Financial planners have never been more in demand, and instead of attending class on campus to earn a degree aspiring financial advisors can earn an MBA in financial planning online from some of the best schools in the country.
There are good reasons to opt for long-distance learning over on-campus learning. While an MBA is more costly than attaiing the certified financial analyst designation, remote learning provides flexibility to earn a degree and an MBA can give a financial-planner-in-the-making the opportunity to boost post-graduate earnings to a greater degree than someone with just a CFA designation. More important, MBA degree candidates in financial planning can earn and learn by studying remotely instead of attending class full-time.
If you’re convinced that an MBA is the ticket to a higher-paying job in financial planning, but you're still not sure which school offers the best virtual learning program, OnlineMBA can help.
To determine the country’s best schools to study remotely for an MBA in financial planning, the website ranked schools 10% for affordability; 30% for quality 40% for student success; and 20% for online flexibility.
Here, in ascending order, are OnlineMBA’s top 10 best online MBA programs in financial planning:
10. Lynn University - Boca Raton, Fla.
A small, private university located in Florida’s Palm Beach County, Lynn offers students the opportunity to fulfill their MBA requirements in a single year. The 37-credit program boasts a wide range of unique specializations. Lynn does not require a GRE or GMAT, but applicants should hold a 2.5 GPA or higher. The school has a 55% graduation rate.
9. Dakota Wesleyan University - Mitchell, S.D.
Founded in 1885, DWU is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The school’s 36-credit MBA program in financial planning is available entirely online and focuses on trust management, including general finance and trust law. DWU does not require standardized test scores, but does require official transcripts, a résumé, and an essay. Applicants must have a 2.75 GPA or better. The school has a 60% graduation rate.
8. University of Baltimore - Baltimore, Md.
UB is a public university located in an urban setting. The school offers MBA degree candidates the flexibility of working entirely from home or taking some classes on campus. Students can customize the 36-credit managing financial performance concentration by selecting from a specialization or they can create their own by using electives. Six start dates allow distance learners to begin studies at their convenience. The school has a 37% graduation rate.
7. Cleary University - Howell, Mich.
Cleary University is a private business university established in 1883. The school employs an innovative cohort-based model that fosters a supportive environment for students preparing for the CFP exam, as well as an opportunity for networking. The culminating capstone tests degree candidates with real-world financial planning cases. The school has a 38% graduation rate.
6. Upper Iowa University - Fayette, Iowa
UIU is a private university founded in 1857. While located in a rural Iowa setting, all learning takes place remotely. Degree candidates can complete the 36 credit MBA program in two years or less, but must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. Classes run in five accelerated 8-week sessions, including one 6-week summer term. The school has a 43% graduation rate.
5. Florida State University – Tallahassee, Fla.
The largest school in the Florida State University System, FSU offers a financial planning degree as part of its 39-credit online MBA in risk management. The curriculum takes just seven semesters to complete, with the financial planning specialization requiring completion of four additional courses. The school has an 83% graduation rate. Distance learners pay the same tuition rate as Florida state residents.
4. Rutgers University – Camden, N.J.
Rutgers’ virtual campus offers an online MBA in investments and portfolio management that degree candidates can complete while working full-time, offering students a unique opportunity to network. To apply to this top MBA program, applicants must submit previous college transcripts, letters of recommendation, a resume, and GMAT or GRE scores. The school has a 58% graduation rate.
3. DeSales University – Center Valley, Pa.
DeSales is a private Catholic university that combines traditional MBA coursework with a focus on finance. Graduates of the program, which has several start dates, are prepared to sit for the certified financial planner examination. The university uses rolling admissions, and applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are not required to submit a GMAT. The school has a 71% graduation rate.
2. Marist College – Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Marist is a private liberal arts college founded in 1905. With a 36-credit degree program designed for part-time study, more than 90% of graduate students complete their MBA in financial planning while continuing to work. Program applicants without an advanced degree must submit a GRE or GMAT, as well as transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, and a résumé. The school has an 83% graduation rate.
1. Creighton University – Omaha, Neb.
Founded in 1878, Creighton University is a private Jesuit school. Designed to meet the needs of working professionals, its 33-credit online MBA degree program in financial planning can be customized according to a student’s level of work experience, and completed in under two years. The school has an 81% graduation rate, and graduates earn a salary 20% higher than the median MBA graduate salary.
