There are several universities that offer accredited finance degree programs in Texas. Students wanting finance degrees need to decide on the size and character not only of the school, but of the program itself. Many of the schools listed in this article are part of the University of Texas system. As such, there are some constants. It should be noted that, while undergraduate tuition is at a flat fee and is capped, graduate tuition depends upon the number of credit hours and does not have a cap. There are several different types of MBA as well, and one may be more suitable than another for an individual. The accelerated MBA, for instance, requires a heavier course load but, in most cases, can be completed in 12 months.
University of St. Thomas
Cameron School of Business
The University of St. Thomas is a small Roman Catholic not-for-profit school with a student population of less than 4,000. It runs on the semester system and boasts small class sizes. The faculty-to-student ratio is 16:1. The school was rated by the U.S. News and World Reports ranking as #27 of Regional Universities West. The Cameron School of Business faculty is widely published and most of the faculty has terminal degrees. The school boasts small class size and a small student-to-faculty ratio which ensures individual attention for students. It offers nine concentrations in its MBA program. Tuition for the school is $1040 per credit.
MBA Finance Concentration
The MBA in this accredited finance degree program in Texas is flexible. It is offered as a traditional MBA, or in evening classes, on weekends and as a five-year BBA/MBA degree program. The degree contains 36 hours, not including proficiency courses. The proficiency segment (fundamentals of accounting, business statistics, finance, micro and macro- economics, management, marketing and the legal environment of business) are offered to students without sufficient undergraduate experience in these areas to take the advanced courses of the degree. Beyond these, there are twenty-seven core classes and nine electives that include the concentration. Finance students must complete four elective courses from a list of approved classes for the concentration that includes Investment Theory, International Finance, Financial Institutions and Markets, and other finance-emphasis courses.
Master of Science (MS) in Finance
This degree is meant to satisfy the needs of professionals who are already working in the field of finance. It is built around evening classes and an accelerated seven-week summer program. The degree includes thirty credit hours, but students who enter with weak finance backgrounds may have to take proficiency classes before they begin the major. Students are notified in writing if they have to take the extra classes and which of the 10.5 credit hours of these classes they need. Some or all may be waived depending upon student demonstration of the required skills. Beyond these, there are 24 core credit hours including Managerial Accounting, Investment Theory, International Finance Financial Institutions and Markets, Futures, Swaps and Options, Fixed Income Securities, Securities Analysis and Portfolio Management. Students may fulfill the requisite project with an internship or through independent research.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
Cameron School of Business
St. Thomas University
3800 Montrose Blvd.
Houston, TX 77006
Phone: (713) 525-2100
Email: cameron@stthom.edu
Website: http://www.stthom.edu/Academics/Cameron_School_of_Business/
University of Texas at Arlington
College of Business
The University of Texas at Arlington is a large public school, the second largest of the University of Texas system. The student body is 5,600. There are 106 full-time faculty members in the College of Business. The business school is ranked fourth in the state for its pass rate in the NASBA exam. The U.S. News and World Reports ranking of the College of Business at UTA is #14 for “Top Undergraduate Business Programs.” The school offers several MBA programs, including a cohort MBA in which students enrolled at the same time go through the program together, making teamwork and networking easier.
Master of Science in Quantitative Finance
This degree is intended for those who want specialized and highly analytical positions as finance managers and program technicians in finance. There are a minimum of twelve credit hours of prerequisite courses that must be completed before embarking on the degree. All students in this program must spend the equivalent of two full semesters in residence on the UTA campus. There are three avenues through which the degree may be pursued: thesis, thesis substitute, and non-thesis. The thesis path contains 30 credit hours, of which 24 are core courses plus the six-credit-hour thesis. The thesis substitute path is 33 credit hours: 27 in core and a three-credit project. The non-thesis path is 36 hours (21 in foundation classes and 15 in electives) followed by a comprehensive final examination.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
College of Business
University of Texas at Arlington
701 South Nedderman Drive
Arlington, TX, 76019
Phone: (817) 272-3705
Email: wweb@uta.edu/finance
Website: http://wweb.uta.edu/finance/qfinance.html
University of Texas at Austin
McCombs School of Business
The Princeton Review ranked the University of Texas at Austin as a “Top Value for 2012.” It is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #46 of “Top National Universities” and 17th for “Top Business Graduate Schools.” Graduate tuition is $1066 per semester. The McCombs School of Business teaches two courses in its MBA core: Managerial Economics and Financial Management. The programs vary according to which path is chosen. MBA degrees are offered as full-time programs, in evening format and as executive MBAs. UTA’s finance programs are ranked number 15 of the “The 30 Best Master of Finance Degree Programs under $22,000 per year” by our editors.
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance Concentration
The purpose of this degree is to prepare students for financial positions in non-financial institutions, the financial services industry, equities, real estate, and energy firms. The degree provides a broad foundation in the skills needed for successful careers in finance while allowing enough flexibility for students to tailor the path to their career expectations. All students take Financial Management, Valuation, Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance, and Investment Theory and Practice. These classes should be taken the first semester as they are prerequisites for most other core classes. Then students must select twelve additional semester hours from two blocks: Finance and Real Estate or Accounting. They must select three courses from the first of these and one from the second. The degree program contains twenty total credit hours.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
McCombs School of Business
University of Texas at Austin
2110 Speedway
Stop B6000
Austin, TX, 78712
Phone: (512) 471-5921
Website: https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/graduate/mba/full-time-mba/
University of Texas at Dallas
Naveen Jindal School of Management
The U.S. News and World Reports ranks this university as #151 of “National Universities” and #80 of “Private Schools.” It is number 60 on Kiplinger’s list of “Top Values” and the Naveen Jindal School of Management ranks #50 on the U.S. News and World Reports list of “Best MBA Programs.” The student-to-faculty ratio is 22:1 and the six-year graduation rate is 70%. MBAs are offered as full-time traditional programs, executive, part-time and in an online format. Tuition is capped at $7,621 for 15 credit hours, meaning that students taking more than that per semester will pay only the rate for 15.
Master of Science in Finance
This degree program strives to provide practical and theoretical knowledge. There are 36 credit hours beyond the prerequisites including 18 basic business and 18 finance courses. Full-time students can complete the program in two years. Applicants do not have to hold undergraduate degrees in business, but they may have to take leveling courses to ensure they have the knowledge and skills they need for the advanced classes. Students may select the “Financial Management” option which gives a generalist approach while allowing enough flexibility for them to tailor their programs through the electives. Otherwise, students may choose options in Investment Management, Financial Analysis, Financial Institutions, Real Estate, or Energy Risk Management. All students should have skills in statistics and calculus with basic computer competency.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
Naveen Jindal School of Management
University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Road
Richardson, TX 75080
Phone: (972) 883-4771
Email: TexasMBA@mccombs.utexas.edu
Website: http://jindal.utdallas.edu/academic-areas/finance-and-managerial-economics/master-of-science-in-finance/
University of Texas at El Paso
College of Business Administration
The Washington Monthly ranks this school as one of the top ten “National Universities.” It is also highly ranked as a university which serves the Hispanic population (70% of the student body is Hispanic). Besides the degree programs, the university offers a number of non-credit courses and continuing education opportunities. The border location of UTEP affords students the chance to see and get hands-on knowledge of international business. Graduate tuition for full-time students in the resident area is $2690 per semester.
Master of Science in Economics
This degree program provides students with a basic financial education while allowing them to specialize in areas like Applied Economics, International Economics, and Border Economics. The degree contains 24 credit hours in coursework and a six-hour thesis. Many classes are offered in the evening or on weekends. The ability to take coursework outside the field of economics is built into the program, and students may satisfy this by either choosing a minor (with a minimum of six credit hours and a maximum of twelve) or through the interdisciplinary program which contains 365 hours of which 18 are in economics. Students entering the program without an undergraduate degree in economics or finance, or without proficiency in required areas, may have to take leveling courses. There are two thesis options in the degree program.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
College of Business Administration
500 West University Avenue
El Paso, TX, 79902
Phone: (915) 747-7775
Email: agwalke@utep.edu
Website: http://business.utep.edu/Degrees/MSE/default.aspx
University of Texas at San Antonio
College of Business
This is a state research university, which means that a significant amount of financing is spent on original research. It is a large university; the student body was 20,000 in 2012. UTSA is ranked by the Times Higher Education listing as one of the TOP 400 Universities in the World. It offers 147 degree programs. Bloomberg Weekly ranks the College of Business as one of the top six in the southwest and the part-time MBA program is ranked in the top 40. Although the College of Business is one of the largest in the nation, the average class size is 18.
MBA, Finance Concentration
This program is designed for people who are beginning a new career as well as those who want to advance in their current placement. The school offers one-on-one career counseling, resume planning and writing workshops, mock interviews, and internships to ensure graduates are prepared to enter the professional arena. Students can switch from full-time status to part-time each semester which allows them work flexibility. The program consists of 36 credit hours: 24 core and 12 elective. Core classes include Accounting Analysis for Decision Making, Managerial Economics, Financial Management, Management Behavior in Organizations, Ethics and Globalization, Strategic Management and Policy, Marketing, Management, and Decision Analysis, and Production Management. Graduate tuition is $2,336 per semester based on full-time status.
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Real Estate Concentration
This accredited finance degree program in Texas is for students interested in managing businesses or beginning businesses associated with real estate. It also prepares graduates to study business administration with a real estate emphasis at the doctoral level. Students can minor in Finance or in Building Development. The degree program contains 24 credit hours including core, electives, and 12 credit hours of Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Investment, and Real Estate Development. Electives outside the prescribed listing for the major must be approved by the real estate program director or by the advisor.
Master of Science (MS) in Finance
This degree is the finance general option and contains six hours in MS foundational classes: Accounting Analysis for Decision Making, Decision Analysis and Production Management. There are also nine semester hours in finance courses including Financial Management, Investment Theory and Problems, and Modeling of Financial Decision Making. There are also 18 credit hours of electives, 15 of which must be from a list approved by the department. Any other courses taken must have the permission of a graduate advisor. The program culminates in a comprehensive final exam.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
College of Business
University of Texas at San Antonio
1 UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX 78249
Email: graduatestudies@utsa.edu
Website: http://business.utsa.edu/graduate/index.aspx
University of Texas, Pan American
College of Business Administration
This school is located just ten miles north of the U.S. border with Mexico and has a student body of more than 17,500 students. The University of Texas pan American is listed as one of the nation’s 100 best colleges for Hispanic students. The undergraduate tuition is $4,168. The goal of the College of Business Administration is to become the premier research education business school in the southwest. It offers MBA programs on-site, online and in an accelerated online format.
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance Concentration
This degree is intended to offer a broad-based education to students. The 36-credit hour program can be completed full-time in two years. It is offered evenings and weekends. Applicants to the degree program may have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, but if they lack the prerequisite skills and knowledge necessary to take the advanced courses, they will need to take foundation courses before beginning the major. There are twenty-seven core credits and nine elective credits in the degree. Students may elect either a thesis or non-thesis path. If they take the thesis, it can replace six credit hours of elective courses. The online degree program is 48 credit hours, and there is also an accelerated 12 month program that contains 36 hours. Graduate tuition for the MBA is $5,488 per semester.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
College of Business Administration
University of Texas, Pan American
1201 West University Drive
Edinburg, TX, 78539
Email: adavilo@utpa.edu
Website: http://portal.utpa.edu/utpa_main/daa_home/coba_new_home/coba_degrees/coba_graduate/coba_mba
West Texas A&M University
College of Business
This university has a student body of 7,955 students and 287 faculty members. It is noted as a leader in distance education. GotEducation.com ranks the college of business at West Texas A&M University as number three in a listing of top affordable online MBA programs. U.S. News and World Reports ranks it as number 80 of “Regional Universities, West.” The business school states as one of its goals that they will provide high-quality undergraduate and graduate education with a global perspective.
Master of Science (MS) in Finance and Economics
All students applying to this program must demonstrate proficiency in economics, financial accounting, and statistics. Proficiency may be established through undergraduate courses taken successfully, through advanced-standing exams, or by taking stipulated courses. Some students are admitted conditionally and, for these, a grade of “C” or lower or areas of weakness may result in the need for them to take leveling courses. A grade lower than a “C” in leveling classes may result in the student being suspended. There are 24 credit hours of core classes in the degree program as well as 12 electives taken in graduate level economics and finance courses. The program culminates in a comprehensive final exam consisting of material from the major and specialization chosen by the student. If the student fails the examination he will have to wait one semester before taking it again. Graduate tuition for the MBA is $50 per semester hour for full-time resident students.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
College of Business
Texas A and M University
2501 4th Ave.
Canyon, TX. 79016
Phone: (806) 651-2500
Email: crlee@wtamu.edu
Website: http://catalog.wtamu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=5&poid=324&returnto=304
Within school systems, like the University of Texas system, there are many constants between universities, but some programs will differ. Students who find a school of interest to them in this list of accredited finance degrees in Texas should study the university website for details such as deadlines for applications.
