GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Master of Finance
Nine months to build the analytical finance skills employers recruit for in valuation, corporate finance, investment analysis, and portfolio management. Graduate STEM-designated, CFA-aligned, and ready to compete.
The Quantitative Finance Skills Employers Hire For
The Master of Finance (M.Fin.) at Penn State Smeal College of Business is a nine-month, STEM-designated program built around the technical skills finance employers actually hire for: valuation, corporate finance, investment analysis, portfolio management, and financial markets.
The curriculum is aligned with the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, covering approximately 75% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge. You'll graduate with a master's degree and a head start on one of the most recognized credentials in the finance industry.
No prior finance background required. If you're analytically minded and serious about a finance career, this program is designed for you.
Through coursework, professional development, and hands-on experiences, you'll learn to:
Analyze investment opportunities using financial and quantitative methods
Apply valuation techniques to companies, securities, and business transactions
Assess risk and return across financial assets and portfolios
Evaluate capital allocation, financing, and corporate financial decisions
Interpret financial markets and economic conditions
Use financial data to support business and investment decisions
Program Highlights
Duration: Earn your degree in just nine months (31-credit curriculum)
CFA-Aligned: Member of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, covering ~75% of the Candidate Body of Knowledge
STEM Designation: STEM-designated program (provides extended OPT eligibility for international students)
Simple Admissions: No GMAT or GRE required to apply
Where a Master of Finance Can Take You
M.Fin. graduates launch careers in corporate finance, investment banking, asset management, and financial consulting. Recent graduates have joined Goldman Sachs, Citi, Bank of America, Deloitte, and PwC.
92%
Employed Within One Year of Graduation
$76,000
Average Starting Salary
#43
Graduate Finance Program
U.S. News and World Report
Sample Roles & Career Pathways
Financial Analyst
Analyze financial performance, evaluate investment opportunities, and support business decision-making through financial modeling and analysis.
Corporate Finance Analyst
Support budgeting, forecasting, capital allocation, and strategic financial planning within organizations.
Investment Analyst
Evaluate securities, markets, and investment opportunities to support portfolio and asset management decisions.
Valuation Analyst
Assess the value of companies, assets, and transactions for investment, advisory, and corporate finance purposes.
Financial Services Consultant
Help organizations address financial, operational, and strategic challenges through analysis and advisory services.
Why Choose Penn State Smeal?
Join a Network That Lasts a Lifetime
Connect with more than 98,000 Smeal alumni and more than 800,000 Penn State graduates working across industries and around the world.
Dedicated Graduate Career Support
Access personalized career coaching, employer engagement, networking opportunities, and recruiting resources designed specifically for graduate business students.
Customize Your Graduate Path
Expand your expertise by combining eligible master's programs, certificates, and electives to build credentials that align with your career goals.
Is This Program Right for You?
If your goal is a career in corporate finance, investment banking, asset management, or financial consulting, the Master of Finance offers focused preparation that goes beyond a general business education.Build specialized expertise in finance rather than pursue a broad business degree
Prepare for careers in corporate finance, investment banking, asset management, or financial consulting
Develop advanced quantitative and financial analysis skills
Strengthen your technical finance expertise before entering the workforce
Study in a program aligned with the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge
Complete a STEM-designated master's degree in just nine months
Pursue STEM OPT eligibility as an international student
Request Information
Master of Finance vs. MBA: Which Degree Is Right for You?
Master of Finance (M.Fin.)
Develop advanced expertise in valuation, corporate finance, investment analysis, portfolio management, financial markets, and mergers and acquisitions through a focused, STEM-designated curriculum.
Best For
Students who want deep finance expertise and a direct path into corporate finance, investment banking, asset management, consulting, and related financial careers.
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Develop broad business knowledge across strategy, leadership, finance, marketing, operations, and organizational management. Prepare to lead teams and organizations.
Best For
Students seeking leadership opportunities or the flexibility to pursue careers across multiple business functions and industries.
What Your M.Fin. Experience Looks Like
Fall Semester
Build your analytical foundation in financial analysis, valuation, financial markets, and quantitative methods.
Spring Semester
Apply advanced concepts in corporate finance, investment analysis, portfolio management, M&A, and financial decision-making. Prepare for specialized finance careers.
Graduation
Complete the 31-credit, STEM-designated program in just nine months and step into the workforce with a CFA-aligned credential and real analytical skills.
Hear From Finance Students and Alumni
Smeal is designed to set you up for success. From the numerous career fairs, to the doting faculty, to staff who genuinely care about your well-being, to a community of alumni waiting for you after you graduate. Smeal is a great place to be.
Faith Babalola '23
Senior Associate
This program provides the tools necessary to take on real-world finance issues. Personally, being exposed to that before entering the professional realm has prepared me in a way that has been vital to my success and potential.
Brandon Welden '22
Business Analyst
The professors truly cared about your success, not just as a business person and student, but most importantly as an individual.
Michael Lewis '21
Co-Owner
CONNECTIONS THAT LAST
98,000+ Smeal Alumni Worldwide
Join a global network of more than 98,000 Smeal alumni working across industries and organizations around the world. As a student, you'll gain access to a community that provides mentorship, professional connections, career insights, and opportunities long after graduation.
Take the Next Step
Explore how a Penn State Smeal graduate degree can help you build specialized expertise, expand your professional network, and prepare for long-term career success. Connect with our admissions team to get started.
Learn From Finance Experts
Jason Lunn
Program Academic Director, Associate Clinical Professor of Finance
Product Market Competition, capital structure, operating leverage, and intangible assets.
Sajay Samuel
Clinical Professor and Program Director, One-Year MBA
Management accounting, business strategy, and managerial decision-making.
Frederick Hood
Assistant Clinical Professor of Finance
Corporate finance, security analysis, portfolio management, and investment valuation.
Bob Everett
Clinical Professor of Finance
Investment management, equity valuation, financial modeling, and portfolio management.
Svetla Vitanova
Associate Teaching Professor of Finance, Assistant Department Head of Finance
Corporate finance, financial markets, multinational finance, and financial institutions.
Timothy T. Simin
Professor of Finance
Asset pricing, portfolio management, financial markets, and empirical finance research.