As the world’s premiere center of finance, the Empire State offers several accredited finance degree programs in New York. Students who wish to attend school with immediate access to important financial areas like Wall Street and Manhattan could choose no better state in which to obtain a graduate degree in finance than New York. Whether students choose to attend school Upstate or on Long Island, the state features several ways to build working relationships and professional connections during enrollment. Financial experts today are the lifeblood of many businesses, and executive-level employment often requires that an applicant has an education in finance or a related field.

Adelphi University

Robert B Willumstad School of Business

A private school in Garden City, Adelphi University is the oldest college on Long Island and is routinely recognized as one of the “best buys” for college for its affordable tuition rates. The university has just under 8,000 students enrolled for classes with around 1,000 academic staff. The school recently garnered an award from The Princeton Review as the “Best College in the Northeastern Region,” and “U.S. News & World Report” ranked the school at #152 for its nationwide standings of Tier 1 National Universities. The school was once just a prep school in Brooklyn in the 1860s, but eventually moved to Long Island and became a college.

Management: Finance Specialization, M.B.A.

Students must complete between 33 and 66 credits to obtain their Master of Business Administration from Adelphi. The number of credits required depends upon the type of degree already held by the student and the number of business courses already taken by the student. The school evaluates each student before they start classes to determine which past classes would work best. Some of the basic courses required of the degree for students without business experience include Financial Accounting, Computer Applications, and Mathematics for Managers. Foundational courses for the degree include Legal & Ethical Environment, Microeconomics, and Corporate Finance. Students are allowed the freedom to create a broad or highly focused program so as to graduate with the knowledge the student needs to work in his or her chosen specialty. Although some basic courses may be waived, depending on a student’s experience, all students must complete the 24 credits of core courses, as well as the capstone course to complete their degree.

Accreditation

  • The Middle States Association on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact

Adelphi University
1 South Ave
P.O. Box 701
Garden City, NY 11530
Phone: (800) 233-5744
Email: admissions@adelphi.edu
Website: http://catalog.adelphi.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=1&poid=273

Baruch College

Zicklin School of Business

Located in the memorable Flatiron District of New York City, Baruch College is a very selective school and is part of the university system in New York State. The college has almost 13,000 students enrolled and an academic staff of around 500 full-time. The school boasts several lauded graduates who’ve gone on to become mayors and Nobel laureates, as well as a Supreme Court Justice and a U.S. Secretary of State. The college’s Zicklin School of Business is regarded as one of the top business schools in the United States, and it’s also the largest collegiate school of business in the country.

Master of Science – MS in Finance

Baruch suggests that recent innovations in financial markets and securities have presented new opportunities to those who are trained in finance, as well as new challenges. The program requires that students complete 30 credits and is designed for working professionals who wish to improve and expand upon their knowledge of vital finance topics. Businesspeople who wish to change careers into a finance-related type of employment may also benefit from the program, as well as students who believe they possess excellent quantitative skills. Enrollees looking to eventually gain CFA or FRM certification may also benefit from the program as long as the right courses are taken during the program. Students may take classes on a full-time or part-time basis from a schedule that features classes in the evening. Students who are already well-versed in finance may be eligible to waive certain courses and finish the program in just one year of two semesters and one summer session.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance

Students interested in professions related to financial management and analysis may want to consider Baruch College’s MBA with a concentration in finance. The MBA program at Baruch features a broad curriculum that touches upon each of the vital areas of business and also offers several different specializations that help students refine their knowledge during the program. Students may choose to enroll in the traditional, full-time program, or they may want to consider the flexible program if schedule issues make it difficult to commit to a full-time college session. All students take the same courses during the first year of the MBA program and then have the opportunity to take classes in a specialization like economics, finance, or marketing. For students who choose to specialize in finance, 12 courses in the specialization are required; however, students have great flexibility in the exact courses they may take. All students must take Managerial Finance and Investment Analysis, which equals 6 credits, and may then choose from over a dozen other finance courses.

Accreditation

  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact

Baruch College
One Bernard Baruch Way, Box B13-221
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (646) 312-3140
Email: Zicklin.Graduate.Advisement@baruch.cuny.edu
Website: http://zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu/programs/graduate/ms/ms-programs/degrees/finance

Binghamton University

School of Management

Part of the State University of New York system, Binghamton University was once a small college but grew significantly in the second half of the 20th century to its present size of over 16,000 students. Located in Binghamton, the university scored a rank of 97th on a list of national universities by “U.S. News & World Report.” The university has been labeled a “Public Ivy,” which is a designation given to public schools with educational opportunities that rival the most expensive, private schools like Yale and Harvard. Although the caliber of the school allows it to rank highly on many lists, the university remains an affordable choice when compared with other similar colleges.

MBA Program Finance Specialization

Binghamton offers a variety of different MBA programs with different schedules and which are designed for different types of students. In the traditional, four-semester program students may enter the program with no prior business courses in their history; however, the school recommends that students have basic knowledge of calculus, as well as computer knowledge, and strong English communication skills. Students have the opportunity to undertake an internship during the second year of the program and also have access to several valuable electives connected with their particular specialization. The school encourages students to participate in independent studies while enrolled in the program, and faculty help students choose from a variety of projects that will help further the student’s knowledge in his or her chosen area of study. Some of the classes students will take during enrollment include Accounting for Managers, Statistical Analysis for Managers, and Management Information Systems. Students alsohave the opportunity to take at least six electives in an area of their choice.

Accreditation

  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact

Binghamton University
State University of New York
4400 Vestal Parkway East
Binghamton, NY 13902
Phone: (607) 777-2000
Email: info@binghamton.edu
Website: http://www.binghamton.edu/som/

Columbia University

Department of Mathematics

A private school established in 1754, Columbia University is an Ivy League school located in Upper Manhattan. It’s the oldest college in New York and is also the fifth oldest college in the United States since it was established before the American Revolution. The school was founded through a royal charter from King George II and was known as King’s College. However, after the close of the American Revolutionary War, the college was remained Columbia College in 1784. The school boasts several notable alumni including several Founding Fathers, nine Supreme Court Justices, dozens of Nobel laureates, and at least 20 modern billionaires.

Master of Arts in Mathematics – Mathematics of Finance (MAFN)

The Mathematics of Finance program is an effort between the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Statistics which features work on stochastic processes, numerical methods, statistics, and financial applications as they impact math and finance. Students who enroll in the program typically have undergraduate degrees in mathematics, economics, statistics, or computer science. Columbia offers students the choice of a part-time or full-time program. The full-time schedule takes students between two and three semesters, while the part-time program takes around two to three years. Most of the classes required of the degree are offered during the day, as well as during the night to accommodate a variety of scheduling needs. Students benefit from the close relationships Columbia has with worldwide financial firms like Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, and J.P. Morgan. Courses required of the program include Stochastic Processes, Introduction to the Mathematics of Finance, and Numerical Methods in Finance.

Accreditation

  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact

Laurent R. Breach, Coordinator of the MAFN Program
Department of Mathematics, Columbia University
2990 Broadway
425 Mathematics Building, MC 4437
New York, NY 10027
Phone: (212) 854.4303
Email: lrb@math.columbia.edu
Website: http://www.math.columbia.edu/mafn/

Dowling College

Townsend School of Business

Established in 1955, Dowling College is a private school with three campuses on Long Island. The main campus is in Oakdale. The school has around 4,400 students attending classes at the school’s three locations. The school sits on the former site of a Vanderbilt estate and got its name from its benefactor, Robert Dowling. A devastating fire destroyed one of the buildings on the Oakdale campus, but the workers tasked with rebuilding were able to save several of the original marble and wood pieces that made up the original structure. The college has four different schools, which includes the Townsend School of Business that offers MBA degrees.

Master of Business Administration in Corporate Finance

Students must complete 36 credits in the M.B.A. program at Dowling College, which prepares graduates to enter employment in high-level finance positions. Some of the jobs available to graduates of this and other accredited finance degree programs in New York include comptroller, chief financial officer, and treasurer. Students learn about the responsibilities that financial experts have in today’s corporate world, as well as the characteristics needed to ensure financial accuracy and excellence in real-life practice. Students are exposed to valuable lessons on theory during their time in the program which translate into valuable knowledge that’s usable in the working world. The school offers a variety of scheduling options for students who can’t commit to a traditional schedule including an innovative 16-month option that features Saturday-only classes and takes just three semesters. Classes students must take include Money and Capital Markets, Global Corporate Finance, and Financial Analysis and Valuation. Students must also complete a thesis, internship, and capstone class.

Accreditation

  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)

Contact

Dowling College
Rudolph-Oakdale Campus
150 Idle Hour Boulevard
Oakdale, NY 11769
Phone: (800) 369-5464
Email: admissions@dowling.edu
Website: http://www.dowling.edu/academics/graduate-studies/corporate-finance/

Fordham University

Fordham Graduate School of Business

Established in 1841, Fordham University is a private school that was founded by the Catholic Diocese of New York. Shortly after it opened, the school became a Jesuit institution and has grown to become a large school in New York City of over 15,000 students. The school features three campuses in New York State including sites in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Westchester. The school also offers students the opportunity to study abroad at campuses in the United Kingdom, Spain, and South Africa. The school is fairly selective in its application process and was named one of seven schools of the “Catholic Ivy League.”

Finance and Business Economics MBA Concentration

Students who enroll in the MBA program for Finance and Business Economics build a significant understanding of global financial markets, while also learning about the intricacies of domestic finance. Some of the topics learned by students include applications of modern computer technology in today’s financial world, activity in mergers and acquisitions, and the evolving methods and instruments used in today’s rapidly evolving financial world. Within the finance major, students may choose to specialize further in areas like personal financial planning, real estate finance, management of financial institutions, and corporate financial management. Some of the educational requirements for becoming a Certified Financial Planner are satisfied by Fordham University’s program, but students are encouraged to investigate the exact requirements of that designation to ensure the right classes are taken. Some of the classes taken for the major include Fundamentals of Accounting, Business Law, Information Systems, and Business Policy. Depending on their academic history, students may need to take some prerequisite courses.

Master of Science in Quantitative Finance (MSQF)

Students will attend classes on a full-time basis in the Quantitative Finance program and will benefit from a program designed in coopration with major financial institutions. Students will learn a variety of essential topics required by employers today, which means students graduate with marketable skills. Students may complete the program in just one year, but many students choose to take up to two years to complete the program given its heavy course load. Some of the types of employers students may consider after graduation include commercial banks, investment banks, money managers, and hedge funds. One of the neatest features of the program is a 27-seat simulated trading floor that shows students how actual trading floors operate. The room features simulations in global equities, FX markets, and fixed income environments. The school also boasts partnership with the CFA as a CFA Program Partner, which means students are offered classes that provide strong preparation for becoming a Certified Financial Planner.

Accreditation

  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact

Fordham University Graduate School of Business
33 West 60th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10023
Phone: (212) 636-6104
Email: GBAStudents@fordham.edu
Website: http://www.bnet.fordham.edu/index.asp

For mathematically-inclined students of business, a degree in finance is an incredibly helpful tool for obtaining work at the management level. If the “Great Recession” taught the world anything, it was that close scrutiny of financial accounts is an exceptionally vital part of any successful business today. Whether a student decides to combine an MBA with an emphasis in finance or whether he chooses to enroll in a standard graduate program in finance, the degree gained will be a valuable part of a student’s resume. For hardworking students, the accredited finance degree programs in New York are offered from several globally-known universities.

Related Resource: What Are the Best Jobs for Someone With a Master’s in Finance?