I've decided to stick with the plan of studying finance in college. Now, the question is, which institutions offer the best undergraduate programs? I understand that 'best' is subjective, but I'd be grateful for any insight.
There are many great schools for finance at the undergraduate level, and it really comes down to what part of the nation you're interested in, class size, culture, and whether or not you prefer a smaller liberal arts college or a larger research university, amongst other factors.
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, often simply referred to as Wharton, definitely stands out in this field. The Wharton undergraduate program offers a bachelor's degree in Economics with more than 20 different concentration options, including Finance. In fact, more than 30% of students at Wharton concentrate in Finance, making it one of the most popular concentration options available. University of Chicago also recently launched a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a Specialization in Business Economics. This program offers courses in finance that are designed by finance faculty at the Booth School of Business, one of the best business schools in the world.
MIT Sloan School of Management offers a Bachelor of Science in Management Science, with a track in finance. The New York University (NYU) Stern School of Business and the University of Michigan Ross School of Business also have strong undergraduate business programs with finance concentration options.
On the West Coast, Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley has an undergraduate business administration program with courses in financial accounting and corporate finance. Stanford University doesn't offer a strictly finance degree, but its economics program is highly ranked and offers several finance-related classes. Finally, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business has an undergraduate finance degree and is known for its strong alumni network and its location, which is great for government-related finance internships.
Remember that while the reputation of the program is important, finding a school that's a good fit for you personally is crucial. Consider factors such as the school's size, location, culture, and the extracurricular opportunities it offers. Also, grasp a good understanding of each program’s coursework and see if it aligns with your academic interests and professional aspirations.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.