Best Finance MBA Programs Online in 2023

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree continues to be among the most popular of all degrees for a simple reason: The MBA is the best choice for those seeking to expand and accelerate their business career paths, gain future-oriented business skills, and, of course, make more money. A major component of most MBA programs today is specialization, which allows the students to focus their studies on a particular area of the business field in depth. This specialization also prepares them for specific business roles, as well as making them more appealing to employers and job markets.

We’ve put together this guide to the top online MBA programs specializing in finance today. In this guide, you’ll find lots of valuable information on how to find the right program that best fits your needs, what you’ll learn in the MBA program for finance, how you can pay for the program, and most importantly, the career opportunities for you with your MBA in finance. 

So, if an executive-level business through investments, financial analysis, global markets, portfolio management sounds good to you, keep reading to be introduced to the best online MBA in Finance programs for 2023.

Spotlight on 3 Top Online MBA in Finance Programs for 2023

One of the best ways to know what a great online MBA in Finance can offer is to take a look at some of the best programs currently out there. That’s why we’ve selected three such programs and spotlighted them below. Our choices were made based on the availability of a number of student-focused features, including accreditation, affordability, study flexibility and convenience, and access to quality academic and career support services. Check out which online MBA in Finance programs top the list for 2023.

• Bowling Green State University

  Ohio’s Bowling Green State University’sMaster of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance program is both convenient and affordable. Earning the degree requires completion of a total of 30 credit hours consisting of 15 credits of core business and finance-focused courses, 12 credits of electives, and a 3-credit culminating capstone project. Coursework is presented in an online asynchronous format allowing students to log on and complete their studies at times and places most convenient to them. This program is designed with working professionals so the entire course features seven-week courses with multiple start dates throughout the year. This quick and accessible program can be completed in a year.

  Admissions requirements for Bowling Green’s finance MBA program include a bachelor’s degree earned with an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher, three years of professional work experience (including military service), and three professional references. The current program cost (including fees) for the 30-credit program is $17,850 for Ohio residents and $18,180 for out-of-state residents. Applicants with a non-business bachelor’s degree can be admitted to the program, but they are required to complete an additional nine credits of co-requisite foundational business courses. 

• Louisiana State University Shreveport

  Finance MBA degree seekers looking for a program with maximum study flexibility and affordability will have a hard time trying to find a better choice than the Online Master of Business Administration with Finance concentration offered by Louisiana State University Shreveport through LSU Online. The curriculum consists of 21 credits of core managerial-focused coursework and nine credits of specialization required courses and electives. On a happy note, there is no required thesis or capstone project. LSU’s program is designed in a way that is accessible for professionals, coursework can be accessed from anywhere at any time. Students are able to set their own study pace, and there is an option to accelerate that pace and complete the degree requirements in less than a year. The current total tuition cost is $12,474, making it one of the best bargains among quality, fully accredited finance MBA online options available.

  Admission into LSU’s Online MBA with a concentration in finance program requires a bachelor’s or a graduate degree from a regionally-accredited university. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree must also have a minimum of 3.0 GPA on their last 60 undergraduate semester hours. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may still be admitted if they meet alternative requirements, such as three years of professional work experience or an exceptional GMAT test score.

• University of North Carolina at Pembroke

  UNC Pembroke offers its Master of Business Administration with Concentration in Finance in a 100% online format and a program length of as few as 12 months. The 36-credit course of study includes core courses in subjects such as managerial economics, international business, and marketing strategy, along with specialization coursework in subjects such as investment analysis, corporate finance, and financial services. The program culminates with the completion of a strategic planning capstone project. UNC’s MBA with a concentration in finance is notable for its highly affordable total cost of $11,073 (tuition and fees) for North Carolina residents. It is slightly more expensive for out-of-state residents with $37,191.

  The program is open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree of any major from a regionally-accredited university earned with a GPA of 2.5 or higher on all major courses or senior year coursework. GMAT or GRE test scores are also required, but waivers are available to applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants with a non-business bachelor’s degree might have to take up to four additional business foundation courses.

Cost of an Online MBA in Finance Program

We’ve listed in the chart below the current tuition costs of five online MBA in Finance programs to provide you with a general idea of what you might expect to pay for your finance MBA degree. As indicated by these tuition prices, total costs can vary, even substantially, from program to program.

Just remember that there are lots of funding resources out there that can help you pay for your education, so be sure to contact the financial aid office at each school you’re considering to see what’s available. And to learn more about paying for your online finance MBA degree, be sure to visit OCM’s own FAFSA, financial aid, and scholarships guides.

How Much Your Online MBA in Finance Could Cost

What to Expect in Your MBA in Finance Online Program 

Among the biggest benefits of an MBA in Finance program is that it tailors your knowledge and skills in an important area of business and expands your career opportunities at the same time. That’s because the curricula of finance MBA programs combine foundational business and leadership coursework with finance-focused core and elective courses that prepare you to work as a financial professional in all sectors and industries of the business world. Below, you will find descriptions of five courses common to most MBA in finance degree programs so you will have some knowledge of what to expect. 

As a student in an online MBA in Finance program, you will likely complete either all or the bulk of your degree studies online. Most finance MBA programs deliver the content through the use of a specific learning platform such as Blackboard and Canvas. This will include class sessions, course materials (books, readings, assignments, etc.), and various interactive applications (emails, class chat rooms, live streamed meetings, virtual study groups, etc.). Class lectures are typically presented in an asynchronous format so you can access and view them at those times most convenient to you. However, there may be some synchronous class requirements as well depending on your specific program. Synchronous class sessions are typically scheduled for evenings and weekends to best accommodate working professionals. For example, there may be required or optional live-streamed class sessions in which you’ll log on and attend at specific times.

Common Online MBA Courses

• Investment Analysis and Management

  This course provides a deep dive into the foundational and modern investment theory and practice that provides students with the necessary framework for successful investment decision-making. Topics include capital markets and capital asset pricing, the characteristics of individual security types, derivatives, investor psychology, and more. Portfolio management topics include portfolio composition, risk management, evaluation and performance criteria, and the impact of government regulation.

• International Financial Management

  Building on principles of domestic corporate financial management, this course examines the various factors to be considered and applied to investment decision-making in the international business environment. Topics include asset valuation and value-based management, short-term and long-term global funds, and the basic tools and techniques used in measuring and managing international financial risks.

• Leadership and Ethics

  Survey of issues related to leadership from a business ethics perspective. Students examine complex legal, ethical, political, social, cultural, and economic issues through the use of case studies, critical thinking and problem-solving theories and models. Specific topics covered include agency, privacy, director and officer liability, product liability, contracts and intellectual property, employment discrimination, and even bribery.

• Marketing Management

  Detailed study of the foundations and practices of modern marketing from a finance management perspective. Students examine the relevant principles and analytical methods used to create and develop marketing strategies. Specific topics include: consumer and market analysis; product development, pricing, distribution, placement, and promotion; and market segmentation and targeting.

• Strategic Planning Integrative Capstone Project

  Introduction to concepts and strategies used by businesses to develop and sustain a competitive advantage in both domestic and global markets. Often designated as the capstone course for many online finance MBA programs, students apply and integrate the knowledge gained throughout their studies to analyze and resolve complex organizational issues through simulations, case studies and/or project formats.

FAQs About Online MBA Programs

• What’s the difference between an online MBA and traditional MBA program?

  In regard to admissions requirements and curriculum content, there is almost no difference between the MBA in Finance online and on-campus programs offered by the same school. You’ll likely take the exact same classes taught by the same instructors with the same syllabus; therefore, you will receive an education of identical academic quality. The big differences, of course, involve how program content is delivered. There are benefits to each delivery type. We discussed above the benefits of study convenience and flexibility afforded to online students, particularly working professionals. So, if you intend to continue working full-time while pursuing your degree, an online MBA in Finance program is probably your best option. Students who want to focus primarily on their studies or work part-time might prefer the more traditional and on-campus option, especially if they prefer in-person interaction with instructors and fellow students.

• Can I work full-time while pursuing an online MBA?

  The simple answer is yes. And, in fact, there are plenty of online MBA in Finance students that continue to work full-time throughout the duration of their degree studies. But it will depend on the specific program you choose and your study-pace. Most online MBA in Finance programs offer students options for studying full-time or part-time. Many programs present some or all of their courses in an asynchronous format that allow students to access and complete their coursework at any time that best fits their busy work and life schedules.

• What types of accreditations should I look for in an online MBA in Finance program?

  Accreditation is the process used to confirm that colleges and their programs maintain acceptable academic standards. There are two basic types of accreditations you’ll look for in the MBA in Finance online programs you consider. The first, institutional accreditation, concerns the academic quality of the college as a whole. Institutional accreditation of U.S. colleges and universities is handled through a number of regional and national accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  The second type, programmatic accreditation, concerns the vetting of individual degree programs. There are three main accreditors of MBA programs, including MBA in Finance: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). You can typically find accreditation information on college and degree program websites. You can also check current accreditation status by using the DOE’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

• What are the admissions requirements for an online MBA?

  As you might expect, the admissions requirements for online finance MBA programs vary somewhat from program to program. Nevertheless, you will find that most programs have admissions requirements similar to the following:

  • Bachelor’s degree: A bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university or international equivalent. Most programs accept bachelor’s degrees in any major, but typically require applicants with non-business bachelor’s to complete a small number of business foundation courses either before or during their finance MBA studies.
  • Minimum GPA: Most programs will require a minimum GPA on the applicant’s transcript, but a minimum GPAs from 2.5 to 3.0 are not uncommon. It’s also common for programs to admit applicants with lower GPAs who meet additional requirements such as minimum GMAT or GRE test scores or a stated number of years of professional work experience.
  • Work experience: Some online MBA in Finance programs require applicants to have a minimum number of years of professional experience in leadership and/or finance roles regardless of undergraduate GPA.
  • GMAT/GRE scores: Programs may or may not require applicants to submit GMAT or GRE test scores, or may require them of applicants with a lower than required undergrad GPA.
  • Additional requirements: Other common application submissions include a current resume, letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose.

• How long does it take to earn an MBA in Finance?

  One of the great benefits of earning your MBA in Finance online is that most programs are 100% online (see below) and deliver content that can be accessed and completed asynchronously. As a result, most programs are extremely accommodating to the individual student’s chosen study pace and completion time. Many students, in fact, take as long as two to three years, or more, to earn their degrees. Nevertheless, many programs state a minimum program length of just under 1½ years to two years. And there are plenty of programs today that offer the option of accelerated study allowing students to complete all degree requirements in as little as one year or even less. Examples include William Paterson University (as few as 12 months), Eastern Washington University (as few as 10 months).

• Can I earn my MBA 100% online or do I need to visit campus?

  Yes, during your program search, you will discover that the majority of online MBA in Finance programs available today are presented in a 100% online format. In addition, most of these programs deliver all or most of their course content in an asynchronous format allowing students to log in and attend to their studies at any time and from anywhere. However, you will be required to meet certain deadlines (assignments, exams, etc.). You may find that some programs include required or optional synchronous online or even in-person components, so be sure to speak with a program representative before signing on to any online finance MBA program.

What You Can Do with an Online MBA in Finance

We’ve highlighted below three high-demand and highly-paid job titles common to MBA in Finance degree holders. These job titles are prime examples of one’s you’ll find available from public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses in all sectors and industries in the economy. We’ve also included current salary figures for each. It’s important to note here that some of these careers will accept a bachelor’s degree, but an MBA in Finance will likely lead to middle to senior management positions either immediately or much more quickly than for those with only a bachelor’s degree. There are also many other careers in which having an MBA is an absolute requirement.

Financial and Investment Analysts

Either directly as employees or as independent consultants, financial and investment analysts help companies and other organizations make important decisions about how to raise and invest the funds needed to launch, operate, and grow their businesses. They employ advanced research tools to analyze financial data to predict and confirm investment performance, and report their findings to company executives and stakeholders.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022

Financial Manager 

Financial managers are in charge of overseeing the financial health and well-being of a company or organization. Duties include preparing and reviewing financial statements (budgets, business activities reports, etc.), analyzing market trends, determining cost savings measures, supervising financial staff, and ensuring that their organization meets all tax and other finance-related legal requirements.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022

Financial Risk Specialist 

Financial risk specialists (aka financial risk analysts or risk management specialists) are financial professionals with the specialized knowledge and skills to identify and analyze financial risks that could positively or negatively impact the operations of a business or organization. Specific areas investigated include credit and market risk exposure, earning capacity, regulatory and legal risk exposure, and more.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022