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Best Schools for Quantitative Finance (BA/BS, MA/MS, MBA, PhD)

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Written By
Dan Buckley
Contributor Image
Written By
Dan Buckley
Dan Buckley is an US-based trader, consultant, and part-time writer with a background in macroeconomics and mathematical finance. He trades and writes about a variety of asset classes, including equities, fixed income, commodities, currencies, and interest rates. As a writer, his goal is to explain trading and finance concepts in levels of detail that could appeal to a range of audiences, from novice traders to those with more experienced backgrounds.
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Updated
Nov 2, 2023

Selecting the right program in quantitative finance involves considering factors such as faculty expertise, research opportunities, industry connections, and geographic location.

Prospective students should look for programs that align with their career goals and offer strong placement records in relevant finance positions.

It’s advisable to review course offerings, talk to alumni, and consider the mathematical and computational intensity of each program to ensure the best fit for one’s career aspirations.

We’ll go through some of the most notable programs for quantitative finance below.

Best Schools for Quantitative Finance at Bachelor’s Level

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  • Harvard University (Harvard College)
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • New York University (NYU)
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • University of Chicago
  • Stanford University
  • Princeton University
  • Columbia University
  • University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
  • University of Michigan
  • University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  • London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
  • University of Warwick
  • ETH Zurich
  • University of Toronto
  • University of Waterloo
  • National University of Singapore (NUS)
  • University of Sydney
  • University of Hong Kong

Choosing the right school for a Bachelor’s in Quantitative Finance is important for foundational knowledge and skill-building.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stands out for the rigor of its Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a specialization in Finance.

Harvard has a Quantitative Finance track through its Statistics program.

University of California, Berkeley also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Statistics with a concentration in Quantitative Finance.

European institutions also excel in this field.

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) provides a strong Bachelor of Science in Financial Mathematics and Statistics.

ETH Zurich in Switzerland is known for its interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Computational Science and Engineering (CSE), which has a strong quantitative finance component.

 

Best Institutions for Master’s Degrees in Quantitative Finance

Best Schools for Quantitative Finance (MA/MS)

  • Princeton University
  • Columbia University
  • New York University (NYU)
  • University of Chicago
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • Stanford University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  • University of Oxford
  • Imperial College London
  • London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
  • ETH Zurich
  • National University of Singapore (NUS)
  • University of Toronto
  • University of Waterloo
  • Tsinghua University
  • University of Hong Kong
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  • University of Michigan

When considering a Master’s, Princeton University’s Master of Finance program often leads the list with its mathematics-focused curriculum.

Columbia University’s Master in Financial Engineering (MSFE) is another top choice, offering a blend of applied mathematics, economics, and computer science.

For those looking for options outside the United States, the University of Oxford’s Master of Science in Mathematical and Computational Finance gives students a rigorous grounding in quantitative finance theory and practice.

In Asia, the National University of Singapore’s Master in Quantitative Finance is known for its strong analytical focus and ties to industry.

 

Top MBA Programs with Quantitative Finance Specializations

  • University of Chicago Booth School of Business
  • The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
  • INSEAD
  • New York University (NYU) Stern School of Business
  • Columbia Business School
  • Stanford Graduate School of Business
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management
  • London Business School
  • University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business
  • Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
  • Harvard Business School
  • University of Cambridge Judge Business School
  • Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School
  • University of Oxford Saïd Business School
  • HEC Paris
  • University of Toronto Rotman School of Management
  • University of Michigan Ross School of Business
  • University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Anderson School of Management
  • National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School

MBA programs with a quantitative finance specialization blend business leadership with technical finance skills.

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business offers an MBA with a concentration in Analytic Finance.

The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is also renowned for its MBA program, where students can take a major in Quantitative Finance.

For those looking to study in Europe, INSEAD’s MBA program offers a robust finance track with quantitative elements.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School is a premier choice in Asia, known for its global perspective and quantitative approach to finance in its MBA curriculum.

 

Leading PhD Programs in Quantitative Finance

  • Stanford University
  • University of Chicago
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  • Princeton University
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • Columbia University
  • New York University (NYU)
  • Northwestern University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Yale University
  • Harvard University
  • London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
  • Swiss Finance Institute / University of Zurich
  • Imperial College London
  • University of Oxford
  • University of Cambridge
  • University of Toronto
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of Melbourne
  • National University of Singapore (NUS)
  • Tsinghua University

PhD programs in Quantitative Finance are designed for deep academic research and advanced theory development.

Stanford University’s PhD program in Finance is distinguished by its strong quantitative and behavioral finance research.

The University of Chicago offers a PhD in Financial Economics that integrates economics and finance for a thorough understanding of finance.

In Europe there are various programs.

The Swiss Finance Institute PhD Program, run in partnership with leading Swiss universities, including the University of Zurich, is tailored for students aiming to pursue academic careers or high-level research positions in finance.

The UK’s Imperial College London also offers a PhD in Finance, emphasizing a quantitative and practical approach to financial market research.

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