In the United States there are many universities that offer courses in banking. Banking, itself, for the most part is not considered a primary major or minor course of study that one student chooses to earn a degree in. Banking courses are usually part of a university curriculum that will prepare a student to earn a degree in either finance or economics. These degrees are offered on both the undergraduate and graduate university levels. The undergraduate usually earns a B.A. (Bachelors of Arts) degree in finance or economics. On the graduate school levels one earns a M.B.A. in either finance or economics.
So, what university offers the best courses in banking? Since banking falls in line with finance and economics and has to do with the overall scope of the money system we are forced to look at colleges and universities that are strong in the areas of finance and economics.
Every year, within the United States, there is a national recognized magazine called, “The U.S. News and World Report”. This magazine covers both college rankings and rankings that deal with health, science, law, politics & policy etc… This magazine is highly used and recommended by almost everyone. It has been in existence to serving the American public since 1933. For the year 2011 the university that ranked most popular for banking was the University of Pennsylvania (undergraduate) and the University of Pennsylvania-Wharton School of Business (graduate level).
How do we know that this ranking is the best? Well, for starters, the highest ranking university for employing both graduates and undergraduates in the field of finance or economics with not only an above average salary but, with alumni connections far more than any other ranked college or university in that area is ranked as one of the best. In fact, the former CEO of Apple Inc., John Sculley is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania-Wharton School of Business.
Other ways of ranking the universities are known as “Tiers” or levels of popularity. Tier levels start at zero and end at three. Zero is the highest ranked tier; University of Pennsylvania and its Wharton School of Business are on this tier. Other universities with popularity can also be ranked zero. Well, what makes colleges and universities on the same tier different? It’s the above mentioned factors and the major course of study the college or university is ranked most popular for.