College Rankings

Best Finance Schools

The top 25 of 425 U.S. colleges offering an undergraduate Finance degree, ranked by early-career earnings and return on investment — using each school's real, aid-adjusted net price rather than sticker tuition.

Is Finance worth it?

Few undergraduate degrees offer a more explosive financial payoff, but the path to wealth is sharply divided. If you can get into a prestigious private university with a direct pipeline to Wall Street, the steep tuition pays for itself almost immediately through massive starting bonuses and rapid promotion tracks. But the data reveals a second, equally viable path: strategically located public universities. You do not need to take on crushing student debt to make a lucrative living in corporate finance, wealth management, or commercial banking. The highest-value outcomes frequently belong to graduates of low-cost state schools sitting right in the backyard of major financial hubs.

Filter by state

#	School	State	Score	Median earnings	Net price / yr	10-yr net ROI
1	University of Pennsylvania	PA	91	$122,698	$28,699	+$1.1M
2	Washington University in St Louis	MO	91	$102,814	$21,786	+$941K
3	University of Notre Dame	IN	89	$99,222	$26,780	+$885K
4	Brigham Young University	UT	89	$83,876	$15,564	+$777K
5	The University of Texas at Austin	TX	88	$81,844	$19,857†	+$739K
6	University of Maryland-College Park	MD	88	$75,689	$15,678†	+$694K
7	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	IL	88	$75,381	$14,355†	+$696K
8	University of Florida	FL	88	$70,663	$6,541†	+$680K
9	Wake Forest University	NC	87	$85,944	$28,719	+$745K
10	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus	CT	87	$67,009	$10,875†	+$627K
11	Georgetown University	DC	86	$106,218	$40,815	+$899K
12	Binghamton University	NY	86	$73,598	$21,620†	+$650K
13	University of Wisconsin-Madison	WI	86	$68,681	$17,354†	+$617K
14	University of Connecticut-Avery Point	CT	86	$67,009	$13,807†	+$615K
15	University of Washington-Seattle Campus	WA	86	$63,500	$14,091†	+$579K
16	University of Washington-Tacoma Campus	WA	86	$63,500	$10,163†	+$594K
17	Utah Valley University	UT	86	$60,947	$6,376†	+$584K
18	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	MN	85	$69,094	$16,778†	+$624K
19	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley	PA	85	$68,552	$18,220†	+$613K
20	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington	PA	85	$68,552	$18,071†	+$613K
21	Pennsylvania State University-World Campus	PA	85	$68,552	$19,550†	+$607K
22	University of Utah	UT	85	$68,066	$16,200†	+$616K
23	University of Georgia	GA	85	$67,444	$13,936†	+$619K
24	University of Connecticut-Stamford	CT	85	$67,009	$16,798†	+$603K
25	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus	CT	85	$67,009	$16,403†	+$604K
26	University of Arizona	AZ	85	$66,427	$16,674†	+$598K
27	Oakland University	MI	85	$61,804	$9,120†	+$582K
28	Ohio University-Eastern Campus	OH	85	$59,305	$3,925†	+$577K
29	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus	OH	85	$59,305	$5,755†	+$570K
30	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus	OH	85	$59,305	$5,650†	+$570K
31	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus	OH	85	$59,305	$5,746†	+$570K
32	Brigham Young University-Idaho	ID	85	$56,043	$8,221	+$528K
33	Texas A&M University-College Station	TX	84	$71,409	$21,315†	+$629K
34	Rutgers University-Camden	NJ	84	$68,338	$18,745†	+$608K
35	Rutgers University-Newark	NJ	84	$68,338	$19,703†	+$605K
36	Michigan State University	MI	84	$68,103	$19,680†	+$602K
37	James Madison University	VA	84	$67,849	$23,322†	+$585K
38	University of Delaware	DE	84	$66,889	$17,799†	+$598K
39	Ohio University-Southern Campus	OH	84	$59,305	$5,993†	+$569K
40	CUNY Bernard M Baruch College	NY	84	$54,991	$3,033†	+$538K
41	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg	PA	83	$68,552	$23,330†	+$592K
42	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus	OK	83	$66,904	$15,300†	+$608K
43	Ohio State University-Main Campus	OH	83	$65,181	$17,339†	+$582K
44	University of Tulsa	OK	83	$65,012	$15,000	+$590K
45	Arizona State University Campus Immersion	AZ	83	$63,054	$14,967†	+$571K
46	George Mason University	VA	83	$62,989	$17,915†	+$558K
47	University of Michigan-Dearborn	MI	83	$58,438	$9,492†	+$546K
48	Florida State University	FL	83	$56,516	$11,297†	+$520K
49	Southern Methodist University	TX	82	$83,159	$40,892	+$668K
50	Boston College	MA	82	$82,495	$41,704	+$658K
51	Lehigh University	PA	82	$76,720	$36,931	+$619K
52	George Washington University	DC	82	$73,833	$36,586	+$592K
53	University of Massachusetts-Amherst	MA	82	$68,920	$22,383†	+$600K
54	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College	PA	82	$68,552	$24,558†	+$587K
55	Rutgers University-New Brunswick	NJ	82	$68,338	$24,406†	+$586K
56	University of Connecticut	CT	82	$67,009	$25,097†	+$570K
57	San Francisco State University	CA	82	$62,778	$12,278†	+$579K
58	Utah State University	UT	82	$61,371	$14,936†	+$554K
59	University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown	PA	82	$61,062	$18,202†	+$538K
60	Florida Gulf Coast University	FL	82	$55,882	$12,568†	+$509K
61	California State University-San Marcos	CA	82	$54,408	$10,229†	+$503K
62	Fordham University	NY	81	$83,789	$44,338	+$661K
63	Villanova University	PA	81	$82,008	$43,756	+$645K
64	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	VA	81	$66,601	$24,953†	+$566K
65	Texas Tech University	TX	81	$58,535	$19,070†	+$509K
66	University of Kansas	KS	81	$57,884	$18,059†	+$507K
67	University of Central Florida	FL	81	$56,415	$10,411†	+$523K
68	University of Illinois Chicago	IL	81	$55,591	$10,974†	+$512K
69	Portland State University	OR	81	$52,859	$9,552†	+$490K
70	Texas Christian University	TX	80	$78,453	$36,660	+$638K
71	Miami University-Oxford	OH	80	$71,203	$28,384†	+$598K
72	The University of Texas at Dallas	TX	80	$63,455	$18,267†	+$561K
73	Muhlenberg College	PA	80	$61,304	$28,905	+$497K
74	Purdue University-Main Campus	IN	80	$59,938	$14,600†	+$541K
75	Washington State University	WA	80	$56,947	$14,971†	+$510K
76	La Salle University	PA	80	$56,485	$19,409	+$487K
77	Northern Illinois University	IL	80	$54,802	$13,391†	+$494K
78	Metropolitan State University of Denver	CO	80	$54,579	$15,327†	+$484K
79	University of Houston	TX	80	$54,041	$14,276†	+$483K
80	Florida International University	FL	80	$51,633	$9,288†	+$479K
81	Eastern Illinois University	IL	80	$51,370	$12,786†	+$463K
82	Weber State University	UT	80	$49,939	$10,258†	+$458K
83	University of Michigan-Flint	MI	80	$49,650	$7,007†	+$468K
84	Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia	PA	79	$66,072	$29,689	+$542K
85	University of San Diego	CA	79	$64,819	$30,365	+$527K
86	Illinois Wesleyan University	IL	79	$62,619	$28,199	+$513K
87	University of South Carolina-Columbia	SC	79	$62,231	$22,811†	+$531K
88	University of Iowa	IA	79	$59,965	$22,531†	+$510K
89	University of North Texas	TX	79	$57,524	$15,649†	+$513K
90	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	OK	79	$56,916	$17,447†	+$499K
91	Wayne State University	MI	79	$56,804	$12,766†	+$517K
92	University of Arkansas	AR	79	$56,387	$18,209†	+$491K
93	College of Charleston	SC	79	$54,634	$18,960†	+$470K
94	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	LA	79	$54,408	$19,151†	+$467K
95	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus	NJ	79	$52,729	$15,404	+$466K
96	Appalachian State University	NC	79	$52,004	$16,836†	+$453K
97	University of North Florida	FL	79	$51,118	$10,154†	+$471K
98	University of North Georgia	GA	79	$51,044	$9,823†	+$471K
99	Santa Clara University	CA	78	$79,929	$50,062	+$599K
100	Tulane University of Louisiana	LA	78	$77,806	$39,949	+$618K
101	Bentley University	MA	78	$72,309	$37,930	+$571K
102	University of Miami	FL	78	$70,352	$37,244	+$555K
103	Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	PA	78	$68,552	$32,875†	+$554K
104	Marquette University	WI	78	$67,888	$31,487	+$553K
105	The Catholic University of America	DC	78	$64,618	$29,561	+$528K
106	Drake University	IA	78	$62,049	$29,127	+$504K
107	Central Michigan University	MI	78	$60,023	$17,597†	+$530K
108	Ohio University-Main Campus	OH	78	$59,305	$21,637†	+$507K
109	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire	WI	78	$58,812	$16,550†	+$522K
110	University of Kentucky	KY	78	$58,422	$18,851†	+$509K
111	University of Wyoming	WY	78	$57,777	$13,599†	+$523K
112	Georgia State University	GA	78	$56,344	$15,931†	+$500K
113	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	WI	78	$55,874	$14,158†	+$502K
114	Valparaiso University	IN	78	$55,399	$18,578	+$480K
115	Illinois State University	IL	78	$54,958	$19,398†	+$472K
116	Salisbury University	MD	78	$54,776	$17,743†	+$477K
117	Northern Arizona University	AZ	78	$53,962	$14,158†	+$483K
118	Eastern Michigan University	MI	78	$53,843	$15,407†	+$477K
119	University of Alaska Anchorage	AK	78	$52,706	$15,301†	+$466K
120	The University of Texas at San Antonio	TX	78	$52,452	$10,836†	+$481K
121	Northern Kentucky University	KY	78	$50,457	$8,191†	+$472K
122	University of South Florida	FL	78	$49,906	$9,812†	+$460K
123	California State University-Northridge	CA	78	$48,553	$7,021†	+$457K
124	Radford University	VA	78	$48,446	$14,578†	+$426K
125	University of Houston-Downtown	TX	78	$47,108	$10,542†	+$429K
126	Southeast Missouri State University	MO	78	$46,736	$15,882†	+$404K
127	CUNY Queens College	NY	78	$45,168	$4,195†	+$435K
128	American University	DC	77	$83,505	$41,943	+$667K
129	Syracuse University	NY	77	$72,819	$38,793	+$573K
130	University of St Thomas	MN	77	$66,006	$29,155	+$543K
131	University of Maryland Global Campus	MD	77	$61,003	$22,063†	+$522K
132	Taylor University	IN	77	$60,336	$24,865	+$504K
133	Clemson University	SC	77	$58,876	$22,253†	+$500K
134	Stonehill College	MA	77	$58,832	$33,016	+$456K
135	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh	WI	77	$58,085	$14,305†	+$524K
136	Northern Michigan University	MI	77	$57,281	$14,085†	+$516K
137	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	NE	77	$55,979	$17,747†	+$489K
138	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	WI	77	$55,965	$16,210†	+$495K
139	Stetson University	FL	77	$55,161	$19,372	+$474K
140	Kennesaw State University	GA	77	$54,428	$15,048†	+$484K
141	The University of Texas at Arlington	TX	77	$53,980	$13,951†	+$484K
142	Harding University	AR	77	$53,876	$22,130	+$450K
143	Winona State University	MN	77	$52,188	$17,503†	+$452K
144	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus	OR	77	$52,156	$18,048†	+$449K
145	University of West Georgia	GA	77	$52,078	$12,786†	+$470K
146	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	NC	77	$51,628	$15,435†	+$455K
147	State University of New York at Oswego	NY	77	$51,590	$16,236†	+$451K
148	East Carolina University	NC	77	$51,501	$15,739†	+$452K
149	University of Nevada-Reno	NV	77	$51,495	$15,927†	+$451K
150	Texas A&M University-Victoria	TX	77	$50,812	$8,109†	+$476K
151	Texas State University	TX	77	$49,981	$16,805†	+$433K
152	Florida Atlantic University	FL	77	$49,551	$8,752†	+$461K
153	West Virginia University	WV	77	$48,645	$15,634†	+$424K
154	Saint Xavier University	IL	77	$46,452	$10,970	+$421K
155	Saginaw Valley State University	MI	77	$46,284	$10,775†	+$420K
156	Loyola University Chicago	IL	76	$66,919	$36,079	+$525K
157	DePaul University	IL	76	$66,863	$30,902	+$545K
158	Seton Hall University	NJ	76	$64,233	$31,446	+$517K
159	Pace University	NY	76	$61,246	$30,892	+$489K
160	Wofford College	SC	76	$57,335	$18,732	+$498K
161	Elmhurst University	IL	76	$57,171	$24,185	+$475K
162	Iowa State University	IA	76	$56,974	$18,589†	+$495K
163	Manhattan University	NY	76	$55,972	$27,256	+$451K
164	University of Akron Main Campus	OH	76	$55,946	$13,946†	+$504K
165	The University of Alabama	AL	76	$55,580	$22,420†	+$466K
166	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	TN	76	$53,826	$18,976†	+$462K
167	Abilene Christian University	TX	76	$53,590	$26,182	+$431K
168	Manhattanville University	NY	76	$53,434	$20,991	+$450K
169	San Diego State University	CA	76	$53,373	$15,364†	+$472K
170	Sam Houston State University	TX	76	$53,281	$16,404†	+$467K
171	Grand Valley State University	MI	76	$52,872	$16,317†	+$463K
172	University of Northern Iowa	IA	76	$52,759	$15,901†	+$464K
173	Lewis University	IL	76	$52,742	$17,028	+$459K
174	Stephen F Austin State University	TX	76	$52,710	$14,260†	+$470K
175	University of Mississippi	MS	76	$52,550	$13,314†	+$472K
176	Wright State University-Main Campus	OH	76	$52,534	$15,415†	+$464K
177	Saint Cloud State University	MN	76	$52,502	$13,529†	+$471K
178	Oregon State University	OR	76	$52,156	$19,604†	+$443K
179	The University of Texas at Tyler	TX	76	$51,959	$13,323†	+$466K
180	University of Minnesota-Duluth	MN	76	$51,953	$18,743†	+$445K
181	Rowan University	NJ	76	$51,486	$22,408†	+$425K
182	Benedictine University	IL	76	$51,444	$22,313	+$425K
183	Baker College	MI	76	$51,325	$13,157	+$461K
184	University of Nevada-Las Vegas	NV	76	$50,861	$10,359†	+$467K
185	University of Rhode Island	RI	76	$50,529	$21,440†	+$420K
186	Plymouth State University	NH	76	$50,006	$19,216†	+$423K
187	Cleveland State University	OH	76	$49,425	$14,764†	+$435K
188	California State University-Long Beach	CA	76	$48,961	$10,440†	+$448K
189	Loyola Marymount University	CA	75	$70,542	$48,381	+$512K
190	Elon University	NC	75	$66,614	$41,555	+$500K
191	University of San Francisco	CA	75	$64,972	$41,431	+$484K
192	Westminster University	UT	75	$62,689	$27,094	+$519K
193	Saint Vincent College	PA	75	$61,518	$23,510	+$521K
194	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	PA	75	$61,062	$30,434†	+$489K
195	Creighton University	NE	75	$60,605	$31,568	+$480K
196	Rider University	NJ	75	$57,881	$24,792	+$480K
197	Susquehanna University	PA	75	$57,855	$28,819	+$463K
198	University of Scranton	PA	75	$56,978	$32,568	+$440K
199	Suffolk University	MA	75	$55,914	$29,618	+$441K
200	Auburn University	AL	75	$55,875	$24,323†	+$461K
201	Bradley University	IL	75	$54,261	$22,719	+$452K
202	North Dakota State University-Main Campus	ND	75	$53,163	$15,543†	+$469K
203	University of Louisville	KY	75	$52,167	$17,988†	+$450K
204	North Central College	IL	75	$51,420	$21,044	+$430K
205	Minnesota State University-Mankato	MN	75	$51,248	$19,139†	+$436K
206	Western Michigan University	MI	75	$50,787	$15,273†	+$447K
207	Georgia Southern University	GA	75	$50,753	$15,267†	+$446K
208	Missouri State University-Springfield	MO	75	$50,486	$17,613†	+$434K
209	Kean University	NJ	75	$46,685	$12,447†	+$417K
210	Indiana State University	IN	75	$46,207	$10,873†	+$419K
211	University of Dayton	OH	74	$64,371	$29,533	+$526K
212	Fairfield University	CT	74	$62,952	$48,095	+$437K
213	Saint Anselm College	NH	74	$62,821	$34,779	+$489K
214	Lake Forest College	IL	74	$61,264	$28,673	+$498K
215	Campbell University	NC	74	$60,445	$24,516	+$506K
216	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	OH	74	$59,067	$25,648†	+$488K
217	Kansas State University	KS	74	$54,509	$19,406†	+$467K
218	Siena University	NY	74	$54,056	$33,733	+$406K
219	Grand Canyon University	AZ	74	$53,853	$22,472	+$449K
220	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	WI	74	$52,744	$15,014†	+$467K
221	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus	NJ	74	$52,729	$22,829	+$436K
222	Buena Vista University	IA	74	$52,226	$18,846	+$447K
223	University of Mount Union	OH	74	$51,503	$23,280	+$422K
224	Central Connecticut State University	CT	74	$51,282	$16,857†	+$445K
225	Ball State University	IN	74	$50,077	$14,940†	+$441K
226	William Paterson University of New Jersey	NJ	74	$49,895	$18,745†	+$424K
227	St. Mary's University	TX	74	$48,018	$21,145	+$396K
228	California State University-Fresno	CA	74	$41,970	$7,000†	+$392K
229	Baylor University	TX	73	$67,909	$41,104	+$515K
230	Augsburg University	MN	73	$63,598	$23,873	+$540K
231	Carthage College	WI	73	$58,543	$26,565	+$479K
232	Northwood University	MI	73	$56,940	$27,232	+$460K
233	Hofstra University	NY	73	$55,143	$34,176	+$415K
234	Western Washington University	WA	73	$51,984	$21,193†	+$435K
235	University of Alabama at Birmingham	AL	73	$50,939	$18,749†	+$434K
236	Roosevelt University	IL	73	$50,158	$20,194	+$421K
237	Washburn University	KS	73	$49,500	$15,280†	+$434K
238	University of Toledo	OH	73	$49,414	$17,249†	+$425K
239	Midwestern State University	TX	73	$49,413	$11,656†	+$448K
240	Mercyhurst University	PA	73	$49,251	$19,444	+$415K
241	Eastern Washington University	WA	73	$48,728	$13,886†	+$432K
242	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale	IL	73	$48,708	$13,297†	+$434K
243	Old Dominion University	VA	73	$48,125	$14,638†	+$423K
244	Indiana University of Pennsylvania	PA	73	$47,912	$16,804†	+$412K
245	Northern State University	SD	73	$47,781	$15,812†	+$415K
246	Western Connecticut State University	CT	73	$46,470	$17,604†	+$394K
247	Western Kentucky University	KY	73	$44,355	$10,990†	+$400K
248	Louisiana Tech University	LA	73	$42,018	$11,864†	+$373K
249	California State University-San Bernardino	CA	73	$41,467	$4,564†	+$396K
250	Bryant University	RI	72	$61,993	$41,219	+$455K
251	University of Arkansas at Little Rock	AR	72	$60,521	$17,248†	+$536K
252	Loras College	IA	72	$59,434	$20,716	+$511K
253	Temple University	PA	72	$58,807	$28,198†	+$475K
254	University of Denver	CO	72	$56,402	$36,131	+$419K
255	Ashland University	OH	72	$54,880	$21,988	+$461K
256	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus	OH	72	$53,707	$24,022†	+$441K
257	Iona University	NY	72	$53,084	$29,188	+$414K
258	Purdue University Northwest	IN	72	$53,062	$6,079†	+$506K
259	University of Maine	ME	72	$52,876	$17,510†	+$459K
260	Kent State University at Kent	OH	72	$51,153	$20,787†	+$428K
261	Pittsburg State University	KS	72	$50,450	$15,784†	+$441K
262	Mississippi State University	MS	72	$50,217	$17,595†	+$432K
263	Wichita State University	KS	72	$49,302	$13,194†	+$440K
264	New Mexico State University-Main Campus	NM	72	$48,868	$8,889†	+$453K
265	Northeastern Illinois University	IL	72	$48,807	$14,109†	+$432K
266	Boise State University	ID	72	$48,712	$21,610†	+$401K
267	Linfield University	OR	72	$47,517	$26,536	+$369K
268	Coastal Carolina University	SC	72	$46,911	$13,966†	+$413K
269	SUNY at Fredonia	NY	72	$46,737	$15,897†	+$404K
270	University of Idaho	ID	72	$46,428	$14,831†	+$405K
271	University of Southern Indiana	IN	72	$43,335	$12,923†	+$382K
272	Case Western Reserve University	OH	71	$65,784	$41,190	+$493K
273	Providence College	RI	71	$64,427	$48,523	+$450K
274	Xavier University	OH	71	$58,513	$32,997	+$453K
275	Saint Mary's University of Minnesota	MN	71	$58,451	$11,704	+$538K
276	Rochester Institute of Technology	NY	71	$56,513	$34,906	+$426K
277	John Carroll University	OH	71	$55,590	$28,746	+$441K
278	University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth	MA	71	$54,166	$20,927†	+$458K
279	Saint Norbert College	WI	71	$51,451	$26,172	+$410K
280	St Bonaventure University	NY	71	$51,244	$27,074	+$404K
281	University of Central Missouri	MO	71	$49,785	$14,462†	+$440K
282	SUNY Brockport	NY	71	$49,019	$16,353†	+$425K
283	Canisius University	NY	71	$48,587	$17,940	+$414K
284	Le Moyne College	NY	71	$47,232	$22,277	+$383K
285	Middle Tennessee State University	TN	71	$46,505	$13,359†	+$412K
286	Franklin University	OH	70	$61,645	$25,243	+$515K
287	Saint Edward's University	TX	70	$55,177	$25,578	+$449K
288	Texas Southern University	TX	70	$53,873	$16,590†	+$472K
289	Samford University	AL	70	$53,059	$32,622	+$400K
290	Metropolitan State University	MN	70	$51,544	$16,863†	+$448K
291	St. John's University-New York	NY	70	$51,259	$29,999	+$393K
292	Robert Morris University	PA	70	$50,728	$23,003	+$415K
293	Adelphi University	NY	70	$49,517	$30,783	+$372K
294	University of South Dakota	SD	70	$49,472	$19,858†	+$415K
295	Southwest Minnesota State University	MN	70	$47,734	$15,291†	+$416K
296	Florida State College at Jacksonville	FL	70	$47,586	$4,128†	+$459K
297	St. John Fisher University	NY	70	$46,785	$28,945	+$352K
298	Northeastern State University	OK	70	$45,998	$12,710†	+$409K
299	Northwest Missouri State University	MO	70	$45,810	$16,244†	+$393K
300	The University of Tennessee-Martin	TN	70	$45,325	$10,701†	+$410K
301	Youngstown State University	OH	70	$44,973	$12,767†	+$399K
302	King's College	PA	70	$44,787	$23,093	+$355K
303	University of Hawaii at Manoa	HI	70	$44,594	$15,664†	+$383K
304	University of Memphis	TN	70	$44,395	$12,397†	+$394K
305	New Jersey City University	NJ	70	$44,160	$16,053†	+$377K
306	Valdosta State University	GA	70	$43,532	$10,945†	+$392K
307	University of North Alabama	AL	70	$43,512	$12,170†	+$386K
308	Southeastern Louisiana University	LA	70	$40,704	$13,154†	+$354K
309	Howard University	DC	69	$81,074	$50,539	+$609K
310	Roger Williams University	RI	69	$60,042	$37,999	+$448K
311	Albion College	MI	69	$59,926	$14,301	+$542K
312	Prairie View A & M University	TX	69	$56,791	$13,570†	+$514K
313	Seattle University	WA	69	$55,823	$34,662	+$420K
314	Baldwin Wallace University	OH	69	$51,347	$27,603	+$403K
315	University of North Dakota	ND	69	$49,785	$18,551†	+$424K
316	Idaho State University	ID	69	$49,121	$12,193†	+$442K
317	Columbus State University	GA	69	$46,812	$13,115†	+$416K
318	Murray State University	KY	69	$43,320	$9,096†	+$397K
319	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	NC	69	$40,445	$10,965†	+$361K
320	Butler University	IN	68	$60,290	$36,041	+$459K
321	Sacred Heart University	CT	68	$56,081	$46,174	+$376K
322	East Texas A&M University	TX	68	$52,898	$11,841†	+$482K
323	The University of Tampa	FL	68	$51,845	$36,211	+$374K
324	Quinnipiac University	CT	68	$51,589	$40,675	+$353K
325	Texas A&M University-San Antonio	TX	68	$50,867	$11,196†	+$464K
326	University of Central Oklahoma	OK	68	$50,151	$18,309†	+$428K
327	University of Central Arkansas	AR	68	$44,343	$16,511†	+$377K
328	University of Houston-Clear Lake	TX	68	$43,416	$15,563†	+$372K
329	University of Evansville	IN	67	$61,531	$18,499	+$541K
330	Duquesne University	PA	67	$59,878	$37,730	+$448K
331	DeSales University	PA	67	$56,817	$31,643	+$442K
332	University of Hartford	CT	67	$54,098	$30,282	+$420K
333	University of St Francis	IL	67	$53,525	$13,006	+$483K
334	Austin Peay State University	TN	67	$48,264	$9,735†	+$444K
335	Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania	PA	67	$47,651	$23,726†	+$382K
336	Fort Hays State University	KS	67	$47,313	$12,569†	+$423K
337	SUNY College of Technology at Canton	NY	67	$42,110	$15,268†	+$360K
338	Western Carolina University	NC	67	$40,575	$13,315†	+$352K
339	University of West Florida	FL	67	$39,986	$9,364†	+$362K
340	Columbia College	MO	66	$56,104	$22,715	+$470K
341	Grand View University	IA	66	$51,299	$21,774	+$426K
342	Nichols College	MA	66	$49,581	$33,036	+$364K
343	State University of New York at New Paltz	NY	66	$43,834	$18,809†	+$363K
344	Arkansas State University	AR	66	$43,060	$12,366†	+$381K
345	State University of New York at Plattsburgh	NY	66	$40,414	$17,156†	+$336K
346	Lamar University	TX	66	$36,325	$9,366†	+$326K
347	Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global	IN	65	$55,562	$16,898	+$488K
348	Upper Iowa University	IA	65	$48,860	$20,942	+$405K
349	Texas Woman's University	TX	65	$48,539	$11,963†	+$438K
350	University of Minnesota-Crookston	MN	65	$48,276	$12,212†	+$434K
351	Minnesota State University Moorhead	MN	65	$48,121	$17,997†	+$409K
352	SUNY Old Westbury	NY	65	$46,941	$11,282†	+$424K
353	Lindenwood University	MO	65	$45,011	$19,638	+$372K
354	Morehead State University	KY	65	$41,360	$9,793†	+$374K
355	Tennessee Technological University	TN	65	$41,176	$14,246†	+$355K
356	Rhode Island College	RI	65	$34,991	$9,478†	+$312K
357	University of Alabama in Huntsville	AL	64	$56,584	$18,796†	+$491K
358	Illinois College	IL	64	$55,155	$18,298	+$478K
359	Johnson & Wales University-Online	RI	64	$53,555	$20,252	+$455K
360	Ouachita Baptist University	AR	64	$53,195	$22,409	+$442K
361	Framingham State University	MA	64	$52,512	$16,114†	+$461K
362	Mount Mercy University	IA	64	$51,445	$20,168	+$434K
363	Davenport University	MI	64	$46,861	$17,707	+$398K
364	University of South Alabama	AL	64	$41,657	$17,648†	+$346K
365	The University of Texas at El Paso	TX	64	$40,994	$9,403†	+$372K
366	Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi	TX	64	$36,656	$15,225†	+$306K
367	Menlo College	CA	63	$69,684	$31,100	+$572K
368	University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras	PR	63	$61,729	$9,175†	+$581K
369	Otterbein University	OH	63	$55,364	$19,237	+$477K
370	Dallas Baptist University	TX	63	$51,444	$28,516	+$400K
371	McNeese State University	LA	63	$49,216	$12,493†	+$442K
372	University of Southern Maine	ME	63	$47,393	$13,596†	+$420K
373	Missouri Western State University	MO	63	$47,265	$13,251†	+$420K
374	Pennsylvania Western University	PA	63	$42,091	$18,256†	+$348K
375	East Tennessee State University	TN	63	$39,936	$15,983†	+$335K
376	Widener University	PA	62	$62,672	$25,759	+$524K
377	Cedarville University	OH	62	$60,880	$24,468	+$511K
378	Saint Louis University	MO	62	$60,055	$24,398	+$503K
379	Concordia College at Moorhead	MN	62	$59,104	$24,902	+$491K
380	Franklin College	IN	62	$57,037	$22,855	+$479K
381	Tarleton State University	TX	62	$55,138	$20,783†	+$468K
382	Wilmington University	DE	62	$49,275	$15,644	+$430K
383	Purdue University Global	IN	62	$40,918	$7,770†	+$378K
384	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	TX	62	$37,711	$4,831†	+$358K
385	Marshall University	WV	62	$36,046	$7,502†	+$330K
386	Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion	IN	61	$55,562	$22,866	+$464K
387	University of Indianapolis	IN	61	$54,590	$21,602	+$459K
388	Aurora University	IL	61	$51,437	$18,838	+$439K
389	Jacksonville State University	AL	61	$39,457	$14,279†	+$337K
390	CUNY Brooklyn College	NY	61	$37,867	$3,103†	+$366K
391	Salve Regina University	RI	60	$66,034	$36,967	+$512K
392	Southern New Hampshire University	NH	60	$63,703	$36,708	+$490K
393	Benedictine College	KS	60	$58,821	$27,891	+$477K
394	Saint Ambrose University	IA	60	$56,275	$24,691	+$464K
395	Marian University	IN	60	$55,120	$24,018	+$455K
396	Endicott College	MA	59	$62,878	$40,654	+$466K
397	Champlain College	VT	59	$61,658	$35,860	+$473K
398	Western New England University	MA	59	$54,474	$27,290	+$436K
399	University of Mary Hardin-Baylor	TX	59	$53,751	$26,106	+$433K
400	Texas Wesleyan University	TX	59	$52,178	$24,066	+$426K
401	Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania	PA	59	$49,248	$19,608†	+$414K
402	Eastern Kentucky University	KY	59	$41,328	$11,040†	+$369K
403	Auburn University at Montgomery	AL	59	$39,183	$13,224†	+$339K
404	Nova Southeastern University	FL	59	$37,143	$30,371	+$250K
405	The College of Saint Scholastica	MN	58	$52,677	$27,846	+$415K
406	Dordt University	IA	58	$52,640	$25,807	+$423K
407	University of St Thomas	TX	58	$47,699	$19,359	+$400K
408	York College of Pennsylvania	PA	58	$46,890	$18,556	+$395K
409	University of Louisiana at Lafayette	LA	58	$40,495	$13,530†	+$351K
410	University of Southern Mississippi	MS	58	$39,444	$21,708†	+$308K
411	Johnson & Wales University-Providence	RI	57	$53,555	$31,027	+$411K
412	Concordia University Ann Arbor	MI	56	$51,235	$32,811	+$381K
413	Mercer University	GA	56	$47,956	$23,847	+$384K
414	Wingate University	NC	56	$46,591	$20,748	+$383K
415	West Texas A & M University	TX	56	$42,650	$19,487†	+$349K
416	Angelo State University	TX	56	$42,309	$15,091†	+$363K
417	Concordia University-Wisconsin	WI	55	$51,235	$36,201	+$368K
418	University of New Orleans	LA	54	$34,989	$12,384†	+$300K
419	Eastern Connecticut State University	CT	53	$43,250	$21,067†	+$348K
420	Manchester University	IN	53	$42,805	$18,805	+$353K
421	Lasell University	MA	52	$44,481	$27,511	+$335K
422	Touro University	NY	50	$43,019	$29,627	+$312K
423	Wilkes University	PA	49	$41,758	$27,743	+$307K
424	Jackson State University	MS	49	$33,932	$23,836†	+$244K
425	Austin College	TX	47	$38,592	$21,107	+$301K

Top 10 programs by 10-year net ROI

How to read this: Median earnings = typical pay one year after graduation. Net price = average annual cost after grant aid, incl. living costs — not sticker tuition. 10-yr net ROI = ten years of earnings minus four years of net price. Score = the CollegeRanked Score (0–100) that sets the order — it blends ROI with longer-run earnings, job demand and automation resilience, so a school can outrank one with a slightly higher 10-yr ROI. † = public university — net price shown is the in-state cost; out-of-state students pay more. See the full methodology.

Why these schools rank where they do

The University of Pennsylvania takes the #1 spot for a simple reason: the Wharton School is the undisputed heavyweight champion of Wall Street recruiting. Bulge-bracket banks, elite consulting firms, and mega-fund private equity shops recruit there on autopilot, guaranteeing graduates access to the most lucrative entry-level roles in the global economy. Georgetown and Notre Dame follow a similar playbook, leveraging fiercely loyal alumni networks to place graduates directly into high finance.

But the real story in this ranking is the absolute dominance of regional public campuses. Look at the University of Connecticut's satellite locations, particularly Stamford (#24) and Waterbury (#10). Stamford is situated directly in Fairfield County, one of the densest concentrations of hedge funds and asset management firms on earth. Students are paying commuter-school tuition rates while tapping into the New York metropolitan financial ecosystem.

Similarly, Utah schools are punching far above their weight. Brigham Young University (#4), the University of Utah (#22), and even Utah Valley University (#17) are thriving because Salt Lake City has quietly become a massive financial operations hub. Goldman Sachs maintains its second-largest North American office there, heavily recruiting local graduates. When you combine rock-bottom state tuition with a captive local banking industry, the return on investment skyrockets.

What is Finance?

Finance is the science of pricing risk, allocating capital, and projecting future value. Graduates spend their days building valuation models, analyzing market trends, and managing corporate budgets, working everywhere from high-octane investment banks in Manhattan to the treasury departments of Fortune 500 companies.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to go to an elite school to work in investment banking?

If your goal is to work at a top-tier investment bank right out of undergrad, prestige matters immensely. "Target schools" like UPenn, Georgetown, and UT Austin have dedicated, structured recruiting pipelines. If you attend a non-target state school, breaking into high finance is still possible, but it requires aggressive networking, flawless grades, and usually a stepping-stone internship.

What is the difference between finance and accounting?

Accounting is about recording the past; finance is about predicting the future. Accountants prepare financial statements, audit books, and ensure tax compliance. Finance majors use those exact same statements to build models, value companies, decide whether to acquire a competitor, or figure out how to fund a new factory.

Are branch campuses treated the same by employers?

It depends on the employer and the specific role. For general corporate finance, wealth management, or regional banking, a degree from a Penn State or UConn branch campus carries the heavy weight of the broader university brand. However, for ultra-competitive, high-finance roles, recruiters often focus their formal on-campus interviews exclusively on the main flagship campus. Branch-campus students can still land those jobs, but they often have to travel to the main campus for career fairs or network their way into the interview room.