Arizona State vs. Maryland for a finance major: which is better for internships and recruiting?

For finance specifically, Maryland usually offers the stronger internship and recruiting position if you want easier access to East Coast employers, especially in the D.C., Baltimore, and New York orbit. Its location matters a lot: being near major corporate, government, consulting, and financial hubs makes in-semester internships and networking more realistic, and the Smith School is well known among employers in that region. If your goal is to build a finance resume early through nearby internships and structured recruiting, Maryland often has the edge.

Maryland tends to fit the student who wants a more traditional target-rich environment for finance-adjacent recruiting. Even if you are not aiming only at investment banking, proximity to firms in asset management, corporate finance, consulting, commercial banking, and fintech helps.

Arizona State makes a lot of sense for a student who is proactive, entrepreneurial, and interested in the Phoenix market or broader Sun Belt growth. W. P. Carey has strong business recruiting, a very large alumni base, and good corporate connections, especially in the Southwest. For corporate finance, banking, real estate, and finance roles tied to fast-growing companies in Arizona, ASU can open plenty of doors.

ASU is often best for someone who will take initiative rather than wait for a more concentrated on-campus pipeline. Because the school is large, opportunities are there, but students often need to be intentional about joining finance clubs, using career fairs well, and networking early. That can work very well, but it usually requires more self-direction.

So if you want the cleaner path to internships during the school year and stronger regional pull with finance employers, Maryland stands out. If you like ASU’s environment and can see yourself building experience aggressively in Phoenix or the Southwest, it is still a solid finance option, just with a different recruiting geography and a bit more dependence on your own hustle.