Boston University for Masters?

I'm currently a student at Northeastern University (CPS) and will soon be graduating with Bachelors of Finance & Accounting Management. I've been looking for a reputable school that offers online programs (due to the flexibility it offers) for my Masters.

As far as I know, Boston University (Metropolitan College) is exactly what I'm looking for compared to other "online universities" such as UoP, Devry & etc, and they offer a Masters in Management (Specialization in Banking & Financial Services Management). Has anyone ever had experience with Boston University to get their Masters or graduate degrees?

Also, do you think that the degree from this school will hold as a good credential to persue a career in the finance? Any other schools that has a good reputation that is similar or better than Boston University for Finance?

Thoughts?

 

BU is a great school but remember to check the price tag, it's not cheap.

 

First, if you want a career in finance I would recommend an MBA or MS in finance. I am acquainted with someone that works for BU and they have nothing positive to say about metropolitan college. I think for th e money there're better options. Personally, I would look for an MBA program. If that's not what you're looking for, Bentley, outside of Boston offers a finance degree via distance or you could consider doing the ALM Management degree and take your electives in finance at Harvard Extension. I am assuming you're in the Boston area because you're attending Northeastern and considering BU, but if you're going to do the degree via distance you have an large number of options regardless of where you live.

 

I have a BS from BU School of Management and am in the Met Computer Information Systems MS program, so I am obviously a BU supporter.

I generally disagree with AUTiger's friend about Metropolitan College, at least regarding the CIS program (and I think this would apply to the Computer Science Program as well since CIS is really of subset of that). I don't have any experience with the other programs (like the MS Management program mentioned) so I can't comment on those, which might explain the different opinions.

I agree with AUTiger about considering an MBA or MS in Finance instead. Northeastern also has programs in both of those that you can do online that look interesting (but expensive).

AUTiger, it looks to me like Bentley offers the MS Financial Planning, but not the MS Finance degree online. That still looks very interesting.

I did not know Bentley offered anything online and they are just a little too far for me to commit to driving to, so it is nice to know about the option for at least some of their programs.

 

Alright to BU or not to BU -

If you're going full time days, absolutely. Most of the programs are well taught and the return on investment is solid. Wife's got her undergrad and masters from BU and the education as well as her talent saw her through some great jobs (she's now teaching at the university level).

The MET is modeled after HES, except the quality of the programs varies highly from discipline to discipline and it's a dice roll as to what you're going to experience semester to semester. Reinforcing Mark's and AU's comments, I've heard from CS majors that they love MET, but at the same time I know about 5 people that left MET and compared their UoP experience favorably. Your mileage may vary so beware, it's an expensive lesson to learn if you find you don't like it.

I'm afraid that AU is right that if you want to work in finance and be competitive you will want to get that MS in Finance and anything else is a compromise. If you can give up your online aspirations I'd point you in the direction of Suffolk University for their MS Finance program. At the very least it would accommodate a full time work schedule. Suffolk MS Finance

 

Mark, I was in no way attempting to disparage BU, only to say that I have not heard good things about Metropolitan College. Obviously others have heard differenty, specifically considering their tech programs. I was actually admitted to BU's MBA program and it was tough to pass up, Vandy just offered a better overall financial package, but I do really admire the SOM. I was very disappointed to hear the dean of the MBA program, Hayden Estrade, passed away a couple of weeks ago. He was a great man and it pained me to tell him decided to go elsewhere when I decided on Owen.
Also, thanks for correcting me regarding the Bentley program.

 

AUTiger,

I did not take your comment negatively. I don't think I had the highest opinion of Met when I was an undergrad, so I can understand others having that perception. My experience with the CIS program has been positive, but that does not mean everyone has had the same experience, particularly in in other programs.

If I were to be offended by anyone's comment, it would have been ITJD's UoP comparison.

Mark

 

I have considered taking an MS in Finance and an MBA but unfortunately I can't seem to find a reputable school that offers 100% online as some requires residency, if I do they cost so much more! I'm currently working full-time and I can't just take those time off unless I find a new job (which is currently a risk I'm not willing to take). Plus, if it's 100% online I'm able to go full-time like I am in Northeastern (I'm actually graduating with my BS within 2 1/2 years!). From my schedule, I just think it would be best to go with something thats 100% online (If I can find one!)

The reason why I was considering BU is that their MS in management w. specialization in Banking and Finance is 100% online and the price tag is actually not that bad compared to HES, Pace, Duke & Etc. Also, I would also want a management position in Finance for the future so I figured why not MS in Management?

Believe it or not, I almost got suckered into UoP! But after reading reviews and speaking the advisor, it was def not the way to go. For the same price, I went with Northeastern for a better reputation and I actually liked the challenge rather than slacking off at UoP.

Oh & I'm not in the Boston area, I reside in Southern CT. I'm actually doing Northeastern 100% online through CPS. I would stick with Northeastern, however they do not offer any MS in Finance (as far as I know) thats 100% online. Like I said, if you know a reputable school thats reasonably priced I'm open to suggestions =)

ITJD- I'm looking at Suffolk University, it looks great but I dont think this 100% online.


Thanks again!

 

Northeastern offers 100% online program in Finance Northeastern University | Online Master of Science in Finance Graduate Business Program but the price tag is around $1100/credit. I am currently in a program in finance at University of Houston, CL and I like it OnlineM.S.-Finance and the cost is around $600-700/credit depending on the number of credits you take. University of Michigan, Dearborn offers an online MS in Finance as well, but one 3credit class is around $3300....College of Business - Graduate Studies: MS in Finance

 

I believe ITJD recommended the Suffolk program under the assumption that you were in Boston.

What area of finance do you want to work in? If you want to go into I-banking at a large bank or most boutique firms nothing short of a top-tier MS finance or MBA is going to work for you. That industry is justncompetitive that those organizations have the benefit of selecting from the most elite programs in the country.

If you want to work in corporate finance a degree like the one at BU's metropolitan college MIGHT work (those jobs are still highly coveted and competition is fierce.

Do you work in finance now? Do you have experience in finance outside of your course work at Northeastern? Some other questions; are you willing to take the GMAT? How much are you wiling to spend? If you can provide a little mo information forum members would be able to more easily recommend programs that fit your needs.

EDIT: I know Auburn University (a top-50 public university) offers an MBA available completely via distance and I believe it is less expensive than the BU program you are considering.e I know there are others, but that one comes to mind.

 

I just checked again with Northeastern and it does look like they do offer MS in Finance & MBA (Finance) and you can even get both! Also, since im a current NEU student it looks like I can also get up to 25% off the tuition (if all goes according to plan). But the tuition cost for these programs are somewhat unclear so I'm just waiting to hear back from them with my questions.

My budget is around 50-60K and of course if it's less, even better! lol Also, if it's a Tier 1school like Northeastern that's a plus as well. I just want to be sure that the school is at least RA accredited and perhaps maybe even an AACSB accredited (NEU is AACSB) that's a reputable school.

I currently work as an accounting clerk :redface: while I'm still in school. I'm trying to search for something that's a higher position but it's tough without my BS. (Even receptionist positions around here requires a BS) WTF? I definitely got lucky especially considering I have no prior background in this position. I was fresh out of HS when I was hired.

When I get my BS, I'm planning to find a budget analyst position or something similar and move up from there.

I'm willing to take a GMAT if I have to, if not... less stress for me!

AUTiger- I'll take a look at Auburn University, thanks for the suggestion..


BUT KEEP 'EM COMING GUYS!

 

University of London offers three different MSc Finance degrees via distance learning. It's hard to get more reputable than that!

 

1. I assumed you were in Boston. Therefore I pointed you at Suffolk, which I believe was the country's first college geared to adult learners. The program is not online, at all.

2. Be careful with the proclaimation that NEU is a Tier 1. it's only been ranked in that category for about a decade and it could go either way. When I graduated their B&M History program as a night student, they were firmly T2 and they have a nasty habit of slaughtering faculty

3. If you're in CT, check out UConn. Their MS Accounting program is fully online. No idea about their Finance program, but if they're crazy enough to put their top ranked Accounting program fully online, finance can't be far behind.

Still if xkaperx found your Finance program at NEU.. go for it. There's a lot to be said for staying at one school. However, on the GMAT.. no good, AACSB accredited program is going to let you in without it.

 

Very true, but it depends on the school that issues the qualification under the UoL umbrella. LSE recently made it very hard to get a qualification through them via UoL.

 

I want to thank everyone for replying with such great suggestions! I truly do appreciate it.

ITJD- Thanks for pointing out Uconn. It's too bad that they don't offer MSF online!

I just heard back from NEU. xkaperx thanks again for pointing this out to me! I think I'm going with NEU for these reasons: I'll get 25% off tution because I'm already an NEU student (Double husky program), It's AACSB accredited, GMAT is waived with 5 year experience and the tuition is within my budget ($1250 x 30 credits = $37500 but with the discount its about 28K)

Now I'm having another dilemma with which degrees to go for at this school, so please refer to my upcoming thread. Thanks again guys!

 

Indiana University Kelley Direct program offers MBA, MSC and a unique pairing with Thunderbird. All programs are fully online and Kelley is one of the top B Schools in the country.

 

Does the actual degree for Boston MSCIS display Boston University or Metropolitan College?

 

It apparently displays both of those names. This is normal practice for large universities that are divided into multiple "schools" or "colleges".

 

When you say that UoP experience favorably, could that be because they found it to much easier? How is there careers after graduating from such a program?

 

I don't see and reference to the University of Phoenix in this thread. Do you?