The Best Master's in Finance Programs in the U.S. for 2026

UF Warrington's William R. Hough MS in Finance is a 32-credit, on-campus program built primarily as a combination degree: current Warrington finance undergrads apply during their second year, then complete 16 graduate credits during their junior and senior years, with 12 of those credits double-counting toward both the bachelor's and the master's. The curriculum runs in 8-week modules and includes a CFA University Affiliation Program, access to a Capital Markets Lab with nine Bloomberg terminals, and electives ranging from Blockchain and Cryptocurrency to FinTech AI/Machine Learning in Finance. A junior-year summer internship is built into the sequence, and the program reports 100% of rising seniors placed into one.

Warrington's Hakia Score is 95.8, and the program graduates 91% of enrollees. At a 24% admit rate it is the least selective of these four, though admission is restricted to current UF undergraduates who clear a 3.5 GPA bar, not the general applicant pool. The tuition gap is the real story: $4,477 in-state versus $25,694 out-of-state, a $21,217 difference that makes this by far the cheapest option here for Florida residents, a fraction of NYU's, Columbia's, or Harvard's price tags. The program reports 98% full-time analyst placement by graduation and, per U.S. News & World Report (2023-2024), a #7 ranking among public graduate finance programs.

Georgetown's online Master of Science in Finance runs on two tracks: a 21-month traditional cohort available full time or part time, and a 10-month accelerated track that compresses the same McDonough School of Business curriculum into under a year. Coursework blends asynchronous "Anytime Media" video lessons with a weekly 90-minute live case session called MSFLive, and every student attends an in-person Financial Markets Residency plus a capstone Global Consulting Project that ends with a team presentation trip to a client abroad.

The program's 95% graduation rate and 13% admit rate put it among the most selective and highest-completing options in this group, factors reflected in its Hakia Score of 95.2, good for #5 nationally. Tuition is a flat $67,896 regardless of residency, since the degree is delivered online with no in-state discount. That mix, a sub-15% admit rate plus a 10-month accelerated option, fits a working professional who wants a brand-name credential fast and can commit to a rigorous, cohort-based schedule rather than a slower part-time build.

WashU's Olin Business School runs the MS in Finance as a full-time, day-course program with three STEM-designated concentrations: Corporate Finance, Quantitative Finance, and Wealth & Asset Management. Students get a 1:1 career coach, access to Bloomberg Labs, and the option to add an experiential learning course through Olin's Center for Experiential Learning or the Wells Fargo Advisors Center for Finance and Accounting Research. The school notes this in-person format has limited scheduling flexibility and points working professionals toward its separate Flex MBA or Online Specialized Master's instead.

Olin's 94% graduation rate and 12% admit rate back a Hakia Score of 95, which ranks #6 nationally. Tuition runs $64,500. The three-track structure, all three are STEM-designated, which extends OPT work authorization for international graduates, suits students who want to specialize early in corporate finance, quant modeling, or private wealth, and who can commit to a full-time, in-person schedule in St. Louis rather than an evening or online format.

Stony Brook's MS in Finance is a 30-credit, 10-course STEM-designated program built around a fixed curriculum: Corporate Finance, Portfolio Management, Derivatives, Bank Management, Risk Management, Mergers and Acquisitions, Data Analysis for Finance, Behavioral and Social Finance, and Financial Modeling, taught mostly hybrid with some fully online courses. It is designed to be completed in 9 months full time, though students can also go part time at their own pace, and every student finishes with a capstone project built with a partner enterprise. Applicants must document prior coursework in statistics or calculus to meet the program's quantitative proficiency requirement.

At a 76% graduation rate and 49% admit rate, Stony Brook is more accessible than the other three programs here. Its Hakia Score of 95 lands it at #7 nationally, just half a point behind Georgetown's 95.2. The real differentiator is cost: in-state tuition is $7,070 against $28,880 out-of-state, a $21,810 gap, and even the out-of-state rate is less than half of Georgetown's $67,896 or WashU's $64,500. A New York resident finishing this 9-month program pays just over 10% of what a Georgetown or WashU MSF student pays in tuition alone, making it the clear value pick for anyone who qualifies for the in-state rate.

Northeastern's MS in Finance at D'Amore-McKim is built for working professionals: it is part time by design, with evening classes in Boston starting at 5:20 p.m. or 7:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, typically finished in two years but extendable up to seven. The school states the curriculum is aligned to CFA exam content, and students can add a Bloomberg Business Lab certification, manage real money through the student-led 360 Huntington Fund, or travel through the Global Field Study. Admission is test-optional, and the program is not STEM-designated.

Northeastern posts a 91% graduation rate against just a 5% admit rate, the tightest admissions filter of any program in this group, more selective than Georgetown's 13% or WashU's 12%. That combination underlies its Hakia Score of 94.6, ranking #8. Tuition is a flat $64,990. The fit is narrow and specific: a finance professional already working in or near Boston who wants a CFA-aligned, evening-only schedule and is willing to clear one of the toughest admit bars on this list.

The Wisconsin School of Business offers the MS in Finance, Investment, and Banking as a 4+1 program: students complete their senior undergraduate year on the finance track, then add a fifth graduate year to earn the master's. It's open to all UW-Madison undergraduates, not just business majors. The program's signature feature is the Stephen L. Hawk Center for Investment Analysis, where students manage more than $15 million in real equities and fixed income assets as a student-run team and present results to a panel of industry professionals. Wisconsin also holds CFA Institute University Affiliation Program status, which the school says keeps its curriculum tied to CFA Program exam content.

Wisconsin's 90% graduation rate and 45% admit rate make it one of the more accessible programs in this group, especially paired with in-state tuition of $10,006 versus $40,506 out-of-state, a $30,500 gap that rewards Wisconsin residents. The Hakia Score of 93.3 ranks it #9 nationally among finance master's programs. The school reports 100% of its 2022 graduating class placed within six months, with an average base salary of $95,600 plus a $10,600 signing bonus; against $10,006 in-state tuition, that reported salary alone would cover the cost of the degree more than nine times over. This program suits students who want hands-on portfolio management experience and a lower-cost path into investment banking, asset management, or credit research.

Boston College's Carroll School of Management runs its M.S. in Finance through the Seidner Department of Finance, with two full-time tracks. The Regular Finance track is a 10-course, 12-month program (7 core courses plus 3 electives) with one fall entry. The Quantitative Finance track is STEM-designated (8 core courses plus 2 electives) with both fall and spring entry, which qualifies international students on F-1 visas for a 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12 months. A part-time option spreads the same 10 courses over about 20 months for students working full time, and all students complete 10 hours of community service to graduate. The school reports the program is ranked #3 in the country and #34 in the world by the Financial Times, and #9 in finance by U.S. News & World Report's business school specialty rankings.

At a 16% admit rate, Boston College is the most selective program in this group after Claremont McKenna, and its 91% graduation rate ties Claremont McKenna for the highest among these four. Tuition is flat at $69,400 regardless of residency, since it's a private program. The Hakia Score of 92.5 ranks it #10 nationally. The entering full-time class averages a 3.45 undergraduate GPA and a 648 GMAT under the current Focus Edition format, with less than a year of work experience and 47% international enrollment; this fits recent graduates aiming directly for corporate finance, asset management, or investment banking roles, particularly those who want the STEM track's extra runway on a U.S. work visa.

William & Mary delivers its Master of Science in Finance through the Raymond A. Mason School of Business entirely online: 32 credits across 8 courses, each running 7.5 weeks, with three start dates a year in August, January, and May, and no GMAT or GRE required. Students can add a specialized certificate, either Corporate Finance or Investment Management, alongside the master's in as few as 16 months, with an optional weekend residency for in-person networking. The six core courses run from Accounting for Decision-Making and Principles of Finance through Advanced Corporate Finance, Corporate Valuation and Credit Analysis, Investments, and Applied Investment Management, with electives available in Behavioral Finance, Real Estate Finance, and Real Estate Investments.

William & Mary's 89% graduation rate and 34% admit rate sit in the middle of this group. Tuition still splits by residency even though delivery is 100% online: $18,709 for Virginia residents versus $43,442 for everyone else, a $24,733 gap. The Hakia Score of 92.1 ranks it #11 nationally. This program fits working professionals who need a flexible, no-test-required path to a master's without relocating, and it rewards Virginia residents with a straightforward tuition discount over out-of-state peers.

Claremont McKenna's Robert Day School of Economics and Finance runs a one-year Master's Program in Finance built on the college's liberal arts core, with an emphasis on financial economics. Current CMC undergraduates can also pursue the BA/MA Combined Degree Program in Finance, an accelerated track that layers the master's directly onto a bachelor's degree, or the Day 4+1 BA/MBA option. The Robert Day Scholars program adds leadership development for students headed into financial services, consulting, or government roles.

At a 10% admit rate, this is the most selective program in this group by a wide margin: about 3.4 times tighter than William & Mary's 34% admit rate and 4.5 times tighter than Wisconsin's 45%. The 91% graduation rate ties Boston College for the highest among these four. Tuition is flat at $67,630, since CMC is private with no in-state discount, and the Hakia Score of 92 ranks it #12 nationally. With total enrollment of just 1,393 students, this is one of the smallest colleges in the group, which fits students who want a tightly coupled, cohort-based path from a CMC bachelor's degree straight into a one-year finance master's.

Boston University is a private, nonprofit institution in Boston, MA. Its Master's in Finance program ranks #13 of the 25 analyzed here with a 90.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 89% of its students, above the 88% average across the ranked schools. Boston University admits 11% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%.

On cost, Boston University charges $66,670 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $133,340 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Creighton University is a private, nonprofit institution in Omaha, NE. Its Master's in Finance program ranks #14 of the 25 analyzed here with a 90.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 83% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Creighton University admits 80% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%.

On cost, Creighton University charges $46,800 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $93,600 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Texas A&M University-College Station is a public institution in College Station, TX. Its Master's in Finance program ranks #15 of the 25 analyzed here with a 90.5 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Texas A&M University-College Station admits 57% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%.

On cost, Texas A&M University-College Station charges $9,092 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $36,169 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $18,184 in tuition for residents, against $72,338 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Tulane University of Louisiana is a private, nonprofit institution in New Orleans, LA. Its Master's in Finance program ranks #16 of the 25 analyzed here with an 89.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 86% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Tulane University of Louisiana admits 14% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%.

On cost, Tulane University of Louisiana charges $64,372 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $128,744 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Auburn University is a public institution in Auburn, AL. Its Master's in Finance program ranks #17 of the 25 analyzed here with an 89.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 82% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Auburn University admits 46% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%.

On cost, Auburn University charges $11,016 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $33,048 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $22,032 in tuition for residents, against $66,096 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution in Pittsburgh, PA. Its Master's in Finance program ranks #18 of the 25 analyzed here with an 89.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 85% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus admits 58% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%.

On cost, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus charges $20,556 a year in-state, versus $40,060 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $41,112 in tuition for residents, against $80,120 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Based in Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Master's in Finance program lands at #19 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 88.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 87% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Case Western Reserve University admits 37% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Case Western Reserve University charges $66,020 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $132,040 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Based in Coral Gables, FL, University of Miami is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Master's in Finance program lands at #20 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 87.3 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. University of Miami admits 19% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%.

On cost, University of Miami charges $60,720 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $121,440 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Bentley University is a private, nonprofit institution in Waltham, MA. Its Master's in Finance program ranks #21 of the 25 analyzed here with an 87.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 87% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Bentley University admits 45% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%.

On cost, Bentley University charges $61,000 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $122,000 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Creighton University is a private, nonprofit institution in Omaha, NE. Its Master's in Finance program ranks #22 of the 25 analyzed here with an 86.2 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 83% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Creighton University admits 80% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%.

On cost, Creighton University charges $46,800 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $93,600 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Lincoln University is a private, nonprofit institution in Oakland, CA. Its Master's in Finance program ranks #23 of the 25 analyzed here with an 85.9 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 100% of its students, above the 88% average across the ranked schools. Lincoln University holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 436 students.

On cost, Lincoln University charges $12,600 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $25,200 in tuition. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 7x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.

Based in Washington, DC, American University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Master's in Finance program lands at #24 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 84.4 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 75% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. American University admits 62% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%.

On cost, American University charges $57,952 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $115,904 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Florida International University is a public institution in Miami, FL. Its Master's in Finance program ranks #25 of the 25 analyzed here with an 84.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 91.4 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 74% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Florida International University admits 55% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 74% to 100%.

On cost, Florida International University charges $4,721 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $16,529 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $9,442 in tuition for residents, against $33,058 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.