10 best finance schools worldwide. How to make the right choice

Finance seems like a great career choice if you’re good with numbers and want to make six figures soon after graduation. However, employers pay special attention to education when hiring financial consultants or auditors, so choosing the right finance schools becomes a decision that can define your future for decades to come.

To help you make sense of dozens of undergraduate and postgraduate programs available in the US and worldwide, we’ll introduce you to the best finance schools and highlight their differences. We’ll also share a few tips if you want to research them on your own. When you pick the schools you’ll apply to, remember to contact our write my paper service for admission writing help to boost your chances of getting into the right school. Also, feel free to check out our list of great finance dissertation topics!

What makes the top finance school?

Top university rankings account for various factors before publishing their best finance schools lists. You can read more about their methodologies, but we won't go into detail. Instead, we will focus on the main parameters that affect the finance schools position in global rankings. These include:

1. Graduate employment rating. It's not just about the percentage of graduates getting jobs after graduation but also about their reputation among employers. The better education the finance schools provide, the more likely companies are to seek out their graduates. 
2. Citation statistics. The h-index shows how many professors conduct research and publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals. The more relevant and in demand their research is, the more citations they get. Combining research with teaching always produces the best learning opportunities for finance graduates.
3. Reputation. Aside from the school’s popularity among employers, rankings account for its academic standing and student feedback. An unblemished reputation means no scandals or skeletons in the closet regarding teaching and research quality.

The best finance schools in the US

There’s no consensus regarding the best finance schools in the US, but these five invariably appear among the top 10 options, regardless of the ranking methodology:

1. Harvard Business School is a part of the oldest US-based university, founded in 1636. It offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Finance and Business Management, including MA and MSc degrees. Despite high tuition fees, Harvard Business School offers financial aid packages and provides access to student societies, research facilities, etc.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) may be known for its STEM programs, but the MIT Sloan School of Management focuses on finance and business management. Like other programs, they prioritize quality teaching through smaller classes and lower student-to-faculty ratio (3:1), which ensures a high 4-year graduation rate of 82%.
3. University of Pennsylvania is a relatively small private university founded by Benjamin Franklin with one of the most sought-after Finance programs from Wharton School. Only 6% of applicants are accepted, but small classes and high-quality teaching ensure 88% of students graduate within 4 years. 
4. UC Berkeley has one of the largest and most diverse campuses in the US, with over 33,000 students. The university focuses on social sciences and business management, offering undergraduate and postgraduate Finance degrees.
5. Carnegie Mellon is another smallish private school with a focus on computer sciences and business management programs. It also hosts several successful sports teams and boasts an excellent academic reputation and solid teaching quality, but the tuition fees are pretty high.

Other popular finance schools include the University of Texas Austin, New York University, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, and Boston College. 

Top 5 finance schools outside the US

Comparing the best finance schools globally is more challenging, considering their diverse environments and academic requirements. Still, these five universities have excellent reputations in the finance industry:

1. University of Oxford (UK) is the oldest British university, offering undergraduate and postgraduate finance programs. Aside from its reputation, Oxford is also renowned for its huge alumni network of over 250,000 graduates, including 26 Nobel Prize winners, countless political leaders, and Olympic medalists.
2. London School of Economics (UK) offers 26 postgraduate programs in Business and Management and supports an impressive international community of over 140 nationalities. LSE is also known for its prestigious public events hosting global political and business leaders.
3. University of Cambridge(UK) is better known for its Humanities programs, but there are also popular postgraduate Finance programs. Cambridge takes pride in quality education, impressive collections, and museums available to students and alumni.
4. National University of Singapore (NUS) focuses on scientific degrees, including an MSc in Finance. The university prioritizes multi-disciplinary research and teaching and has a diverse network of industry, academia, and government partners. It’s also among the most diverse campuses globally, with nearly 40,000 students from 100 countries.
5. Bocconi University (Italy) is among the top European schools for social sciences, business management, and finance. The teaching staff brings theoretical and applied research into the classrooms to empower graduates to put their newfound knowledge to good use.

If none of these finance schools fit your requirements, look into London Business School, the University of Toronto, HEC Paris Business School, or the University of New South Wales. 

Finance graduates’ career options

With a degree from one of the finance schools on our list, you can secure a well-paying job as a:

• Financial analyst. Most large corporations employ financial analysts to analyze market trends and prepare reports for easier decision-making. Thanks to transferable knowledge and skills, you can work anywhere in the world and across various industries and niches. 

• Financial advisor or manager. Unlike analysts, financial advisors usually work with individual clients and help them manage their assets. Your job may include creating financial plans, offering investment advice and strategies, risk management, retirement, or estate planning.

• Investment banker. Your job responsibilities would include market analysis and investment advising, as well as handling international financial operations and corporate deals and mergers. Investment bankers can help negotiate deals and raise funds.

• Accountant. You can work as a personal or corporate accountant to handle financial records. Common specializations include tax and audit accounting, as well as financial planning and management accounting. Note that you might need to focus on accounting classes at finance schools to fulfill either of these roles. 

You can diversify your career prospects by choosing the right second major or minor. For example, a focus on data analytics or programming can come in handy for financial forecasts and financial analysis.

Tips for choosing the right finance school

Now that you know the best schools with finance programs in the US and worldwide, let's go over a couple of considerations to help you make an informed decision:

1. Research potential employers. Check their employees' LinkedIn accounts to learn where they graduated from. It will give you a better idea of which finance schools are popular among potential employers and help guide your decision. 
2. Study the school professors’ latest publications. If you want to work in a specific field, look for professors who specialize in it. Their recent works will help you decide which research and teaching programs fit your interests the best.
3. Consider your budget. Applying for one of the top finance schools will always be a financial burden, especially if it's out of state. Unless you can apply for scholarships or grants, attending a state university will be cheaper, even if it doesn't have the same reputation among employers. 
4. Check out student feedback. Look for professor, program, and school reviews on social media, Quora, or Reddit. Although you cannot blindly trust everything you read online, the general sentiment should tell you what to expect beyond the school's marketing efforts. If possible, audit some of the professors' lectures or find them online to get a better idea of their teaching style.

Use these tips to find the right fit among the best finance schools on our list, and return to check out our collection of finance essay samples after you get in.

Conclusion

Now you know the best schools for finance majors, whether you want to make a name for yourself as an investment banker on Wall Street or run a small accounting business. Use our tips to learn more about all finance schools on your shortlist, and remember to send out several applications to improve your chances of getting into the right program. And once you do, return to SpeedyPaper for finance homework help when the deadlines are too tight, or the requirements are too unreasonable.