MS in Finance
Master of Science in Finance
Built for the Future of Finance
The GW Master of Science in Finance combines rigorous financial theory with advanced quantitative methods to prepare students for success in today's data-driven financial industry. Designed for ambitious students and working professionals, this STEM-designated program develops the analytical, technical, and strategic skills needed to navigate complex financial markets and make informed investment and business decisions.
Through applied research, financial modeling, and hands-on learning experiences, you'll explore topics including corporate finance, portfolio management, risk management, financial engineering, banking, and investment analysis. Along the way, you'll gain experience using the tools, technologies, and datasets relied upon by finance professionals around the world.
MSF Program at a Glance
Total Credits: 48
Commitment: Full-Time
Location: In-Person
Length of Program: Intensive Program (complete in 12 months, including summer session) or Regular Program (complete in 24 months with two summer sessions)
Cohort Size: 40-46 students per year
STEM-Designated: Up to 36 months OPT after graduation
Convenient Class Schedule for Working Professionals
During the first year, you'll attend classes only on Saturdays, including the summer term. In the second year, classes meet on Thursday and Friday evenings.
Comprehensive Curriculum
One of the few standalone MS in Finance programs in the country, our rigorous curriculum teaches every major area of finance. The program offers greater depth than MBA programs, where finance is often elective-based, and more breadth than specialized graduate finance degrees focused on narrow subfields.
Industry & Academic Expertise
Each course is co-taught by both an industry professional and an academic researcher. This unique collaborative teaching model allows students to build strong theoretical foundations while applying concepts through hands-on, project-based work.
#5
Top Ranked Program
GW's MS in Finance program was ranked #5 in the United States by the Financial Times.
CFA Exam
Our program is officially affiliated with the CFA Institute, which requires that 70 percent of our curriculum aligns with CFA exam content. GW receives three annual CFA exam scholarships.
What You'll Learn
GW's MS in Finance is a unique program that combines the best of a financial engineering program with a master’s of science in finance. The faculty balance rigorous quantitative training with strong theoretical foundations to prepare students for today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape. In this program, you will:
- Develop expertise in financial systems, econometrics, computational finance, mathematical finance and AI-driven forecasting.
- Construct and evaluate investment portfolios using industry-standard tools, benchmarking strategies and risk assessment techniques.
- Analyze derivatives, trading strategies and risk-hedging methods used by finance professionals.
- Build advanced programming skills in Python, MATLAB and SAS for quantitative modeling and data analysis.
- Apply theory through hands-on projects that simulate the work of analysts, traders and portfolio managers.
- Gain practical experience using Bloomberg Terminals in GW’s Capital Markets Room to explore real-world trading and analytics environments.
Upon graduation, you'll have a portfolio of applied projects that demonstrates your ability to transform complex data into actionable financial insights, along with the quantitative expertise and strategic mindset sought by employers across the finance industry, giving you a strategic advantage in the crowded job market.
Curriculum
Sample Courses Include:
Modeling & Econometrics
- Financial Modeling and Econometrics
- Corporate Financial Management and Modeling
- Financial Theory and Research
- Advanced Financial Econometrics and Modeling
Investment Management
- Investment Analysis and Global Portfolio Management
- Financial Engineering and Derivative Securities
- Real Estate Finance and Fixed-Income Security Valuation
Applied & Global Finance
- Cases in Financial Management and Investment Banking
- Comparative Financial Market Regulation and Development
A STEM-Designated Degree Built for the Future of Business
Interested in using technology to deepen your business expertise? The STEM-designated MS in Finance offers a powerful path forward, blending data and analytics with emerging technologies.
For international students, the STEM designation also provides a valuable advantage: eligibility for a 24-month extension of the professional internship Optional Practical Training (OPT), allowing you to work in the U.S. for up to three years.
Maximize Your ROI: Customize Your Degree Path
- The 4+1 Program: Earn Your Bachelor’s and Master’s in Five Years
Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in an eligible GW school have the opportunity to accelerate the path to earning a Master's in Finance.
- Dual Degree Opportunity: MBA + MSF
Double your impact with GW’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Finance (MSF) dual degree. This forward-thinking program combines business strategy and project leadership through a dynamic mix of coursework and hands-on experiences, preparing you to lead with purpose in today’s complex, project-driven world.
By allowing select credits to count toward both degrees, students complete 18 fewer credit hours—saving time and cost compared to pursuing each degree separately.
- Related Graduate Certificates
Tailor your degree plan to your professional goals by adding a graduate certificate that builds specialized expertise alongside your core business education.
Choose from the following 12-credit graduate certificates or explore all certificate options:
Affordable Housing
Learn more about real estate valuation, investments, and project finance to become a leader in property development.
Financial Management
Build a strong foundation in corporate finance, including capital acquisition, investment strategy, value creation for stakeholders and responsible profit distribution.
Global Management
Learn to lead organizations across international borders, including topics of marketing, global supply chain, human resources, operations, and consulting roles.
Quantitative Business Foundations
Build the analytical expertise needed to drive strategy in any industry and gain a strong foundation in core business disciplines.
What Makes GW's
MSF Different?
At GW, Washington, D.C. is your finance classroom. Located steps from the institutions where financial policy, regulation, and global economic decisions are made, the MS in Finance program offers unmatched access to a powerful financial ecosystem that includes federal agencies, major financial institutions, NGOs, and global think tanks.
This proximity translates into real-world learning throughout the program. Whether engaging with industry experts and academic leaders in the classroom or attending high-profile events that will help shape your career, students are immersed in opportunities that connect theory to practice and place them at the center of global finance in one of the world’s most influential financial hubs.
GW's MSF program opens opportunities for you everywhere, in the private sector and in the public sector. You can be in New York, you can be at the IMF, you can be at the World Bank, you can go back to your country and work for a very good company. You can go wherever you want. There is no limit.
Charbel Chit Dirany (MSF ’26)
Learn from Industry Leaders
Students have direct access to leading voices in finance and policy through guest speakers in class, alumni panels, and networking events. You’ll meet people shaping today’s financial markets at all stages of their career, including analysts, portfolio managers, investment bankers, policymakers, fintech innovators and risk experts.
Students have opportunities to attend prestigious industry events such as the World Bank and IMF Spring and Annual Meetings, the D.C. Fintech Summit, the D.C. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Summit & Expo and more.
Get inspired at our annual "How I Became a Quant" panel, co-hosted with the International Association for Quantitative Finance (IAQF). This thought-provoking discussion offers career insights from GW alumni now working at the World Bank, U.S. Treasury, SEC, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and more.
Build Your Professional Network
Located in the nation's capital, GW provides access to a powerful network of finance professionals, employers and alumni. Students participate in employer site visits and connect with recruiters at the IAQF Career Fair in New York City, a premier event that connects graduate students from leading quantitative finance programs with top financial institutions and recruiters from leading firms across the finance industry. The MSF Association further strengthens these connections through networking events and speaker series featuring accomplished alumni and industry leaders.
Put Theory into Practice
Students regularly apply classroom concepts to real-world financial challenges through competitions, projects, and experiential learning opportunities. A recent MSF team participated in the Southeastern Hedge Fund Competition, competing against more than 150 teams worldwide. Their innovative trading strategy applied Fourier Series to high-cap and dividend-paying stocks to identify and capitalize on behavioral biases in the market, showcasing the advanced analytical and quantitative skills cultivated in the program.
Global Education
The program also offers a truly global learning environment. With a diverse student body, made up of more than 80% international students, and opportunities for international study experience, the MS in Finance fosters a close-knit, collaborative community that reflects the international nature of today’s financial industry.
Supported From Day One
From the welcome event to the graduation dinner, you’ll quickly find a strong sense of belonging. Social events such as casual outings, happy hours and the annual MSF and MSAF bowling event create opportunities to build lasting connections and a true home away from home.
Faculty and program staff are deeply committed to your success. Through mentorship, academic advising and career guidance, we help you define your path, stay on track and prepare for internships and full-time opportunities.
Capital Markets Trading Room
If you want to know what it’s like to work in a fast-paced trading environment, GW’s revolutionary Capital Markets Trading Room simulates the high-stakes atmosphere. You’ll practice trading, conducting research and analyzing data to make decisions using Bloomberg Terminals.
Widely used in investment firms, Bloomberg Terminals provide real-time market data, up-to-the-minute news, analytics and secure communication. You’ll learn how to trust your research, your knowledge and your instincts—and even how to learn from your mistakes.
Career Outcomes
MSF graduates are prepared for careers in financial analysis, trading, financial engineering, and risk management, including roles in fixed income and portfolio management. The STEM-designated degree also opens doors in investment management, financial consulting, corporate finance, insurance, real estate investment, and other high-demand areas of the global finance industry.
Mean annual wages for careers in finance in the Washington, D.C. area include:
- Financial managers: $180,470 per year
- Personal financial advisors: $170,870 per year
- Financial examiners: $151,540 per year
- Financial risk specialists: $129,540 per year
- Financial analysts: $124,330 per year
- Budget analysts: $119,610 per year
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Profiles
I chose GW because of its strong reputation, its location in the heart of Washington, D.C. and its extensive alumni network. Studying at GW meant being close to many of the institutions that shape global finance and policy. It was a direct step toward where I am now.
Gael Sfeir, MSF ’24
Research Analyst, IMF
I wanted practical, on-the-job skills that would give me an edge in the job market. GW provided the kind of skillset employers are actively seeking.
David Olajide Olatunde, MSF ’23
Current GW Global MBA Candidate, ’27;
Senior Program and Finance Specialist, National Education Association;
Finance and Accounting Analyst, The World Bank
Where Our Alumni Are Leading
GW's MS in Finance graduates go on to careers in banking, investment management, corporate finance, and development finance. You’ll find our alumni at virtually every leading bank, investment firm and financial organization around the world.
- Amazon
- Bank of America
- Chevron
- Citibank
- Deloitte
- Fannie Mae
- Freddie Mac
- HSBC
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- JP Morgan
- Microsoft
- U.S. Department of Treasury
- World Bank Group
Career Support
Personalized Career Coaching
Experienced career coaches with a proven track record of supporting successful career outcomes and advancement help you build an effective job search strategy while providing resume reviews and mock interviews.
Dedicated Career Center
The GW Business F. David Fowler Career Center provides exclusive access to employer connections, networking and recruiting opportunities and career resources, including professional development workshops on technical skills, presentations and salary negotiation.
Mentorship Opportunities
Participate in the Careers360 program to connect with industry mentors in consulting, finance or marketing.
Global Alumni Network
With more than 60,000 alumni spanning 260+ organizations, Fortune 500 companies, startups, and nonprofits around the world, you’ll gain access to mentorship, connections, and career opportunities that open doors and accelerate your impact.
Admissions
Admission to GW's MS in Finance program is competitive, with limited enrollment to support a collaborative, cohort-based learning experience.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submission is encouraged. Candidates seeking financial assistance and international students requiring visas are especially encouraged to apply early.
Our admissions team is here to guide you through the process and answer any questions along the way. Learn more about application requirements and next steps on our How to Apply page.
A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with credit hours in:
- Advanced Mathematics (6 credits; 3 credits must be in Calculus)
- Microeconomics (3 credits)
- Macroeconomics (3 credits)
- Financial Accounting (3 credits)
- Managerial Finance (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
Additional coursework, degrees, and/or work experience in these five areas are considered favorably in the selection process.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submission is encouraged. The admissions committee takes a holistic approach, considering academic performance, professional experience and achievements, and letters of recommendation.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
- Current résumé
- Statement of Purpose: In no more than 500 words, describe how this program fits into your professional life and your career objectives. What will the MSF program enable you to do?
- One letter of recommendation from a professional and/or academic reference
- Application fee (non-refundable)
- Completed online application form
No GRE or GMAT is required. However, applicants who feel their test scores strengthen their candidacy are welcome to submit them.
Applicants who require a visa to study in the United States must also fulfill additional requirements in order to be considered for admission to a graduate program at the School of Business.
Application Deadlines
Candidates seeking financial assistance and international students requiring visas are encouraged to apply early. Only completed applications, with all required materials, will be considered for admission.
- Spring 2026 - Closed
- Summer 2026 - Closed
- Fall 2026 - July 1, 2026
Please note:
- Admissions for the following programs is offered only for the fall semester: Global MBA, Accelerated MBA, Master of Accountancy in Accounting Analytics, M.S. in AI for Business, M.S. in Applied Finance, M.S. in Business Analytics
- Summer admissions deadlines apply only to our online MBA and Specialized Master's degree programs.
- Admission to all other programs is offered for the fall and spring semesters only.
- Doctoral and executive education programs may have different admissions deadlines.
Tuition, Fees & Funding
Tuition: Tuition is determined on a per-credit basis, which may very each semester depending on the number of courses you take. The base tuition for this 48-credit finance master's degree is ~$111,500. Students should also plan for university fees, books, and living expenses. Since rates are reviewed and updated annually, prospective students are encouraged to check the official GW tuition and fees page for the most current cost information.
Financial Aid: Many of GW’s MS in Finance students receive merit-based awards, based on academic background and performance, to offset tuition costs and expenses. Additional options include graduate assistantships, employer sponsorship, and federal financial aid.
CONTACT US
Meet Your GW School of Business Team
Behind every step of your graduate student journey is a team ready to help. Connect with faculty, admissions and advising to get the answers and guidance you need.
Program Manager
Faculty Director
Assistant Director & Academic Advisor
Frequently Asked Questions
- MS in Applied Finance or MS in Finance: Which Program is Right For You?
If you’re deciding between applying to the MS in Applied Finance or MS in Finance, there are many similarities, as the programs share faculty and staff. However, there are also important differences between them:
- Credit Hours: The MS in Finance program requires 48 credits to be completed in under two years; the MS in Applied Finance program requires 36 credit hours to be completed in one year.
- Academic Background: To apply to the MS in Applied Finance program, you must possess a solid background in finance. Applicants are expected to have completed extensive coursework in financial theory, corporate finance and research. Without this academic background, consider applying to the MS in Finance program.
- The MS in Applied Finance does not include the following coursework: Corporate Financial Management and Modeling; Financial Theory and Research; and Comparative Financial Market Regulation and Development.
- Course Load: The MS in Applied Finance is a 48-credit hour fast-paced program with an increasing course load each term. In your first term, you will take two courses in the fall semester; three courses in the spring semester, and four courses in the final summer semester.
- MSF vs. MBA: What's Right For You?
The Master of Science in Finance and Master of Business Administration are built for different goals, different career stages, and different definitions of success. The right answer depends on where you want to go and what you need to get there.
At the highest level, the MSF is a specialized, finance-focused degree designed to build deep technical and quantitative expertise. The MBA is a broad business degree built around leadership, strategy, and cross-functional decision-making.
- My background in not in business or economics. Can I still apply?
Many of our students come from different professional and academic backgrounds. However, in order to apply, you must hold a bachelor’s degree and fulfill the prerequisites of six hours in microeconomics and macroeconomics, six hours in advanced mathematics (including calculus), and three hours each in financial accounting, managerial finance and statistics. If you lack any of these courses, we recommend that you plan ahead and take them.
We do prefer that applicants have a minimum of two years of full-time, progressive and relevant work experience. Relevant work experience is one of the most important factors in the admission process.
- What type of student is a good fit for the MSF program?
The MS in Finance degree program is a good fit for you, if you enjoy working with numbers, like experimenting with technology, excel in analytical thinking and get excited about using data to create solutions to complex financial challenges. Students who thrive in the program are hardworking, curious and motivated, and bring a desire to grow, understand the full landscape of finance and pursue a career aligned with their goals.
- How long does it take to complete the MSF?
Regular Program: Students in the regular program complete 48 credit-hours in six consecutive semesters, including two summers. Summers are mandatory.
Intensive Program: In the intensive program, students complete 48 credit-hours in three consecutive semesters, including one summer. Classes are held Thursday and Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. and all day Saturday.
- Does the program allow you to work full time while being enrolled?
Yes. The MSF Program is designed to accommodate schedules for working professionals. In the first year, classes are held all day on Saturday; and in the second year, classes are held on Thursday and Friday evenings.
The program recommends that you budget 20 hours (regular program) to 40 hours (intensive) per week to work on class assignments, depending on your background.
- Can students waive classes based on experience or academic background?
In general, they cannot. However, students with very strong backgrounds in a particular subject area can petition to waive up to two required courses or to replace with other relevant classes approved by the program director.
- Can students transfer courses in coursework?
The MSF is a cohort program and does not include any elective classes. Therefore, students are not permitted to transfer courses from previous graduate studies.
- Is the GMAT or the GRE required?
No, submitting a GMAT or GRE score is optional. However, if you feel that submitting your scores will strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit them.
Learn More
Attend an Info Session
Info sessions and open houses, offered in-person and online, are your chance to explore what makes our programs stand out. Connect directly with our faculty and staff to learn about the MSAF program, career outcomes, study abroad options, the admissions process and more.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you're looking to advance in your current role, transition into a new area of finance, or strengthen your quantitative expertise, the GW MS in Finance can help you reach your goals. Join a community of driven professionals and gain the skills, experience, and network to thrive in today's financial industry.
