Learning Laboratory
Rogers Family Trading Room
Work with the same technology and real-time market data relied on throughout the investment industry before you ever set foot on a trading floor.
Learn Finance in a Real Trading Environment
Financial markets never stand still. The Rogers Family Trading Room gives you a place to analyze them as they move. Located within Penn State Smeal College of Business, the trading room gives you access to the same platforms and real-time market data used by investment firms, banks, asset managers, and corporations.
Established in 2001 through a $1.1 million gift from alumni David Rogers '78 and Patricia Maloney Rogers '79, the trading room was among the first university facilities of its kind. Today it supports finance courses, student-managed investment funds, competitions, and experiential learning that prepare students for careers in financial markets.
You'll use the trading room to:
Analyze live financial markets and economic data
Research companies, securities, and industries
Evaluate portfolios and investment strategies
Complete simulations and applied finance projects
Gain experience with professional financial technology
What the Trading Room Offers
Applied Finance Coursework
Courses including FIN 414: Financial Trading and Applications and FIN 415: Advanced Financial Modeling use the trading room to analyze live markets and build fluency with professional platforms.
Student Investment Organizations
The Trading Room is home to Penn State Smeal's student-managed investment funds and finance organizations, including the Nittany Lion Fund, Leveraged Lion Capital, and the Penn State Asset Management Group.
For Students
Build hands-on experience using professional market data, research platforms, and trading simulations before your first internship or job interview.
For Faculty
Bring live market data and professional platforms into your courses to give students the same analytical experience they'd get working at an investment firm, bank, or asset manager.
For Student Organizations
Access the technology, data, and collaborative workspace to support investment funds, competitions, and financial research.
What Happens in the Trading Room
Learn Industry-Standard Financial Technology
Work with Bloomberg, FactSet, S&P Capital IQ, LSEG Workspace, Rotman Interactive Trader, and other platforms used daily by investment professionals.
Technology Certifications
Trading room platforms including Bloomberg and FactSet offer self-paced certification programs, giving you a credential that signals real-world proficiency to finance employers.
A Hub for Competitions & Research
Beyond coursework, the trading room is a year-round collaborative space for investment competitions, student-managed fund operations, independent financial research, and other experiential learning opportunities.
Student Investment Organizations
The trading room serves as home to nationally recognized student investment organizations, including the Nittany Lion Fund, which manages more than $12.5 million in investor assets; Leveraged Lion Capital, the nation's first student-managed leveraged loan and high-yield bond fund; and the Penn State Asset Management Group, which provides advanced derivatives and trading experience.
Put Financial Theory Into Practice
Through Coursework
Complete market research using live financial data
Analyze companies, industries, and securities
Build portfolio management experience
Work with Bloomberg, FactSet, and other professional platforms
Strengthen financial analysis skills
Beyond the Classroom
Join student-managed investment organizations
Participate in investment competitions
Conduct independent financial research
Collaborate with faculty and classmates
Prepare for internships and finance careers
A Facility Built for Applied Finance
2001
Established 25 years ahead of most peer business schools
6
Active industry-standard financial platforms for live market trading
Contact the Rogers Family Trading Room
David Haushalter
Academic Director, Trading RoomTrading Room Resources
The trading room provides access to Bloomberg, FactSet, S&P Capital IQ, LSEG Workspace, Rotman Interactive Trader, and other platforms used throughout the investment industry.
Three student organizations call the trading room home: the Nittany Lion Fund ($12.5M AUM), Leveraged Lion Capital (the nation's first student-managed leveraged loan and high-yield bond fund), and the Penn State Asset Management Group.
Finance courses like FIN 414: Financial Trading and Applications and FIN 415: Advanced Financial Modeling both use the trading room as an active learning environment, connecting financial theory with live market analysis and professional-grade technology.