Finance (MS)

Program Description

Realize a return on investment with a master’s in finance from the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.

Prepare for a career in commercial banking, investment banking, corporate finance, regulatory finance, or portfolio management.

Analyze complex financial issues using the latest quantitative and analytical methods and techniques. Become skilled at navigating diverse regulatory environments locally and globally. Earn your master’s in finance from George Mason University.

Gain the knowledge and skills necessary for financial planning, portfolio management, and financial risk mitigation including:

How to communicate analysis results, recommendations, and solutions to problems to finance professionals, clients, and top executives.
How to value and budget complex large scale (i.e., valued in billions of dollars), long-term projects and involve multiple entities.
How to manage large portfolios for mutual funds or pension funds.
How to value and issue financial securities.

Develop diverse business skills, broader insights, and confidence while expanding your professional network by connecting with your classmates and Mason’s international business alumni network of more than 36,000 members. Benefit from a dedicated career services team that offers you personalized career coaching, employment and networking opportunities, and planning services for life.

A “HyFlex” delivery that makes it easy to manage your life’s competing demands

The program’s courses are offered in a “HyFlex” (hybrid+flexible) model: you can choose to participate face-to-face in a classroom or live, synchronously online. No matter what you choose, you’ll interact with your professors in real time.

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DETAILS COURSES COST CAREERS CONTACT READY TO APPLY?

Eligibility Requirements:

An earned baccalaureate and/or graduate degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts.

Fall Deadlines:

Priority: February 1
Standard and F1/J1: May 1
Final: August 1

Application Link & Fee:

College of Business Graduate Program Application
$75.00 application fee

College Transcript Requirement:

We require unofficial copies of your transcripts from earned degrees for application review. You can upload these to your online application. If admitted, you must submit official transcripts prior to the last day to add/drop courses in your first term. Please refer to the “Additional Requirements for International Degree Holders” section for degrees earned outside of the U.S.

Goals Statement:

Outlining what you would like us to know about you as we consider your candidacy for the George Mason University Costello College of Business MS in Finance program. Examples include “Why are you interested in the program?”, “What are your career goals?”, “Why George Mason University?”, or “What can you offer to the classroom?”.

Two Professional Letters of Recommendation:

The application will ask you to submit contact information for two recommenders. An invitation to submit a letter of recommendation will be sent to your recommenders via email immediately upon entering and saving their information. If you are a current Mason undergraduate student, one of the letters must be from a professor in your major department or school.

Current Resume

Optional Requirement:

GMAT or GRE Score The MSF is test-optional—however, if you would like to submit a test score with your application, we invite you to do so. Applicants are not penalized in the application review process for electing to not submit a test score.

Learn more about the MS in finance program here.

MSF 603	Managerial Economics and Decisions of the Firm	3
MSF 632	Statistical and Quantitative Methods for Finance	3
MSF 643	Financial Economics and Statement Analysis	3
MSF 672	Corporate Finance and Governance	3
MSF 683	Ethical and Professional Standards in Finance	3
MSF 705	Venture Capital, Private Finance, and Alternative Investments	3
MSF 706	Investment Analysis	3
MSF 707	Futures, Options and Other Derivatives	3
MSF 717	International Finance and Financial Markets	3
MSF 732	Fixed Income Securities	3
MSF 777	Student Managed Investment Fund	3
Total Credits		33

Tuition and Fee Structure

Tuition: Tuition is billed per credit hour with additional fees as appropriate. If a student is a resident of Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C., in-state rates will apply. For all other students, out-of-state rates will apply. Rates and fees are subject to change.
Fees:
- Mandatory Student Fee: This is a mandatory fee based on credit enrollment. The Mandatory Student Fee supports the maintenance of facilities and buildings, auxiliary services, intercollegiate athletics, campus shuttle, academic services, student activities, and health services.
- Enrollment Deposit: All new masters and certificate students must pay a $500 non-refundable enrollment deposit, which is used to reserve your seat for the term to which you applied and is applied toward your tuition. All applicants under the following categories will automatically have their enrollment deposits waived: Bachelor’s/Accelerated Masters (BAM), George Mason Employees, Refugees, Student/Athletes, and US Military Active Duty & Veterans.
- Graduate New Student Fee: This is a mandatory, non-refundable, one-time $60 fee. The fee is charged to the account of every newly admitted, degree-seeking student at the time of registration, regardless of orientation attendance or enrollment status.
Potential Additional Costs:
- Books: average is $150 per course
- Airfare to and from the country of your global residency (depends on graduate program)
Health Insurance: George Mason University makes health insurance available to eligible students through Aetna Student Health. George Mason University requires J-1 and F-1 visa status students to have health insurance coverage under University Policy. The Insurance Office will automatically enroll F-1 and J-1 visa students into the school selected health plan. Visit the Student Health Services webpage for more information.
- Domestic student premiums can be found here.
- International student premiums can be found here.

For more information on current tuition rates and fees, visit the Student Accounts website.

FAFSA

To apply for need-based federal assistance, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. Learn more about applying for FAFSA.

Prepare for a career in commercial banking, investment banking, corporate finance, regulatory finance, or portfolio management.

Gain the knowledge and skills necessary for financial planning, portfolio management, and financial risk mitigation including:

How to communicate analysis results, recommendations, and solutions to problems to finance professionals, clients, and top executives.
How to value and budget complex large scale (i.e., valued in billions of dollars), long-term projects and involve multiple entities.
How to manage large portfolios for mutual funds or pension funds.
How to value and issue financial securities.

The Graduate Admissions Team at the Costello College of Business at George Mason University is here to support you through every step of your admissions journey.

Reach out to us with your questions. If you have worked with any of our staff members previously, please contact them directly.

General Inquiries can always be directed to 703-993-8006 or sbusgrad@gmu.edu.

application link