For those seeking to advance career opportunities in the financial services industry of the “Show Me State,” there are several options for pursuing a master’s degree within one of the accredited finance degree programs in Missouri. With the large bustling metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Jefferson City, and Columbia within its borders, Missouri is our nation’s 18th most populous state at the confluence of the major Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Known for being the only state in the United States to have two Federal Reserve banks, Missouri has thriving manufacturing, agriculture, biotechnology, transportation, food processing, and aerospace industries that create a strong demand for candidates with financial knowledge. In order to take your career to the next level in the “Gateway to the West,” the following is the first half (A-S) of accredited master’s-level finance degree programs in Missouri.

Avila University

School of Business

Situated on a 48-acre suburban campus in beautiful south Kansas City in a quiet neighborhood on the historical Santa Fe Trail, Avila University is a comprehensive four-year private Roman Catholic institution founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cardondelet in honor of St. Teresa of Avila. As home to 1,900 students with a low student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, Avila is currently ranked as the 102nd best college in the Midwest by The U.S. News and World Report. With full accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), the School of Business is focused on helping students hone their analytical, leadership, teamwork, and communication skills to be in great demand.

Master of Business Administration (MBA): Finance

Available for anyone with a bachelor’s degree in any business or non-business academic discipline from an accredited institution, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is designed to provide a high-quality graduate business education to develop students into managers with positions of upper-level responsibility. With a concentration in Finance, MBA students have the chance to receive preparation for advanced work in careers related to finance management with the skills needed to make sound financial business decisions. Requiring the completion of at least 30 credits, the program is structured on a flexible 11-week trimester schedule with one eight-week summer session to complete the MBA in just one calendar year.

Accreditation

  • International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
  • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)

Contact

11901 Wornall Road
Kansas City, MO 64145
Phone: (816) 501-3601
Email: MBA@avila.edu
Website: https://www.avila.edu/mba/mba-finance.asp

Lindenwood University

School of Business and Entrepreneurship

As a dynamic comprehensive four-year independent liberal arts institution with approximately 17,000 students in values-centered academic programs, Lindenwood University is nestled amid the linden trees on a beautiful 500-acre campus in the heart of historical St. Charles within minutes from downtown St. Louis. Firmly rooted in Judeo-Christian values within the Presbyterian Church, Lindenwood is internationally known for its innovation, entrepreneurship, and extraordinary commitment to educating the whole student. Within the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, the university is recognized by The U.S. News and World Report for having the 169th best online graduate business degree programs in the United States.

Master of Business Administration (MBA): Finance

With one of the lowest tuition rates in the St. Louis metropolitan area, the 39-credit Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is designed to build the knowledge and skills needed for advanced leadership roles in the business field. In addition to earning the MBA, students have the freedom to choose to customize their degree with an emphasis in Finance for more in-depth study on the key concepts and practices relevant to financial institutions. In preparing graduates for staff or line positions in financial advisory firms and other business settings, students will be required to take courses in financial statement analysis, macroeconomics, international finance, entrepreneurial finance, investments, derivatives, portfolio management, and financial markets.

Master of Science in Finance (MSF)

Through a combination of strong core and a variety of advanced financial electives, the Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program is structured to unlock professional career opportunities in investment banking, risk management, corporate/industry finance, treasury, cash management, private wealth management, financial economics, and more. Depending on students’ prior academic background and experiences in finance, the curriculum ranges from 45 to 63 credit hours. Before completing the degree, students will be required to take courses related to financial accounting, economics, financial policy, statistical analysis, managerial accounting, financial statement analysis, investments, derivatives, portfolio management, international finance, ethics, quantitative research methods, and a Finance Master’s thesis project.

Accreditation

  • Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
  • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)

Contact

209 South Kingshighway
St. Charles, MO 63301
Phone: (636) 949-4349
Email: BSchenck@lindenwood.edu
Website: http://www.lindenwood.edu/business/graduate/mbaPlus.html

Saint Louis University

John Cook School of Business

Established in 1818 as a private Roman Catholic and Jesuit research institution, Saint Louis University educates over 13,500 students of all faiths on a 271-acre urban campus in St. Louis on the eastern border of Missouri. Well-known for being one of only seven Catholic universities to be classified as having high research activity by the prestigious Carnegie Foundation, SLU is currently ranked as the 101st best college and 15th top university for military veterans by The U.S. News and World Report survey. As the oldest business school west of the Mississippi River in the heart of a bustling metropolitan area, the John Cook School of Business is also highly regarded for offering the 53rd best part-time MBA program in the entire nation.

Master of Business Administration (MBA): Finance

Ideal for graduate students grounded in business through an accredited undergraduate business degree or at least two years of significant work experience, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is focused on immersing students in valuable hands-on international business experiences to hone skills in a specific business subset. Students who choose an area of emphasis in Finance will complete a total of nine credit hours in graduate finance courses in applied statistics, financial accounting, financial management, and integrated decision making. In addition to the traditional one-year full-time MBA for 50 credit hours, students can pursue the 48-credit Evening MBA program with a convenient flexible schedule.

Master of Science in Applied Financial Economics (MS-AFE)

As a unique quantitatively-focused applied professional degree program, the Master of Science in Applied Financial Economics (MS-AFE) is strongly focused on preparing qualified graduate students with the skills needed for analyzing and forecasting financial variables, including interest rates and stock returns. With the goal of ensuring graduates can make sound financial business decisions based on their understanding on the effects of financial variables on markets, the one-of-a-kind program in the region prepares individuals for entry into the labor market with marketable technical skills. While the 30-credit program can be completed full-time in just one year, students can pursue the degree in a flexible part-time format for a maximum of five years.

Accreditation

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

Contact

221 North Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone: (314) 977-6221
Email: gradbiz@slu.edu
Website: http://business.slu.edu/programs-of-study/graduate-business-programs/

Southeast Missouri State University

Donald L. Harrison College of Business

Headquartered on a 400-acre suburban campus in the town of Cape Girardeau overlooking the mighty Mississippi River with regional locations in Kennett, Malden, Poplar Bluff, and Sikeston, Southeast Missouri State University is a comprehensive four-year public liberal arts institution with more than 11,700 students in a college-friendly community. According to The U.S. News and World Report, SEMO is currently ranked as the 86th best college and 30th top public school in the Midwest. Even more importantly, the Donald L. Harrison College of Business has been recognized for having the 87th best online graduate business programs in all of America.

Master of Business Administration (MBA): Financial Management

Designed to help graduate students build the knowledge, managerial skills, leadership qualities, and personal attributes that are needed to advance professionally into executive positions in business organizations, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is ideal for individuals with a background in business who are seeking career advancement. In addition to the general management core that focuses on leadership as well as organizational behavior for the 21st century, the MBA program offers a Financial Management concentration offers an advanced understanding of the current conceptual framework beyond both financial and economic concepts in domestic/international financial markets. The 32-credit program can be pursued in a traditional on-campus format at one of the university’s teaching sites or in a convenient online format from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection.

Accreditation

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

Contact

1 University Plaza
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Phone: (573) 651-5090
Email: mba@semo.edu
Website: http://www.semo.edu/mba/index.html

Depending on your area of specialization, having a master’s degree in finance can open a broad range of career opportunities after graduation in accounting, financial advising, financial analysis, economics, investment banking, lending, real estate, wealth management, and more. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects rapid employment growth for financial analysts across sectors to be faster than average at the rate of 23% before 2022. Furthermore, the average starting salary for graduates with an advanced finance degree ranges from $35,000 to $50,000 each year. If you are looking for the perfect program fit to meet your professional aspirations in a lucrative and in-demand field, do not forget to consider these accredited finance degree programs in Missouri.

Related Resource: How Much Can I Make with a Master’s Degree in Finance?