Are you interested in learning more about the most affordable finance degree online? if so you are in the right place! The financial sector is always looking for professionals who understand the need for graduate education; this is why an accelerated online Master’s in Finance degree is in such high demand. If you have a bachelor’s degree already then you are in the right place to begin your new path. With cryptocurrency making its way to the mainstream as well as traditional financial transactions getting a technology makeover, professionals in this sector need to be able to keep up with industry changes. The best way to do that is to earn a master’s degree in the field.
The 5 Most Affordable Accelerated Finance Master’s programs are:
- Charleston Southern University
- University of Houston-Clear Lake
- CSU Global
- University of Michigan – Dearborn
- Concordia University Wisconsin
Read on for full profiles of the top 25!
For those who are working and can’t afford to take a few years off to complete a degree, choices can be limited. To start you need a bachelor’s degree in business or finance. You need to be in a place to financially go back to school. Thankfully there are multiple ways to get financial aid. You need to have a list of schools that work in the timeline you need. Fortunately, a set of accelerated programs, each of which can be completed in two years or less, have been designed specifically to be affordable and flexible. These programs are the focus of this ranking.
Featured Schools:
Methodology: Ranking the Most Affordable Accelerated Master’s in Finance
Prospective students want to trust that their degree will pay off, so Fast Online Master’s editors focus our research on legitimate, accredited colleges and universities. We rank programs according to their official tuition rate, using current IPEDS data.
1. Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University offers an MBA in Finance that is ranked among South Carolina’s best online masters degree in finance. In addition, Charleston Southern University offers an affordable online masters in finance that can be completed in only ten months. the only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. Charleston Southern University’s online degree program has received accreditation from the IACBE. Students must complete 30 graduate credit hours to graduate in classes that include principles of leadership and power & influence, plus a graduate internship, among others.
Charleston Southern University was established in the mid 1960s by the S.C. Baptist Convention as a college. The university’s 250+ care campus in North Charleston serves about 3,550 students. The campus of Charleston Southern University was once an indigo and rice plantation.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – 10 months
2. University of Houston-Clear Lake
The University of Houston-Clear Lake offers an MS in Finance that is ranked as one of the best online masters, according to U.S. News. In addition, U.H. Clear Lake’s graduate degree in finance is recognized as Houston’s most affordable online degree program that requires 30-semester credits to graduate. Students can complete this online finance degree from the University of Houston in only 1.5 years if taking two classes per semester, for each of four semesters each year.
The University of Houston-Clear Lake is a higher learning institution that is a member of the Houston system. Founded in 1974, U.H. Clear Lake serves approximately 9,000 students each year. The University of Houston began as the demand for graduate studies grew with the creation of NASA, about a decade before U.H. Clear Lake was founded.
Degree: MS in Finance
Format: Online – 18 months
3. CSU Global
CSU Global offers a Master’s in Finance that has received ACBSP accreditation. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. CSU’s best online masters degree in finance is offered in an accelerated format and explores these finance areas – quantitative skills, investments, and capital market analysis, among others. In addition, CSU Global’s affordable online finance degree requires students to complete 36 graduate semester units. The coursework for this Liberty’s online degree includes corporate finance, investments, insurance, and risk management, plus a finance capstone, to name a few.
CSU Global was founded as an all-online higher learning institution in 2007. More than 20,100 students (mostly adult working learners) attend classes online offered by Colorado State University. CSU Global offers more than a dozen master’s degrees online.
Degree: Master’s in Finance
Format: Online – accelerated
4. University of Michigan – Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn offers an MS in Finance that is recognized among Michigan’s best online master in finance. The University of Michigan’s 16-month, affordable online degree program, offers degree candidates two academic paths – investments or corporate finance. Each of these best online masters degree in finance programs requires the completion of ten to eleven classes for 30 to 33 credit units. Students have the option of transferring up to six transfer credits if eligible and approved by U.M.’s faculty.
The University of Michigan Dearborn (UMD) was founded in the late 1950s and is recognized to be one of the two regional campuses of the state’s university. Nearly 9,550 students attend classes online and on the school’s suburban campus. The land for the University of Michigan was donated by Ford Motor Company, including funds for capital development.
Degree: MS in Finance
Format: Online – 16 months
5. Concordia University Wisconsin
Concordia University Wisconsin’s Business Department offers an MBA in Finance that is considered as one of the best online masters in finance degree programs in Wisconsin. Degree candidates enrolled in Concordia University’s affordable online degree must complete 36 graduate semester hours. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. Graduates of Concordia University Wisconsin’s best online masters degree in finance program enter the workforce as financial advisors, accountants, or financial analysts, to name a few.
Concordia University Wisconsin is a private school a member of the Concordia system, which is managed by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Concordia University Wisconsin’s lakefront campus covers more than 190 acres and serves more than 7,650 students, of which about 500 are from international locations. Concordia University Wisconsin was established in 1881 in a Milwaukee Lutheran Church with only thirteen students.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – generous transfer
6. Liberty University
Liberty University’s Business School offers an MS in Finance program that allows for up to half of the 30 required graduate credits, if eligible. Additionally, Liberty’s best online master in finance can be completed in only twelve months. Degree candidates enrolled in Liberty University’s affordable online degree program offer three academic specialties in financial planning, or a generalist track. The Center for Online Education has recognized Liberty’s graduate finance degree among Virginia’s best online masters degree in finance.
Liberty University was established in the early 1970s as a Baptist college. The school’s campus is home to about 15,500 students, with another 90,000+ students attending classes online. Liberty University is recognized to be among the globe’s largest Christian (evangelical) institutions of higher education.
Degree: MS in Finance
Format: Online – 12 months
7. University of North Carolina at Pembroke
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke offers an MBA in Finance that is ranked among North Carolina’s best online masters degree in finance programs. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. This affordable online master in finance is provided by an AACSB accredited business school and offers degree candidates a one-year completion path. Students enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s online degree program must complete finance classes in corporate finance, investment analysis, and bank management & financial services, to name a few.
The University of North Carolina’s Pembroke campus was founded in 1887 as a normal school for teachers. Currently, UNCP only offers master’s degree programs to its more than 8,050 students. Located in rural North Carolina, UNCP has a long-established history with the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – 12 months
8. Mississippi College
Mississippi College’s Business School offers an MBA in Finance that is ranked as one of the best online master in finance degree programs in Mississippi. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. This flexible and affordable online degree program from Mississippi College mandates degree candidates to complete 30 graduate semester credits in classes that include advanced financial management, policy formulation, and accounting issues within business decisions, to name a few. In addition, Mississippi College’s best online masters degree in finance program can be completed entirely online and in only 1.5 years.
Mississippi College was established in 1826 and recognized as the oldest higher learning institution in Mississippi. Mississippi College is also the 2nd oldest Baptist school in the nation. More than 6,350 students attend classes online and on the school’s suburban campus in Clinton. Mississippi College’s law school is located in Jackson, Mississippi.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – 18 months
9. University of Saint Mary
The University of Saint Mary offers an MBA in Finance that is ranked as one of the state of Kansas’s best online masters degree in finance programs. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. Degree candidates enrolled in this best online master in finance can finish the degree in less than 24 months. The University of Saint Mary’s affordable online degree program includes coursework like financial decisions, advanced financial topics, data analysis for decision making, and financial & capital issues, among others.
The University of Saint Mary was established as a college in 1923. At present, the University of Saint Mary maintains several campuses in Leavenworth, Shawnee, Overland Park, and Wyandotte County. The University of Saint Mary has been recognized by the Princeton Review as a best value school.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – less than 2 years
10. University of Scranton
The University of Scranton’s Kania Management School offers an MS in Finance that is accredited by the AACSB and among Pennsylvania’s most affordable online masters in finance degree programs. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. In addition, the University of Scranton’s best online masters degree in finance program requires degree candidates to complete 30 graduate semester hours to graduate, which can be finished in only one year. Scranton’s online degree program includes coursework in portfolio theory, investment analysis, derivative securities, and managerial economics, among others.
Established by the Lasallian Brothers in 1888 as St Thomas College, the University of Scranton is now organized into three colleges that serve its 5,250 students on-campus and online. the University of Scranton offers nearly 100 academic degree and certificate programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Degree: MS in Finance
Format: Online – 12 months
11. Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte offers an MBA in Finance that can be completed entirely online in only 1.5 years. Q.U.’s best online masters degree in finance program is an AACSB-accredited MBA degree program and recognized to be among North Carolina’s most affordable online masters in finance. Students enrolled in Queens University of Charlotte’s online masters degree must complete a minimum of 39 graduate credit hours.
The Queens University of Charlotte was established in the late 1850s as Queens College as an all-girls seminary. The Queens University of Charlotte is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and has about 2,350 students that study online and on the university’s urban campus in Charlotte. Students enrolled in Queens University of Charlotte are given an impressive 10 to 1 student to faculty ratio. If you were interested in going full time and not working please look into the financial aid programs the school offers.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – 18 months
12. Regent University
Regent University offers an MBA in Finance and Investing that can be completed 100% online. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. Regent University’s ACBSP accredited best online master’s degree in finance program mandates students to complete a minimum of 42 graduate semester units. All online. Up to 49% of the required credits for Regent University’s best online master in a finance degree program may be transferred if eligible. Classes for these affordable online masters in finance degrees include data analysis for decision making, portfolio analysis, financial planning, and financial analysis, among others.
Regent University is a Christian higher learning institution that was founded in the late 1970s by Pat Robertson. More than 8,450 undergraduate and graduate students attend classes on the Virginia Beach campus or online. Regent University offers a variety of associate through doctoral level degrees from its eight colleges/schools.
Degree: MBA in Finance and Investment
Format: Online – transfer 49%
13. University of South Carolina-Aiken
The University of South Carolina-Aiken offers an MBA in Finance that requires degree candidates to complete 36 to 40 graduate credit hours to graduate. U of S.C.’s best online masters degree in finance program is also South Carolina’s most affordable online masters in finance that can be completed in only one year. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, the University of South Carolina finance degree is offered by an AACSB accredited business school. Classes for this MBA in finance include advanced corporate finance, information systems, analytics for accounting/finance, and the ethical environment of business, to name a few.
The University of South Carolina Aiken was established in the early 1960s. The Aiken campus at the University of South Carolina is located about 15 minutes from Augusta and is home to approximately 3,150 students. U.S. News recognizes USCA as the top-rated regional public school in the southern U.S.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – 12 months
14. Davenport University
Davenport University offers an MBA with a Finance concentration that requires students to complete 39 graduate semester credits and was the first online degree in Michigan. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. Davenport University’s best online finance degree program is also Michigan’s most affordable online masters in finance. D.U.’s best online masters degree in finance program includes coursework in financial management, money/capital markets, mergers & acquisitions, and money bank and treasury management, plus a business capstone, among others.
Established in the mid-1860s, Davenport University now serves about 7,150 students on its suburban campus in Grand Rapids. In addition to its main campus, Davenport University has regional facilities in Warren, Holland, Midland, and Lansing. Davenport University is organized into five colleges/schools that offer programs in arts/sciences, urban education, business, health, and technology. If you were interested in going full time and not working please look into the financial aid programs the school offers.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – generous transfer
15. Norwich University
Norwich University offers an MBA in Finance that is recognized to be one of Vermont’s best online master in finance. This affordable online masters in finance from Norwich University can be completed in only eighteen months but requires a one-week culminating residency experience. Norwich University’s best online masters degree in finance program has received accreditation from the ACBSP.
Founded more than two centuries ago as a private military college in Norwich, Vermont, Norwich University is recognized as the oldest of all senior military schools in the nation. More than 2,050 undergraduate and graduate students attend classes online and on-campus. The Dept of Defense recognizes Norwich University as the birthplace of the reserve officers’ training corps.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – 18 months
16. Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University offers an ACBSP-accredited MS in Finance program that is among New Hampshire’s most affordable online masters in finance as well as one of the best online masters degree in finance in the state. Applicants for this best online master in finance may have upwards of 12-semester credits applied to the required 36-semester credits, if eligible. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. This graduate finance degree offers two tracks – corporate finance or investments & securities.
Southern New Hampshire University is a multi-campus institution of higher education that was created as a secretarial school in the early 1930s. This private university is home to one of the largest student enrollments in the nation, with nearly 88,000 students studying online and another 4,000 studying on-campus. The Hooksett campus sits alongside the Merrimack River. If you were interested in going full time and not working please look into the financial aid programs the school offers.
Degree: MS in Finance
Format: Online – transfer 1/3
17. Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University offers an MBA in Finance that can be completed 100% online and is an affordable online finance degree. GCU’s best online master in finance degree requires the completion of 54 graduate semester hours of eight-week classes. Degree candidates who graduate from GCU’s best online masters degree in finance find rewarding careers as executives, financial planners, for financial directors, to name a few.
Founded in the late 1940s, Grand Canyon University operates as a for-profit school with a Christian (non-denominational) affiliation. The school was originally nonprofit but became for-profit in 2004. Grand Canyon University offers more than 200 academic degree programs from the associate to doctoral level.About 90% of the 115,000 students enrolled at Grand Canyon University study through the distance learning platform.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – transfer 1/3
18. Barry University
Barry University’s Andreas Business School offers an MBA in Finance that is ranked among the Sunshine State’s best online finance degree programs. In addition, Barry University’s best online masters degree in finance requires students to complete 36-semester credits – over one year, if studying full-time. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. Classes for Barry University’s online masters include international finance, advanced finance, and financial markets/institutions, among others.
Barry University is a private higher learning institution that is affiliated with the Catholic Church. Located in South Florida, with a student enrollment of nearly 7,500 students, Barry University is recognized to be one of the largest Catholic-affiliated schools in the southeastern portion of the U.S. Barry University was initially established as a women’s college.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – 12 months
19. Rider University
Rider University offers an MBA in Finance that is AACSB accredited and among New Jersey’s best online master in finance degree. Rider University’s online master’s can be finished in only 24 months, but entirely online. This online master’s degree offers students six start dates each year and prepares students for careers as financial managers, treasurers, or financial reporting managers, among others.
Rider University is a private sea-grant school that was founded as a business college in 1856. Nearly 4,900 attend classes online and on the university’s Lawrenceville campus in suburban New Jersey. Rider University’s 275+ acre campus is only a few miles from Princeton University, which is where Rider has a second campus, with a shuttle available for students. If you were interested in going full time and not working please look into the financial aid programs the school offers.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – less than 2 years
20. Northeastern University
Northeastern University’s Business School offers an MS in Finance program that is AACSB accredited and among New England’s best online master in finance. NEU’s online masters in finance can be finished in only sixteen months. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. Northeastern University’s online masters degree in finance offers students six start dates each year and two academic tracks – investment finance or corporate. Core classes include financial strategy, financial theory, investment analysis, and analysis of financial institutions, to name a few.
Northeastern University is a research institution of higher education that was founded in the late 1890s. In addition to Northeastern University’s main Boston campus, Northeastern University maintains campuses in Maine, California, North Carlina, and Canada, plus a newly acquired facility in England. Northeastern University is recognized to be a residential school for undergraduate students.
Degree: MS in Finance
Format: Online – 16 months
21. South College
South College offers an IACBE-accredited MBA in Finance that is ranked as one of the best online finance degree programs in Tennessee. Students graduating from South College’s online masters in finance enter the workforce as a financial manager, consultant, leadership development manager, business administration, or financial advisor, among others. Applicants for South College’s best masters degree in finance are allowed for up to 75% of the required credits to be transferred, if eligible. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree.
South College was established in 1882 as a business school but now operates as a comprehensive, for-profit institution of higher learning. The more than 3,000 students attending classes offered by South College can select from more than 55 academic programs from the associate to doctoral level. South College operates five campus locations in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and online.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – transfer 75%
22. Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University offers an MS in Finance program that has been recognized among one of the best online finance by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Students enrolled in Johnson & Wales University’s online masters degree in finance can finish this master’s degree in finance in only 24 months. The only prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree. In addition, Johnson & Wales University’s online masters in finance meet the educational requirements for students to sit for the CFP Certification Exam. If you were interested in going full time and not working please look into the financial aid programs the school offers.
Johnson & Wales University was established as a business school in 1914 but now maintains a variety of academic facilities through the United States that serves nearly 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Johnson & Wales University is organized into six colleges/schools that offer programs in business, hospitality, health, engineering, culinary arts, and arts/sciences.
Degree: MS in Finance
Format: Online – 2 years
23. University of Delaware
The University of Delaware offers an AACSB-accredited MBA in Finance that is Delaware’s best online finance degree that can be completed in only sixteen months. This online masters in finance from JWU requires degree candidates to complete a minimum of 44-semester credits. Coursework for the University of Delaware’s online master in finance includes financial reporting, fundamentals of analytics, and financial management, to name a few.
The University of Delaware (UD) was established as a land-grant school under the Morrill Land Grant Act in 1833. In addition, U.D. is a sea and space grant school that serves more than 23,950 students each year on its multiple Delaware campuses. The University of Delaware holds the distinction of being the largest institution of higher education in the state.
Degree: MBA in Finance
Format: Online – 16 months
24. Georgetown University
Georgetown University’s McDonough Business School offers an MS in Finance (MSF) program that can be completed in only 21 months. Georgetown University’s best online masters degree in finance degree is ranked as the second in the nation according to Best Choice Schools. Georgetown University’s online master in finance includes classes in financial econometrics, corporate valuation, principled financial leadership, and financial markets, among others. Students enrolled in G.U.’s online masters in finance graduate to find rewarding careers in asset management, banking, or insurance, among others.
Georgetown University was established in the late 1780s by Bishop John Carroll and is recognized as the oldest Catholic higher learning institute in the nation. The school’s endowment of nearly $2 billion serves more than 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year. Georgetown’s campus sits on a hilltop that overlooks the Potomac River.
Degree: MS in Finance
Format: Online – 21 months
25. Johns Hopkins University
Carey School of Business at Johns Hopkins University offers an MS in Financial Econometrics that requires students to complete 36 graduate semester credits. Johns Hopkins University’s affordable online masters in finance degree program offer students a one-year academic study path. Johns Hopkins University’s online masters degree in finance includes classes in financial institutions, business administration, corporate governance, and capital markets, among others. This online master in finance is STEM-designated and dedicates a portion of the curriculum to the CFA’s body of knowledge.
Johns Hopkins University is a multiple-campus institution of higher education that was established in 1876. In this research, a space-grant university typically leads all schools with expenditures on research. More than 20,000 students attend classes offered online and on several campuses operated by Johns Hopkins University. Johns Hopkins University holds the distinction of being recognized as the first research university that was founded in the country.
Degree: MS in Finance
Format: Online – 12 months
Why Should I Get My Master’s in Finance Online?
There are many reputable online master in finance programs that will help you accelerate your career while you are still employed or handling other responsibilities. There are multiple ways to get financial aid if you did want to go full time. But you may be asking yourself why get a masters in finance? Is a masters in finance worth it? The answer is that it depends on your career goals.
A master in finance online program can teach you a competitive skill set that will help you excel within the business community. Online master in finance programs also offers flexible scheduling and the ability to work at your own pace, which can be beneficial to those who are currently working or have other responsibilities like raising a family.
To fully answer the question, is a masters degree in finance worth it? You have to decide what you’re looking to achieve in your career. It can certainly help you gain an edge in a variety of industries including banking, business administration, accounting, wealth management, and many more. Online master in finance programs will teach you a variety of in-demand skills that will help you climb the corporate ladder or work as a consultant.
But why get a masters in finance if you are more interested in working in healthcare or tech? A master in finance online program will help you develop the analytical skills to excel in a career that involves money management. But if you are more interested in a field or position that doesn’t work directly with financials, it may not be worth the time. To answer the question is a masters degree in finance worth it? you’ll have to first decide what you’re looking to achieve and whether a flexible online degree program can help you get there.
Will an Online Master’s in Finance Help Me Get a Job?
There is plenty of great master of science in finance jobs available that offer competitive salaries, benefits, and more. Jobs are available in industries such as investment banking, private wealth management, real estate, advisory services, and more. Jobs for finance masters degrees include corporate investment banker, business administration, financial analyst, financial advisor, stockbroker, actuary, among others. Careers in finance are in demand and the degree will help you excel in your career. Online programs are best suited for those who are already in the field but want to advance. They will teach you the skills that are necessary to obtain a high-level career and impress executives within your organization.
Masters in finance job opportunities are everywhere. Although you will likely find more masters in finance job opportunities at financial organizations like banks, hedge funds, and other companies that manage money. But, every business needs financing and there are plenty of careers available at top companies for those who qualify. Jobs with a masters in finance requirement are most often found at investment banks, VC firms, private equity, fintech, and more.
If you are in search of jobs with a masters in finance requirement, look within your organization or at other similar companies for high-level positions that involve dealing with money. An online program is great for helping you excel within your industry. But if you’re looking to make a career change, you may want to consider a more traditional alternative. Finance careers often require additional experience beyond the educational requirement, which may be hard to obtain unless you’re coming from an industry with a similar skillset. For instance, if you previously worked in real estate development and you want to make the transition to a real estate finance position, you should be able to qualify for jobs for masters in finance with an online degree. But if you are coming from a background in healthcare and want to apply for jobs for masters in finance, you may want to consider a more traditional alternative.
How Much Can I Make with a Master’s in Finance?
The master of finance salary is often competitive with other high-level industries and comes with generous benefits packages, The average master of finance degree salary is around $79,231 but that figure varies greatly depending on the industry, title, and level of experience. The master of finance salary range is between $63,000 and $150,000 per year. The master in finance starting salary is $60,000 for those with no previous work experience. But the master of science in finance starting salary for those able to obtain higher-level positions such as a financial controller or CFO is much higher.
The average master of science in finance salary for a financial analyst is around $60,000 but can jump as high as $75,000 per year once you’ve gained some experience. The master of finance salary range varies greatly across positions and industries. For example, the average master of finance salary starting for an investment banker is $73,000 but jumps to $125,000 after five years of experience. Yet, the master of science in finance salary for a commercial credit analyst is only $55,000 and increases to about $65,000 after 10 years. Compare that to the master of science in finance starting salary for a CFO, which starts around $90,000 and can increase to about $115,000 after 10 years. One of the major benefits of a job in finance is a comfortable salary. But before deciding on a career path, you should take a look at the master of finance degree salary across different industries and job titles, before deciding on a particular field of study.
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