The Top Finance MBA
Online Programs

An ever-changing business environment is expanding the traditional role of finance. In today’s market, organizations require more from financial professionals than traditional number crunching. Now, there is a need for finance professionals with advanced skills in financial management, investment analysis and risk management. An online Master of Business Administration in Finance can prepare students with the skills to manage capital investments and budgets, to diagnose and solve common financial problems and to lead large finance departments to organizational goals.

MBA finance online programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) often rate well in online finance MBA rankings. Students pursuing an accredited online MBA in finance learn how to perform risk analysis, manage foreign currency risk, evaluate investments and explore quantitative methods of valuation. Top AACSB online MBA programs also teach students about mergers and acquisitions, licensing, joint ventures and initial public offerings from a management perspective.

How can I tell if an online MBA finance degree is right for me?

An online Master of Business Administration in Finance should be considered by anyone interested in commercial banking, corporate finance or financial planning.

Additional common traits amongst many online MBA finance students are:

• A flair for evaluating information to determine compliance with standards
• A desire for selling or influencing others
• A skill for organizing, planning, and prioritizing work
• A knack for getting information
• A proclivity for analyzing data or information

How long does it take to earn an MBA online finance degree?

Earning a finance MBA degree online is comparable to earning any other similar degree. Two years of full time schooling is on average required to complete this degree. However, part-time or accelerated programs are offered by some business schools to allow students to finish the degree under a timeframe that suits their schedule.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA [finance] schools online?

Before enrolling in online MBA finance programs, business schools require students to have an undergraduate degree. Some schools that have an MBA finance online program prefer applicants who have degrees in areas such as business, marketing, international business, and business administration.

Many online MBA in finance programs also base admission on the following criteria:

• Graduate Management Admission Test scores (GMAT)
• Work experience
• References or Letters of Recommendation
• Academic transcripts

What courses will I take in finance MBA programs online?

Typically, students in the first year of a finance MBA online program take a set of core classes designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in business administration. Most accredited online finance MBA schools require classes in management, accounting, business communication, organizational leadership, statistical data analysis and business law and ethics.

During the second year, students pursuing a finance MBA online take specialized courses directly related to finance. Topics such as strategic cost management and financial management policy build on the core business fundamentals from the previous year. In addition, many finance MBA schools online also offer classes in subjects such as corporate finance, capital markets theory and practice, investment analysis and management, computational finance and financial institutions and markets.

In addition to coursework, internships are also completed by some students in online finance MBA programs. Internships are useful. Through them, students not only make valuable business contacts, but they also get a chance to apply what they are learning in their classes.

What are the best online MBA in finance books I should consider reading?

For students wanting to pursue finance MBA careers, some insightful books include:

1. Security Analysis: Principles and Techniques (Benjamin Graham, David Dodd) – In this book, considered by many to be a classic, the authors introduce the reader to the foundations and principles of value investing, a strategy that emphasizes investments in undervalued assets.

2. American Commercial Banking: A History (Benjamin J. Klebaner) – The author traces the evolution of commercial banking in the United States from its inception in the late eighteenth century, offering an important historical perspective for future financial leaders.

3. Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers and Acquisitions  (Joshua Rosenbaum, Joshua Pearl, Joseph R. Perella) – In a step-by-step approach helpful to MBA online finance students, this book defines key terms and explains the financial concepts and processes vital to investment banking.

4. The End of Wall Street (Roger Lowenstein) – Lowenstein chronicles the 2008 financial collapse, drawing on 180 interviews with top government officials and Wall Street CEOs.

5. Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies  (Tim Koller; Marc Goedhart; David Wessels) – Using case studies to illustrate valuation techniques and principles, the authors provide practical advice on how to create, manage and measure the value of an organization.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue finance MBA jobs?

There are currently over 477,000 jobs in financial services, commercial banking, financial management and investment banking, many of which are suitable for graduates of the best online MBA finance programs. Salary ranges vary by industry and position, but a potential finance MBA salary may be similar to the following averages:

• Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – $246,793
• Commercial Finance Manager – $118,998
• Finance Manager – $110,824
• Senior Financial Analyst – $97,602

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs for financial managers will experience 9% growth over the next ten years. The growth rate can be attributed to the need for financial managers who can plan, direct and coordinate investment capital as the economy rebounds and strengthens.

Many employers want graduates who have graduated from AACSB accredited finance MBA programs. Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation typically indicates that a business school gives students a quality education.

What are the top online schools to pursue an online Finance MBA degree?

• Ashford University
• Grand Canyon University
• Northeastern University
• Strayer University
• University of the Southwest