I am doing a PhD in Finance from a top 20 business school. It was in the top 20 according to BusinessWeek.I am in the West Coast.Basically, besides having the mandatory admission requirements for a PhD in Finance, you need something extra. I don't know what that is. PhD in Finance is a very different ballgame than a MBA in Finance. Phd's have a wide array of employemnt opportunities. If anybody out there needs any information on what the program actually is, I will be very happy to help.