The most reputable investment banking schools will be those that send a high number of students to top investment banks. They should also have a good placement rate for undergrads and offer student groups or programs designed to prepare you for pursuing financial careers. Cornell, MIT and Columbia all meet this requirement along with having prominent alumni in the industry and extracurricular activities such as Stern’s finance society and Booth’s famous finance program that provide the chance to experience real-world investment banking challenges.
These schools also typically have a strong alumni network in the industry which is beneficial for networking. They are typically located near the financial hub of small or regional investment banks. They also have top-ranked accounting and finance programs.
When selecting a school, you should also consider your individual interests, the kind of career you wish to pursue and what jobs you are interested in at an investment banking firm. Investment banking hiring is heavily influenced by the school’s reputation and the amount of top-performing students the university produces every year.
Look into universities like NYU or UMich for students in the undergrad level. They have a strong reputation in the business world and are known for their high graduation rates and alumni networks. In Europe, consider HEC Paris and Oxford Said Business School. In Asia think about HKUST and CUHK and Chinese universities like Peking University, Tsinghua and Fudan.
