MS in Finance FAQs

Thinking about the MS in Finance? This page covers the questions we hear most, from program structure and curriculum to admissions requirements and career outcomes.

Have a question not answered here? Feel free to email us anytime at [email protected].

 

Overview

The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) is a full-time, on-campus master’s program with a rigorous focus on financial theory, quantitative analytics and modern modeling techniques for real-world application across various industries.

The program is designed for analytical thinkers, recent graduates and early-career candidates seeking to launch or pivot into professional finance roles, including corporate finance, investment banking, asset management and risk management.

The format is a full-time, on-campus experience. Students select either a 10-Month Track (completed in one calendar year) or a 16-Month Track (which includes a summer for a potential internship opportunity).

The program has a single annual intake, commencing in early July. Applications are reviewed across multiple rounds leading up to this start date. View requirements & deadlines.

It is designed for recent graduates, early-career professionals and career-changers. Full-time work experience is preferred but not required; the average student has 1–2 years of experience, including internships.

Yes. The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program is STEM-designated, allowing eligible international graduates—particularly those on the 16‑month track—to apply for a 24‑month STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension. This provides up to three years of U.S. work authorization after graduation, subject to federal regulations.

The MSF is a specialized, technical finance degree centered on quantitative skills and deep financial theory. The MBA is a broader management degree that emphasizes leadership and cross-functional business training, with an optional specialization in finance.

The MSF program fits recent graduates, early-career professionals, and career changers who want to launch or pivot to a career in finance. It is right for you if you have a basic understanding of quantitative methods and want to master the computational tools required for the finance market. You should also be eager to build your resume with real client work and receive intensive career coaching.

Attend a Minnesota Carlson event to meet admissions staff and get your questions answered. You can also explore our website for details on curriculum, experiential learning and student outcomes. For direct inquiries, email the MS Programs Office at [email protected].

Yes. We offer a dual degree program combining the MS in Finance (MSF) and the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA). This program suits applicants with strong analytics and programming skills who want a technically rigorous, analytics-focused finance career.

We offer two tracks starting in July:

  • 10-Month Track: Complete 39 credits in one calendar year (ending in May) and return quickly to the job market.
  • 16-Month Track: Extend your studies through the following fall semester (ending in December). This option allows for a potential summer internship.

Yes. The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program is STEM-designated, recognizing its strong quantitative and analytical curriculum. This designation allows eligible international students to apply for a 24-month STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension, for a total of up to 36 months of post-graduation work authorization.

Students in the 16-month track are also eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during the program.

For the most up-to-date information on OPT and CPT eligibility, please refer to the University of Minnesota’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) website: https://isss.umn.edu/

Admissions

It is distinguished by its rigorous, STEM-designated curriculum with four optional specialization tracks (Asset Management, Corporate Finance, Healthcare Finance, Finance Research) and a required experiential learning component through client projects or the student-managed Carlson Funds Enterprise (CFE).

Requirements include a bachelor's degree (in any field), transcripts, a current résumé, a personal statement, a video essay and two recommendations. Prerequisites must include completed university-level coursework in statistics.

Work experience is preferred but not required. The program is structured for recent graduates, early-career professionals, career changers with an average of 0–2 years of work experience

Scores are optional for applicants who meet specific academic expectations (a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above). They are recommended if an applicant has academic weaknesses. The average scores are GRE 320 and GMAT 671.

The program utilizes multiple application rounds leading to the single July start date. Specific deadlines are available on the requirements and deadlines page.

Yes. An undergraduate degree in any major is accepted, provided the statistics prerequisite and other quantitative experience requirements are met.

GMAT/GRE scores are optional for applicants who meet specific GPA expectations.

The program has multiple application rounds but only one annual intake starting in early July.

Yes, unless the applicant qualifies for a University-level English proficiency waiver.

We review applications holistically. We look for:

  • Prerequisites: Completion of university-level statistics.
  • Academic Performance: Strong GPA and transcripts, especially in quantitative courses.
  • Experience: Resume showing applied quantitative skills.
  • Recommendations: Two required.
  • Test Scores: GMAT/GRE optional for GPAs of 3.0 or higher.

View all application requirements

You must complete at least one semester-long, college-level statistics course before applying. Online courses from MOOCs (e.g., Coursera) do not satisfy this requirement. You can take a course at a local community college or an accredited online institution. View program prerequisites.

No. We admit students from diverse backgrounds, including STEM and humanities fields. What matters most is proven experience with applied quantitative skills. Explore class profile.

No, but it is preferred. We recommend internships or projects where you applied quantitative skills. About one-third of our students join directly from undergraduate studies.

No. We do not offer conditional admission. You must submit all materials by the deadline.

Students from partner schools can apply for an expedited track that starts in the fall. You must submit a full MSF application by the published deadlines.

The process is similar to the standard MSF application but requires a personal statement explaining your interest in research. Eligible candidates will also complete a live interview. View application requirements.

Tuition & Aid

Tuition is charged as a fixed program cost based on residency: approximately $39,000 for residents and $48,750 for nonresidents, plus additional mandatory University fees. Explore Tuition & Aid.

Yes, merit-based scholarships are available. All applicants are automatically considered for these awards during the comprehensive admissions review process.

Due to the rigorous, full-time academic schedule, the MSF program does not offer graduate or teaching assistantships through the admissions process.

Yes. Funding options include federal loans, private loans, merit-based scholarships and potential employer tuition support.

While the cost of living is not explicitly provided, students must secure their own housing (most choose off-campus accommodations). Working part-time is strongly discouraged due to the program's intensity.

Tuition is charged as a fixed program cost based on residency. Current estimates are $39,000 for residents and $48,750 for nonresidents. Explore MS in Finance Tuition & Aid.

Yes. Merit-based scholarships are available. All applicants are automatically considered for these awards during the admissions review.

Financial aid options include federal loans (if eligible), private loans, merit-based scholarships and employer tuition benefits.

Many students utilize loans or personal financing. Some receive employer tuition support, which depends on their organization’s specific policies.

No. The MSF program does not offer assistantships. The academic schedule is too rigorous to accommodate these roles.

Curriculum

The program requires 39 total credits, encompassing core finance coursework, quantitative training and electives. The curriculum provides hands-on exposure to tools like Python, MATLAB, STATA and Bloomberg.

Yes. Students can choose elective courses and can opt for one of four specialization tracks: Asset Management, Corporate Finance, Healthcare Finance and Finance Research. A dual degree with the MS in Business Analytics (MSF-MSBA) is also available.

Yes. All students complete a required experiential learning project with a real client company in their final semester, often serving as finance consultants. Students on the 16-Month Track are also eligible for a summer internship.

Students work in teams on a 14-week experiential learning project with a real client or can apply to manage over $55 million of real money through the Carlson Funds Enterprise (CFE).

The schedule is not flexible. It is a full-time, intensive, cohort-based, on-campus program, and students are strongly recommended against working part-time due to the heavy course load.

Students can complete the program in 10 months or extend to a 16-month track to incorporate an internship opportunity.

The curriculum consists of core finance coursework, rigorous quantitative training, and electives. Optional specialization tracks are available in areas such as corporate finance and asset management.

Yes. The program offers specialization tracks in Asset Management, Corporate Finance, Healthcare Finance and a Finance Research track.

Yes, the MSF is a STEM-designated degree.

A dual-degree option with the MS in Business Analytics (MSBA) is available. Additional formal certificate add-ons are not listed as part of the MSF program.

You will learn and apply tools such as Python, MATLAB, STATA, Excel VBA, ModelRisk, Compustat, FactSet, CRSP, Bloomberg, and others depending on the professors teaching the courses each year. For actual curriculum course descriptions, please visit our MSF Curriculum webpage.

You can choose elective courses to tailor your studies. Popular options include Cryptocurrency and Blockchain, Mergers and Acquisitions and Behavioral Finance. We offer four specialization options: Asset Management, Corporate Finance, Healthcare Finance and Finance Research. You do not need to select a specialization when you apply.

For more information about our curriculum, including course descriptions, visit our MSF Curriculum webpage.

All students gain applied experience. In your final semester, you will complete a 14-week experiential learning project with a client company, solving real finance issues in asset management, corporate finance, or risk management. Alternatively, interested students can apply to the Carlson Funds Enterprise to manage over $55 million in real investment capital.

If you choose the 16-month track, you may pursue a summer internship. Outside of this track, we strongly recommend against working or taking internships due to the rigorous schedule of coursework, client projects and career coaching.

Community & Careers

The Carlson Business Career Center provides comprehensive services, including one-on-one career coaching (with dedicated finance specialists), interview and résumé preparation, job search guidance, and dedicated employer engagement.

Graduates secure roles in corporate finance, asset management, investment banking, consulting, and risk management. Common titles include Financial Analyst, Credit Analyst, and Investment Risk Analyst. View MS Finance employment statistics.

Yes. The school maintains strong corporate partnerships, providing students with direct access to major regional employers and financial institutions.

Yes. Students who opt for the 16-month track are eligible to complete an internship.

International students in the Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program benefit from its STEM designation, which makes them eligible to apply for a 24‑month STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension. This means graduates may qualify for up to three years of U.S. work authorization after completing the program, subject to federal regulations.

Graduates secure roles across industries, such as corporate finance, asset management, and investment banking. Common job titles include Analyst, Financial Analyst, Credit Analyst and Investment Risk Analyst. View MS in Finance employment statistics.

Yes. The Carlson Business Career Center (CBCC) provides comprehensive support. We have dedicated finance career coaches who work intensively with you on career skills and job search strategies.

Student Life

The program features a small, collaborative cohort model, fostering close interaction with faculty and peers. Students typically have 0–2 years of work experience.

Students actively participate in finance-related clubs, case competitions, and experiential opportunities, and can join professional clubs, honor societies, and the broader graduate business groups across Minnesota Carlson.

Students engage with a strong network of alumni and industry professionals through career events, networking sessions, speaker series, and Enterprise projects, providing valuable connections.

The experience is a rigorous, full-time, on-campus immersion with a heavy focus on coursework, group and client projects, and intensive career coaching. The small cohort size fosters a strong sense of community and close faculty interaction.

The program utilizes a small, collaborative cohort model, fostering close interaction with both faculty and peers.

Yes. Students participate in finance-related clubs, case competitions and experiential opportunities, including student-managed investment activities.

Yes. Students interact with MBA and other master’s students through shared clubs, case competitions, networking events and other co-curricular opportunities.

Resources include direct faculty support, academic advising, access to specialized finance tools and data platforms and university-wide support services.

Students engage with alumni and industry professionals through career events, targeted networking sessions, speaker series, finance competitions and enterprise projects.

You can join professional clubs, honor societies and the broader graduate business groups across Minnesota Carlson. These clubs host industry speakers, social events and networking opportunities.

Most students live off-campus. Limited on-campus graduate housing is available but difficult to secure.

We generally do not recommend working while enrolled. The schedule is rigorous, involving intensive coursework, career coaching and client work.