Illinois is sometimes viewed as a microcosm of the wider United States, with diversity in population, terrain, and culture. The state also offers an excellent variety of schooling options, from Ivy League-quality educational institutions to small colleges able to offer superb hands-on learning programs. With such a diverse array of schooling options, it’s simple to find accredited finance degree programs in Illinois that answer the particular needs of each student, whether those needs are a specific focus of study, the prestige of a particular university, a program for those needing financial assistance, or flexible hours that work around challenging schedules.

Saint Xavier University

Graham School of Management

In 1846, just 10 years after the founding of the city of Chicago itself, the school that would become Saint Xavier University was established by the Sisters of Mercy. The university’s School of Business opened in 1983, offering the first MBA degrees in finance. Following a mission statement laid out by the founding Sisters of Mercy, the university strives to encourage students to engage in critical thinking, focus on effective communication, and maintain standards of excellence in ethics. These goals fit with the school’s program in finance education, where real-world applications benefit from such discipline.

Masters of Business Administration in Finance

Saint Xavier University offers students a Master’s of Business Administration with a Finance Concentration. Students follow a course of study that includes a focus on international finance, derivatives, portfolio analysis, market assessment, and studies in ethical considerations. Students are encouraged to follow their own course of study to further personalize their degree directive. Over 12 credit hours of specialization further refine their degree to reflect personal career goals including estate planning, financial statement fraud, managerial accounting and income tax planning. Maintaining a standard of modernity, courses also include computer-related fraud, internet marketing, international finance, and regulatory issues. Internships for students are also available in accounting, economics and finance.

Masters of Business Administration in Financial Fraud Examination and Management

Due to the introduction of enhanced Federal laws curtailing fraud, Saint Xavier refined a master’s program to educate students in navigating the new regulations. This master’s program also takes into account new guidelines set forth by the American Institute of CPAs to provide students with an excellent grasp of current financial law. This program is the direct result of urging by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners for universities to offer curricula that address modern financial practice conventions. Completion of courses will enable students to obtain certified fraud examiner (CFA) certification.

Related Resource: What is the Difference Between a CPA and a CFA?

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
  • The North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission

Contact

Deb Rapacz, Executive Director of Graduate Programs
3700 West 103rd Street
Chicago, IL 60655
Phone: (773) 298-3620
Email: rapacz@sxu.edu
Website: https://www.sxu.edu/academics/colleges_schools/gsm/grad/

Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville

SIUE School of Business

Southern Illinois University has a 50-year history offering a diverse student body the advantage of an excellent educator-to-student ratio. Its proximity to both St. Louis and Chicago make this university an attractive alternative to larger schools, while its excellent selection of programs caters to a wide range of interest. The school routinely receives Federal, State, and local grants that enable it to provide cutting-edge facilities and programs for learning. U.S. News & World Reports ranks the SIUE School of Business programs at number 42 in the nation.

Master of Business Administration in Finance

While the focus of this program is to bolster students’ ability to effectively manage all aspects of business, the master’s program allows for greater concentration on studies related to all aspects of finance, including accounting, ethics, global management, and information systems. Students are also allowed to tailor their courses to reflect specific real-world career goals. Methodology also includes both not-for-profit and traditional business scenarios.
Master of Science in Economics and Finance
Aiming to provide students with the most comprehensive backing available in finance education, the master’s degree program in economics at SIUE draws from many different disciplines, including corporate finance, public sector economies, risk management, macro- and microeconomics, labor and investment. Degrees can be obtained in as little as a year, allowing students to fashion their own particular dynamic study program. Students can also decide whether they prefer their degree to be obtained through the Master’s of Arts or Master’s of Science programs. Students can also continue on into the doctoral program that is also offered by the university.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission (NCA HLC)

Contact

Founders Hall, room 3307
P.O. Box 1051
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1051
Phone: (618) 650-3822
Email: tburrel@siue.edu
Website: http://www.siue.edu/business/

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

College of Business

U.S. News and World Report ranks Southern Illinois University College of Business at 177 in the nation. The current College of Business had its beginning in 1957, when a college designed specifically to address the particular needs of business and finance degrees was formally introduced. In 1983, Rehn Hall, the location of the current business college, was dedicated. The college maintains a wide curriculum that is constantly updated to reflect current trends, federal regulations, standards of ethics and laws.

Masters of Business Administration in Finance

Students in the Masters of Business degree program can choose to specialize in any number of disciplines, including finance, each of which requires three courses. Students mus then choose three elective courses to further refine their course of study. Areas of study include financial analysis, study of investment institutions and markets, global marketing and financial management. An elective study abroad program is an options students can choose to supplement their global financial studies program. The college also offers an alternative MBA program that is fully online.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
  • The North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission (NCA HLC)

Contact

Rehn Hall
Mail Code 4619
1025 Lincoln Drive
Carbondale, IL 62901
Phone: (618) 453-3328
Email: admissions@siu.edu
Website: http://www.business.siu.edu/academics/mba/index.html

University of Chicago

Booth School of Business

Known as the second-oldest business college in the world, Booth School of Business began operations in 1898. Ranked at number two on U.S. News & World Reports in 2014, Booth School of Business maintains a high standard of educational excellence. No less than seven members of the faculty have received a Nobel Prize, exemplifying the university’s goal of educating students to constantly strive for unique and innovative thinking in their various disciplines. The university has been educating students since 1848 and maintains a proud tradition of unparalleled educational excellence.

Master of Business Administration with Finance Concentration

The University of Chicago offers students one of the better accredited finance degree programs in Illinois. The degree program is offered in a two-year format that requires 21 courses in order to obtain the degree. These courses require a body of study that includes academic exploration of business leadership, global finance, portfolio management, economic law, private equity and others. There are also joint degree programs that allow students to further tailor their course of study to fit with their future career goals.

The MBA program is offered in a variety of forms that include full time, weekend, and evening classes to accommodate career schedules. The program is innovative in that it allows for a greater degree of customization, given that students are only required to take one course. The rest of the credit hours are left up to personal customization, so that students receive the exact educational profile they need to fulfill personal or career goals. There are also study abroad programs for students to further refine their understanding of global financial issues.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission (NCA HLC)

Contact

5807 South Woodlawn Ave
Chicago, IL 60637-1610
Phone: (773) 702-7743
Email: admissions@chicagobooth.edu
Website: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time

University of Illinois

UIUC College of Business

The University of Illinois dates back to 1867, beginning as a collection of separate colleges, expanding into one cohesive university following World War II. The College of Business maintains one of the longest running degree programs in business in the world. In 2008, the Business Instructional Facility was added to the campus, allowing students to access a new sponsored program, the Market Information Lab. Maintained by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, it offers students the latest in software programs and tools to further enhance their studies. U.S. News & World Reports lists the University of Illinois College of Business masters program at number 41 in the nation.

Master of Science in Finance

The University of Illinois combines stringent academic standards with a program that focuses on finance research to deliver students a curriculum that is both cutting edge and solidly based in traditional academic disciplines. The program is designed to be finished after just one year of intensive study. Four core classes and six electives prepare students for advanced careers in finance. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification requirements are addressed in the body of the curriculum and students are prepared to sit the exams at the culmination of study. Degrees can be further specialized following courses of study such as Quantitative Finance, Banking, Asset Management, Real Estate, or Corporate Finance. Students are even offered summer workshops to further hone their studies.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission (NCA HLC)

Contact

515 East Gregory Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 333-2747
Email: dean@business.uiuc.edu
Website: http://www.business.illinois.edu/MSF/default.aspx

University of Illinois at Chicago

UIC Liautaud Graduate School of Business

Founded in 1965, the UIC Liautaud School of Business added its graduate program just four years later. A generous bequest from the Liautuad family allowed the campus to expand its operations, enhancing its programs over the decades to include specializations in human resources and real estate management. The finance program at the Liautaud School of Business is a unique curriculum designed by finance experts to reflect real-world scenarios that will prepare students for the rigors of their future career. Foreign experience can be gained by students in one of the many exchange programs that allow a broader scope of study in international business and finance. U.S. News & World Reports ranks the UIC Liautaud Graduate School of Business at number 92 in the nation.

Master of Business Administration with a Finance Concentration

The Liautaud Graduate School offers students an array of convenient degree program options from courses of full-time study, weekend alternatives, and programs that run from one to five years depending upon concentration. A total of 84 credit hours split between required courses and electives can be obtained through any one of these options. Core classes include fields of study in microeconomics, financial accounting, marketing, corporate finance, and operations management. Concentrations in the degree can include a focus on international business, real estate, economics or a self-directed course of study. There is even a professional scope within the program that offers education on Chicago exchanges, project management and real estate development. Joint degrees can be obtained in one of seven different combinations that include medicine, accounting, and information systems.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission (NCA HLC)

Contact

University Hall
601 S. Morgan St.
11th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (877) 622-8421
Email: lgsb@uic.edu
Website: http://business.uic.edu/

University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL

College of Business and Health Administration

With excellent access to Chicago and a small campus that takes advantage of its high educator to student ratio, the University of St. Francis is a private university offering students business degrees with a finance specialization. Founded in 1920 by an order of Franciscans, the college was originally meant to educate order members. In 1971 the college became coeducational and added master’s degree programs in the 1980s and 1990s. St. Francis’s business program is listed on Washington Monthly Master’s Universities Rank at 468 for 2013.

Masters of Business Administration in Finance

Courses of study in the master’s program include financial management, credit analysis, capital budgeting and corporate finance. Students are required to complete up to 46 credit hours in both core curriculum classes and specialization courses. As a reflection of the college’s directive to incorporate the latest in real world study applications, there are courses covering information technology, including social media, as well as fraud examination that takes into account current financial events and the laws that have arisen to address them. Certain courses are offered to students online for maximum convenience, allowing for students to pursue their career while obtaining a higher degree. Second master’s degrees are available to enhance a degree in finance, such as a Master of Science in Health Administration.

Accreditation

  • The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
  • The North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission (NCA HLC)

Contact

500 Wilcox Street
Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: (800) 735-7500
Email: solutions@stfrancis.edu
Website: http://www.stfrancis.edu/academics/master-of-business-administration/curriculum/#.Uwy7RiceqEI/

Western Illinois University

College of Business and Technology

Viewing the integration of business and technology as a natural partnership, Western Illinois University has spent the nearly 50 years of its history fostering innovation and educational advancement by striving to provide a setting that encourages originality and attracts some of the finest educators. Its business focus allows students to specialize in their chosen area of study while providing excellent opportunities for real-world courses of study that translate to a global economy. Students also have the opportunity to study abroad to further enhance their understanding of global financial systems.

Masters of Business Administration with a Finance Concentration

The college offers a Masters of Arts in Economics, as well as a Masters of Business where students can hone their curriculum to focus on finance. Studies include both theoretical and practical applications of learned topics. Students are required to complete up to 54 credits in areas of finance including commercial banking, economic development, macro- and microeconomic theory, and price theory. Students can also take advantage of an integrated bachelor’s and MBA program that allows for a master’s degree with a finance specialization to be completed in five years.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
  • The North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission (NCA HLC)

Contact

1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455
Phone: (309) 298-2442
Email: info@wiu.edu
Website: http://www.wiu.edu/graduate_studies/programs_of_study/busadmin_profile.php

With a wide range of both public and private learning institutions, students seeking higher degrees will have little trouble locating excellent accredited finance degree programs in Illinois. With evening, weekend, and traditional classroom schedules, obtaining an advanced degree can fit with any lifestyle, while excellent opportunities for receiving financial aid opens degree programs to a wide range of students.