Work experience is not required for our program, and many students start the program directly after completing their Bachelors degree. Other students have work experience and wish to refine their technical and analytical skills before entering the job market. 

There is no minimum GMAT score required for admission to the program, though the desired score is 600 or above. If your score is below 600, you will not be automatically excluded from the applicant pool. The department admissions group considers all parts of your application, including your statement and letters of recommendation, in addition to your GPA and test scores.

The GRE can be accepted in lieu of the GMAT, but average scores are not available. Generally, the admissions committee will look for a quantitative score in the 70th percentile or higher.

You are required to submit an original transcript from all of the institutions, other than The University of Arizona, that you attended previous to applying to our program. International students must submit official transcripts and diploma in the original language as well as an English translation. The official transcript should be stamped by The University issuing the transcript and be submitted in a sealed envelope. Transcripts are not required for courses or degrees from The University of Arizona.

E-Transcripts are considered official if sent directly from the institution or transcript service to either University of Arizona department personnel or the Graduate College transcripts inbox at [email protected](link sends e-mail).  PDF is the required delivery format.  Electronic transcripts that require the use of an .exe file to open will not be accepted and an alternate delivery method must be chosen.

The MSF program normally takes 12 to 16 months to complete. Students start in the fall semester and have two options for the program length – a 12-month and 16-month option.  Students electing the 12-month option begin the program in midAugust and graduate the next August.  For the 16-month option, students begin the program in mid August and graduate the next December, normally leaving Tucson during the summer between the first year and final semester.

Their program graduates are working as financial professionals at Hewlett-Packard, UniSource Energy Corp., Barclays Global Investors, Honeywell, the United Nations, Morgan-Stanley, BlackRock, Equity Methods, Goldman Sachs, and Raytheon, to name some of the organizations.  Recent grads have also gone into corporate finance positions at Intel, Google, and Amazon.