Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business Master of Science in Finance Ranked #40 Globally by the Financial Times

Graduate | Jun 18, 2026 | Gabelli School of Business

Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business recently had great reason to celebrate. The School’s MS in Finance was ranked #40 globally by the Financial Times in the pre-experience category. The ranking evaluates graduate-level finance programs that are designed for students who have little prior professional work experience and provide the foundational knowledge needed to pursue a career in a field that is evolving overnight.

Of the 70 programs ranked, only seven were US-based, making the significance of the ranking for Fordham even more impressive. The Gabelli School MS in Finance was last ranked by the Financial Times in 2024 when it placed at #52. The 12-point gain in just two years from an international ranking body demonstrates the program’s ability to compete on the global stage.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have the Gabelli School’s MS in Finance ranked as one of the top finance degrees in the world. The quality of our teaching, the expertise and dedication of our faculty members, and our ability to educate students who go on to highly successful careers around the globe, all factor into making this degree highly competitive in both the US and international markets,” said Lerzan Aksoy, PhD, dean of the Gabelli School of Business. 

MS in Finance ranking data focuses in several key areas, with the Gabelli School scoring high in the category of Career Progression, specifically in: aim achieved, career service rank, employed at three months (%), and salary today (US$), which was reported at $121,865. The program also scored high in faculty expertise, with 86% of faculty members holding doctoral degrees.

Graduate finance programs must meet strict criteria to be rankings eligible. They must be cohort-based and full-time, and a minimum number of 30 graduates must have completed their degree in the year for which the degree is being ranked. Rankings are based upon information that is collected through two distinct surveys—the first is from the business school itself and the second is from alumni who finished their degree in 2023. At least 20 percent of alumni for that year must respond to the survey, with a minimum of 20 completed for a school to be eligible.

“Achieving this ranking was a team effort that was made possible by those who meticulously collected and submitted the data from the Gabelli School, as well as our loyal finance alumni who provided the positive feedback to make this ranking possible, commented Gayané Hovakimian, PhD, professor of finance and area chair of finance and business economics. We are deeply grateful for their support and willingness to participate in the comprehensive rankings questionnaire.”