Entering the finance industry is a popular route for MBAs. The sector offers recent grads a wide range of roles, fast-paced environment, and plenty of scope for progression.
According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 34% of MBA applicants are interested in finance. When they graduate, 16% go on seek employment in the finance industry, drawn by promising salaries, big-name companies, and exciting new developments in fintech.
Breaking into such a popular industry can be tricky, so ensuring you have the right skills, experience, and network is key. There are plenty of MBA programs out there, but only a few with the industry connections, faculty, and location to make finding a career in finance a breeze.
Here are our picks of some of the best MBA courses for a career in finance.
1. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
© HKUST via Facebook
% of MBAs in finance: 22% (further 3% in FinTech)
Top employers: Barclays Capital, Citibank, JP Morgan
For 13 years in a row, the MBA at HKUST has sat in the top 20 of the Financial Times’ Global MBA Ranking—an impressive statistic. Even more impressive is that out of the 80-100 students per MBA intake, 22% of these go on to work in finance, with a list of recent recruiters featuring some of the biggest names in banking.
This makes sense considering the school’s location in Hong Kong, one of the biggest financial centres in the Asia Pacific Region. The curriculum also boasts electives in Macroeconomics and Financial Modeling, as well as a tailored curriculum track in Finance.
2. Stanford Graduate School of Business
© Stanford GSB via Facebook
% of graduates in finance: 33%
Top employers: HSBC, American Express, Goldman Sachs
Stanford’s MBA program is billed as the third-best in the world by the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2020, but also boasts strong attractions for those looking to enter the world of finance.
One third of graduates from the program go on to work in the industry, earning an average salary of $174,386.16% of those working in finance are in private equity, with venture capital and investment management making up the other top-three areas.
Stanford’s weighty reputation means big-name employers are a given, and over half of graduate job offers can be linked to school-facilitated activities.
3. NYU Stern
© NYU Stern via Facebook
% of graduates in finance: 30.6%
Top employers: Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Capital One, Morgan Stanley
NYU Stern’s two-year MBA program offers the chance to specialize in up to three areas, so you can dive into Accounting, Banking, Finance, Financial Instruments and Markets, FinTech, or Quantitative Finance, and other finance-related specializations.
Experiential learning in the NYC area is key to this MBA, and finance majors will find the Investment Funds project highly relevant. This exclusive academic course offers students the chance to gain real-world experience in analysis and portfolio management.
Additionally, the program’s location in New York City means you’re on the doorstep of some of the world’s biggest companies—at least three students have made it to Barclays Capital Group, Capital One, Citi, JP Morgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs & Co from the program.
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