online phd in financial management

• Best Online Ph.D. In Finance Programs

Best Online Ph.D. In Finance Programs Of 2024

Updated: Mar 28, 2024, 12:10pm

A Ph.D. in finance can prepare you for various specialized, high-level roles in financial management , business management, financial analysis and academia. Schools of business often offer finance as a concentration within a broader business management or business administration doctoral program .

Finance doctoral programs explore investment analysis, strategic financial planning, advanced accounting and corporate finance. In addition to coursework, students must research, write and defend a dissertation.

This page lists all four schools that meet our ranking criteria and offer online Ph.D. in finance programs. Learn how to choose and what to expect from a Ph.D. in finance program.

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Our Methodology

We ranked four accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online Ph.D. in finance programs in the U.S. using 14 data points in the categories of student experience, credibility, student outcomes and affordability. We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites.

Data is accurate as of February 2024. Note that because online doctorates are relatively uncommon, fewer schools meet our ranking standards at the doctoral level.

We scored schools based on the following metrics:

Student Experience :

• Student-to-faculty ratio
• Socioeconomic diversity
• Availability of online coursework
• Total number of graduate assistants
• Portion of graduate students enrolled in at least some distance education

Credibility :

• Fully accredited
• Programmatic accreditation status
• Nonprofit status

Student Outcomes :

• Overall graduation rate
• Median earnings 10 years after graduation

Affordability :

• In-state graduate student tuition and fees
• Alternative tuition plans offered
• Median federal student loan debt
• Student loan default rate

We listed all four schools that met our ranking criteria.

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Online Ph.D. in Finance Options

How to find the right online finance ph.d. program for you, should you enroll in an online ph.d. in finance program, accreditation for online ph.d.s in finance, frequently asked questions (faqs) about online ph.d.s in finance, university of the cumberlands, texas tech university, kansas state university, national university.

Program Tuition Rate

$749/credit

Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education

Overall Graduation Rate

The University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, offers a hybrid executive Ph.D. in business with a specialty in finance. Learners develop leadership, research and teaching skills that can help them excel in business.

The curriculum includes core, professional research and specialty area coursework. The program also requires an applied learning practicum every semester, which lets students apply knowledge in real-world settings and gain professional experience. Learners must also attend an intensive in-person residency weekend each semester.

Admission requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA and a master’s degree in a relevant field.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on your schedule
• School Type: Private
• Application Fee: $30
• Degree Credit Requirements: 66 credits
• Program Enrollment Options: Full-time
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Managerial ethics and social responsibility, comparative economics
• Concentrations Available: N/A
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, for residency weekends and applied learning practicums

$9,518/year (in-state)

Texas Tech University claims to offer the first Ph.D. in financial planning, a 60-credit program that equips students for careers in financial planning research and academia. Texas Tech delivers the Ph.D. both on campus and online.

Students in the program must complete a dissertation in addition to 60 credits of graduate coursework. The degree prepares students to become Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs), and learners who have not yet completed a CFP board-registered financial planning program may have to complete additional classes. The degree program requires an entrance exam and field experience.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn around your 9-to-5
• School Type: Public
• Application Fee: $75
• Degree Credit Requirements: 60 credits
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Security industry essentials for financial planning professionals, legal and regulatory aspects of personal financial planning
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, for field experience

$661/credit

Kansas State University features a Ph.D. in personal financial planning available in a hybrid format, with some degree requirements taking place on the school’s Manhattan, Kansas, campus. K-State claims to offer the first predominantly online personal financial planning doctorate, one of only three programs registered with the CFP Board. The program is designed with working professionals in mind.

Learners take online courses during the winter and spring semesters. During summer terms, students complete residency sessions and 10-day intensives on campus. The final summer term involves international travel to explore how global markets impact financial planning in the United States.

• Application Fee: $65
• Degree Credit Requirements: 90 credits
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Retirement planning for families, introduction to financial therapy
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, for on-campus residencies and cohort travel

$442/quarter credit

You can earn a fully online Ph.D. in business administration degree with a concentration in financial management from National University , based in San Diego, California. The program explores financial analysis, strategic planning, and research and development. Coursework focuses on international financial issues, accounting for nonprofit organizations and investment analysis. Students also complete dissertation research.

You can start working on your degree whenever it’s most convenient for you, with start dates every Monday. The program requires 20 courses and takes 40 months to complete. For direct entry into the program, you’ll need a master’s degree in a general business area or a master’s in any field and an undergraduate business degree.

• Application Fee: Free
• Degree Credit Requirements: 60 quarter credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Investment portfolio analysis, advanced financial statement analysis
• In-Person Requirements: No

Not sure where to start in your college search? Let’s explore your options.

Consider Your Future Goals

An online doctorate in finance can help you obtain the knowledge and credentials you need to qualify for an advanced, research-based career in finance . But each program is unique, so you’ll need to do some research to find the one that best matches your career goals.

For example, find out if your prospective online Ph.D. in finance requires an internship or another form of field experience. Real-world experience can round out your education and help you make valuable connections for when you graduate. However, it can also add time to your degree and make it more difficult to work your learning around a full-time job.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

Our guide includes four online Ph.D. in finance programs. Though tuition rates vary widely among programs, total tuition for the best online Ph.D. in finance programs on our list averages around $45,000.

To help fund your degree, you can apply for federal student aid, including scholarships, grants and loans, by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid . You can also ask about funding opportunities like scholarships, grants, fellowships, and graduate research and teaching assistantships offered directly by your university or department.

Online learning can make a graduate-level education more accessible in many ways, but distance learning doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. Weigh the following when deciding whether to enroll in an in-person or online finance Ph.D.

• What’s your learning style? Online programs work best for students who don’t have a problem staying on task, managing deadlines and motivating themselves. If you think you’d do better with the structure and support that comes with attending scheduled in-person classes, consider an on-campus program.
• What’s your budget? If you’re looking to earn your Ph.D. in finance at a lower cost, online programs can provide savings. While out-of-state students usually pay higher tuition rates to attend in-person programs at public universities, online learners often receive discounted rates regardless of where they live. Distance learners can also save money by avoiding high costs associated with relocation, housing and transportation.
• What’s your schedule? If you need flexibility to manage a job or other time-consuming responsibilities while in school, an online program might be your best bet. Asynchronous programs in particular allow you to complete coursework on your schedule through pre-recorded lectures and online discussion boards.

Any school you consider for your online finance Ph.D. should hold institutional accreditation. You’ll need to attend an accredited school if you want to qualify for federal financial aid. Plus, employers and credentialing bodies often recognize degrees only from accredited institutions.

Institutional accreditation comes from third-party agencies that assess colleges to ensure they meet minimum quality standards related to faculty, academic programs, student outcomes and educational resources.

Accrediting bodies in the U.S. receive approval from the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Programmatic accreditation offers a similar stamp of approval for individual degree programs or departments within universities. You may need a programmatically accredited degree to qualify for certain jobs and professional certifications.

An online Ph.D. in finance might hold programmatic accreditation from an accrediting agency that evaluates business-related programs, such as the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business or the International Accreditation Council for Business Education.

You can look up school and program accreditation information on CHEA’s website .

What is a Ph.D. in finance?

A Ph.D. in finance is a terminal business degree that develops advanced knowledge and skills in investing, corporate finance and economics. This diploma can prepare for finance-related roles in research and academia.

How long is a Ph.D. in finance?

The time it takes to earn a Ph.D. in finance varies depending on your program and enrollment status. It typically takes four to eight years to complete a doctorate, but you may be able to graduate from an online finance Ph.D. program in a little less than four years.

Is a Ph.D. worth it financially?

It depends on how much your degree costs and how much you can expect to make after you graduate, but a doctoral degree in finance can be well worth the investment. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that workers employed in business and financial occupations earned a median annual wage of $76,850 in May 2022. If you pursue one of the higher-paying roles in this field, like financial analyst, you can earn a median salary of $96,220 per year.

How much does a Ph.D. in finance make in the U.S.?

How much you can expect to make with a Ph.D. in finance depends on your job, employer, geographic location and experience level. Ph.D. holders commonly work in academia; the BLS reports that business professors, including finance professors, earn a median annual salary of $88,790.

Liz Simmons has been writing for various online publications about career development, higher education and college affordability for nearly a decade. Her articles demystify the college application process and help prospective students figure out how to choose a major or career path.

2024 Best Online PhD in Finance Programs [Doctorate Guide]

An online PhD in Finance offers the opportunity to study finance and economics at the highest level.

You can learn how to use financial models and theories to develop a deeper understanding of economic systems and solve business problems. Finance PhD degrees also teach students to conduct quantitative research on financial networks and policies.

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Graduates can use their knowledge and skills to pursue careers in a variety of areas, including academia, business consulting, data science, finance, and the public sector.

PhD in Finance Programs Online

A Ph.D. in Finance is designed for people who want to immerse themselves in academic research and theory. This degree focuses on advanced financial models and concepts used to explain and forecast the performance of the economy, financial institutions, investments, and other aspects of modern finance.

Doctoral students in this field also study approaches and techniques for conducting empirical research. Students practice collecting and interpreting data from a variety of sources, such as consumer surveys and income statements. They also use econometrics to statistically analyze financial data and trends.

Other topics commonly taught in finance doctoral programs include:

• Asset pricing
• Banking systems
• Corporate finance and capital markets
• Empirical analysis
• Financial decision-making
• Financial markets
• International financial topics
• Macroeconomics
• Market design
• Microeconomics
• Time series analysis

Additionally, students can develop many technical skills related to financial research. For instance, finance PhD programs often encourage students to use programming languages like Python and R to extract and analyze data. Students may also learn to use the latest digital tools to interpret data and create financial models, such as MATLAB and Stata.

Graduates can use their finance PhD degrees to pursue a broad range of careers. Many students enroll in these programs because they want to work in higher education. They may use their specialized knowledge to become professors and academic researchers.

The private sector also provides many employment opportunities for PhD holders. All organizations need business-savvy professionals who can manage financial resources, make predictions, and formulate financial strategies. As a result, there are numerous finance-related jobs in all industries.

Graduates may also secure jobs with nonprofit organizations. Some work as grant writers, while others become policy analysts. Other potential careers in this sector include development officer and program manager. These roles all focus on helping nonprofit organizations generate more income and solve economic or social issues.

Finally, this degree can be beneficial for people who want to become consultants or entrepreneurs. You can learn business tactics and skills that you can use to help clients perform better or to launch your own company.

Finance Careers & Salaries

A doctoral degree in finance can pave the way for many career paths. Many graduates pursue careers as college professors in business, economics, and finance departments. These professionals teach students and publish research in their area of specialty.

Additionally, many graduates secure employment with private corporations and financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, and investment firms. They can become actuaries, cost estimators, financial analysts, and other finance professionals.

These specialists use the advanced knowledge and research skills they gained during their PhD programs to analyze financial data and help corporations make data-driven business decisions.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , here are careers associated with finance and their median salaries.

Some graduates become financial analysts and researchers for government agencies and think tanks. They often help their employers develop and explore the implications of economic policies, political strategies, and social policies. Graduates can also work for or start consulting firms.

Business and management consultants examine their clients’ financial records and operations. They use their findings to identify inefficient workflows and other issues and make recommendations to help businesses improve their performance.

Online Finance PhD Curriculum & Courses

Finance PhD programs teach advanced finance concepts and research skills. The specific curricula vary by program but may include courses similar to these:

• Empirical Methodology in Finance : You’ll learn how to use popular empirical research methods to investigate and solve issues in the finance industry.
• Financial Economics : This course analyzes foundational theories and applications of modern financial economics, such as arbitrage pricing theory, mean variance theory, and stochastic dominance.
• Financial and Economic Networks : You’ll use empirical and theoretical research methodologies to deepen your understanding of financial modeling and networks.
• Household Finance : You’ll explore recent empirical research projects in household finance and learn strategies to gather and analyze data.
• International Finance : This class traces the history of academic research on international finance and covers techniques students can use to conduct research in this field.
• Introduction to Asset Pricing : You’ll investigate how finance institutions use asset pricing models to predict the expected rate of return for investments.
• Introduction to Corporate Finance : You’ll learn how to create, interpret, and conduct quantitative research with corporate finance models.
• Macro-Finance : You’ll examine fundamental areas and methods in macro-finance, such as asset pricing, fiscal policy, and household finance.
• Microeconomics : This course overviews applications and theories of microeconomics, including aggregated demand and general equilibrium analysis.
• Theories of Finance : You’ll study contemporary financial theories and their relationship to asset pricing, corporate finance, and financial markets.

Additionally, many programs require finance PhD students to take courses in statistics and probability.

How to Choose an Online PhD in Finance Program

All finance PhD programs have different educational opportunities, learning environments, and resources. As a result, there are many factors to consider as you compare finance degree online programs, such as:

• Program reputation . Employers often look more favorably at job candidates who graduated from high-ranking institutions with excellent reputations. Additionally, attending a top program could provide more opportunities to develop a robust professional network in your chosen area.
• Research areas . Doctoral students typically research and write about specific topics or subfields that align with their personal and professional interests. It’s beneficial to look for a program with well-known faculty specializing in your chosen areas, such as corporate governance or behavioral finance. These professors can guide your research and connect you with resources.
• Funding opportunities . Some PhD programs in finance offer full or partial funding for qualifying students. You might qualify to receive a tuition waiver, a stipend to cover conference travel, and other financial assistance. You can also inquire about additional funding opportunities, such as grants and scholarships from the college.
• Course format . The specific mode of delivery for online courses varies. Some programs offer synchronous online classes, which allow you to interact with professors and peers over video chat. Others have asynchronous courses that you complete on your own schedule.

Additionally, you can ask a program’s staff if they have current students or recent alumni willing to speak with you. These informal conversations can help you get a better sense of the program’s culture and strengths and weaknesses.

Admissions Requirements

Many PhD programs in finance only admit a limited number of students each year, so the admissions process can be competitive.

Every institution has its own admissions criteria, but here are a few typical requirements:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in related field
• Statement of purpose describing your interests, goals, and reasons for applying
• CV listing education, work experience, applicable skills, and volunteer activities
• Confidential letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts

Some colleges and universities also request GMAT or GRE scores, but many programs are phasing out this requirement.

Online PhD in Finance Programs Accreditation

Accreditation is an essential factor to consider as you compare finance doctoral programs, much like when considering an MBA in Finance online or on campus programs. Colleges and universities can earn regional accreditation if an external regional accreditor assesses their programs and faculty and verifies that they meet agreed-upon educational standards.

Accredited programs offer professional and academic benefits. Employers often prefer to hire graduates from accredited schools because they know these candidates have received a quality education. Accredited doctoral programs typically provide access to student support services, such as online library databases and career centers.

Plus, many government agencies and private organizations only distribute financial assistance to students enrolled at accredited institutions.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

As you investigate finance PhD programs, you can also search for financial aid opportunities to help pay for your degree.

Many doctoral programs offer full funding for qualified students. These funding packages could include a stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance. Students may need to work as a teaching or research assistant in exchange for this funding. Also, they are typically required to maintain a certain GPA and meet program milestones.

The federal government also offers several types of financial assistance for graduate students. You may be eligible for federal grants, student loans, or a part-time work-study program. You can learn more about these opportunities by visiting the Federal Student Aid website.

In addition, many employer offer financial support for workers who want to further their education. You can ask your supervisor about any tuition assistance or reimbursement opportunities.

What Can You Do with a PhD in Finance?

A doctoral degree in finance can help you qualify for many lucrative careers. Many graduates use their expertise and research skills to secure positions as postsecondary teachers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for this career will increase by 12% over the next decade. Additionally, a PhD in Finance can help prepare you for numerous jobs in business and finance. Some graduates become financial managers and oversee their organization’s investments and revenue.

Finance is a good career path for many students. Other potential career paths in the finance industry include financial examiner, chief financial officer (CFO), management analyst, and operations research analyst. These positions focus on data analytics and strategic decision-making.

Should I Get a PhD in Finance?

Finance PhD degrees tend to be rigorous and involve extensive research and writing.

Here are a few signs that this degree could be the right fit:

• Your preferred career requires a terminal degree in the field.
• You enjoy studying economics, mathematics, and statistics.
• You want to become an expert in financial systems and theories.
• You’re passionate about researching topics in business and finance.
• You want to publish your research for academic audiences.
• You’re interested in teaching students.

If some of these criteria apply to you, a doctoral degree in finance could be a strategic next step.

How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD in Finance Online?

Most PhD programs in finance take 3 to 5 years to complete if you enroll full-time. But several factors can affect how long it takes you to graduate.

Programs that require a dissertation typically take longer. Many students spend a total of 5 years—including 3 years completing coursework and 2 years writing their dissertation. Some students take longer, though, to finish their dissertations, extending the length of their program.

Doctorate programs that don’t require a dissertation may be completed in 3 to 4 years if students are enrolled full-time.

What’s the Difference Between a DBA vs. PhD in Finance?

A Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are both terminal degrees in finance, but they have a few crucial differences.

A PhD could be a strategic choice if you’re passionate about research and teaching.

Is a PhD in Finance Worth It?

Yes, a PhD in Finance is worth it for many students. This degree allows you to develop a deeper understanding of economics, financial markets, and investment techniques. You’ll also learn how to identify business problems and mitigate risk.

In addition, a doctorate in finance enables you to develop expertise in specific areas of finance. For instance, you could specialize in behavioral finance, econometrics, or financial technologies. Expertise in these fields could lead to career paths in academic institutions, corporations, tech startups, and other organizations.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that overall employment of business and finance professionals will increase by 7% over the next ten years, and 12% job growth is projected for postsecondary teachers.

Universities Offering Online Doctorate in Finance Degree Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.

A Doctorate in Personal Financial Planning is available through Kansas State University. The program is 1 of only 4 in the country recognized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. Coursework is completed online during the fall and spring. There are three summer residencies, lasting 10 days each. The final residency is abroad. Kansas State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

National University offers a PhD in Business Administration with a concentration in Financial Management. The program may be completed entirely online. On average, the required 60 credits may be completed in 73 months. Courses are 4 to 8 weeks long. The school offers weekly start dates. National University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

A Doctorate of Professional Studies with a concentration in Finance may be earned through Pace University. Coursework is completed online with Friday sessions on campus once per month. Courses follow a semester schedule. Typically, the 19 required courses may be completed in 3 years. Pace University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Texas Tech University offers a PhD in Personal Financial Planning. The program is available fully online or on campus. The program requires 72 credits. Courses follow a semester schedule with 3 start dates. Upon completion, graduates may be eligible to take the CFP Certification exam. Texas Tech University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

A PhD in Business with a specialization in Finance through the University of the Cumberlands. Coursework is online with fieldwork or an internship required. The program requires 66 credits including 24 hours in professional research and 24 hours in Finance. Courses are in half- or full-terms. The University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Walden University offers a PhD in Management with a specialization in 21st Century Finance. The program is fully online and requires 4 brief academic residencies. The program is course-based with weekly assignments. Most courses are asynchronous in format. Courses are in an accelerated format with several start dates each year. Walden is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Getting Your Doctorate in Finance Online

If you want to study and help solve complex business and financial problems, you might consider earning an online PhD in Finance.

Finance doctoral programs teach students about asset planning, financial models, regulations, and other topics. They also cover empirical research skills, such as creating surveys and managing datasets. Graduates apply their knowledge in many positions. Some become college professors, while others pursue roles as financial managers, consultants, and marketing analysts.

You can kickstart your doctoral journey by exploring online finance PhD programs from accredited schools today.

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Finance programs deal with the economics of the claims on resources. Stated more simply, working in Finance means dealing with numbers relating to personal, national, and international success with resources and other components at play. 

Doctoral degrees in finance are designed to provide the highest level of educational and research-based instruction in the field of finance. They involve in-depth knowledge and understanding of economic principles, financial management, financial decision-making, and investments.

Doctoral programs combine theory with practice to provide a comprehensive education in finance. Graduates of a doctoral degree in finance typically go on to work in research, academia, and/or executive-level positions in the financial sector.

The two main areas of employment with a Ph.D. in Finance are researchers covering a specific industry (such as energy, software, or communication) and analysts who build mathematical models and computer programs that price things such as stocks & bonds.

Because of the specialization required in the field of choice, deciding which area of Finance suits you best is a good idea before you jump into a Ph.D. program.

What to Expect from an Online Doctorate in Finance Degree

While the specifics will vary on the school and finance concentration you choose, below is a general overview of a doctorate in finance’s potential curriculum regardless of whether you’re planning to study in business schools or community colleges.

Furthermore, various programs align with multiple career goals in industry or academia and offer courses based on these specific learning outcomes.

Concentrations Available for an Online Doctorate in Finance Degree

Accounting and finance:.

Accounting and finance online doctoral programs are geared toward individuals interested in working in a university. This degree is focused on letting students master research methods and processes instead of focusing on direct industry training in financial and mathematical concepts. 

Personal Financial Planning:

A doctorate in personal financial planning provides students with an interdisciplinary skill set that combines financial planning theories, empirical statistics and research, and an understanding of how human social contexts, relationships, and cultures can influence financial planning processes and outcomes.

Graduates of personal and financial planning are prepared for careers in business or academic pursuits, such as a college or university faculty. They can also work as a personal financial advisor.

Financial Management:

Students in this concentration learn research and development techniques and advanced finance skills. Aside from that, they are also taught strategies for creating projections and solving ROI issues.

Financial management concentration is built on a solid foundation of current industry theory, ensuring students’ success in the complex global finance environment.

Curriculum for an Online Doctorate in Finance Degree

Introduction to empirical methods:.

These introductory finance courses provide a solid foundation in theoretical and academic research methods by delving into diverse techniques and quantitative tools used in finance and economic analysis.

Macroeconomics:

Topics in macroeconomics usually concentrate on two or three major current research areas, such as wage inequality or economic growth. Students study relevant literature and participate in class discussions.

Theory in Finance:

Regardless of your finance concentration, you are to complete a finance theory course. Students will start at introductory levels to advanced courses to understand the single period and dynamic models.

Economic Analysis:

Economic analysis courses are typically part of multiple microeconomics theory courses. These courses cover topics such as consumer and producer choice and the nature of equilibrium in competitive markets.

Applied Behavioral Finance:

In the business world, learning financial behavior is a must. Through applied behavioral finance, students learn to apply current theory and research to real-world scenarios such as financial planning and business practice through active discussion, lectures, and written assignments.

Careers with a Doctorate in Finance

Earning an online doctorate in finance prepares a graduate to work in or out of the finance industry. Advanced knowledge of financial principles and analytical skills enable them to hold high-level positions in governments, major corporations, or academia.

Financial Manager

Financial managers supervise the employees tasked with the business’s budget and financial reporting. They are in charge of finalizing forecasts, financial statements, and business reports.

Furthermore, they study current market trends to find ways to increase a company’s profits by broadening its consumer base. Professionals who completed finance degree programs at the doctorate level are bound to get faster raises and promotions. 

Compensation and Benefits Manager

Compensation and benefits managers help businesses modify existing compensation agreements and determine competitive wage rates accordingly. These managers oversee the pay and benefits distribution of employees. They also look for and select investment managers, insurance brokers, and benefit vendors.

Individuals with a Ph.D. will be able to manage employees effectively and will have the tools needed to create new organizational structures.

Budget Analyst

As the job title suggests, Budget analysts assist organizations of all sizes in maintaining a balanced budget by helping them stay on track with their finances. These savvy number crunchers aren’t just concerned with past and present spending.

They also assist organizations in planning for the future and weighing the benefits and drawbacks of large purchases. Though they rarely make final spending decisions, their recommendations are invaluable to company executives.

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Service Sales Agent

Sales agents in securities, commodities and financial services deal with various products and clients. Agents spend most of their days interacting with people, whether discussing the status of a merger deal with a company executive or selling stock to a private individual. Because agents deal with large sums of money and work under time constraints, the job is usually stressful.

Chief Financial Officer

The chief financial officer is part of the C-suite, which refers to the top executives in a company. People in this position significantly impact the company’s investments, capital structure, and income and expense management. CFO assists the CEO with forecasting, cost-benefit analysis, and the acquisition of funding for various initiatives.

Methodology

These online Ph.D. programs, offering the Best Online Doctor of Finance Degree , give individuals a chance to expand and specialize their knowledge and careers. They are listed in random order. Why do you ask?

As each program has its own unique qualities and coursework options, you should consider checking out each one individually to determine which one is right for you. They all are quality programs based on the following findings:

• 100% online programs available, often awarded as a Doctor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Finance,
• Coursework focused on helping students achieve the highest Leadership or Management positions within the field of Business Finance,
• Taught by faculty with real-world work expertise in Finance, designed to enhance your client’s finances, as well as the company you work for,
• Prepares Finance online students for the corporate world, including studies in capital investments, financial management, financial analysis, mergers & acquisitions, along with managerial finance and strategic planning, among many other pertinent topics,
• Affordable tuition; with Financial Aid Options,
• Appropriately Accredited,
• Programs that offer various Concentrations as a PHD in Finance,
• Dissertation/Capstone Project may be required.

To delve deeper, please see our Methodology page.

Best Online Doctoral Degrees in Finance

Franklin university.

Program Standouts:

Franklin’s Doctor of Business Administration is one of the most transfer-friendly finance programs that aims to reinforce the core technical aspects of quality research and provide students with communication and technological skills.

Furthermore, it is a hands-on degree that allows for subject mastery and field application. That means students will be ready to research and communicate complex issues as they work to solve organizational-wide problems.

Franklin University’s applied doctorate in business administration program is designed to assist students in making a name for themselves and conducting and solving real-world business issues. This program will improve their leadership abilities by helping them understand and apply theories and transform an organization.

Campus Location:  Columbus, Ohio

Accreditation:  Higher Learning Commission

Admission Requirements:

• Master’s degree from an institutionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• English Language Testing & TOEFL IELTS
• Personal essay
• 30 hours of business-related coursework

Course Sample:

• Development of Management Theory Practice
• Organizational Behavior, Culture & Effectiveness 
• Organizational Leadership 
• Org Sys Perspect Theory & Application
• Strategic Thinking, Dec. Making/Innovation
• Organizational Performance Analysis
• Ethics & Social Responsibility
• Change Management & Organizational Development

Degree Outcomes: 

Because students will have a more advanced organizational strategy and performance research as part of their online Doctor of Business Administration program, they’re more likely to be hired to become financial managers.

They’ll know how to investigate, use, and apply the research of their study to increase the depth and breadth of their own analytical and critical-thinking skills.

LEARN MORE ABOUT FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY’S  ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION  PROGRAM.

Liberty university.

Liberty University offers one of the best Doctor of Business Administration in Finance programs offered 100% online. The degree program provides advanced training in professional management and human resource development.

The focus on finance equips students to attain the highest level of business knowledge from a financial perspective. Beginning with an overview of financial analysis, students study financial management, capital investment decisions, financing decisions, and managing for value creation.

Campus Location:  Lynchburg, Virginia

Accreditation:  Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

• Admission Application
• Application fee
• Official college transcripts – Transcripts must show a Master’s degree accredited by ACBSP or AACSB
• Statement of Purpose
• Proof of English proficiency

Course Samples:

• Quantitative Research Methods
• Strategic Allocation of Financial Resources
• Strategic Supply Chain Management
• Advanced financial statement analysis

“Liberty’s Doctor of Business Administration in Finance will give…insight into the key components in finance such as the fundamentals of investments and options and the various aspects of mergers and acquisitions.”

Graduates from the Doctor of Business Administration – Finance degree from Liberty University will graduate with specialized finance training and prepare for an exciting career in the corporate world.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ONLINE DOCTORATE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION – FINANCE

National university.

National University offers a Financial Management Ph.D. completely online. The students in the Ph.D. program at National University explore research and development analyses used to manage and allocate financial resources and develop effective strategic planning for projection and ROI issues.

NU’s professors teach advanced finance skills, including financial statement analysis, advanced financial business decision models, investment selection techniques, and how financial institutions generate earnings and manage risks.

Campus Location:  Scottsdale, AZ

Accreditation:  Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

• Master’s degree from an accredited university
• Online application
• A generalized business area such as business management or business administration OR
• A specialized business area (e.g., Master of Finance) AND an undergraduate degree in business
• Evaluation Track: Individuals not meeting the direct entry requirements must have their transcripts evaluated to determine if previous coursework meets the Standard Curriculum requirements.
• Doctoral Studies in Business
• Doctoral Comprehensive Strategic Knowledge Studies
• Scholarly Literature Review
• Ethics in Business

“Our finance Ph.D. graduates work as educators at the university level or pursue a variety of research or practitioner-oriented positions in statistics, investment banking, financial analysis, and financial planning.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT NATIONAL UNIVERSITY’S  ONLINE P.HD. IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEGREE .

Walden university.

Walden University offers an online Ph.D. in Finance: Management. Students in the program develop and use financial modes and theoretical tools to gain an understanding of some of the most challenging national and international financial problems. Students pursue original research and advanced knowledge in areas such as corporate finance and financial management.

The program also provides opportunities to analyze case studies and incorporate principles of social and behavioral research. Walden’s degree program in Finance is designed to expand expertise in financial theories, systems, and practices.

Campus Location:  Minneapolis, Minnesota

Accreditation:  Higher Learning Commission

• Official transcripts
• Resume showing work history
• Employment history and education history
• Submitted application
• Financial Decision Making for Individuals and Firms
• Financial Markets: Risk and Return, Capital Structure, and International Dimensions of Finance
• Corporate Financial Management
• Research Theory, Design, and Methods

Graduates of Walden’s Ph.D. in Finance: Management will be prepared to bring fresh knowledge, ideas, and perspectives to their field through potential career fields such as:

• Collegiate teaching
• Upper-level public policy or corporate policymaking
• Organizational innovation and change

The degree program at Walden University prepares individuals for careers in private industry, international agencies, consulting, or collegiate teaching.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WALDEN UNIVERSITY’S  ONLINE DBA IN FINANCE .

Trident university.

Trident University offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Business Administration which gives students the option of 5 different concentrations, one of which is Finance/Management. The Ph.D. Business Administration program at Trident is designed to shape individuals into innovators and thought leaders who are qualified to become teachers, researchers, and scholars.

The concentration in Finance is offered 100% online and is designed for individuals with a solid background in the field of finance, accounting or economics. The program is also geared toward students who are interested in contributing to research in related bodies of knowledge, such as:

• international finance,
• economic growth and development,
• financial management,
• and taxation.

Campus Location:  Cypress, California

Accreditation:  Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission

• Bachelors degree in a related field
• Minimum GPA of 3.6
• GRE or GMAT scores
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on the transcript of the most recently conferred master’s degree
• Written and oral communication skills
• Analytical and critical thinking skills
• Information technology skills
• Minimum five years of professional work experience in business or other professional fields

The DBA with a concentration in Finance is comprised of the following:

• Core Courses
• Concentration Courses
• Dissertation Series
• Dissertation Continuation

“From the classroom to the culmination of the Ph.D. dissertation, students will master advanced research and quantitative skills needed for a successful career teaching and performing scholarly research at the university level.” – Dr. Indira Guzman, Program Director for Ph.D. in Business Administration

LEARN MORE ABOUT TRIDENT UNIVERSITY’S  ONLINE PH.D. BA DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAM .

Ligs university.

LIGS University has a 100% online interactive Ph.D. programs that specialize in Financial Management or Risk Management. At LIGS, students are able to enroll at any time of the year. Students decide the time, length, and intensity of their studies in order to combine their online Ph.D. program with work, family, and hobbies.

With a finance program specializing in Financial Management or Risk Management, students are able to choose from subjects according to their interests and professional needs.

Specialization allows students to improve knowledge and skills in fields that are important to them. The opportunity to gain knowledge in areas outside the chosen subjects is gained by attending online webinars in various fields.

Though the finance program at LIGS is 100% online, LIGS provides a study counselor who is there to help students during their studies. Lecturers at LIGS University are professionals who share their knowledge and experience in order to give students useful perspectives into the field of study they have chosen.

Campus Location:  Honolulu, Hawaii

Accreditation:  International ASIC Premier University Accreditation

• Proficiency in the chosen language of study
• Masters degree
• Copy of a document proving the highest degree earned

Program Specializations:

• Financial Management
• Risk Management

LIGS University students and graduates work:

• In middle and senior management positions
• At firms of all sizes
• As entrepreneurs all around the world
• In the private and public sectors

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGS UNIVERSITY’S  INTERACTIVE ONLINE DBA DEGREE PROGRAM .

Cambridge global college.

The online Doctor of Business Administration – Quality Systems Management degree at Cambridge College Global (CCG) is one of the best finance programs that apply theory to real-world practice. The program provides students with advanced knowledge to solve business problems.

The curriculum includes ten core business courses delivered entirely online, allowing students to study from anywhere and anytime while learning and exploring the most current business practices, research, and trends. 

Doctoral students complete assignments, conduct research, and complete other required academic tasks. Students are required to present their findings at a professional conference on their own.

Campus Location:  Boston, Massachusetts

Accreditation:  New England Commission of Higher Education

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution
• Official college transcripts
• Personal essay 
• Current Resume (reflecting at least eight years of work experience).
• SAT and ACT results
• Lean, Six Sigma, and Organizational Assessment
• Ethics, Social Responsibility, and Legal Issues in Business
• Benchmarking, Reengineering, and Cost of Quality
• Quality System Design and International Quality Standards

Graduates of the Doctor of Business Administration in QSIM will have a broad range of skills, knowledge, and abilities to serve as senior Quality Systems & Improvement Management experts within organizations. Most graduates become the best financial analysts.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CAMBRIDGE COLLEGE’S  ONLINE DBA – QUALITY SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT  PROGRAM.

City university of seattle.

The online Doctor of Business Administration degree at the City University of Seattle is designed for professionals to develop advanced skills. The program has the option for students to transfer four graduate courses into the program and specialize their study in an area such as Finance (upon the approval of the Registrar).

The degree program focuses on organization interventional thinking, agile business practices, leadership, and critical thinking while developing specialized business knowledge in the area of the student’s choice.

The online DBA at the City University of Seattle is supported through Professor Live Chat and a highly interactive teaching model that includes one hour per week of lecture and live chat. The estimated time to complete the program is between three and four years.

Campus Location:  Seattle, Washington

Accreditation:  Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

• Online application (see website if unable to complete online application)
• Transcripts from other institutions
• If required, proof of English proficiency
• Contact admissions advisor
• Organizational Development Theories and Trends
• Financial Decision-Making
• Organizational Identity and Culture

According to City University of Seattle’s website: 92% of doctoral students surveyed are “satisfied” or “highly satisfied” with their overall student experience.

Some of the job titles of alumni with a DBA from City University of Seattle:

• Executive Director
• Business Consultant

LEARN MORE ABOUT CITY UNIVERSITY OF SEATTLE’S  ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION/FINANCE .

Johnson & wales university.

Johnson & Wales University provides students with an Online Doctor of Business Administration – Finance degree. The program is designed to support student learning in a convenient format for working professionals while remaining comprehensive and rigorous.

Once admitted, the first step in ensuring a smooth transition to doctoral study, online learning, and Johnson & Wales University is a mandatory no-credit online orientation.

The program is designed to let students prepare to develop and lead initiatives for innovation and change and expand organizational capacity.

Campus Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education

• Transcripts, diplomas, and/or certifications from all postsecondary schools
• Résumé tailored to DBA application specifications
• Two letters of recommendation

Sample Courses:

• Organizational Strategy and Design
• Organizational Behavior
• Advanced Strategies in Organization Development
• Problems and Methods in Marketing Management
• Leading and Managing Large-Scale Transformation

Graduates of the finance degree will be able to create, conduct, and present applied research that addresses real-world business issues. They’ll be able to use advanced communication skills to share complex information, organizational vision, and actionable guidelines in the business world. According to the school, most of their graduates go on to become financial managers.

LEARN MORE ABOUT JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM.

Kansas state university.

Kansas State University offers a Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning. The degree is a hybrid program that allows students to take online courses during the fall and spring semesters and participate in intensive 10-day summer visits.

Three consecutive summer residency sessions on the Kansas State campus are required. For the final summer session, students will travel abroad as a group to see how global markets work and how they affect financial planning in the United States and worldwide.

The degree program at Kansas State University is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to achieve success as college and university faculty, and practitioners of financial planning.

Kansas State faculty are committed to enhancing students’ personal development and preparing them to excel academically and professionally.

Campus Location:  Manhattan, Kansas

Admission Requirements: 

• GPA of 3.0 or better. In some cases, a 2.75 will be permissible if the last 60 hours of study were at least a 3.0 GPA.
• Admission into the Kansas State Graduate School
• GRE/GMAT scores from within the last five years
• Investing for the Family’s Future
• Estate Planning for Families
• Insurance Planning for Families
• Personal Income Taxation

Graduates of the doctoral program in personal financial planning at Kansas State University meet the educational requirements for careers including:

• Registered Financial Consultant
• Registered Financial Associate
• Certified Retirement Counselor
• Accredited Financial Counselor

LEARN MORE ABOUT KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY’S  ONLINE DOCTORATE IN FINANCIAL PLANNING .

Can i pursue a doctorate after earning an mba in finance.

Yes. Admission to most doctorate programs, especially in business schools, requires a master’s degree. An MBA or master’s degree in finance would be beneficial in meeting this requirement.

A doctorate in finance will help you land a promising career as a professor or researcher in academia. Professionals frequently pursue a doctorate to demonstrate their ability to conduct research and specialize in a specific field.

Are online business degrees respected and credible?

An online program should require you to work just as hard as a traditional on-campus program. Furthermore, it is unlikely that your official records will show how you obtained your degree. The class format in which you complete your coursework is less important than whether you attended an accredited university.

How long will it take to obtain a Doctorate in Finance?

Most doctorate in finance online takes three to five years to complete. Some programs can be completed part-time, but it will take longer.

Must I be an expert Mathematician to excel in the field of Finance?

No, you do not need to be an expert mathematician to excel in the field of finance. While having a good understanding of basic mathematical concepts such as algebra and calculus can be beneficial, financial success does not necessarily require a deep understanding of math.

Many successful finance professionals have achieved success by relying on strong analytical skills and financial market knowledge instead of advanced math skills.

Key Takeaways

A doctorate is the most advanced and one of the most prestigious degrees that can be obtained. A doctorate in finance can help you open up many career doors and increase your earning potential if you have a financial background or are interested in specializing in finance, economics, and statistics.

Completing your coursework in a DBA in Finance program online can help you get a solid education in a format that works for you and prepare you for the next step in your career.

Additional Information:

• The Most Affordable Online Doctoral Programs in Business Administration (DBA)
• The Best Doctor of Economics (DEc) Schools: Salary and Info
• The Best Online Schools for Doctoral Degrees in Organizational Leadership

Best Online Doctorates in Finance

Are you ready to discover your college program?

Whether your career interests lie in academia or business, graduating with a doctoral degree in finance opens doors to advanced job opportunities and earning potential. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that popular finance careers like finance managers and personal finance advisors may grow by 15%-19% between 2016 and 2026. These occupations boast median incomes of $125,080 and $90,640, respectively. Doctors in finance also frequently find employment as college professors, educating students and conducting research for scholarly publications. With a variety of online degree options available from top schools around the country, it has never been easier to earn your doctorate in finance.

For more degree and career info, jump to:

• Choosing a Doctorate in Finance Program
• What Else Can I Expect From an Online Doctorate in Finance Program?

Careers with a Doctorate in Finance

The best online doctorate in finance programs.

Online Doctorate in Finance Ranking Guidelines: We selected the degree programs based on the quality of program and range of courses provided, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation.

Finance PhD Programs for You

The best online doctorate in finance degree programs, liberty university.

• Campus + Online
• In-State $14,791
• Out-of-state $14,791
• Retention Rate 81%
• Acceptance Rate 50%
• Students Enrolled 93,349
• Institution Type Private
• Percent Online Enrollment 93%
• Accreditation Yes

Kansas State University

• In-State $9,375
• Out-of-state $25,251
• Retention Rate 87%
• Acceptance Rate 94%
• Students Enrolled 20,854
• Institution Type Public
• Percent Online Enrollment 66%

National University

• In-State $11,064
• Out-of-state $11,064
• Retention Rate 0%
• Acceptance Rate 0%
• Students Enrolled 12,471
• Percent Online Enrollment 0%

Walden University

• In-State $10,139
• Out-of-state $10,139
• Retention Rate 33%
• Students Enrolled 49,695

Choosing an Online Doctorate in Finance Program

50 Best Online Colleges & Universities Two main avenues exist for earning an online doctorate in finance: an academic route and an industry route. Students who want to apply their finance expertise to an industry job should consider earning a doctorate of business administration (DBA) in finance. Students looking to enter the academic profession as faculty should consider a Ph.D. finance program. While they may seem similar on the surface, these two finance doctorate pathways require different coursework and produce different learning outcomes. Carefully consider which path works best for your own goals.

An industry-focused program provides you with a firm foundation of quantitative financial skills and trains you to apply theory to real-world business scenarios. Additional concentrations may also let you further tailor your focus. Academic-focused programs require more intensive study of research and theory but offer fewer opportunities to hone mathematical finance skills. These programs also require dissertations, while industry-focused programs more commonly require a thesis. Finally, getting into an academic Ph.D. finance program may prove more difficult than a DBA program. While DBA programs often allow for cohorts of about 10 students, Ph.D. programs may only offer enrollment to one or two students per year.

What Else Can I Expect from an Online Doctorate in Finance Program?

The information below intends to provide a representative look at the potential curriculum content of a doctorate of finance. The specifics can vary, depending on the school and program you select. Different programs align with different career goals, in industry or academia, and offer courses according to these specific learning outcomes.

Concentrations Offered for an Online Doctoral Degree in Finance

• Careers this concentration prepares for: College Professor, Accountant, Auditor
• Careers this concentration prepares for: Finance Manager, Executive
• Careers this concentration prepares for: Personal Financial Advisor, College Professor

Curriculum for an Online Doctoral Degree in Finance

• Introduction to Empirical Methods: These introductory courses develop a foundational knowledge of academic and theoretical research methods by exploring a range of techniques and quantitative tools used for finance and economic analysis.
• Topics in Macroeconomics: Macroeconomics topics courses typically focus on two or three main areas of modern research, such as economic growth or wage inequality. Students read literature on the course topics and participate in discussions.
• Finance Theory: Expect to complete a few finance theory courses for your doctorate in finance online. From introductory levels to advanced courses, students develop an understanding of single period and dynamic models.
• Economic Analysis: Typically part of a sequence of multiple microeconomics theory courses, economic analysis courses focus on topics including consumer and producer choice and the nature of equilibrium in competitive markets.
• Applied Behavioral Finance: Through lectures, active discussion, and written assignments students learn to apply current behavioral finance theory and research to real-world scenarios like financial planning and business practice.

Earning an online doctorate in finance prepares an individual to work either inside or outside of the finance industry. Graduates’ analytical skills and advanced knowledge of financial principles allow them to hold high-level positions in major companies, in the government, or in academia.

• Median Annual Salary: $76,000
• Projected Growth Rate: 15%
• Median Annual Salary: $125,080
• Projected Growth Rate: 19%
• Median Annual Salary: $90,640

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Featured Image Credit: Nitat Termmee | Moment | Getty Images

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Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

In financial management, no residency, no group work, 100% online learning, doctor of business administration (dba) in financial management.

Successful financial management is essential to the growth and stability of any organization. These skills allow you to analyze the financial health of institutions, businesses, and nonprofits, helping them improve performance, increase profitability, and achieve their goals. For this reason, jobs in financial management are expected to grow faster than average with higher than average salaries over the next decade.

This doctoral specialization concentrates on research and development analyses used to manage and allocate financial resources and develop effective strategic planning for projection and ROI issues. You’ll analyze financial and non-financial organizations—from private to public to corporate. In addition to core business studies and dissertation research instruction, the coursework focuses on international financial issues, investment analysis, managing financial institutions, and accounting for profit and nonprofit

Admission Requirements 

A conferred master’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution. In addition to this general requirement, applicants have two options for entering the doctoral program in the School of Business:

1. Direct Entry – You may immediately begin the doctoral program through the DBA or PhD track with a previously completed master’s degree in one of the following:

• A generalized business area, such as business management or business administration
• A specialized business area (Master of Finance, Master of Human Resources Management, etc.) AND an undergraduate degree in business
• A master’s in any field AND an undergraduate degree in business

2. Evaluation Track – If you don’t meet the direct entry requirements, you’re required to take SKS-7001 – Doctoral Comprehensive Strategic Knowledge Studies as part of your degree program.

For the Doctor of Business Administration in Financial Management specialization, you must complete a minimum of 48 credit hours (16 courses), including four specialization courses. The estimated time needed to complete this certificate is 64 months.

Course Listing

In this course you will be introduced to the applied business doctoral academic journey. You will explore what it means to become an academic learner. You will compare and contrast the applied degree to a research degree to show which is applicable in differing environments. You will discuss the use of conceptual frameworks and theories in research and be introduced to scholarly writing and reference management. Your course will conclude with you developing a researchable applied business research question and a brief research plan.

Students will analyze and apply knowledge in 12 business areas necessary to address a wide variety of business-related situations. The focus of the course is demonstrating core proficiencies in the following business areas: Marketing, Business Finance, Accounting, Management, Legal Environment of Business, Economics, Business Ethics, Global Dimensions of Business, Information Systems, Quantitative Techniques and Statistics, Leadership, and Business Applications. The intent is not to introduce these core business concepts, but rather to verify a graduate-level threshold competency within each. The course includes a comprehensive case study that will allow students to demonstrate their competency within all 12 professional component areas.

In this course you will explore the ideas and methods for encouraging innovation as part of successful organizational strategic planning. You will use organizational assessment tools to evaluate a company’s human resource practices and assess how strategic planning includes elements of technology and sustainability to ensure competitive advantage in global markets.

Organizations can no longer ignore ethics and social responsibility, including the green movement. Ethics are required by local, state, and federal legislation, and today, more than ever, stakeholders at organizations are being held accountable for their actions and societal harm. Therefore, academic integrity must be carried out from the classroom to the place of business. In a case study format, students in this course will learn about current laws, their applications to business, and how to maintain an ethical perspective within the context of a global framework.

In this course, you will engage in the process of scholarly literature reviews and academic writing. With an emphasis on how to (a) conduct effective literature searches, specifically in preparation for the dissertation, (b) develop a plan for writing comprehensive, critical, and synthesized reviews of research literature, and (c) critically review and write about underlying theory/conceptual frameworks, you will develop a foundation for future research. The overarching goal of this course is for you to conduct an exhaustive search of the peer-reviewed research literature in your topic area and identify potential areas of inquiry for your dissertation.

In this course, you will cultivate a statistical mindset through learning and nurturing skills needed to perform and interpret univariate inferential statistics. The course will facilitate building your statistical confidence in assessing and performing statistics. The course will cover univariate parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, interpretation of statistical output, and introduce skills needed to select statistical tests based on quantitative research questions.

During this course, as a scholar-practitioner, you will build the skills essential for designing quantitative studies; analyzing the data collected in these studies, and interpreting the results of data analyses. You will explore designs and statistical techniques to use with their envisioned dissertation research.

During this course, you will examine qualitative methods for studying human behavior including grounded theory, narrative analysis, ethnography, mixed methods, and case studies. You will explore designs and methodologies to use with your envisioned research.

The Pre-Candidacy Prospectus is intended to ensure students have mastered knowledge of their discipline prior to candidacy status and demonstrated the ability to design empirical research as an investigator before moving on to the dissertation research coursework. Students will demonstrate the ability to synthesize empirical, peer-reviewed research to support all assignments in this course. The Pre-Candidacy Prospectus is completed only after all foundation, specialization, and research courses have been completed.

Students in this course will be required to complete Chapter 1 of their dissertation proposal including a review of literature with substantiating evidence of the problem, the research purpose and questions, the intended methodological design and approach,  and the significance of the study. A completed, committee approved (against the minimum rubric standards) Chapter 1 is required to pass this course successfully. Students who do not receive approval of Chapter 1 to minimum standards will be able to take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to finalize and gain approval of Chapter 1.

Students in this course will be required to work on completing Chapters 1-3 of their dissertation proposal and receive committee approval for the Dissertation Proposal (DP) in order to pass the class. Chapter 2 consists of the literature review. Chapter 3 covers the research methodology method and design and to includes population, sample, measurement instruments, data collection and analysis, limitations, and ethical considerations. In this course, a completed, committee-approved Chapters 2 and 3 are required and, by the end of the course, a final approved dissertation proposal (against the minimum rubric standards). Students who do not receive approval of the dissertation proposal will be able to take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to finalize and gain approval of these requirements.

Students in this course will be required to prepare, submit, and obtain approval of their IRB application, collect data, and submit a final study closure form to the IRB. Students still in data collection at the end of the 12-week course will be able to take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to complete data collection and file an IRB study closure form.

In this dissertation course students work on completing Chapters 4 and 5 and the final Dissertation Manuscript. Specifically, students will complete their data analysis, prepare their study results, and present their findings in an Oral Defense and a completed manuscript. A completed, Committee approved (against the minimum rubric standards) Dissertation Manuscript and successful Oral Defense are required to complete the course and graduate. Students who do not receive approval for either or both their Dissertation Manuscript or defense can take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to finalize and gain approval of either or both items as needed.

Specialization Courses

Select 4 courses from the following:

Specialization Course Listings

It’s been said that to understand a business, one must understand the financial numbers. This course, building upon a basic understanding of accounting, serves as the springboard for understanding the financial health of a corporation, its operating environment, and the structure of interest rates and yield curves that can affect it. Central to this understanding is the concept of cash flow, where it comes from, and what influences it. Preparing financial statements, something learned in accounting, is not the same as understanding what they can reveal. This course provides the initial building blocks for understanding the financial strengths and weaknesses of a corporation.

Central to the understanding of investment portfolio management is the concept of risks and return, futures, swaps, valuation, and performance. Advanced investment components will be examined with an emphasis on financial markets, option valuations, international diversification, and pricing models. This course prepares you with the financial knowledge to make sound investment decisions. Shareholders, stakeholders, financial managers, and investors will all improve their ability to identify key sources of funding to grow their businesses and improve their investment returns.

This course examines the most advanced components of financial institutions with an emphasis on those related to academic research. You’ll review and assess relevant academic papers to prepare for writing in-depth papers on the primary topics within financial institutions. Your studies begin with an analysis of financial systems, statements, and institutions, then you’ll proceed with a careful examination of interest rate risk, credit risk, and derivative securities. Finally, you’ll conclude with an academic paper examination and the development of a presentation on financial institutions.

An examination of the most important components of financial statement analysis with an emphasis on those related to academic research. You’ll review and assess relevant academic papers to prepare for writing in-depth papers on the central topics of financial statement analysis. The course begins with an analysis of the balance sheet, income statement, and financial ratios, then it concludes with financial decomposition analysis and the impacts of financial leverage.

This course provides you with a complete review of the accounting principles and practices used in nonprofit organizations with a heavy focus on government accounting practices. The coursework on accounting principles and practices can be applied to hospitals, colleges and universities, health and welfare agencies, and other similar organizations. You’ll employ case studies, problem solving, and written research narratives to examine topics such as appropriations, budgetary accounting, financial conditions, auditing, fund accounting, and ethics.

Program Outcomes

Students earning the Doctor of Business Administration in Financial Management specialization will learn to:

• Develop business methods and concepts based on practical application of current theories
• Defend theories, applications, and perspectives related to business to diverse audiences
• Construct socially responsible and ethical business strategies
• Evaluate the relationship between the global environment and business decisions
• Formulate solutions to practical business problems based on original research

Program Disclosure

Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.

Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.

NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.

All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.

National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.

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Online phd finance, are you wondering if an online ph.d. in finance is right for you looking for the best online ph.d. in finance programs this article features the top finance ph.d. programs available..

A Ph.D. in finance is the highest level of education you can complete in the field of finance. By pursuing an online PhD in finance, you’ll be prepared for some of the highest-level careers in the financial sector.

You may also like: IS A MASTER’S IN FINANCE RIGHT FOR ME?

Featured Programs

Students will be exposed to advanced concepts in these programs. Some of the skills you can learn in an online Ph.D. in finance program include:

Data Analysis

Predicting and detecting changes in financial events is an essential skill for online PhD in finance students to have. They will need to organize huge amounts of information and explore vast amounts of data. Therefore, understanding data analysis is critical for staying up-to-date in the finance industry.

Communication Skills

Ph.D. in finance students need to learn to communicate effectively. Conveying complicated concepts or interacting with other professionals make such skills essential. In addition, they help people make thoughtful word choices and play a role in how knowledge is presented.

Critical Thinking Skills

Those with an online Ph.D. in finance are some of the top thinkers in the finance industry. Critical thinking skills are a big part of that. It’s essential to know how to sort through complex information.

And it is equally important to understand how to find practical solutions to problems. Many classes in advanced online PhD in finance programs teach critical thinking and research skills.

Analytical Software Skills

It’s more important than ever that finance PhDs understand today’s financial software.

Software in this industry is geared toward e-business, education, statistics, and more. Having strong knowledge of these programs will ensure you stay on top of things in the world of finance. And an online PhD in finance program can give you those skills.

Economics and Accounting Skills

During an online PhD in finance program, students learn advanced economics and accounting skills. These programs cover accounting processes in all areas of finance. That includes everything from executive-level roles to research positions.

Courses may cover topics in both global economics and the U.S. marketplace. And you will learn high-level skills like advanced financial statement analysis.

Management and Leadership Skills

Students in an online Ph.D. in finance program may also cover management skills. These skills will be necessary for leadership roles when managing personnel. No matter what position you fill, these “people” skills can help with communication in the professional world.

You may also like: Best Online Graduate Schools

What’s the difference between a Ph.D. in Finance and a DBA in Finance?

You can pursue two different doctoral routes if you aim for an online Ph.D. in finance. A doctor of business administration (DBA) or a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in finance are both options. Which one should you choose? It depends on your academic and career goals. Both are respected degrees that represent the highest level of academic achievement you can pursue. So what’s the difference?

Ph.D. in Finance

A Ph.D. in finance is an academic doctorate. For example, if you want to work in research or education, you would probably choose an online Ph.D. in finance. These programs tend to concentrate more on finance theories rather than practical applications. An online Ph.D. in finance is also focused on contributing to the field of finance with knowledge. PhDs in finance typically work in research centers or universities.

Doctorate in Business Administration in Finance

With a doctor of business administration degree in finance, you focus more on real-world finance and business topics. Unlike the online Ph.D. in finance, This degree is for those looking for a career in finance or consulting. Some DBAs do work in education. However, if you aspire to work with a Fortune 500 company or on Wall Street, for example, you would choose the Doctorate in Business Administration in Finance.

Related: TOP CAREERS FOR MASTER’S IN FINANCE DEGREES

Online PhD in Finance Methodology

For students who want to pursue an online PhD in finance, we have compiled a list of the top programs available. These programs have been selected for this ranking based upon a scoring system that considers the cost of tuition and length of the program. They are ordered from highest to lowest score.

All of the online PhD in finance programs are from nonprofit colleges. And each is accredited by a nationally recognized board. The listed tuition is from the school’s published prices and is based on yearly costs.

See also: For Profit vs. Non Profit Colleges: What’s the Difference? (nonprofitcollegesonline.com)

Best Online PhD in Finance: Students Before Profits

#1. Liberty University

Online Doctor of Business Administration – Finance

Lynchburg, virginia.

The first online PhD in finance program on our list is a 100 percent online Doctor of Business Administration–Finance degree. It is offered through Liberty University. Students in this program of study will work to expand their knowledge of business finance. Some of the topics in the program include:

• Managerial Finance
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Investments & Derivatives
• Business Valuation
• Financial Management

Liberty has been ranked among the top online colleges in the nation by various publications. And this program is accredited by  ACBSP. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs is an elite organization. Only three percent of business schools in the world have earned this accreditation. We find this is one of the best online PhD programs in finance.

You’ll need 60 credit hours to complete the program. Doctorate in Business Administration students can finish online in as little as three years, and tuition is quite reasonable. The school has frozen tuition rates for the past several years. The cost per credit hour for this online doctor of business administration program is only $595 for full-time students.

Online students can take full advantage of many online resources while pursuing the program. These include technical support, an online writing center, online tutoring, and more. Students are also encouraged to visit any of Liberty’s campuses and participate in the school’s clubs, activities, and events. Some of these include:

• The LaHaye Ice Center
• Equestrian Center
• Montview Bowling Alley
• The Gun Club
• Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Tuition: $7,847

#2. University of Maryland

Online Doctorate in Business Administration

College park, maryland.

The University of Maryland offers an online doctor of business administration designed for working professionals. To complete this degree program, students must earn a total of 48 credits. UMGC is an excellent option for students who want to further their careers in finance. Students will study topics ranging from investment banking to econometrics and more. Topics include:

• Interpreting and Translating Management Theory in Practice
• Evidence-Based Research Methods
• Data Analytics in Practice
• Designing Evidence-Based Management Solutions
• Producing Original Management Ideas that Influence: Publishing and Conferencing 

Students are expected to have demonstrated leadership skills and management experience. There is a lot of writing involved in this program, so the school’s Graduate Writing Skills (ASC 601) is recommended. Applicants should be motivated and intellectually curious. Online students at UMGC can also take advantage of a wide range of services. These include:

• Academic advisors and success coaches
• Military & veteran support
• The UMGC Library
• Technical support Help Center  
• Writing center
• Lifetime career support
• One-on-one career planning and tools
• Global Campus student organizations

The University of Maryland has a wide range of grants, scholarships, and other financial assistance programs. Additionally, the school offers an interest-free monthly payment plan. UMCG is the second most affordable online PhD programs on our list.

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Tuition: $9,072

Score: 99.75

#3. Kansas State University

Online Doctorate in Personal Financial Planning

Manhattan, kansas.

Kansas State University offers an online Doctorate in Personal Financial Planning. This program is designed to be completed in a hybrid format. While many of the courses are offered online, students must take some of them at the Kansas State University campus. These on-campus experiences consist of three consecutive summer residency sessions in Manhattan, Kansas. During these residencies, students in the personal financial planning program will build connections with their peers and instructors.

This is one of the only PhD in financial planning online programs in the country. A total of 90 credit hours are needed to complete the doctorate in personal financial planning. And the cost at Kansas State University is $635.60 per credit hour. Students can transfer up to 30 credit hours into the doctoral program. Some of the courses include:

• Estate Planning for Families 
• Insurance Planning for Families 
• Personal Income Taxation
• Financial Planning Case Studies 
• Introduction to Financial Therapy 
• Money and Relationships
• Applied Behavioral Finance
• Financial Therapy Theory and Research
• Financial Ethics and Mediation 

K-State uses Canvas for its online learning management system. Whether online or on-campus, you’ll get the same high-quality instruction. Students can complete this flexible personal financial planning degree program on their own schedule. You’ll do your weekly readings, discussions, and assignments at a time that is convenient for you. 

Online PhD financial planning students are invited to participate in commencement activities on campus. However, if you can’t make it to the University, a remote commencement ceremony is offered. In addition, online students can take advantage of all the services Kansas State University offers, including:

• Academic Advising
• Academic Coaching
• Student Access Center
• Writing Center
• Library Services

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Tuition: $10,294

Score: 99.50

#4. City University of Seattle

Doctorate in Business Administration with Specialized Study Concentration

River forest, illinois.

The City University of Seattle offers an online doctor of business administration with a specialized study concentration. The concentration consists of 12 credits taken in a specific area of focus. Students can propose a particular industry to the program director. In this case, a student could transfer finance courses from another institution. They could also choose to do an independent study or choose from existing course offerings. Some of the courses include:

• Financial Decision Making
• Industry Analysis and Market Innovation
• Business Process Analysis and Strategic Management
• Quantitative Research Methods
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Research Fundamentals
• Organizational Development Theories and Trends
• Technology Implementation and Change Management
• Organizational Identity and Culture

This program consists of 91 credit hours and has no residency requirements. This is a very affordable Ph.D. in finance online at $765 per credit. City University students can expect to complete the program in three to four years. All of the school’s degree programs qualify for scholarships and financial aid. As a result, it is one of the top online finance PhD programs on our list. Additionally, the school offers many opportunities to connect with faculty members. These instructors are already working professionally in the field.

With this Ph.D. in finance online, students utilize Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. This allows for an interactive experience. You’ll interact together online with your classmates and instructors every other week. Other online services at City University of Seattle include:

• Library website
• Writing Center 
• Unlimited free tutoring through Smarthinking
• Technical help via Brightspace Help Desk and the Student Help Center
• Career counseling
• Mental health counseling

Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Tuition: $11,812

Score: 99.25

#5. California Baptist University

Online Doctor of Business Administration 

Riverside, california.

California Baptist University has an Online Doctor of Business Administration program. Students can expect to complete this 56-credit-hour program in about three years. The courses in this program are delivered in an eight-week format. So students will study one course every eight weeks. This concentrated format ensures that students can devote all of their energies to learning one topic at a time. Some of the courses in this program include:

• Foundations of Organization and Management
• Ethics in Organizations and Management
• Financial Analysis for Decision Making
• Applying Economic Theory to Business
• International Finance
• Strategic Marketing
• Topics in Human Resource Management
• Research Design
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Research

Students at California Baptist University can take advantage of many exclusive services:

• Dedicated Personal Enrollment Counselor
• One-Stop Student Service Advisor
• Academic Success Center
• Smarthinking 24/7 Online Tutoring Support

Online Career Services  

CBU uses the Blackboard 9.1 learning platform. And they aim to employ the latest technologies in remote education. As a result, they have also been named one of the top online colleges by U.S. News and World Report. 

Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges 

Tuition: $13,590

Score: 99.00

#6. George Fox University

Online Doctor of Business Administration

Newberg, oregon.

This next program is one of the best finance Ph.D. programs available. George Fox University offers a hybrid Doctorate in Business Administration with two concentrations. Students can choose management or business analytics. Both programs introduce students to advanced finance concepts. So your choice will depend on your specific goals. George Fox has one of the best finance PhD programs on our list.

This online Ph.D. in finance requires two in-person sessions per year. So you’ll want to be sure your schedule allows for this. George Fox University estimates that students can complete this rigorous degree program in four to five years. The cost is $980 per credit hour before financial aid.

This program is ideal for working professionals. In addition, it’s beneficial for those who want to develop their financial knowledge further to advance their careers. The program itself is accredited by the ACBSP . Some of the courses you may take include:

• Leading in Organizations
• Foundations of Marketing
• Conceptual Foundations of Economics
• Conceptual Foundations of Finance
• International Business
• Business Analytics: Analytic Thinking and Decisions
• Seminar in Accounting
• Business Analytics: Descriptive Analytics and Forecasting
• Business Analytics: Applied Analytics and Predictions
• Business Analytics: Prescriptive Analytics and Modeling

This finance Ph.D. program functions around a cohort model. This model allows students to interact and network with their instructor and peers. This gives them a way to connect with other professionals across the country and even across the world. Online students have a variety of services at their disposal, including:

• Writing circles
• Academic Resource Center (ARC) 
• Career Services (IDEA Center) 
• Student Jobs on Campus (Handshake) 
• Athletics 
• Clubs 
• Spiritual Life Groups
• Music Ensembles 
• Student Publications 
• Theatre Performances 
• Bruin Community Pantry 
• Diversity Initiatives & Programs 
• Health & Counseling Center
• Intercultural Resource Center 
• Student Support Network 

Tuition: $14,158

Score: 98.75

#7. Johnson & Wales University

Providence, Rhode Island

Johnson & Wales University online Doctor of Business Administration degree program is one of the best finance programs on this list. Students enrolled in the program will develop the financial acumen for high-paying careers in finance. And they will be prepared for roles such as:

• Executive-level organizational leaders
• Industry innovators
• Consultants
• Policymakers

Additionally, for those pursuing a career in education, the Doctorate in Business Administration is recognized as a terminal degree. 

A total of 60 credit hours are needed to complete the program. It takes approximately three years to finish. Courses are offered in eight-week formats, which means students focus on only one topic at a time. That allows you to fully understand the material before moving on to the next learning area. This degree has definitely earned its spot among our top finance Ph.D. rankings. Courses in the program include:

• Contemporary Issues in Finance and Accounting
• Advanced Strategies in Organization Development
• Problems and Methods in Marketing Management
• Business Analytics and Intelligence
• Organizational Behavior
• Innovation and Change
• Contemporary Leadership Issues
• Leadership and Managing Large Scale Transformation

The program is offered in collaboration with JWU’s College of Business. It is entirely online with no residency requirements. 

Accreditation:   New England Commission on Higher Education

Tuition: $14,706

Score: 98.50

#8. Franklin University

Online Doctor of Business Administration – Accounting

Columbus, ohio.

 Franklin University offers a 100 percent online Doctorate in Business Administration-Accounting degree. The program is designed to teach students to become problem-solving business leaders. While not a Ph.D. in Finance, you can customize this degree with several electives. This allows students to advance their knowledge of finance topics such as:

• Advanced Accounting
• Federal Income Tax
• Accounting Research and Analysis
• Financial Planning
• Enterprise Resource Planning
• Financial & Managerial Accounting
• Management Control Processes & Systems
• Introduction to Tax Research
• C-Corporation Taxation
• Enterprise Risk Analysis & Management

The program requires a total of 58 credit hours, and students can complete it in as little as three years. The cost per credit is $748. However, Franklin University offers many financial aid resources . These include scholarships, grants, and other forms of assistance. They also have installment payment plans and deferred tuition reimbursement.

Franklin has a generous transfer program as well. Doctoral students can transfer up to 24 credits. And the school will work diligently to ensure you maximize all the credits you can. 

Students studying finance online at Franklin have plenty of support services, too. All students have a personal advisor to help them one-on-one with questions or concerns. In addition, tutoring, writing help, research help, library services, and more are also available. 

Tuition: $16,080

Score: 98.25

#9. Cambridge College

Online Doctor of Business Administration – Quality Systems Management

Boston, massachusetts.

This next program is offered through the New England Institute of Business at Cambridge College. It’s an online DBA Administration Quality Systems Management degree. This online Ph.D. in finance is ideal for students who want to gain the knowledge and expertise to build a career in certain finance professions.

A total of 60 credit hours are needed to complete this program, and the cost is $658 per credit hour. Military members, first responders, and veterans are entitled to a discount. The school anticipates that students can complete the program in three years. Some of the courses related to finance in this program include:

• Financial Management and Fiscal Leadership
• Benchmarking, Reengineering, and Cost of Quality
• Business Analytics and Strategic Decision Making
• Innovation, Strategic Technologies, and Sustainability
• Business Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Strategic Management and Globalization

The online Doctorate in Business Administration has two required residency courses. Students must attend each of these in full. There is one four-day residency and one three-day residency. If you have special circumstances, you must notify the school in advance.

Students pursuing finance online are entitled to the same services as their peers on campus, including:

• Academic Support
• Center for Career and Professional Development

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education 

Tuition: $16,409

Score: 98.00

#10. Northcentral University

Doctor of Business Administration with a Specialization in Financial Management

San diego, california.

Northcentral University offers an Online Doctorate in Business Administration with several specializations. The one we’re discussing here is the financial management specialization. It’s a 48-credit-hour program designed to be completed entirely online.

This finance degree is a great option for students looking for an affordable Ph.D. in finance online. It is staffed by a 100 percent doctorate faculty. And you can complete the program in approximately 34 months. The entire program is asynchronous and starts every Monday. There are no residency or GRE/GMAT requirements. Topics in the financial management specialization include:

• Advanced skills in fiscal analysis, budgeting, and spending for public and private organizations
• Domestic and international finance
• Causes of fluctuations in interest and monetary exchange rates
• Advanced business financial decision models
• Investment selection techniques 
• How financial institutions generate earnings and manage risk
• Corporate Finance

At NCU, students can interact one-to-one with their professors. And they will receive personalized mentoring. The school has a Virtual Education Support Center where you can access plenty of resources. Plus, students studying finance online can take advantage of a Virtual Center for Health and Wellness.

Graduates of this program will be ready for a variety of careers. A few of those include:

• Financial Research Specialist
• Statistician
• Financial Analyst
• Budget Analyst
• Loan Officer
• Financial Manager
• Financial Planner
• Investment Banker

Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Tuition: $16,881

Score: 97.75

#11. Rutgers University

Online PhD in Management – Finance Concentration

Newark, new jersey.

Students at Rutgers University can enroll in the school’s Online Ph.D. in Management and choose a finance concentration. This program is one of the top finance Ph.D. programs on our list. And it’s ideal for working professionals who want to further their careers in finance. You’ll need to earn a total of 72 credits to complete the program. Courses include:

• Microeconomic Theory
• Optimization Models in Finance 
• Math Methods in Economics
• Introduction to Probability
• Stochastic Processes
• Game Theory
• Macroeconomics
• Modern Statistics
• Investments
• Accounting Theory I: Theory of Corporate Disclosures, Control, and Governance
• Floating Finance Seminar
• Econometrics 

This finance degree program is via the Department of Finance & Economics of Rutgers Business School. The business school is a member of AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. There are five research centers associated with this department:

• Blanche and Irwin Lerner Center for Pharmaceutical Management
• Center for Real Estate
• Center for Research in Regulated Industries
• Rutgers Financial Institutions Center
• Whitcomb Center for Research in Financial Services

Although not required, it’s a plus if you have a master’s in computer science, economics, or mathematics. However, if your background in finance or economics is limited, the school suggests taking an additional course. This would be the Master of Quantitative Finance course. While this doesn’t guarantee admission, it can benefit you in your studies. 

Tuition: $18,168

Score: 97.50

Related: Largest Nonprofit Online Universities

Why Should You Pursue an Online PhD in Finance?

A doctoral degree in finance represents the highest academic level you can reach in college. And it puts you in an elite group of students. Only around 181,000 students earn a Ph.D. each year. You might think that is a lot. But over 800,000 students get their master’s degrees. And nearly two million students graduate with a bachelor’s degree every year. 

When you graduate with a Ph.D. in Finance online, you are considered an expert in the field of finance. Your credentials open up many possibilities for careers others can only dream about. You can also reach more of your personal and financial goals.

Are Online PhD in Finance Programs Legit?

When looking for the best school for PhD finance programs, one of your main concerns should be credibility. There are a few for-profit schools offering these degrees, but many of them have some shady practices . You should avoid these “diploma mills” at all costs. Many are not even accredited. 

You’ll want to look for programs offered at reputable nonprofit colleges and universities. Nonprofits can be public or private. And they invest all their earnings back into educational programs. Nonprofits do not exist to make money. At Nonprofit Colleges Online, we only feature universities and colleges that are not for profit. 

We also look for accreditation. Each of the schools we review is accredited by a national or regional accrediting body. Accreditation is crucial when looking for the best online Ph.D. in finance. When a school is accredited, it meets certain academic standards for rigor, quality, and other factors. In fact, some employers won’t even consider hiring a candidate who has not attended an accredited program. 

See Also: BEST ONLINE MASTERS IN FINANCE: STUDENTS BEFORE PROFITS AWARD

On-Campus vs. Online PhD in Finance Programs

Online PhD in Finance programs are getting more and more popular each year. But are they really as good as the on-campus versions? First, let’s look at a few things that are not different about pursuing an online degree program.

1. Online degree programs are just as academically rigorous as their on-campus counterparts.

You’ll focus on the same curriculum when studying online. You will take the same exams and quizzes. And you will complete the same research and assignments. 

2. Online PhD in Finance programs have the same esteemed instructors.

The online version of a Ph.D. program will almost always have the same faculty members. You can expect to meet the same respected professors and instructors that teach in the classroom.

3. Online PhD in Finance degrees look no different than those earned on campus.

Your degree will not specify that you earned it online. Instead, you will have the same diploma as students who attended an on-campus program. And only you will know you earned your degree online.

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What Is Different About Online Ph.D. in Finance Programs?

Online and on-campus Ph.D. programs have two significant differences—pace and schedule. When students attend on-campus programs, there are a specified number of courses to finish. Class begins and ends at a particular time, and assignments all need to be completed by a specific date. You usually can’t go at a faster pace since everyone is taking the course at once. And if you lag behind, you may fail the course or have to complete it again.

With online programs, there is much more flexibility. For example, you’ll have the same number of courses and the same assignments, lectures, readings, etc. But you can usually progress at your own pace. When taking online courses, you don’t need to show up to class at a specific time. You can log in and complete your assignments whenever it is convenient.

Related: BEST ONLINE BACHELOR’S IN FINANCE/ECONOMICS: STUDENTS BEFORE PROFITS AWARD

How Many Years Does It Take to Earn a Ph.D. in Finance?

The credit hours needed for earning an online Ph.D. in finance can vary significantly. Often, it depends on the school you choose and how rigorous the program is. The number of credits can be between 50 to 90, with 60 being about average. For full-time students, most online doctoral programs can be finished in three to four years. 

This concludes our ranking of the top online PhD in finance degree programs.

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How to Get a PhD or DBA in Finance

The pinnacle of business education, the PhD in Business, has long been overshadowed by the popular master of business administration (MBA). But doctorate-level business degrees–the PhD and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)–are growing in popularity as the discipline steadily raises the bar for business school instructors and industry leaders. A PhD or DBA in Finance represents both mastery of the discipline and a significant contribution to academic theory and its application in business practice. Graduates typically go on to faculty positions in business schools or careers in corporate leadership and consulting.

An Overview of the PhD in Finance

Business schools originated around the turn of the twentieth century to satisfy demand for business leaders with advanced vocational training. By mid-century, 1950s through the 1960s, the leading business schools began to gravitate toward scientific research using social science methods. Today’s PhD programs in finance focus on applying the disciplines of economics, sociology, psychology, systems engineering, and mathematics to advance scholarly research in business. The advent of online doctorate degree programs has made it possible to earn a PhD or DBA in Finance at a flexible pace from anywhere with Internet access.

PhD in Finance vs DBA

The PhD in Finance is distinct from the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), a professional doctorate. DBA programs tend to have a heavier emphasis in vocational training. While PhD research focuses on advancing business knowledge, DBA projects apply existing theory to practical business problems. PhD and DBA in Finance degree programs are broadly similar, both requiring similar coursework, an exam, and a doctoral dissertation. The distinction between the two doctoral degrees becomes clear at the dissertation and job search phase. The PhD is a pathway into an academic career as a professor and university researcher. The degree may also lead into advanced consulting or research roles in business or public administration. The DBA can lead to a business school faculty position, but its applied curriculum has a more immediate application in corporate leadership and management or public-sector research.

PhD Career Track

Most PhD candidates head to academic careers, splitting their time between research and teaching. Career prospects for business faculty are strong, reflecting a persistent shortage of business PhDs. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the leading professional association and accreditation body for business schools, forecasts strong opportunity for aspiring business academics, with an estimated “2,400 new [faculty positions] opening by 2012.” About a third of doctoral program graduates go on to careers outside academia, often as business consultants or as senior-level researchers in the private or public sector.

How to Apply for Doctorate Programs in Finance

A doctoral degree in finance requires commitment and discipline. Programs can take four to six years to complete, so careful planning is crucial.

How to Choose a Program

The AACSB accredits nearly 600 business schools. Each doctoral program offers a unique slant on the discipline of finance, with different faculty specializations, courses, online and campus formats, and institutional resources. Which doctorate program in finance is right for you?

The following steps will help you research your options and find the business school that best matches your career goals. The below steps are outlined for a PhD program and also apply to those seeking a DBA.

Step One: The Fundamentals

Goal . Determine the fundamental qualities you need in a doctoral program. Online, searchable databases of business schools can help you build a list of schools that meet your baseline criteria.

Must-have features. Your career goals and life circumstances will dictate the non-negotiable features of your doctoral program.

• Accreditation . Accreditation by an independent authority is the fundamental measure of academic quality for any higher education institution. AACSB International is the premier international accreditation authority for business graduate programs, but you’ll also find schools accredited by regional authorities. Accreditation is a crucial safeguard of the value of your degree and could help you qualify for federal financial aid.
• Career Track: Academic or Professional? A clear sense of your career ambitions can help you decide whether to pursue a traditional academic research PhD or a broader professional doctorate. Some PhD in Finance programs track students directly into an academic teaching or research career. Other PhDs allow you to keep one foot in professional practice, with applied research that also advances business scholarship. These applied PhD in Finance programs track graduates into either faculty or professional research roles. For management and corporate leadership careers, consider a DBA in Finance.
• The online degree format features self-paced education mediated through computer technology. Online delivery is a popular choice for adults balancing work and family obligations alongside their doctoral work. Since the format attracts working professionals, online delivery tends to favor doctorate programs with an applied, professionalpractice emphasis. Aspiring business professionals will appreciate the opportunity to network with colleagues and carry out applied research projects in connection with their work. Online PhD in Finance programs also tend to attract faculty with industry experience, and prize innovative, forward-looking courses, curricula, and projects.
• The traditional campus format is a strong choice for PhD candidates with academic teaching and research ambitions. Campus programs offer ready access to on-site research facilities and teaching assistantships. Resident graduate students also forge strong relationships with faculty, who serve as mentors and research partners. Campus programs also tend to offer better support resources for candidates on the academic job market.
• A hybrid format combines the best of both worlds: students complete coursework and independent research online, and convene periodically on campus to consult with faculty advisors and take advantage of campus resources. These temporary residency periods vary from program to program.

Keep in mind that if you choose a campus or hybrid format, the school’s location will become a primary factor in your research.

• AACSB Accreditation. AACSB International maintains a searchable database of accredited institutions. Search by degree level, field of study, program format (online or campus), location, and more.
• Department of Education. The Department of Education maintains a list of authorized accreditation agencies. Consult this resource to verify the validity of regional accreditation.
• Online Directories. WorldWideLearn.com maintains a searchable online directory of accredited programs. You can search for online PhD programs, campus education options, or find a list schools in your area through the degrees by location function.

Step Two: Specializations

Goal . Focus your school search by gauging the direction of your scholarly interests. Networking with faculty and gradate associations can help you assess the strengths of different campus and online PhD in finance programs.

Specializations . Finance is a broad discipline with many specialized applications and areas of inquiry. Common specializations in finance may focus on a specific type or function of financial analysis, such as:

• Quantitative Finance, including Financial Modeling
• Financial Planning
• Applied Management and Decision Sciences
• Risk Management

Or the program may focus on a particular application of finance practice, such as:

• Corporate Finance
• Real Estate

Faculty. A school’s formal specialization areas offer a good starting point for determining the PhD programs’ strengths. But to find the best fit for your area of interest, go a step further and explore faculty research interests. The AACSB explains: “Students often incorrectly assume that all schools offer similar types of specializations and pay relatively little attention to the specific research interests of faculty.” Since faculty mentorship and collaborative research are essential to the PhD in Finance, it pays to find a faculty member whose research interests match your own.

• School Web sites . Graduate schools of business offer information about program specializations online. Course requirements and faculty vitas can help you glean the program’s strengths in a given specialization.
• Academic counselors . Business school counselors and can offer guidance about a school’s areas of specialization. WorldWideLearn.com streamlines the research process by putting you in touch with school representatives. You can fill out a form online and school representatives contact you by phone or email to answer your questions about the program. Communicating directly with school representatives and counselors saves time, enabling you to compare many programs.
• Network with faculty and graduate students . Professors and other graduate students can be a valuable resource in your school research. Your undergraduate instructors, for example, can direct you to faculty at other schools doing research in your area of interest. To meet faculty and graduate students at other colleges, attend department or industry networking events. Or visit the campus and meet with faculty one-on-one.
• Journal of Finance
• Journal of Financial Economics
• Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking
• Securities Regulation Law Journal

Step Three: Criteria and Evaluation

Goal . Narrow down your list of schools by evaluating their relative merits. Rankings and graduate performance data can help you determine which school presents the best value given your career goals.

Criteria . Take into account the following criteria to help you evaluate the finance doctoral programs on your list.

• Reputation . How selective is the school? Where does it stand in the rankings?
• Job Placement . The placement history data of recent doctoral graduates can help you gauge the value of the degree on the job market. Many schools report how many graduates took academic vs. non-academic jobs, how many received tenure, and even starting salaries.
• Graduation Rate . How many graduate students complete the program? What kind of support services does the school offer?
• Resources . Consider the availability of libraries, research facilities, software and technology, and teaching assistantships.
• Funding. Many PhD students are eligible for stipends and tuition grants. Explore the availability of scholarships, teaching assistant positions, student loans, and other funding sources. Finally, evaluate the total cost of your investment, taking into account the cost of living, tuition, and the expected time to completion of the degree.
• Financial Times
• The Wall Street Journal
• BusinessWeek
• EIU Economist Intelligence Unit

In view of the diversity in rankings, Financial Times has initiated a master ranking that collates results from all the major sources.

• Campus Visit . A campus visit can be especially helpful in the final stages of the selection process. Plan to meet with admissions counselors, faculty members with whom you might want to work, and other graduate students.
• Online Resources . WorldWideLearn.com offers general information on graduate education funding. In addition, you can find answers to your questions via the Education Advisor resource.

How to Prepare for the PhD Program in Finance

Once you’ve narrowed down your list to four or five prospective doctoral degree programs in finance, you’re ready to begin the application process. Most PhD programs in finance require the following:

• Prerequisite Degrees and Courses . A bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, or a related field is the standard prerequisite for a PhD program. Most finance PhD programs do not require a master’s degree or MBA. If you do not have a basic academic background in business, you may have to satisfy course prerequisites before proceeding.
• Work Experience . Since many finance doctoral students work before entering the program, it’s common to submit a resume detailing work experience.
• Test Scores . Many doctoral programs require standardized tests such as the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Examination).
• Recommendation Letters . Assemble recommendation letters from professional colleagues or undergraduate professors who can attest to your academic or work abilities.

Aiming for a Career in Finance

Besides lining up these practical requirements, you can facilitate the application process by developing a specific sense of your research and career goals.

• Academic Careers. Graduate of DBA and PhD in Finance programs are finding particular opportunity on the academic job market, which is chronically short of qualified candidates to fill faculty positions. About fourteen percent of business school faculty members have a finance background. Finance professors generally earn about fifteen percent more than their colleagues in other business fields.
• Professional Careers. Finance PhDs can also find demand for their research and analytical expertise in organizational consulting and research. Business and government employers value graduates of finance PhD programs for work in financial projections, business strategy, consumer behavior, and other areas.

As the highest academic achievement in the field, the PhD in Finance opens doors to a variety of research, teaching, and consulting roles. Lay the foundation for success today, and you’re sure to discover a world of career opportunity tomorrow.

• AACSB International–The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, 2009-2009 U.S. Salary Report
• BestBizSchools.com, AACSB Accredited Business Schools Database
• AACSB International–The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, Becoming a Business Professor
• Financial Times, Business Education , by Della Bradshaw
• BusinessWeek, Business PhD Applications on the Rise , by Alison Damast
• AACSB International–The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, Doctoral Education Resource Center
• BestBizSchools.com, Doctoral Programs in Finance
• Stanford Graduate School of Business, Finance PhD Program
• University of Wisconsin, PhD in Finance
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Tepper School of Business

Ph.D. Program in Financial Economics

This field devotes attention to the study of the effects of information, attitudes toward risk, taxation, macroeconomic fluctuations, and security market prices..

The purpose of the Ph.D. program in financial economics is to educate students in the concepts and analytical techniques needed to understand and advance the frontiers of knowledge in financial economics.

The program provides students with sound training in economics, finance, and quantitative methods, as well as the opportunity to work closely with faculty on original research.

Financial economics deals with the pricing of capital assets and the financial decisions of individuals and firms. Much of its attention is devoted to the study of the effects of information, attitudes toward risk, taxation, macroeconomic fluctuations, and time on investors' investment choices and security market prices. Issues involving the behavior of firms are also of interest, including the importance of corporate dividend, capital structure, and investment policies to firm valuation.

The Ph.D. program in financial economics is designed to educate students in the concepts and analytical techniques required for basic and applied research in these and related areas. This training typically leads to academic careers at other major business schools and economics departments.

Carnegie Mellon is one of the few institutions at which the economics department for the university as a whole is housed in the business school. This creates an environment which is especially conducive to close integration between the various management studies and economics. The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon has long played a pioneering role in the application of new ideas and techniques in economics to financial problems.

Research Topics

Asset pricing theory.

• Market Incompleteness
• The Effect of Incomplete Markets on Security Valuation
• Risk Preferences
• Asset Pricing and Investor Risk Preferences
• Mortgage Valuation
• The Valuation of Mortgage Loans

Tax Effects in Security Markets

• Treasury Bonds
• Tax Effects in the Relative Pricing of Treasury Bonds
• Municipal Bonds
• Term and Tax Effects in the Pricing of Municipal Bonds
• Capital Gains Taxation
• The Effect of Capital Gains Taxation on the Optimal Trading and Equilibrium Pricing of Financial Assets

Corporate Finance

• Corporate Control
• Capital Structure And Corporate Control
• Optimal Bankruptcy Law

Market Microstructure

• Design of Financial Markets
• Limit and Market Orders
• Trading Strategies

International Finance

• Risk Premia in Currency Markets
• Lottery Bonds

P lease visit our Ph.D. Student Profiles page t o view the profiles of our current doctoral candidates.

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The field of finance covers the economics of claims on resources. Financial economists study the valuation of these claims, the markets in which they are traded, and their use by individuals, corporations, and the society at large.

At Stanford GSB, finance faculty and doctoral students study a wide spectrum of financial topics, including the pricing and valuation of assets, the behavior of financial markets, and the structure and financial decision-making of firms and financial intermediaries.

Investigation of issues arising in these areas is pursued both through the development of theoretical models and through the empirical testing of those models. The PhD Program is designed to give students a good understanding of the methods used in theoretical modeling and empirical testing.

Preparation and Qualifications

All students are required to have, or to obtain during their first year, mathematical skills at the level of one year of calculus and one course each in linear algebra and matrix theory, theory of probability, and statistical inference.

Students are expected to have familiarity with programming and data analysis using tools and software such as MATLAB, Stata, R, Python, or Julia, or to correct any deficiencies before enrolling at Stanford.

The PhD program in finance involves a great deal of very hard work, and there is keen competition for admission. For both these reasons, the faculty is selective in offering admission. Prospective applicants must have an aptitude for quantitative work and be at ease in handling formal models. A strong background in economics and college-level mathematics is desirable.

It is particularly important to realize that a PhD in finance is not a higher-level MBA, but an advanced, academically oriented degree in financial economics, with a reflective and analytical, rather than operational, viewpoint.

Faculty in Finance

Anat r. admati, juliane begenau, jonathan b. berk, greg buchak, antonio coppola, peter m. demarzo, darrell duffie, steven grenadier, benjamin hébert, arvind krishnamurthy, hanno lustig, matteo maggiori, paul pfleiderer, joshua d. rauh, claudia robles-garcia, ilya a. strebulaev, vikrant vig, jeffrey zwiebel, emeriti faculty, robert l. joss, george g.c. parker, myron s. scholes, william f. sharpe, kenneth j. singleton, james c. van horne, recent publications in finance, expectations and the neutrality of interest rates, real effects of supplying safe private money, how credit cycles across a financial crisis, recent insights by stanford business, your summer 2024 podcast playlist, why the “venture mindset” is not just for tech investors, how to: reject pitches like a venture capitalist.

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Which program is right for you?

Through intellectual rigor and experiential learning, this full-time, two-year MBA program develops leaders who make a difference in the world.

A rigorous, hands-on program that prepares adaptive problem solvers for premier finance careers.

A 12-month program focused on applying the tools of modern data science, optimization and machine learning to solve real-world business problems.

Earn your MBA and SM in engineering with this transformative two-year program.

Combine an international MBA with a deep dive into management science. A special opportunity for partner and affiliate schools only.

A doctoral program that produces outstanding scholars who are leading in their fields of research.

Bring a business perspective to your technical and quantitative expertise with a bachelor’s degree in management, business analytics, or finance.

A joint program for mid-career professionals that integrates engineering and systems thinking. Earn your master’s degree in engineering and management.

An interdisciplinary program that combines engineering, management, and design, leading to a master’s degree in engineering and management.

Executive Programs

A full-time MBA program for mid-career leaders eager to dedicate one year of discovery for a lifetime of impact.

This 20-month MBA program equips experienced executives to enhance their impact on their organizations and the world.

Non-degree programs for senior executives and high-potential managers.

A non-degree, customizable program for mid-career professionals.

PhD Program in Finance

2023-24 curriculum outline.

The MIT Sloan Finance Group offers a doctoral program specialization in Finance for students interested in research careers in academic finance. The requirements of the program may be loosely divided into five categories: coursework, the Finance Seminar, the general examination, the research paper, and the dissertation. Attendance at the weekly Finance Seminar is mandatory in the second year and beyond and is encouraged in the first year.  During the first two years, students are engaged primarily in coursework, taking both required and elective courses in preparation for their general examination at the end of the second year.  Students are required to complete a research paper by the end of their fifth semester, present it in front of the faculty committee and receive a passing grade.  After that, students are required to find a formal thesis advisor and form a thesis committee by the end of their eighth semester. The Thesis Committee should consist of at least one tenured faculty from the MIT Sloan Finance Group.

Required Courses

The following set of required courses is designed to furnish each student with a sound and well-rounded understanding of the theoretical and empirical foundations of finance, as well as the tools necessary to make original contributions in each of these areas. Finance PhD courses (15.470, 15.471, 15.472, 15.473, 15.474) in which the student does not receive a grade of B or higher must be retaken.

First Year - Summer

Math Camp begins on the second Monday in August. 

First Year - Fall Semester

14.121/14.122 Micro Theory I/II

14.451/14.452 Macro Theory I/II ( strongly recommended)

14.380/14.381 — Statistics/Applied Econometrics

15.470 — Asset Pricing

First Year - Spring Semester

14.123/14.124 Micro Theory III/IV

14.453/14.454 Macro Theory III/IV (strongly recommended)

14.382 – Econometrics

15.471 – Corporate Finance

Second Year - Fall Semester

15.472 — Advanced Asset Pricing

  14.384 — Time-Series Analysis or  14.385 — Nonlinear Econometric Analysis  (Enrolled students receive a one-semester waiver from attending the Finance Seminar due to a scheduling conflict)

15.475 — Current Research in Financial Economics

Second Year - Spring Semester

15.473 — Advanced Corporate Finance

 15.474 — Current Topics in Finance (strongly encouraged to take multiple times)

15.475 — Current Research in Financial Economics

Recommended Elective Courses

Beyond these required courses, students are expected to enroll in elective courses determined by their primary area of interest. There are two informal “tracks” in Financial Economics: Corporate Finance and Asset Pricing. Recommended electives are designed to deepen the student's grasp of material that will be central to the writing of his/her dissertation. Students also have the opportunity to take courses at Harvard University. There is no formal requirement to select one track or another, and students are free to take any of the electives.

• Academics /

Finance Master’s Degree Program

Build the skills and network you need to advance your career in finance.

Online Courses

11 out of 12 total courses

On-Campus Experience

2 weekends or a 3-week summer course

$3,340 per course

Next Start Term

Program Overview

Ready to deepen your financial expertise and enhance your career potential? Develop the advanced knowledge and practical skills you need to take on greater professional responsibilities or make a career pivot.

Our Finance Master’s Degree Program offers a wide range of courses that cover essential financial topics — from microeconomics to investment theory to business valuation. Under the instruction of expert faculty, you’ll learn to make complex financial decisions. And you’ll examine issues in finance through a local, regional, and global lens.

Program Benefits

Customizable path, stackable certificates, & experiential learning

Instructors who are academics and professionals at the top of their fields

Personalized academic & career advising

Entrepreneurial opportunities through the Harvard Innovation Labs

Paid research options

Harvard Alumni Association membership upon graduation

Customizable Course Curriculum

Our curriculum is flexible in pace and customizable by design. You can study part time, choosing courses that fit your schedule and align with your career goals. In the program, you’ll experience the convenience of online learning and the immersive benefits of learning in person.

In core finance courses, you’ll deepen your knowledge of essential finance concepts, tools, and strategies. Through elective coursework, you’ll build upon that foundation — focusing on the specialized areas that are most important to you, such as corporate finance, investments, or financial accounting.

11 Online Courses

• Synchronous and asynchronous
• Fall, spring, January, and summer options

You’ll complete 1 degree requirement in person at Harvard, at an accelerated or standard pace:

• 2 weekends in fall or spring
• 3 weeks in the summer

The path to your degree begins before you apply to the program.

First, you’ll register for and complete 3 required courses, earning at least a B in each. These foundational courses are investments in your studies and count toward your degree, helping ensure success in the program.

As an alternative, you may choose to earn one of the following credentials as part of your admissions path: HBS Online CORe Admissions Pathway or the MITx MicroMasters® Program Pathway .

Next Start Term: Fall 2024

Course registration is open July 22–August 29.

To get started , explore degree requirements, confirm your initial eligibility, and learn more about our unique “earn your way in” admissions process.

Earn a Stackable Certificate

As you work toward your master’s degree, you can take courses that also count — or “stack” — toward a graduate certificate. It’s a cost-effective, time-saving opportunity to build specialized skills and earn a professional credential along the way to your degree.

For each certificate, you can choose courses that best fit your goals.

Stackable graduate certificates include:

• Business Economics
• Corporate Finance
• Data Analytics
• Principles of Finance
• Real Estate Investment

A Faculty of Finance Experts

Studying at Harvard Extension School means learning from the world’s best. Our finance instructors are renowned experts in their field and bring a genuine passion for teaching, with students giving our faculty an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.

Peter Marber

Chief Investment Officer for Emerging Markets, Aperture Investors

Zinnia Mukherjee

Associate Professor of Economics, Simmons University

Teo Nicolais

President, Nicolais, LLC

Our Community at a Glance

Students in our Finance Master’s Degree program are experienced financial professionals seeking to advance their careers at their current companies, level up at different organizations, and even make total career changes.

You’ll join a network of talented peers who are committed to developing deep expertise in banking, investments, and economics. By the time you’ve completed your studies, you’ll likely have lifelong friends and professional contacts.

Download: Finance Master's Degree Fact Sheet

Average Age

Work Full Time

Have Experience in the Finance Field

Average Years of Professional Experience

Would Recommend the Program

Career Opportunities & Alumni Outcomes

With a graduate degree in finance, you can prepare to advance in a variety of roles. Our finance graduates work in a range of finance-related industries, including accounting, banking, biotechnology, information technology, investment and asset management, and financial management consulting.

Roles held by recent graduates include: 

• Hedge fund analyst
• Credit analyst
• Compliance analyst
• Corporate strategy manager
• Vice president of mergers and acquisitions

Alumni work at a variety of organizations, including:

• Bain Capital
• Bank of America
• Citizens Bank

Career Advising and Mentorship

Whatever your career goals, we’re here to support you. Harvard’s Mignone Center for Career Success offers career advising, employment opportunities, Harvard alumni mentor connections, and career fairs like the annual Finance and FinTech Fair on campus at Harvard.

Your Harvard University Degree

Upon successful completion of the required curriculum, you will receive your Harvard University degree — a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, Field: Finance.

Expand Your Connections: the Harvard Alumni Network

As a graduate, you’ll become a member of the worldwide Harvard Alumni Association (400,000+ members) and Harvard Extension Alumni Association (29,000+ members).

The courses were invaluable, giving me a solid foundation and a broad perspective on the diverse landscape of finance. They shaped my academic and professional journey, allowing me to specialize based on my interests and career goals.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.

After admission, you may qualify for financial aid . Typically, eligible students receive grant funds to cover a portion of tuition costs each term, in addition to federal financial aid options.

Learn more about the cost of attendance .

Coffee Chat: All About Management Programs at HES

Are you interested in learning more about management graduate degree programs at Harvard Extension School? Attendees joined us for an informational webinar where they had the opportunity to connect with program directors, academic advisors, and current students.

What is a Master’s in Finance?

A master’s degree in finance can help financial professionals deepen their knowledge and technical skills in the financial field. Students who choose to get this degree are often already working in finance or a related field. Core courses can provide a solid foundation in the principles of finance, while electives can help you specialize your degree.

What Can You Do With a Master’s Degree in Finance?

A master’s degree in finance gives you foundational knowledge and practice skills to help your organization better manage its finances and investments. Whether you specialize in mergers and acquisitions, real estate investment, sustainable finance, or monetary policy, a master’s degree will give you the skills and tools you need to keep your career moving forward. It may even help you advance into mid- or even senior-level positions or start a new career in finance.

For more information on how a master’s degree in finance can help advance your career, read our blog Corporate Finance Career Path: How to Keep Your Growth on Track .

Is a Degree in Finance Useful?

A degree in finance is a great way to supplement and expand the real-world experience you’ve developed in the office.

Our curriculum offers the theoretical and academic knowledge you need to solve problems and develop solutions in creative and practical ways. You’ll find yourself applying the tools you learn in class right from the start.

Is a Career in Finance a Good Career?

The outlook for careers in finance is strong.

Careers in finance tend to be stable, even during economic downturns. And the job market for experienced finance professionals is likely to continue to grow over the next decade. The potential for a high-income career — especially for individuals with an advanced degree and several years’ of experience — is excellent.

How Long Does It Take to Complete the Finance Graduate Program?

Program length is ordinarily anywhere between 2 and 5 years. It depends on your preferred pace and the number of courses you want to take each semester.

For an accelerated journey, we offer year round study, where you can take courses in fall, January, spring, and summer.

While we don’t require you to register for a certain number of courses each semester, you cannot take longer than 5 years to complete the degree.

How Will This Finance Master’s Degree Program Help My Career?

A master’s degree in the field of finance demonstrates your mastery of the key knowledge and critical skills to build and advance a successful career in finance.

In the program at Harvard Extension School, you’ll gain an understanding of core elements of organizational finance decisions, including accounting and financial statement analysis, principles of finance, investments, corporate finance, and business valuations.

You’ll build advanced knowledge of economic theory, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, international markets, and risk management.

Whether you are seeking to advance your career in finance or taking the first step in a career change, you can gain the knowledge you need to prepare for roles such as account manager, cash manager, financial analyst, financial risk analyst, or financial auditor. You may also qualify for senior financial management positions such as controller, treasurer, or even chief financial officer.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

• Youth Program
• Wharton Online

Wharton’s PhD program in Finance provides students with a solid foundation in the theoretical and empirical tools of modern finance, drawing heavily on the discipline of economics.

The department prepares students for careers in research and teaching at the world’s leading academic institutions, focusing on Asset Pricing and Portfolio Management, Corporate Finance, International Finance, Financial Institutions and Macroeconomics.

Wharton’s Finance faculty, widely recognized as the finest in the world, has been at the forefront of several areas of research. For example, members of the faculty have led modern innovations in theories of portfolio choice and savings behavior, which have significantly impacted the asset pricing techniques used by researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Another example is the contribution by faculty members to the analysis of financial institutions and markets, which is fundamental to our understanding of the trade-offs between economic systems and their implications for financial fragility and crises.

Faculty research, both empirical and theoretical, includes such areas as:

• Structure of financial markets
• Formation and behavior of financial asset prices
• Banking and monetary systems
• Corporate control and capital structure
• Saving and capital formation
• International financial markets

For information on courses and sample plan of study, please visit the University Graduate Catalog .

Get the Details.

Visit the Finance website for details on program requirements and courses. Read faculty and student research and bios to see what you can do with a Finance PhD.

Finance Doctoral Coordinator Prof. Luke Taylor John B. Neff Associate Professor in Finance, Professor of Finance Co-Director, Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research Email: [email protected] Phone: (215) 898-4802

2024 Best Online PhD in Financial Planning [Doctorate Guide]

If you’re interested in pursuing research or advancement in the field of finance, then earning a PhD in Financial Planning may be a strategic step in your professional goals.

A PhD is a research-heavy program, and you will likely have the opportunity to study theoretical knowledge and research methods in specific fields, such as consumer economics or risk management.

Editorial Listing ShortCode:

Earning this degree could help you grow your qualifications for several rewarding and lucrative career paths, depending on your desired area of focus.

Universities Offering Online Doctorate in Financial Planning Degree Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.

Capella University

Capella University’s Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management includes eleven core courses, five electives, and three virtual residencies. The program also requires the completion of a comprehensive exam and a dissertation to graduate. Throughout the dissertation process, students are paired with an academic mentor to help keep them on track.

Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Franklin University

Franklin University offers a Doctor of Business Administration that can be completed 100% online. Students typically spend 2 years completing coursework and 1 year working on the dissertation. The program is designed to allow students to complete their studies around their own schedule. The curriculum is highly customizable through a wide range of elective options.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Hampton University

Hampton University offers a hybrid online PhD in Business Administration designed to meet the needs of busy professionals. Online courses are 8 weeks long. Students are required to come to campus for two 4 week summer residencies and to defend their dissertations. Potential courses in the curriculum include Organizational Behavior, Advanced Computer Applications, and Managerial Economics.

Hampton University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Jacksonville University

Jacksonville University offers a Doctor of Business Administration. The curriculum is designed to offer networking opportunities and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Classes meet on campus one Friday and one Saturday each month, but the option to stream the class live online is available.

Jacksonville University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Kansas State University

Kansas State University offers a Doctorate in Personal Financial Planning that is intended for working professionals. This hybrid program consists of online courses during the fall and spring semesters, supplemented by intensives on campus that are 10 days long during the summer. The program also requires a travel abroad experience to learn about global markets.

Kansas State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Liberty University

Liberty University’s Doctor of Business Administration requires the completion of 60 credit hours and takes an average of 3 years to complete. Courses are offered 100% online and are 8 weeks long. The program’s instructors have real-world business experience. Potential courses in the curriculum include Investments and Derivatives, Mergers and Acquisition, and Business Valuation.

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

National University

National University offers a PhD in Business Management with a specialization in Financial Management. The program’s fully online format is designed to allow students to complete their studies in their own time. New students can start every Monday. Potential courses include Business Leadership and Strategy, Business Financial Systems, and Statistics I and II.

National University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Pace University

Pace University offers a hybrid program for a Doctor of Professional Studies in Finance. Students can typically complete it in 3 to 5 years without interrupting their current careers. Most coursework is completed with a cohort. Graduates typically pursue academic careers or senior management positions.

Pace University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University offers a PhD in Personal Financial Planning that can be earned on campus or online. The curriculum is designed to develop practical skills in both research and teaching. Graduates often pursue tenure-track faculty positions at other universities or non-academic careers in business.

Texas Tech University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Touro University Worldwide

Touro University Worldwide offers a Doctor of Business Administration. Courses are 8 weeks long and 100% online. The program requires the completion of a research-based doctoral project on a topic such as finance, accounting, or technology. There are six start dates every year, and prospective students can apply without GRE scores at any time.

Touro University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Trident University International

Trident University International offers a PhD in Business Administration that can be completed 100% online. The program has no in-person requirements, and the course load and completion time may be adjusted to suit personal schedules. Faculty members are assigned to provide individualized support on the program’s required research project.

Trident University International is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

University of the Cumberlands

The University of the Cumberlands offers an online PhD in Business with a content specialty area in Finance. Potential courses include Corporate Finance: Fiscal Management in a Global Climate, Managerial Ethics and Social Responsibility, and Strategic Marketing: Research and Practice.

The University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Walden University

Walden University offers a PhD in Management with a specialization in 21st Century Finance. The curriculum covers how to conduct original research, make strategic business decisions, and apply financial theory to real-world situations. In addition to coursework, the completion of a dissertation and attendance at four residencies are required.

Walden is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Online PhD in Financial Planning Programs

PhD programs in financial planning are typically designed to prepare graduates to become members of university faculty or pursue research positions.

As such, this degree program contains a large amount of research coursework, like advanced research methods, theories and models in personal finance, and more.

You can also study:

• Statistical methods in financial planning
• Global issues in financial planning
• Clinical research and applications
• Financial planning theory

A large portion of a doctorate in financial planning program can also be devoted to financial decision-making, including risk management, retirement planning, and investments. You may also encounter coursework that focuses on best practices during economic decline, including preventative techniques.

You can explore how to analyze and evaluate financial public policy and even how to recommend courses of action for individuals based on policy. Since research is a core component of this degree, some of your courses will include the study of data analysis and interpretation techniques, regression analysis, and econometrics.

Most curriculums include leadership and ethics coursework as well. Dissertation preparation can also include coursework on writing academic and research papers as well as the skills required to publish in scholarly journals. This PhD seeks to prepare students to become faculty members and teachers at research-based universities, but it can also help prepare professionals for senior or leadership roles in the finance industry.

Financial Planning Careers & Salaries

Earning a doctorate in financial planning online may open up several career opportunities. Typically, graduates of this PhD program move into postsecondary teaching or research positions. PhDs are a common requirement for careers in research and academia.

Some graduates choose to become a professor of finance, economics, or financial planning at a university, where they can also conduct research and publish in scholarly journals. Others choose to conduct research for large financial advising corporations, as these institutions sometimes have in-house research and training departments.

Potential roles for advanced professionals in the field include principal investment strategist, financial planning scientist, and economist.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , here are the median annual salaries of positions related to the advanced study of financial planning.

Salaries can vary depending on your level of experience and education as well as the institution you’re working for. In addition to academic careers, graduates can also choose to pursue consumer-facing roles. These types of roles can include personal financial advisor and financial manager.

Financial planning professionals may advise individuals on risk assessment, investment strategies, estate planning, economic decline mitigation, family wealth, and more. Others choose to become involved in risk management for corporations or even focus on stocks and bonds.

Financial Planning PhD Curriculum & Courses

While courses in financial planning doctorate programs can vary, here are some common subjects you may come across in a financial planning PhD program:

• Research Methods in Financial Planning, Housing, and Consumer Economics : This course emphasizes research design, with a focus on common issues in data analysis and measurement.
• Theory of Households, Consumer Economics, and Financial Behavior : This course overviews contemporary theories of household and consumer decision-making, including theories of saving and consumption and economic analysis.
• Research Development : This course focuses on the development of a dissertation proposal and the necessary research skills required to do so, such as viable question identification and structuring empirical research papers.
• Advanced Wealth Management : This course focuses on family wealth management and covers areas such as investment risk and return, securities markets, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and more.
• Statistical Software Application in FP : This course overviews current statistical software in financial planning, along with its application in practical and research capacities.
• Consumer Policy Analysis : This course analyzes the rationales and outcomes of financial policies that impact consumer well-being, housing, financial services, and other markets.
• Statistical Methods in Financial Planning : This course focuses on the use of statistical methods and application in financial planning research.
• Money and Relationships : This course explores the connection between couple and family relationships and money, with a focus on factors that impact money perceptions and management.
• Advanced Estate Planning : This course explores advanced methods of family estate planning, including multi-generational techniques, property transfer, and trust income taxes.
• Fundamentals of Risk Management: This course focuses on the fundamentals of risk management, specifically the use of insurance in risk financing.

A PhD program will often require more research-focused core courses.

How to Choose an Online Doctoral Program in Financial Planning

When choosing between online doctoral programs in financial planning, there are several considerations to keep in mind. These include:

• Accreditation . Accreditation offers quality assurance that a school meets certain professional standards. You can also look one step deeper and find finance programs that are affiliated with the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) board.
• Curriculum . Many PhD candidates have the opportunity to shape their curriculum to a degree. So, it’s strategic to look for programs with coursework that reflects your desired area of expertise, such as econometrics, regression analysis, research theory, and more.
• Instructors . You will work more closely with your PhD professors than any other instructors, especially in a research capacity. So, it is beneficial to see if a program’s instructors have top-tier research and experience credentials.
• Technologies for online learning . It’s strategic to confirm that whether an online program utilizes technologies and platforms that make it convenient to attend class virtually.
• Access to resources . You might consider whether a program can offer access to resources like scholarly journals or personalized library assistance.
• Job placement . You can inquire about schools’ placement programs for graduates, and you can also speak with alumni regarding their career process after graduation.

Keeping these considerations in mind when choosing a program may help you find the program that best supports your future career.

Admissions Requirements

While admissions requirements for doctorate in finance programs can differ depending on your school, some common ones include:

• Official transcripts and master’s degree
• Resume or CV
• Statement of purpose
• Interview with faculty (if applicable)
• Letters of recommendation

A growing number of schools no longer require the submission of GMAT or GRE scores for graduate admissions, but some still do. Also, some programs require professional experience. It’s beneficial to verify the specific admissions requirements of prospective schools before applying.

Accreditation

Determining whether your potential university is accredited is an essential step to take before applying. In essence, regional accreditation is a form of quality assurance that assures your university meets professional education standards.

Completing your PhD at an accredited school is often a requirement by different employers and certification boards. Plus, some forms of financial aid are only available at accredited schools. Only select organizations can provide regional accreditation.

You can view a list of credible organizations and verify a school’s accreditation status at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation ’s website.

Financial Planning Licensure and Certifications

Earning a professional certification alongside your degree could be a strategic way to showcase your expertise to employers or clients and enhance your career opportunities.

A few certification options include:

• Certified Financial Planner (CFP) : This certification verifies your expertise in assessing financial portfolios and making personalized recommendations.
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) : This certification is similar to the CFP, but it allows specialization in niche areas, such as estate planning.
• Financial Risk Manager (FRM) : This certification verifies expertise and experience in risk management, and it is available from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).

Some doctoral programs are designed to help you meet certain certification requirements.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Many students pursue financial assistance to complete an online PhD in Finance. There are many types of aid available to qualifying students, including federal aid, state aid, grants, scholarships, and more.

Scholarships and grants can be based on a variety of factors, such as location, need, and area of study. They can also be offered by a variety of sources, such as schools, professional organizations, and public institutions. If you do need the assistance of loans, student loans from the federal and state governments often come with lower interest rates.

To apply for federal aid and determine your eligibility, you can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) .

What Is a Financial Planning PhD Degree?

A PhD in Financial Planning degree is designed to prepare graduates for top-level careers as professors, academic researchers, chief financial officers, and even economists.

In this degree program, you can study advanced research methods—such as statistical methods and data analytics—in preparation for academic research. You can also study core topics like financial planning, economic theory, risk management, econometrics, and investment techniques.

Many graduates of this type of PhD program become faculty members at universities or even researchers for private financial firms.

What Do You Learn in an Online PhD in Financial Management?

Students in a PhD in Financial Planning degree program are immersed in all types of advanced financial planning topics. PhD programs will also heavily focus on research methods. Coursework in research may include research methodology, data analysis and interpretation, financial planning models, and statistical methods.

Other courses will cover fundamentals in risk management, financial policy analysis, regression analysis, estate planning, research development, and consumer economics. Students may even take courses on software used in financial planning as well as leadership and ethics courses.

What Can You Do with a PhD in Financial Planning?

A PhD in Financial Planning can help qualify graduates to become researchers or members of university faculty. Many graduates go on to become professors in finance or financial planning, where they may also conduct original research and publish research papers.

Others become economists, principal investment strategists, or financial planning scientists for private corporations. Graduates may also find careers as financial managers, analysts, or advisors for public or private companies. Those with extensive experience may go on to become chief financial officers.

Can I Get a PhD in Financial Planning Online?

Many accredited schools offer PhD in Financial Planning programs online. These schools typically offer virtual learning options, where you can attend virtual classes and submit coursework remotely.

Before choosing a school, it’s helpful to verify whether you’ll need to attend in-person at any time. Some programs are listed as “hybrid,” meaning some classwork is in person. Most PhD programs do require in-person attendance for dissertation proposals and defense. There may also be some in-person requirements for seminar courses.

What Jobs Can I Get with a PhD in Financial Planning Degree?

Professionals with a PhD in Financial Planning may pursue a variety of career opportunities post-graduation.

Many graduates choose to enter the world of academia. They might become faculty members or professors at colleges or universities, where they can teach finance or a related subject. They may also pursue research positions at postsecondary institutions or private companies.

Financial planning professionals who use their studies to advance in the field may work as financial managers, economists, or even chief financial officers, depending on their qualifications and experience.

How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD in Personal Financial Planning Online?

Generally, a PhD can take anywhere from 3 to 5 years to complete with full-time enrollment. This timeline can depend on the number of credit hours required and how long it takes to complete your dissertation.

If no dissertation is required, a doctoral program can often be completed in 3 years with full-time study. Of course, if you are enrolled part-time at any time, this may extend your time to completion. You can talk to a university about their specific program timelines to learn more.

Is a PhD in Financial Planning Worth It?

Yes, a PhD in Financial Planning is worth it for many students. Earning this terminal degree can help you stand out to potential employers as well as qualify for positions in research and academia.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of financial managers is forecast to grow 17% over the next ten years, which is considered much faster than the average. Similarly, 12% job growth is projected for postsecondary teachers over the same period.

Getting Your PhD in Financial Planning Online

You might consider earning a PhD in Financial Planning if you want to grow your professional qualifications or pursue original research in the financial planning field.

A PhD can also help you qualify for faculty positions at universities or research positions at postsecondary schools or private companies. Some graduates go on to publish research findings in scholarly journals while they maintain more client-facing roles, such as that of a financial manager or advisor.

You could start exploring accredited colleges and universities today to see which online PhD programs in financial planning best match your interests and goals.

Public Finance and Financial Management - PhD

This field is concerned with the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies and procedures surrounding the use of resources and raising of revenues by public and non-profit entities. The primary emphasis is on nonprofit and healthcare organizations, and state and local governmental bodies, although some attention is given to the federal government and international settings as well.

Microeconomics is the most important disciplinary background for the field. Principles of efficient resource allocation as well as equity in outcome are used to analyze both the internal operations of organizations and their external environment. In other words, the study of: (1) financial management (internal to the organization), and (2) public finance (external to the organization) are combined. Common methodologies used to study finance issues are multivariate statistical analysis, techniques of managerial accounting, and finance and case studies. Students in the public finance and financial management field must complete the modules in microeconomic analysis and in applied statistics and econometrics.

Research in the areas of public finance and financial management often requires depth of knowledge in a specific area, such as education finance, financial management of nonprofit organizations, or tax policy. Such depth of knowledge involves both a foundation gained from coursework, as well as significant study of literature beyond the material covered in coursework.

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Online Master of Science in Management: Financial Management

Management: financial management, degree at a glance.

• Transfer up to 12 credits
• All courses available online
• Select hybrid courses available

TUITION RATES

• $534 per credit (in-state)
• $659 per credit (out-of-state)
• $336 per credit (military)
• Other fees may apply

Next Session Starts

Earn an online master’s degree in management with a concentration in financial management at University of Maryland Global Campus in as little as 24 months. This career-focused program is designed for on-the-go professionals who are looking to hone their skills, expand their knowledge base, and advance in their careers. Study in our convenient online classroom with knowledgeable professors who are valued leaders in the field. Learn the newest industry standards with coursework that is constantly being updated. And gain knowledge that you can apply on the job right away!

Build a Strong Foundation in Finance

We’ve built our financial management program from the ground-up with the needs of working professionals in mind. Our curriculum is designed to immerse you in real-world examples and hands-on projects that will allow you to hone your existing skills while you build new ones. This unique blend of finance and management courses will give you a more complete education and help you stand out in a crowded job market.

These are a few of the benefits of our financial management degree program:

• Study with our state-of-the-art Connect Lab: Several courses in this program make use of the McGraw-Hill Connect Lab, which contains practice problems, instructional videos, weekly quizzes, and other training materials.
• Benefit from networking opportunities: UMGC students have access to lifetime career services , so we can help you advance in your profession.
• Earn your degree quickly: We offer courses annually in the spring, summer, and fall terms, which allows most students to earn their degree in as little as 24 months.
• Prepare for industry certification exams: Completing coursework in this program can allow you to prepare for relevant industry certifications, such as the CFA Institute’s Chartered Financial Analyst exam .
• Take your education further: Completing this program may also allow you to become eligible for a discounted Certified Risk Specialist (CRS) training bundle through Interfima.

See Courses & Program Info

View a complete list of program courses, program-specific and degree-level requirements, industry certification exams, and more.

View Management & Finance Courses

This program requires a total of 36 credits . 

Initial Requirement

• Orientation to Graduate Studies at UMGC (0 Credits, UCSP 615)

This course must be taken within the first 6 credits of study (if required). The UCSP 615 requirement may be waived if you previously earned a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution. For more information, contact your academic advisor.

Core Courses (Management)

• Organizational Theory (3 Credits, MGMT 610)
• Organizational Behavior (3 Credits, MGMT 615)
• Statistics for Managerial Decision Making (3 Credits, MGMT 650)

Concentration Courses (Finance)

• Fintech and Decision Making (3 Credits, FIN 605)
• Financial Management in Organizations (3 Credits, FIN 610)
• Financial Analysis and Modeling (3 Credits, FIN 615)
• Long-term Financial Management (3 Credits, FIN 620)
• Investment Valuation (3 Credits, FIN 630)
• International Financial Management (3 Credits, FIN 640)
• Behavioral Finance (3 Credits, FIN 645)
• Strategic Financial Management (3 Credits, FIN 660)

Capstone Course

• Strategic Management Capstone (3 Credits, MGMT 670)

Take Courses in Recommended Sequence

This is our recommended course sequence to progress through this program. This sequence incorporates course prerequisites and program requirements but does not list course alternatives that may be available. We recommend you take a maximum of 6 credits per term. You cannot take a prerequisite with its subsequent course during the same session. Your plan will be unique and dependent on multiple factors, including the number of credits you transfer to this program.

Contact an advisor  if you have any questions about this plan, course alternatives, or your course load limit.

See Master’s Requirements & Program Details

• Organizational Theory (3 Credits, MGMT 610) and Organizational Behavior (3 Credits, MGMT 615) may be taken instead of Organizational Theory and Behavior (6 Credits, MGMT 630)
• Marketing Management (3 Credits, MRKT 600) and MRKT 601 may be taken instead of MRKT 620
• Statistics for Managerial Decision Making (3 Credits, MGMT 650) must be completed before Marketing Research and Analytics (3 Credits, MRKT 604) and Digital and Social Media Marketing (3 Credits, MRKT 606)
• Financial Decision Making for Managers (3 Credits, MGMT 640) should not be attempted simultaneously with Statistics for Managerial Decision Making (3 Credits, MGMT 650)
• You must complete 24 credits of program coursework, including all core courses, before enrolling in Strategic Management Capstone (3 Credits, MGMT 670)

General Master's Degree Requirements

• You must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher at all times.
• All degree requirements must be fulfilled within five consecutive years.
• Any transfer credits must have been earned within the above five-year time frame to be applied toward a graduate degree.
• Please review the  overall master’s degree requirements  for additional considerations.

Prepare for Industry Certification Exams

• Certified Economic Policy Analyst (CEPA)
• Certified Financial Examiner (CFE)
• Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
• Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP)
• Certified Risk Professional (CRP)
• Certified Treasury Professional (CTP)
• Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA)
• Chartered Asset Manager (CAM)
• Chartered Economist—Economic Policy Analyst (ChE)
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Chartered Portfolio Manager (CPM)
• Chartered Trust and Estate Planner (CTEP)
• Chartered Wealth Manager (CWM)
• Financial Risk Manager (FRM)
• Master Financial Manager (MFM)
• Master Financial Planner (MFP)
• Registered Business Analyst (RBA)

Review Prior Year Requirements

This information is for students who enroll in the 2024–2025 academic year. For prior year requirements for this program or to review UMGC's complete program requirements for a specific academic year, visit our program catalog archive .

Develop Advanced Skills & Knowledge

Today’s employers are looking for well-rounded professionals who can drive results for their organization. UMGC’s online master’s concentration in financial management is designed to help students develop their skills in several in-demand areas, including finance, project management, financial analysis, financial theory, portfolio management, and risk management. Our faculty refresh and update the curriculum regularly, with a focus on helping students achieve these learning goals:

Unlock Your Career Potential

This online master's program is designed to help you prepare for finance careers in several professional contexts in corporate finance. The skills that you’ll learn in this program are designed to translate to a number of industries, including companies and institutions in the public sector, the private sector, and the non-profit sector. Potential job titles include financial analyst, operations manager, program manager, financial advisor, and relationship banker. UMGC courses are taught by experienced faculty and address skills and competencies that are highly valued by today’s employers.

Practice Real-World Skills in Your Financial Management Courses

Throughout your online master’s curriculum, your instructors will assign coursework that will help you prioritize in-depth skills and real-world experience and pursue career paths in finance or other business-related areas. Your courses are also designed to help prepare you for industry certifications, like the CFA exam.

In past courses, students have been able to complete the following course projects:

• Create a new payment system for a company from scratch or renovate a current payment system (using examples from real organizations).
• Use the McGraw-Hill Connect Lab to complete weekly quizzes with videos, spreadsheets, and more.
• Use financial modeling, analysis, and research to build forecasts and projections for a company, then evaluate financial alternatives.
• Collect data and deliver a report for a mock presentation from the perspective of a company’s Chief Financial Officer.

Qualify for Certified Risk Specialist (CRS) Training

Through an alliance with Interfima, a financial services professional organization, UMGC students who complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree in finance, economics, business, or law may be eligible for a discounted training bundle for the Certified Risk Specialist (CRS) certification. This bundle includes CRS preparation course materials, six hours of review, and a one-hour exam for $600. UMGC alumni are also eligible to apply for the discount.

Explore UMGC Business Insights

Gain insight from our faculty and staff and delve deeper into a range of topics, including undergraduate and graduate accounting, business, and finance programs, leadership, and more.

What Can You Do with a Degree in Finance?

Unlock your career potential with a degree in finance.

What Is Leadership?

Three graduates of UMGC’s MBA program discuss what leadership means to them.

You might be interested in similar programs

Compare All Programs

Get answers  to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program details, length, cost, and more.

What is an online master's degree in management with a concentration in financial management?

This online graduate degree program can help you advance your skills in several finance-related topics. The finance degree concentration is a 36-credit program that covers topics like organizational behavior, multinational financial management, investment valuation, financial markets, corporate finance, and behavioral finance. Graduates may be well-prepared for finance-related careers in financial planning, financial analysis, or consulting.

How long does it take to get an online master's degree in management with a concentration in financial management?

This master's degree concentration is a 36-credit online program with courses offered year-round. Depending on how many credits you complete each term and the number of credits you may be able to transfer , you can expect to graduate in as little as two years .

How much does an online master's degree in management with a concentration in financial management cost?

UMGC is committed to keeping our tuition and fees as affordable as possible. This online program follows the standard graduate tuition rates like many of our business and finance programs (with the exception of the online MBA, which follows the specialty graduate tuition rate). We also offer scholarships for eligible students and an interest-free monthly payment plan to help make your education more affordable.

What background do I need to get an online master's degree in management with a concentration in financial management?

You don't need to have majored in a specific area to be successful in this finance degree concentration, as the program does not have special admission requirements. However, we do recommend that you have a recent background in finance or accounting, as well as statistics. Strong writing skills are also encouraged.

Our helpful admissions advisors can help you choose an academic program to fit your career goals, estimate your transfer credits, and develop a plan for your education costs that fits your budget. If you’re a current UMGC student, please visit the Help Center .

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Online Financial Management Graduate Certificate

Quicklinks: Curriculum • Faculty •  Tuition & Financial Aid •  Careers

Program at a Glance

• Online, On Campus , and Blended
• 16 Credits Required
• 9  months Completion Time
• $15,720 Tuition & Fees—Part-Time Study*

*Based on 2024–2025 Boston University tuition and fees. Merit scholarship may reduce cost.

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• Pre-Analytics Laboratory (non-credit)

The online Graduate Certificate in Financial Management at Boston University’s Metropolitan College is designed to provide leaders and managers throughout an organization with essential skills for making intelligent business decisions. By taking the required courses for the certificate, students will receive a strong foundation in financial theory, acquire technical skills for developing analytical approaches, and improve critical thinking abilities through hands-on coursework and real-world case studies. Available on campus and online, the Financial Management certificate is designed for professionals currently working in the financial services industry and those who are responsible for making financial decisions, as well as for students who are interested in a financial services career. After completing the certificate, students will be qualified for positions in cash management, capital budgeting, and risk management.

Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Financial Management will be able to demonstrate:

• Expertise in how financial markets function, including the major participants, procedures for assessing and pricing risk, and market roles in the allocation of credit to various financial sectors.
• Comprehension of the goals and functions of financial management.
• Skills in financial analysis and planning, working capital management, and the capital budgeting process.
• Knowledge of long-term financing.
• Proficiency in the overall investment process and the key elements involved in the investment process such as asset allocation and security selection.
• Understanding of debt, equity, and derivatives securities.
• The ability to construct portfolios of different risk levels, given information about risk-free rates and returns on risky assets.
• Full understanding of systematic and firm-specific risk, and portfolio diversification.
• Insight on the concept and usage of the capital asset pricing model (CAPM).
• Experience with the calculation of bond prices including accrued interest, promised yields, and realized yields.
• Competence with active bond portfolio management.
• Familiarity with how to analyze a firm using the basic financial statements to perform ratio analysis.
• Understanding of mergers and acquisitions through the case study methodology.

Why Choose BU’s Graduate Certificate in Financial Management?

• Boston University certificate programs comprise just four courses (16 credits) and provide essential skills and capabilities in high-growth industry areas. Certificate programs also provide a pathway to Metropolitan College management degree programs.
• The Financial Management certificate is excellent preparation for the internationally recognized Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA) Program exams, and shares courses with MET’s MS in Financial Management, which is part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
• The Financial Management certificate program offers the flexibility of online, on-campus, or blended study formats, ensuring that students can earn their credential the way that suits them the best.
• Learning from expert faculty from MET’s Department of Administrative Sciences, students will gain the insights, critical thinking, and analytical skills needed to solve problems in today’s changing business landscape.
• Online certificate programs share courses and instructors with MET’s master’s degree programs in management, ranked #6 among the nation’s Best Online Master's in Business Programs (Excluding MBA) by U.S. News & World Report in 2024.

*Chartered Financial Analyst is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.

Career Outlook

Financial managers.

19% increase in jobs through 2026

$125,080 median annual pay in 2017

6% increase in jobs through 2026

$102,490 median annual pay in 2017

Financial Analysts

11% increase in jobs through 2026

$84,300 median annual pay in 2017

Financial Examiners

10% increase in jobs through 2026

$81,690 median annual pay in 2017

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

$63,780 median annual pay in 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2017-18 Edition

Tuition & Financial Assistance

Money matters.

Boston University Metropolitan College (MET) offers competitive tuition rates that meet the needs of part-time students seeking an affordable education. These rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education. To learn more about current tuition rates, visit the MET website .

Financial Assistance

Comprehensive financial assistance services are available at MET, including scholarships , graduate loans, and payment plans. There is no cost to apply for financial assistance, and you may qualify for a student loan regardless of your income. Learn more .

Boston University’s Graduate Certificate in Financial Management consists of four required online courses (16 credits).

(Four courses/16 credits)

METAD712 Financial Markets and Institutions

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731 Investigation and analysis of organization, structure, and performance of U.S. money and capital markets, and institutions. Examines regulation of the financial industry and the role of financial instruments. [4 credits]

METAD714 Mergers and Acquisitions

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731 This course examines the corporate valuation process by which takeovers and other corporate control transactions take place. It includes financial forecasting, based on expectation models, scenario analysis, and due diligence. Of particular interest will be the defensive measures by management against hostile bids, buyout transactions, the relation of takeovers to capital structure changes, and the insider trading in takeover contests. [4 credits]

METAD717 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management

Prereq AD 630, AD731 This course develops a framework for understanding the various types of financial decision making faced by financial managers and provides students with analytical tools for evaluating portfolio construction and management problems in a systematic manner. Includes analysis and determination of securities values. Problems of investment policy are approached through studies of portfolio selection methods and the valuation of special classes of securities. It offers quantitative strategies for portfolio diversification and risk management. [4 credits]

And one of the following:

METAD528 Blockchain Finance

Cryptocurrencies and the underlying distributed ledger technology (blockchain), have exploded into public consciousness over the last few years, with many industry practitioners arguing that the blockchain technology has the potential to disrupt business and financial services in the way the Internet disrupted off-line commerce. This course covers digital currencies, blockchains, and related topics in the FinTech area using the analytical tools provided by economics, investments and corporate finance. [4 credits]

METAD561 Financial Analytics

This course presents financial algorithms used in applications of computer science in financial decision analysis, risk management, data mining and market analysis, and other modern business processes. The course covers theoretical background on probabilistic methods used for financial decision making and their application in number of fields such as financial modeling, venture capital decision making, operational risk measurement and investment science. Number of financial applications and algorithms are being presented for portfolio risk analysis, modeling real options, venture capital decision making, etc. The course concludes with algorithms for financial risk assessment and presents the security concepts and challenges of financial information systems. [4 credits]

METAD580 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investments

Prerequisite: MET AD 717 Investment Analysis AD580 is a comprehensive investments course introducing important aspects of investing, including environmental, social, and governance issues, and their role in corporate risk management, financial markets, and investments, presented from the viewpoint of market participants and corporate leadership. The course incorporates the mechanics of investing sustainably, with long-term planning on a micro and macro level. Topics will include an introduction and understanding of the ESG market, defining the environmental, social, and governance factors important for investment decision-making, and the importance of corporate engagement and stewardship. The course will also cover ESG analysis, valuation, and integration in portfolio management. [4 credits]

METAD581 Energy Transition: Markets and Regulation

The goal of the course is to give the student a clear, practical understanding of significant pieces of the energy "puzzle" as a guide to understanding how energy is produced and consumed -- as market forces dictate - both in the United States and abroad. Students considering this course can have various backgrounds/knowledge of energy, but most importantly, an interest in understanding the transitions needed to achieve climate-related goals. The student will be challenged to explore energy transition opportunities and decarbonization's imperative through finance, policy, markets, and regulation. [4 credits]

METAD587 Interdisciplinary Methods for Quantitative Finance

This course expands upon the foundations of finance theory with interdisciplinary approaches from statistical physics and machine learning. The course equips the students with the Python tools to tackle a broad range of problems in quantitative financial analysis and combines the study of relevant financial concepts with computational implementations. Students will learn to use packages like Numpy, Pandas, Statsmodels and Scikit, which are commonly used in research and in the industry. Prerequisites: MET AD 685 or PY 355 or equivalent or consent by the instructor. [4 credits]

METAD709 Case Studies in Current Corporate Financial Topics

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731 This course involves utilizing analytical methods for financial forecasting, cost of capital calculation, rate of return analysis, use of derivatives instruments, business growth management, discounted cash flow analysis, corporate valuation, mergers & acquisitions, and evaluation of bankruptcy proceedings. [4 credits]

METAD713 Derivative Securities and Markets

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731 Provides an overview of operation, mechanics, and structure of the derivative markets and covers in-depth quantitative valuation of derivative instruments, such as options, futures, and swaps. The course involves risk analysis including risk arbitrage, and risk management. Emphasizes the theory and practice of derivatives-based trading strategies including hedging opportunities for risk mitigation. [4 credits]

METAD719 Fixed Income Analysis

Prereq: MET AD 630, MET AD 731 This course covers the nature and analysis of fixed income securities and an in-depth examination of some of the particular features of some major classes of fixed income instruments, valuation, sensitivity to risks, and management of fixed income portfolios. [4 credits]

METAD763 Multinational Finance and Trade

Prereqs: AD 630, AD731 Applies the concepts of corporate finance and risk mitigation to the problems of multinational financial management. Major topics include foreign exchange risk, and construction of hedging strategies using derivative instruments such as forwards, futures, and swaps to reduce multinational corporate risk. Addresses international financial flows and their impact on foreign exchange rates, capital flows, speculation, analysis of alternative foreign investments, analysis of sources and uses of corporate funds abroad, multinational tax and profit. [4 credits]

Admission Information

• Completed Application for Graduate Admission and application fee
• All college transcripts
• Personal statement
• One letter of recommendation
• Official English proficiency exam results ( International students )

Irena Vodenska

Professor of Finance; Director, Finance Programs; Chair, Administrative Sciences PhD, Boston University; MBA, Vanderbilt University; MS, BS, University of Belgrade

Jim Stodder

Visiting Professor of the Practice, Administrative Sciences PhD, Yale University; MSc, University of Essex; BA, Yale University

Lecturer, Administrative Sciences; Online Program Coordinator MS, Boston University; BA, Bentley College

Assistant Professor, Administrative Sciences PhD, University of New Orleans; MSc, Arizona State University; Licentiate in Economics, National University of Córdoba

Assistant Professor, Administrative Sciences MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; MS, Boston University

Alexander Becker

Assistant Professor, Administrative Sciences Coordinator, Finance Programs PhD, Boston University; Diplom-Physiker, University of Duisburg-Essen

Getting Started

To learn more or to contact an enrollment advisor before you get started, request information using the button below and tell us a little about yourself. Someone will be in touch to answer any questions you may have about the program and detail the next steps in earning your degree. You can also start your application or register for a course at Metropolitan College.

• Request Information Have a Metropolitan College enrollment advisor get in touch with you.

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Master of Business Administration

Time to Completion: 1.5 - 2 yrs

Application Deadline: Rolling

• All Official Transcripts
• GRE/GMAT scores or waiver

Winthrop's Master of Business Administration degree provides a well-rounded business education that will help you advance your career. Our students find professional development and learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.  The MBA lecture, financial markets seminar, international field experiences, and field-based learning projects allow students to translate classroom lessons into business solutions.

With both in-person and online formats, our Master of Business Administration program provides options for both full-time students and working professionals. For more information on the online program, visit the Online Master of Business Administration webpage .

Graduate Program Director: Vanessa Valdez [email protected] 803/323-2289

• Why Winthrop?

Micro-Certificates

Gain three built-in micro-certificates in Business Analytics, Financial Analysis, and Leadership in Organizations.

AACSB Accredited

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ( AACSB-International ), the premier accrediting agency for business school programs.

GMAT/GRE Waivers

Online GMAT/GRE waivers are available for those that qualify.

Click below to learn more about the program!

Curriculum, program requirements and learning opportunities, mba - general track.

Our flexible format allows you to complete your degree according to a schedule that balances your goals, work demands, and personal life.

As you complete the core courses in the MBA program, you will also gain the following microcredentials that can enhance your résumé: 

• Business Analytics
• Financial Analytics
• Leadership in Organizations

Time to completion: 1.5 - 2 years Total Credits: 30 Format: Campus-based Curriculum (MBA)

MBA - Finance

The MBA-Finance concentration provides students with more in-depth study of financial topics than the general MBA. Students choosing this concentration tend to work in or aspire to work in the financial industry. 

Time to completion: 1.5 - 2 years Total Credits: 36 Format: Campus-based Curriculum (MBA - Finance)

MBA - Human Resource Management

Students selecting this concentration often have a management background or an undergraduate degree in HR, management, or general business administration. 

Graduates from this program are well suited to become managers of human resources departments or advance their HR management careers.

Time to completion: 1.5 - 2 years Total Credits: 36 Format: Campus-based Curriculum (MBA - Human Resources Management)

Accelerated BS - MBA Program

This option is intended for well-qualified students in the Winthrop BS in Business Administration program who will complete up to 9 hours of the work for the MBA while enrolled in the undergraduate degree program.

Accelerated MBA concentrations include:

• Human Resource Management

Time to completion: 2 years Total Credits: 36 Format: Campus-based Eligibility: Current Winthrop students in the BS in Business Administration program only Curriculum (Accelerated MBA program)

MBA (100% Online)

Winthrop University’s online MBA program feature the same curricula and are taught by many of the same faculty as our on-campus programs. You benefit from the flexibility and convenience of being able to access your courses from any device.

100% Online Tracks include: 

• MBA - Customized
• Strategic Leadership

Visit online admissions

Related Links

• Frequently Asked Questions
• MBA (100% Online programs)
• Financial Assistance
• Accreditation
• Professional Development
• MBA Home Page

Application Requirements

Application deadline.

Master of Business Administration Deadline (all concentrations): No deadline,  rolling admission

Graduate Certificate in Management: No deadline, rolling admission

International Applications: July 15 for fall admission, December 1 for spring admission, May 15 for summer

Note: All admission materials must be received by the Graduate Studies Office before an application will be reviewed.

Application requirements for the Master of Business Administration program include:

• The online Graduate Studies application and non-refundable application fee.
• Note: Transcripts must be sent directly to Winthrop's Graduate Studies office from the issuing institution(s).
• GRE/GMAT test scores.

Note: GRE/GMAT Waivers are available!

Management Certificate

Application requirements for the Management Certificate program include:

100% Online - Master of Business

For a list of admission requirements or to apply for the Online MBA Program , visit our online admissions page . 

International Students

For a list of additional admission requirements as an international applicant, visit our our International Applicants page .

GMAT/GRE Waiver

To be considered for a GMAT/GRE waiver, please submit a GMAT/GRE waiver request form .

Beyond Graduation

This MBA program provides a broad background in business and leadership to prepare you for a variety of senior business roles. Our graduates are equipped for opportunities that include job titles such as:

• Director of donor development and philanthropy
• Director of marketing and public relations
• Finanical manager
• Marketing, advertising and promotions manager
• Senior manager of business insights
• Senior director of business development
• Vice president of sales merchandising

Back to degree program list

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Business school rankings

• Global EMBA
• Executive Education - Open programmes
• Executive Education - Customised programmes
• Masters in Finance Pre-Experience
• Master in Finance - Post-experience
• Masters in Management
• European Business Schools
• Ranking History

Masters in Finance pre-experience 2024

Masters in Finance post-experience 2024

Masters in Finance pre-experience 2023

Masters in Finance post-experience 2022

Masters in Finance pre-experience 2022

Further reading

Business Education: Financial Training

The FT’s 2024 ranking of the world’s top masters in finance programmes with analysis on the latest trends, data and key findings

Salaries for masters graduates in finance sector power ahead

Alumni earn $98,000 three years after course completion, latest FT data show

Business school teaching case study: executive pay and shareholder democracy

Prof Winfried Ruigrok of St Gallen university examines the contentious issue of CEO remuneration

AI in finance is like ‘moving from typewriters to word processors’

Tools are set to make some skills redundant and free up time for more value-added tasks

Explore more

• Methodology

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	Jul 01, 2024   2024-2025 Graduate Catalog     2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 433 Meadow Brook Rd  (248) 370-3562 • Fax (248) 364-8657   ►  ►  ►  Director: Darryl Hill, Lecturer [email protected] Program description The Environmental Health and Safety Management Certificate is designed to enhance graduate students’ and working professionals’ knowledge in the area of environmental protection and occupational safety.  Admission terms and application deadlines Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review. External applicants (non-OU students) must submit the required documents to the Oakland University Graduate School by the semester deadlines listed below. The program admits students on a rolling admissions basis allowing application submissions throughout the year.  International applicants     Application requirements Internal Applicants (current OU student): If you are an internal applicant, to be considered for graduate admissions, applicants must submit all department requirements. Department application requirements           Overall undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.0 Personal statement of no more than 1000 words describing the applicant’s reasons for seeking the certificate.  The internal application form can be found on the School of Health Sciences website. External Applicants (non-OU student): If you are an external applicant, to be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines: Graduate Application Requirements     Additional department application requirements          Official transcripts indicating a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited undergraduate institution. Overall undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.0. Two recommendation forms from faculty members, supervisors, or professional mentors.  Admission review and assessment Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses, and any other admission requirements established by the academic department. Related links Readmission (not enrolled for two years)        Transferring to Oakland University      Transferring to a new program Academic advising Students who are considering applying for the Environmental Health and Safety  Graduate Certificate may contact the Master of Public Health program director to review the application and course requirements. Upon acceptance to the program, students are assigned a faculty adviser. Certificate prerequisites The Environmental Health and Safety Management Graduate Certificate program does not require any undergraduate preparatory course work and there are no required prerequisites.    Certificate requirements The Environmental Health and Safety Management Graduate Certificate is awarded upon satisfactory completion of the course requirements. Course requirements Students must successfully complete the following core courses. Core requirements (12 credits) EHS 5200 - Advanced Safety and Health Administration (3 credits) EHS 5400 - Risk Assessment and Loss Control (3 credits) EHS 5410 - Accident/Incident Investigation and Analysis (3 credits) EHS 5600 - Applied System Safety Analysis (3 credits) Satisfactory academic progress Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester. Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the  Office of Financial Aid  for additional details. Good academic standing All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. Department requirements: An overall GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher for all coursework taken in the professional program is required for graduation, and no grade below 2.7 (B-) may be applied toward this degree. For courses graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U), no coursework graded Unsatisfactory (U) may be applied to this degree. Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study. Related program information Plan of study All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty adviser and submitted by the student to Oakland University Graduate School. Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the  Graduate Student Responsibility   section of this catalog.) Note:  Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A  Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution  requesting the substitution must be approved. 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