Finance is integral in pretty much every business school. Whether it is a major, concentration, or even just part of a core curriculum, it’s an important field for business students to learn. Many top business schools offer great programs for undergrads interested in finance, so let’s get into the ones that really shine:
UPenn
UPenn and more specifically the Wharton School of Business has a serious finance program. If you are thinking about Ivy League business school, Wharton should be on your list for most concentrations. Finance is no exception. Their program covers asset management and financial markets; investment banking in a global context; the financial management of commercial and industrial enterprises as well as of financial institutions; the financial aspects of venture capital, mergers, and acquisitions; and global management consulting. It also prepares students for law and public sector jobs on top of hard finance careers.
UT Austin
The McCombs School of Business at UT Austin gives students a lot of options when it comes to finance. Students pursuing their BBA in finance can choose to be a general finance major or choose to concentrate in corporate finance and investments, banking, energy finance, investment management, financial markets/banking, or real estate finance. They also offer a wealth investment minor. Having so many specializations means students can really make a niche for themselves in the finance department.
MIT
If you are into an approach to business that really goes into the math and science behind business, MIT’s Sloan School is the perfect place for you. Their Course 15-3 Finance (for whatever reason they choose to label their majors like this) promises to “train students for careers that focus on the application and management of modern finance tools. Beginning with the fundamentals of finance, accounting, microeconomics, probability, and statistics, students then choose electives based on specific finance interests.” 15-3 students can also choose to double major in a wide variety of science majors including computer science and engineering and mathematical economics.
UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley and the Haas School of Business maybe shouldn’t make this list for the simple fact, they don’t have a dedicated finance major. Instead, they offer a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. However that major gives a broad approach to business and they offer several finance courses. Introduction to Finance is a core course for all Business Administration students and they offer several higher-level courses as well. The TLDR is Haas is a great business school and even if you can’t major in finance there, you will learn it so we decided to put it on our list.
NYU
NYU and their Stern School of Business focus on two subfields: corporate finance and investments/capital markets. Those concentrating in Finance can take a wide range of electives that mix and cover both of the subfields. People who aren’t concentrating on finance can also take finance courses if they are interested.
Cornell
Cornell has two options when it comes to studying finance. It is a core of their SC Johnson College of Business but there are two schools under their school of business that also offer finance courses. Both their Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration list finance under their core curriculum. Most students interested in finance will go the Dyson route and it’s what we would recommend for most students interested in Business and Cornell, however for some students, the Hotel School is also a great and more unique business option.
Boston College
The Carrol School of Management at Boston College offers a concentration in finance for management school students and a minor for those outside of the business track. Both a great options for those interested in finance. Those in the concentration take a finance core and then electives. Their electives include specialized courses such as International Finance, Investment Banking, Fixed Income Analysis, and FinTech and Cryptocurrencies. There are a lot of options when it comes to their finance electives.
CMU
While Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business doesn’t have a finance major it does have a finance concentration. This means that you will have to choose a major and then on top of that concentrate in finance. This is a great route for students who want to learn not only finance but other business skills or disciplines.
Indiana University at Bloomington
IUB and the Kelley School of Business offer a finance major as well as a diversity in finance program. The finance major is great, but the more unique program at IUB is their diversity initiative. The Finance Diversity program was made to get more diversity into the field and helps people from diverse backgrounds onto Wall Street with professional development opportunities. They also have an Undergraduate Financial Services Club for those trying to network outside of class.
University of Michigan
Finance at Michigan is a little complicated. Mostly because we tend to recommend the Ross School of Business at the Ann Arbor campus. Ross doesn’t have a pure finance major. Instead, Ross students earn a Bachelors in Business Administration, and that BBA comes with courses in finance both in the core and electives options. Women can also join the Och Initiative for Women in Finance at Ross which is a diversity program to help end the underrepresentation of women in finance. However, the Dearborn Campus and their College of Business also offers a complete finance major. Both programs are good, but the Ross School is better even though there is not a dedicated finance track.
Understanding finance is important for all business school students and is one of the disciplines that is also important for its real-world uses. Fiance majors go on to exciting jobs both on and off Wall Street. When looking for an undergraduate degree that will set you up for a strong understanding of finance, you can’t go wrong with any school on this list.
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