11 Best Finance Schools In The US [2023 Rankings]

Best Finance Schools In The US

Finance is a part of daily life, every business, and industry, from manufacturing to retailing to transportation. The best way to get a solid education in finance is through graduate school and attending the best Finance schools. Many different finance degrees are available for business students, but the most popular are MBA programs with a concentration in finance.

Many schools have outstanding reputations for producing top-notch graduates who become leaders in their respective industries. This list will highlight some schools with the best finance programs. 

Finance Schools are educational institutions that offer degrees in finance. These schools may be public, private, or online universities. Finance Schools provide a variety of financial degrees and have different levels of accreditation depending on the institution you choose. Finance Schools are located worldwide and accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) in the U.S. 

The degree you earn from a finance school can open doors to various career options. This is why students study the subject and employers are willing to pay for their services. Finance is one of the most critical subjects in business today, and this importance will only increase as time goes on. A finance degree can lead you to jobs in banking, investing, and financial advising; these positions are always in high demand because they impact businesses’ success or failure.

A finance degree can also help you start your own business if you so choose, many successful entrepreneurs were able to start up their ventures thanks to their knowledge of financial matters, everything from how much money they had available at any given moment (or how much money they could get), who owed them money (and vice versa) when payments were due, etc.

Best Finance Schools In The United States Ranked

There are several universities and colleges of finance in the U.S. offering various levels of education and training in finance; the best of these finance schools include:

  • Stanford Graduate School of Business
  • Harvard Business School
  • Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
  • Columbia Business School
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Sloan School of Management
  • University of Chicago – Booth School of Business
  • New York University – Stern School of Business
  • University of California – Berkeley – Haas School of Business (Tie)
  • Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management (Tie)
  • Yale School of Management (Tie)
  • Dartmouth College – Tuck School of Business (Tie)

1. Stanford Graduate School of Business

Stanford is ranked #1 in financial engineering, entrepreneurship, global management, and marketing. Stanford graduate school of business is a top-notch choice for future finance professionals. With a faculty that includes winners of the Nobel Prize for Economics and the Abel Prize (who has taught at Stanford since 1964), you can be sure you’re getting an education from some of the most knowledgeable professors in business and finance. 

Stanford was Founded as a non-profit school that emphasizes teaching students how to solve real-world problems through academic research. Stanford GSB has seen great success during its history. Since it was founded by Leland Stanford Jr., former governor of California who died while still in office, its strong ties with Silicon Valley companies like Apple make it particularly appealing to many students looking at finance jobs out west. At the same time, they attend school here in California.

  • Applications received: 7,324
  • GMAT Scores: 610 – 790
  • GPA Average: 3.78
  • % of women in the class: 44%
  • Enrollment: 436
  • % of International Students: 35%
  • Successful Alumni: As of September 2021, 31,468 living Alumni, including Whitney Birdwell, Margaret Brooks, Bryn Panee Burkhart, Margaret Chan, Ricki Frankel, Peter Gandolfo, Cindy W, etc. 

2. Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School (HBS) is a renowned business school in Boston, Massachusetts. It has the longest-running global MBA program and is considered one of the world’s most prestigious business schools. Harvard Business School’s MBA programs consistently rank atop nearly every significant ranking of graduate business schools, including those by Forbes magazine and Poets & Quants. 

The school also offers an array of executive education courses for mid-career professionals, with over 800 participants from more than 100 countries each year. Harvard Business School has produced many successful graduates and alums who have gone on to become leaders in different industries worldwide: Carlos Slim Helu (Mexico), Elon Musk (Tesla and SpaceX), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Bill Gates (Microsoft), and Jack Dorsey (Twitter).

  • 2023 Enrollment: 730
  • Countries Represented: 60
  • Universities Represented: 315
  • Women: 42%
  • Median Total GMAT Score: 730
  • Average GPA: 3.69 
  • GMAT Range: 590-790
  • International students of Harvard business school online: 66.7%
  • Endowment: $5.3 BILLION
  • Alumni: 48,142 Some include the following: Abby Johnson, Bill Ackman, Chase Carey, Elaine Chao, Henry Paulson, Robert Kraft, etc.

3. Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is ranked #3 in the world by Financial Times and #1 in the world for entrepreneurship. Wharton also ranks #2 in the world for finance and supply chain management and #1 in North America. Wharton offers undergraduate, MBA, and doctoral degrees covering various topics, including management and corporate strategy, health care management and finance, and real estate investment analysis

Wharton students can choose from more than 150 elective courses offered by more than 30 different departments at Penn’s campuses in Philadelphia or New York City. Some courses are even taught by leading executives from companies like Google Inc., General Electric Co., American Express Co., Bank of America Corp., Morgan Stanley & Co., Microsoft Corp., and BlackRock Inc. The University of Pennsylvania, often referred to as Penn or UPenn, is a private Ivy League research university located in the University City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Ninth in the world by U.S. News & World Report and among the top 15 global universities by Academic Ranking of World Universities. 

The school was Founded in 1740 as a charitable institution for educating Dissenters; it has been home to many academic disciplines, including architecture, arts, and design; business administration; engineering science; international relations; linguistics; mathematics, including statistics; psychiatry/psychology (applied); religious studies/theology (applied); social work/social sciences (used). The University also houses several professional schools, such as the Wharton School of Business Administration. 

  • Applications: 6,319
  • Enrollment: 877
  • Countries Represented: 77
  • % of Women: 50%
  • % International Students: 35% 
  • The average GPA is 3.6 on a 4.0-grade scale
  • GMAT Average: 733
  • GRE QUANT Average: 162
  • Successful Alumni: Some of the notable alumni of Wharton include: Ivanka Trump, Ronald Perelman, Donald Trump Jr, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Fred Wilson, Phil Murphy, etc. 

4. Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School is one of the oldest business schools in the United States. It was founded in 1896 as a department within Columbia University and later became an independent institution in 1916. Today, this Ivy League school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to more than 6,000 students at its New York City campus. The curriculum at Columbia Business School is divided into two parts: core courses required for all students and electives that allow students to focus on their chosen career paths. 

Core course offerings include accounting, finance, general management strategies, marketing, organizational behavior & human resources management. Elective selections may consist of topics such as analytics for business leaders (covering statistical thinking), digital transformation strategy (focused on developing effective digital systems), entrepreneurship + innovation (which focuses on creating new companies from scratch), or health care leadership in emerging markets (focusing on how emerging markets need customized solutions).

  • Applications received: 6971
  • Average GMAT: 729
  • Undergraduate Average GPA: 3.5
  • Enrollment: 782
  • GMAT Range: 540 – 780 (2023 average GMAT 729)
  • Tuition Cost (per year) 2021-2023: $77,376
  • % of women in the class: 40%
  • % of international citizens: 44%
  • Endowment: $750 million as of 2019
  • Alumni: Columbia has over 44,000 living alumni, with some of the more notable alums including the following: Warren Buffett, Henry Kravis, Sallie Krawcheck, Robert J. Stevens, Mitch Albom, etc.

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Sloan School of Management

MIT Sloan is ranked #5 in the world, #3 in the U.S., and #1 for MBA salary. It also has a Full-time MBA program ranked #2 for business schools worldwide. MIT Sloan offers an MBA program with a curriculum tailored to enable students to transition from where they are now into leadership positions within their organizations or industries of choice. Students can choose from three programs; finance and strategy; management sciences; or marketing, technology, and operations management (MTOM).

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It has been named one of the most innovative universities in the world. MIT is known for its strength in engineering and computer science. MIT has one of the world’s largest university endowments and is a member of the Association of American Universities, an organization comprising 62 leading research universities in North America (including Harvard University). 

  • Application received: 1300
  • Median GMAT: 730
  • Average GPA: 3.59
  • Enrollment: 450
  • GMAT Range: 690-760
  • MBA Cost (per year): $ 80,400
  • Female Students: 44%
  • Countries Represented in Class: 64
  • % International Students: 43%
  • Alumni: Some of the more notable alums from Sloan include: John Shepard Reed, Koffi Annan, Chris Hondros, Donald Vester Fits, William Clay Ford Jr, Carly Fiorina, etc. 

6. University of Chicago – Booth School of Business

The University of Chicago – Booth School of Business is a top-ranked school with a highly selective admissions process. It offers a wide variety of finance courses, including two first-year courses on introductory financial accounting and financial markets. Booth’s MBA program is highly ranked and has been widely praised for its diversity efforts and career services support. 

The MBA program is geared toward working professionals who want to advance their careers; you don’t have to have an undergraduate degree in finance or business to apply, but your GPA will be considered when deciding about admission into the program. The Graduate Program in Finance at the University of Michigan was recently ranked number one by Bloomberg Businessweek. It’s also considered one of the best graduate programs because students gain real-world experience as part of their studies by working with leaders from different companies across many industries.

  • Applications received: 5,037
  • Enrolled: 620
  • Average GMAT Score: 732
  • Undergraduate GPA (2023): 3.6
  • Average GRE score: 320
  • % of women in the class: 42.3%
  • % of international citizens: 38.9%
  • Countries represented: 56
  • Tuition Fees (2023-2023): $77,841
  • Alumni: Some of the more notable alums of the school include: George Conrades, Bryan Johnson, Richard H. Kimball, Bernard Kramer, Partner, McDermott, Will, etc. 

7. New York University – Stern School of Business

New York University’s Stern School of Business is one of the largest business schools in the U.S., with over 1,300 students and over 100 full-time faculty members. The school offers a wide range of programs that can be completed online, on campus, or abroad, including an innovative Global MBA program that allows you to study at any of NYU’s global locations worldwide. NYU Stern is ranked top in entrepreneurship and innovation studies by U.S. News & World Report 2019 edition while also being ranked #1 for corporate social responsibility (CSR). In addition, entrepreneurial education at NYU has been identified as being among the top 20 programs globally by Entrepreneur Magazine.

New York University is ranked #10 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of best national universities. The NYU Stern School of Business, commonly referred to as “Stern,” offers various finance-related programs to prepare students for careers in finance and related fields.

Stern has a strong alumni network, with more than 2,800 MBA graduates currently working in investment banking, asset management, and other aspects of corporate finance. Stern also has one of the most competitive financial aid programs among top business schools: approximately $6 million annually is awarded out of a total endowment that exceeds 3 billion dollars.

  • Application Received (2023): 3958
  • Admitted: 771
  • Enrollment: 360 
  • Admission Rate: 19% 
  • % of Women: 41%
  • Average GPA: 3.59
  • Average GMAT: 729
  • Countries Represented     32
  • % of International Students      32%
  • Alumni – Some of the more notable alums of Stern school of business include: Robert Greifeld, Tom Freston, Alan Levin, Vanessa O’Brien, Richard S. Fuld, etc. 

8. University of California Berkeley – Haas School of Business 

The Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, is tied for eighth with Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business. Founded in 1898, Haas is one of the oldest business schools in the country.

The school’s mission statement reads: “Our vision is to create a world where people and organizations thrive in an increasingly complex, interconnected, and competitive environment.” And it does so by offering two types of MBA programs: full-time or part-time evening courses that take 18 months to complete; and executive MBAs geared toward those who wish to advance their careers without changing jobs or quitting work altogether (executive MBAs can be completed in just 18 months).

UC Berkeley offers a Bachelor of Science in Finance, a Master of Science in Finance, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Finance. UC Berkeley is ranked as one of the top public universities in the world. It has a strong focus on research and innovation, which means students can pursue advanced degrees that will set them up for success in the job market upon graduation.

  • Enrolment: 291 
  • Average GMAT: 726
  • Average GRE Verbal: 161
  • Average GRE Quant: 162
  • Average GPA: 3.67 
  • Countries Represented: 46
  • % of International Students: 37% 
  • % of women in the class: 37%
  • Tuition Cost (per year): $76,187
  • Alumni: Some of the more notable alums of Haas school of business include the following: Abbey Breshears, Brandon Doll, Monica Stevens, Tony Brekke, Robert Lutz, Paul Otellini, Barbara Desoer, etc. 

9. Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management 

Northwestern is a private research university that offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and 200 graduate degree programs across nine academic colleges. The Kellogg School of Management, established in 1908, is one of the top business schools in the world. Its location in Evanston, Illinois, gives students access to opportunities in Chicago and Milwaukee.

The University strongly focuses on undergraduate research through its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). The school also offers an international study abroad program for students who want to complete part or all of their coursework overseas. More than 70 study abroad locations are available for students wishing to get out of their comfort zone and experience new cultures firsthand while pursuing their degree in finance. 

  • Enrollment: 508
  • Average GPA: 3.7
  • Average GMAT: 727
  • Average GRE Verbal: 162
  • Average GRE Quant: 165 
  • % of Women: 49% 
  • % of International Students: 36% 
  • Full-time Tuition Cost 2021-2023: $76,368
  • Alumni: Some of the more notable alums of Kellogg school of management include the following: James L Allen, Douglas R Conant, Ted Phillips, Roslyn M Brock, Alexander De Croo, Doug Monro, Steve Haffner, etc. 

10. Yale School of Management 

Yale School of Management was tied for 10th place. Yale’s MBA program is consistently ranked among the best in the world, but it also offers top-notch undergraduate programs and part-time MBAs. The school’s location in New Haven, Connecticut, doesn’t hurt either; the city has plenty to offer students who want to enjoy a little downtime outside class.

Yale has been offering graduate business education since 1921 and is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the country. It provides a variety of programs at both the graduate level and undergraduate level that allow students to earn degrees from some of its most well-known academic departments, such as Business Administration (MBA), Economics, English Language & Literature, and History (Ph.D.). 

  • Enrollment: 349
  • Average GMAT: 730
  • Average GRE Verbal: 166
  • Average GRE Quant: 165
  • Average GPA: 3.69
  • % of Women: 43% 
  • % of International Students: 44%
  • Countries Represented: 40
  • Alumni: Some of the notable alums of Yale school of management include the following: Drew Bartkiewicz, Jed Bernstein, Adam Blumenthal, Laszlo Bock, Paul Bracken, Roger H. Brown, Ketan Ramanlal Bulsara, etc. 

11. Dartmouth College – Tuck School of Business 

Tuck School of Business is a top business school in Hanover, New Hampshire. It is currently ranked #10 in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Business Schools and #11 in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings. The Tuck MBA program offers four core courses: operations, strategy, leadership, and finance. Students will learn how to communicate effectively with various stakeholders while developing strong leadership skills that can be applied to any career path they choose after graduating from this program.

MBA Career Services works hard to help students secure internships during their time at Dartmouth College – Tuck School of Business so that they have an opportunity to gain experience before entering their first job after graduation day. 

  • Enrollment: 294
  • Average GMAT: 724
  • Average GRE Verbal: 162
  • Average GRE Quant: 162
  • Average GPA: 3.54
  • % of women: 46% 
  • % of International Students: 41% 
  • Tuck Tuition Fee (Per Year): $77,520 
  • Alumni: Some of the more notable alums of Tuck school of business include the following: Kamran Pasha, William Barnet III, Christopher A. Sinclair, Steven Rogel, Janet L. Robinson, Joseph A Hafner Jr, etc.

There are a lot of things to put into consideration when choosing a finance school for your education. Here are the top ones.

  • Location: If you want to stay close to home, consider a school in the same city or state as yourself. If you’d rather live in one place than another, this should be considered when selecting your school. This is important because the school’s proximity to your residence or city center will significantly impact your cost of transportation. 
  • Cost: How much do you have saved up? You’ll need enough money to pay for tuition and housing while at school. Some schools offer financial aid packages or scholarships for students who qualify, so check into this before deciding what schools are suitable for you. 
  • Reputation: What’s the importance of this college when compared with other colleges? Does it stand out from its competitors? If so, why? This kind of information can help give insight into whether or not a college might be worth attending due to its strong reputation within certain circles. 

We hope this list has helped you understand which schools have the best finance programs. As we mentioned earlier, there are many factors to consider when choosing which school is right for you. You can contact the school directly if you’re looking for more information on these programs regarding resumption time and other specific details. 

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