Choosing the perfect accredited finance degree programs in Florida can set you up for future success. There are thousands of students graduating from business programs every year, which means that you’ll find yourself competing for jobs against those other students. If you want to make yourself stand out, you need a degree in hand from one of the best schools in the country. Florida is home to several colleges that let you gain experience in the business world, work with some of the top names in the industry and find a high paying job when you graduate. Check out those top schools today.
Florida Atlantic University
College of Business
Established in 1961, Florida Atlantic University has a history of success. U.S. News & World Report ranked the school as one of the top second-tier colleges in the nation, and its College of Business ranks as one of the best departments of its type in the state. Though the university maintains one main campus in Boca Raton, it also offers students the chance to take classes on one of its other campuses. Many students live on or near campus, but the university added a number of online and flexible classes that let students cut down on the amount of time they spend on campus.
Flexible MBA-Finance
Florida Atlantic University understands that some students don’t have as much free time as others do, which is why it offers a Flexible MBA Program. Earning your Master of Business Administration gives you more opportunities for the future, and with this program, you can complete your degree in just a few short years. As long as you have an undergraduate degree in business and took standard business courses, you only need to take 43 hours of courses. Those with a degree in a different field must take 55 credit hours of courses. You can enter the program during the fall, spring, or summer semester, and you’ll take courses relating to your major during your first semester. The flexible program lets you take a combination of courses on two of the campuses and/or online, and students have the option of taking classes and completing the program on a full-time or part-time basis.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Contact
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: (561) 297-3000
Email: FlexMBA@fau.edu
Website: http://business.fau.edu/masters-phd/mba-program/mba/index.aspx#.U17-UFeiTG8
Florida International University
Chapman Graduate School of Business
The Chapman Graduate School of Business is part of the College of Business Administration at Florida International University. Nearly 1,500 students take graduate level courses through this school, and the school also boasts an undergraduate enrollment of more than 7,000 students. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business named Chapman one of the top seven-percent of business schools in the United States, and U.S. News & World Report listed it as one of the top 15-percent of business schools. The fully accredited school offers a number of graduate and MBA programs for students interested in gaining more business experience.
Master of Science in Finance
Designed for students not interested in pursuing an MBA, the Master of Science in Finance program through Florida International University offers an alternative route for students. While you will still take many of the same classes that MBA students take, you earn a degree in finance that can help you find employment in the finance or marking fields. Created for students currently working in the field, this program offers a number of flexible courses that will work with your schedule. Some students take night classes, which meet twice a week, while other students take classes on the weekends. These longer classes cover the same information and topics that you would cover in a traditional class. Students complete the program in just one year, making it an easy way to earn an advanced degree without sacrificing time or energy. Courses in the program include corporate finance, commercial banking, portfolio management, and financial planning and statement analysis.
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
11200 S. W. 8th Street — CBC 301
Miami, Florida 33199–0001
Phone: (305) 348–2751
Email: lopezi@fiu.edu
Website: http://business.fiu.edu/chapman/msf/index.cfm
Florida State University
College of Business
The College of Business at Florida State University boasts an impressive number of prominent professors and faculty members. Dr. James Ang is a Bank of America Eminent Scholar, while Dr. David Peterson is one of the most proficient authors in the world of finance. Students taking business classes at FSU have the chance to work with some of the brightest minds in the field. Established in 1851, Florida State University ranks as one of the top public schools in the country, and its business school received a number of accolades over the years. Its students work for some of the top companies in the world.
Master of Science in Finance
The Master of Science in Finance is a unique program available through Florida State University. While other schools offer rolling admissions and have programs available throughout the year, this program starts ever summer. Students take courses in the summer, fall and spring semester and graduate immediately after finishing the last semester. The program requires that students spend a portion of two semesters working for the Student Investment Fund, which gives them practical and hands on experience. Students must also attend a Professional Development Series that lets them work with experts in the field. Many students work in high profile areas after graduation, and the school notes that some graduates now work for the Air Force, federal government, and for companies around the world. All students take a variety of finance and management courses that cover topics including financial institutions and risk management, real estate investments, and problems in financial management.
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
Department of Finance
Rovetta Business Bldg., Room 311 (RBA)
College of Business
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-1110
Phone: (850) 644-4220
Email: ecrowley@fsu.edu
Website: http://www.cob.fsu.edu/Academic-Programs/Departments/Finance
Florida Tech University Online
Graduate Programs
Florida Tech University Online launched as a way to bring educational opportunities to students who wouldn’t otherwise have access to those opportunities. Since its early days, the school prided itself on its distance learning program. This program allows students to study a wide range of topics without leaving their homes. Any student with a connection to the Internet can apply for admission and take classes through the school. FTUO also offers a number of programs designed for military students. Students currently enlisted in the United States military can take classes and earn degrees while defending the country and traveling around the world.
Master of Business Administration with a Specialization in Finance
While Florida Tech University Online offers several MBA programs, one of its top programs is the Master of Business Administration with a Specialization in Finance. Designed for future financial leaders, the program combines all the benefits of an MBA program with the benefits of a Master degree program. Unlike other programs that require a high score on the GMAT or a similar test, FTUO has a convenient admissions policy that accepts students who didn’t take that test. Part-time students can complete the program in two years, and full-time students can finish the program even faster. This entirely online program lets you take classes and work on your assignments from work, home, the public library or anywhere else where you have an Internet connection. FTUO makes it easy to order your books, and the technology department can assist you with any problems that you have getting online before your courses start.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
9417 Princess Palm Ave.
Tampa, FL 33619
Phone: (800) 280-9718
Email: CustomerService@UniversityAlliance.com
Website: http://www.floridatechonline.com/graduate-masters-degree-finance/
Nova Southeastern University
School of Business and Entrepreneurship
Nova Southeastern University opened as in the 1960s as a technical college that offered programs in engineering and other technical fields. After receiving a large donation, the school decided to add new programs and degrees to its course catalog. Those new programs helped the school expand into the fields of healthcare and business. Though the university still offers undergraduate courses, its graduate population is much larger. More than 22,000 students take programs leading to a Master or PhD degree. U.S. News & World Report lists Nova Southeastern University as one of the top 280 public research colleges in the country.
MBA in Finance
Available through the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, the MBA in Finance program is a 43 credit hour long program. All students take 27 credit hours in core courses that include money market and monetary institutions, futures and options, investment principles and policies and advanced financial policy. The university requires that students complete a number of electives to fill out the total amount of credit hours needed for graduation, but students also complete a capstone project. The capstone project is a 10-week program that students can take online or on campus. If you opt for the on campus option, you attend one class led by an experienced professor each week for 10 weeks. The capstone project has a financial aspect that lets students use the practical knowledge they gained to complete an intensive research project. Many students use their capstone projects as proof of their experience when applying for finance jobs.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
Contact
3301 College Avenue
Fort-Lauderdale-Davie, Florida 33314-7796
Phone: (800) 541-6682
Email: info@huizenga.nova.edu
Website: http://www.nova.edu/graduate/masters.html
University of Central Florida
College of Business Administration
The University of Central Florida opened during the 1960s with a strong emphasis on technical programs. Prior to the formation of the school, man walked on the moon for the first time, and Florida was at the heart of the space race. Many of its graduates later worked for NASA and helped create new shuttles and technologies for NASA and other agencies. It wasn’t until the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s that the school started offering other programs. UCF is now one of the largest public colleges in the entire country and in the state.
Business Administration/PhD: Finance Concentration
UCF offers a Business Administration PhD with a concentration in finance for those with an interest in mathematics and finance. The program prepares students for working with both nonprofit organizations and corporations and companies of various sizes. Students interested in the program must apply before the spring deadline to gain admission for the fall semester. Students applying earlier in the year cannot start the program until the fall semester. Students must complete a total of 84 credit hours of coursework beyond the undergraduate level, but they can gain some of the necessary credit hours in a graduate or MBA program. UCF also lets students transfer credits that they earn in other graduate programs to earn their PhD. Students spend a total of 27 credit hours in the classroom and an additional 15 credit hours working on a dissertation. Some courses that you might take include mathematical economics, microeconomic theory, and introduction to the theory of finance.
Related Resource: How Much Can I Make With a Ph.D in Finance?
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
4000 Central Florida Blvd., P.O. Box 161991
Orlando, Florida 32816-1991
Phone: (407) 823-2181
Email: cschnitzlein@bus.ucf.edu
Website: http://www.bus.ucf.edu/students/graduate/?page=309
University of Florida
Warrington College of Business
Established in 1926, the Warrington College of Business is a small business school located in Florida. As part of the University of Florida, the school is responsible for training and educating both undergraduate and graduate business students. U.S. News & World Report ranked the school as the 27th best business school in the United States and ranked its finance program as one of the top 11 programs of its type in the country. Its management, real estate, and accounting programs also rank as some of the best programs in the nation. Enrollment in the school now tops more than 6,000 students every year.
Master of Science in Finance
The Master of Science in Finance is one of several advanced programs available through the University of Florida and its Warrington College of Business. Originally designed for working students and those currently working in finance, the program shifted its focus in recent years. The Warrington College of Business now considers the University of Florida as a feeder school and gives precedence to students with an undergraduate degree from that university, but students from other schools can still apply. Students have the chance to work with technologies and equipment that they’ll use on the job in many of their courses. Those enrolled in the securities trading class will work with a computer simulation program that shows them how to buy and sell stocks, while other courses send students into one of the computer terminals to use other types of software. The college also hosts a Finance Professional Speakers Series to show students what finance experts do and how they think.
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
100 Bryan Hall
PO Box 117150
Gainesville, FL 32611-7150
Phone: (352) 392-2397
Email: andrew.lord@warrington.ufl.edu
Website: http://warrington.ufl.edu/graduate/academics/msf/
University of South Florida
College of Business
The State University System of Florida has several campuses located across the state. Students can take classes at one campus and transfer to another, and the system offers a number of graduate programs as well. Founded in 1956, the University of South Florida is one of several schools in the system, and the school opened as a way to educate those living in the southern area of the state. Named as one of the top 100 public schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report, the USF graduate school and business school receive high marks and rankings as well.
Business Administration/PhD: Finance Concentration
Designed for students with a graduate degree, the Business Administration PhD Finance Concentration is a program that lets students earn an advanced degree. As the program requires a large amount of mathematical and statistical work, the school recommends that new students take a few refresher courses before beginning the program. The school offers assistanceship programs and fellowships that students can use to pay for tuition and their other costs, but the selection committee for those programs look at a number of factors when making its decision, including the student’s grade point average and any past research work completed. Students take classes three semesters every year for two years before finishing the program, and the courses they take include advanced mathematics classes and financial courses. You’ll spend an additional two years working on your dissertation, and many students also teach classes at the undergraduate level to gain more finance experience.
Master of Science in Finance
The College of Business and the Department of Finance offer a Master of Science in Finance program. Designed as a specialty degree, the program looks at both minor and major issues that affect the world of finance. While the admissions process is daunting, graduates receive assistance with writing their resumes, searching for jobs, and interviewing for finance positions. Incoming students must take five core courses or show proof that they received a high score on similar courses within the last five years. Students also take three economics courses, five finance courses, and at least two electives. Prior to graduation, students must complete a total of 30 credit hours in a combination of classes. It’s possible for students to finish the program in one year, but many students spend a minimum of three semesters enrolled in the program. USF also offers some additional certification programs that students can take while working on their degrees or after completing their degrees.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, BSN 3403
Tampa, FL 33620, USA
Phone: (813) 974-4281
Email: usf-grad@grad.usf.edu
Website: http://www.usf.edu/business/
University of Tampa
Graduate Business Programs
The College of Business at the University of Tampa is one of the best business schools in Florida and in the country. Princeton Review named it one of the top 300 business schools in the United States, and The Tampa Bay Business Journal picked it as its Favorite MBA Program. Established in 1931, the University of Tampa is a large public university located in Florida. More than 60 percent of students live on campus, and a large number of other students live within walking distance of the large campus. Its unique courses, wide range of programs, and experienced professors make the school a popular choice for students.
Master of Science in Finance
The professors working at the University of Tampa College of Business understand that finance constantly changes and fluctuates, which is why they offer classes that emphasize practical knowledge. The unique Master of Science in Finance program gives students the opportunity to use the same programs and software that finance experts use every day. Students attending classes on campus can also visit the Huizenga Family Foundation Trading Center. This unique facility offers software and technologies that are similar to the trading software that brokers and finance experts use. Students can practice buying stocks and bonds, making trades and selling those products. Past graduates work for government agencies, nonprofit organizations and large finance firms in the United States and abroad. UT also offers a number of scholarships for students studying finance and business related fields. Students can apply for those scholarships when applying for financial aid through the school.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
401 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33606-1490
Phone: (813) 253-3333
Email: admissions@ut.edu
Website: http://www.ut.edu/content.aspx?id=6920
MBA holders make significantly more each year than those with an undergraduate degree earn, but you can earn even more when you have a degree from a good school. The Sunshine State is one of the best places to finish your degree and launch your future. Accredited finance degree programs in Florida have classes starting when you’re ready.
