analysis, (2) Financial Planning, and (3) Real Estate Finance.
SJU facilitates asynchronous and synchronous distance learning on Canvas. The online finance program gives students access to the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in the ever-changing field of finance. Some of the program’s courses are Shareholder Value Management, Financial Institutions and Capital Market, and Portfolio Management. The Financial Planning track, specifically, requires a capstone course as well. Alumni can pursue careers like budget analysts, financial controllers, and public accountants.
#5 La Salle University
- Salary Score: 61
- Median Starting Salary: $82,610
- Locations: Philadelphia (PA)
- Accreditation: MSCHE
La Salle University (La Salle) is a private, nonprofit, and Catholic institution that offers an online Master of Business Administration - Finance totaling 39 credit hours. Depending on whether students choose to take on a part- or full-time course load, the program can take anywhere from 14-16 months.
La Salle facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning via Canvas. The program’s curriculum prepares students to pursue careers in management and finance, with courses such as Financial Analysis, Global Financial Management, and Business Economics for Managers. Additionally, a capstone course is required for graduation. Prospective careers for graduates include securities analysts, accountants, and finance managers.
Online Master's Degrees in Finance Overview
To earn a master’s degree in finance, students spend two to three years completing the required coursework; most programs require 10-20 courses. Applicants typically need a bachelor's degree, previous coursework in economics and statistics, and GRE or GMAT scores. Students may also be required to have a year or more of professional business experience before applying to MBA programs.
Different finance master's degrees may have different curriculum focuses. For example, some emphasize quantitative understanding of financial instruments, while others emphasize finance integrated with strategic business principles. Some programs include a set course schedule, while others allow students to choose electives in their professional area. Possible electives include bond markets, negotiation, corporate financial policy, and game theory. Most master's programs require that students complete a thesis, which involves a significant amount of research in a particular area of finance theory or practice.
The core of the online MBA degree covers an array of business topics, which discuss nearly every aspect of running a successful enterprise. Courses in leadership and communication areas, such as decision making, leading people, and organizational behavior, discuss the skills for managing employees and organizations. Quantitative courses like data analysis, economics, and financial decision making discuss the critical thinking and math skills necessary to maintain an organization’s financial integrity. Courses in areas like marketing and international business discuss more specialized aspects of promoting a business and integrating it into a global landscape.
Many online master's programs require that students complete an internship in a finance setting; online schools place students in businesses in their local community. Some online business programs require on-site attendance once or several times during the degree program where students visit campus to listen to seminars and meet their cohort.
With a master’s degree in finance, graduates may qualify for positions as financial analysts, stock brokers, budget analysts, personal financial advisors, risk managers, or financial managers. Financial professionals work for investment companies, banks, accounting agencies, the government, and for individual businesses and corporations. Other possible places of employment include hedge funds, investment banks, corporate finance departments, consulting firms, and economic development settings. Those with many years of professional experience can become independent consultants.
Why Trust Us?
27 Data Researchers
60,000 Degrees Researched Annually
20,000 Hours Spent on Research Annually
Launching Rankings Since 2009
Related Articles
2023 Best Online Bachelor's in Finance Degrees
Prospective students can benefit from our 2023 list of the best schools offering online finance degrees at the bachelor's level.
By OnlineU Staff Writers | 12/22/2022