Master of Science in Finance

Specialized business master’s degrees in the fields of finance and accounting have been on the rise in recent years and there’s no evidence for slowing down demand in the near future. If you’re looking to advance your position in your current financial sector job or plan to transition into a finance career, a Master of Science in Finance will provide the necessary skills and in-depth knowledge of applied finance you will need. Courses in the Online Master of Science in Finance emphasize quantitative financial analysis, investments and portfolio management, derivatives, corporate finance, capital budgeting, business valuation, financial markets, multinational finance, security valuation, investment banking, and alternative investments.

If you do not have prior education or experience in finance, additional foundation courses can prepare you to succeed in the MS in Finance program.

CFA alignment

The CFA® Institute is internationally recognized as promoting the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence, and our MS in Finance has been recognized as a CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. This distinction signals that the program meets specific curriculum standards that are grounded in professional practice. Completing the degree program also helps position students to sit for CFA exams and ultimately obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

Ideal for working professionals

The MS in Finance program, which has been designed to be completed in about two years, requires 30 credits of comprehensive coursework and completion of an exam.

Why choose Wisconsin’s largest business school?

Our program is:

• Flexible and convenient for your schedule
• Able to be customized with 13 unique emphases
• Taught by top-notch, 100% doctoral instructors (no TAs)
• Supported by a Strong alumni network of 30,000+
• Accredited in both Business and Accounting from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) – a standard of quality met by fewer than 2% of the world’s business schools.

A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for financial analysts, personal financial advisers, loan officers and other positions; however, there is a graduate degree wage premium.

In one research study, financial professionals with master’s degrees reported earning 38% ($28,000) more than those with just bachelor’s degrees.

Furthermore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that positions in the financial industry have both strong wage rates and occupational outlooks. Financial analysts earned a 2022 median pay of $96,220 per year and expected faster than average occupational growth rate (2022-2032), while financial managers earned a 2022 median pay of $139,790 per year and expected a much faster than average occupational growth rate (2022-2032).

To ensure a high quality graduate student group, all MS in Finance students must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution and meet graduate admission criteria, in addition to one of the MS in Finance admission criteria provided below. Many applicants will qualify for admission without GMAT/GRE scores.

Our interactive evaluation form can help you review the admission requirements and the documentation needed for official admission review.

If you do not meet the graduate admission criteria, please email us to determine if you could be admitted on a conditional basis.

International students must meet additional criteria and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Contact us for information and assistance.

Finance admission criteria

Applicants must satisfy any one of the criteria from any of the four categories.

Military Service

Qualified veteran or currently active military personnel

Education

• AACSB- or ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher
• Regionally-accredited bachelor’s degree with a 3.25 GPA or higher
• Graduate degree from a regionally-accredited or equivalent institution
• UW-Whitewater graduate business certificate

Work Experience

• Four or more years of professional work experience
• Two or more years of professional work experience with a 3.0 GPA
• Approved professional certification

GMAT Scores*

• A composite score of at least 1,100 based on the following formula
  (GMAT score) + [200 x (overall undergraduate GPA based on a 4-point scale)]
• A composite score of at least 1,150 based on the following formula
  (GMAT score) + [200 x (last half of undergraduate GPA based on a 4-point scale)]
• A composite score of 950 – 1,100 for consideration of conditional admission based on the following formula
  (GMAT score) + [200 x (overall undergraduate GPA based on a 4-point scale)]

*GRE scores are converted to comparable GMAT scores

Students enrolling in the program are also expected to have existing knowledge in financial accounting, economics, and corporate finance. Students who do not meet basic requirements can take prerequisite courses before starting the graduate coursework.