![Carroll School of Management](/content/dam/bc1/schools/carroll/logos-and-images/CSOM-web-branding-logo-mega.png)
![Carroll School of Management](/content/dam/bc1/schools/carroll/logos-and-images/CSOM-web-branding-logo-mega.png)
By mastering the enduring principles that underlie financial markets, MSF students in the Seidner Department of Finance broaden their career opportunities and make names for themselves in their fields. Our program emphasizes financial analytical skills that students can bring to workplaces in corporate finance, asset management, and investment banking.
The program requires 10 courses.
Full-time students have 12 months to complete the program while part-time students will take approximately 20 months.
All M.S. in Finance students are required to complete 10 hours of community service in order to graduate.
209,000+
Boston College Alumni
44,000+
Carroll School Alumni
#19
Financial Times Faculty Research Ranking
(Average ranking over the past five years)
Students have 12 months to complete the 10-course program. Full-time students typically take four classes in each of the fall and spring semesters, and finish their degrees by taking two classes during the summer.
Students will complete Managerial Statistics, which is a self-paced online course, during the summer prior to arriving on campus. Students will receive instructions and information about the course from the Graduate Student Services Office in June. All assignments for this course will be due by mid-August.
7
Core Courses
3
Elective Courses
These electives must be 6000- and/or 8000-level electives in the Finance听department (MFIN). Finance department 7000-level courses are for MBA students only. Electives may have more than one pre-requisite. Please听 check Agora under "Course Information and Schedules" for specifics.
The quantitative finance track is a STEM-designated track, and allows you to complete the 10 total courses required for the MSF in one full year of study (12 months). Full-time students can typically take four classes in each of the fall and spring semesters, and finish their degrees by taking two classes during the summer.
Students will complete Managerial Statistics, which is a self-paced online course, during the summer prior to arriving on campus. Students will receive instructions and information about the course from the Graduate Student Services Office in June. All assignments for this course will be due by mid-August.
8
Core Courses
2
Elective Courses
These electives must be 6000- and/or 8000-level electives in听the Finance听department (MFIN). Finance department 7000-level courses听are for MBA students only. Electives may have more than one pre-requisite. Please听 check Agora under "Course Information and Schedules" for specifics.
Boston College鈥檚 Master of Science in Finance (MSF) Quantitative Finance Track is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) designated program. This classification allows international MSF graduates on an F-1 visa to potentially qualify for an additional 24 months of training in their field of study (called Optional Practical Training or OPT) beyond the standard 12 months. Eligible F-1 nonimmigrant students with a STEM degree from a Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified U.S. school who participate in an initial period of regular post-completion OPT (typically 12 months) may be eligible to apply for a STEM OPT extension.
To qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, an F-1 student must:
The part-time option offers a flexible schedule, enabling you to earn your degree while continuing to advance your career. Part-time students take two classes per semester on average. At this pace, the total duration of the 10-course program will be approximately 20 months.
7
Core Courses
* As Investments and Corporate Finance are prerequisite courses for most other finance classes, students should plan to take these courses first.
** This is a zero-credit, self-paced online course. All part-Time MSF students are required to take this course in their first semester.
3
Elective Courses
These electives must be 6000- and/or 8000-level electives in听the Finance听department (MFIN). Finance department 7000-level courses听are for MBA students only. Electives may have more than one pre-requisite. Please听 check Agora under "Course Information and Schedules" for specifics.
Incoming students who took an MSF core course as an undergraduate may be eligible to waive the course, and to replace it with an elective, by passing a waiver exam. Waiver exams must be completed no later than the deadline of August 1. Incoming students requesting a course waiver must submit requests to Professor Michael Barry. Students will be notified of the results of their waiver exam prior to the start of the Fall semester.
MSF students who received an undergraduate degree from Boston College and who achieved a minimum grade of B+ in an MSF core course taken at Boston College will be allowed to replace that course with an elective, provided they have taken the course within the past five years. Students who received a grade of B or lower or who took the course more than five years prior to starting the MSF program may take a waiver exam or they may retake the course with a professor other than the one who taught their undergraduate course. For more information, please contact the Graduate Programs Office at 617-552-3773 or gsomstsv@bc.edu.
The Carroll School has a proud tradition of service to our community. In keeping with that tradition and with our Jesuit heritage, all M.S. in Finance students are required to complete听10 hours听of community service in order to graduate.
Average Undergraduate GPA | 3.31 |
Average GMAT Score | 665 |
GMAT Score 80th Percentile Range | 610鈥720 |
Average GRE Score | 322 |
GRE Score 80th Percentile Range | 304-334 |
Average Full-Time Work Experience | <1 year |
Work Experience 80 Percentile Range | 0鈥1 year |
Women | 39% |
AHANA* | 11% |
International | 78% |
Average Age | 23 |
Age Range | 20鈥35 |
*African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American.
Note: All class profile information is accurate as of September 12, 2023
Bangladesh
Canada
China
Denmark
Hong Kong SAR
India
Indonesia
South Korea
Sweden
Taiwan
United Kingdom
Average Undergraduate GPA | 3.43 |
Average Full-Time Work Experience | >2 years |
Women | 38% |
AHANA* | 46% |
Average Age | 25 |
Age Range | 21-47 |
*African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American.
Note: All class profile information is accurate as of September 12, 2023
An MSF from the Carroll School is an excellent investment in your future. We offer merit-based scholarships and financial assistance to qualified applicants. Loan and work study programs are also available.
鈥淭he 精东影业 MSF offers a perfect blend of quantitative and qualitative classes, industry exposure, and programming鈥攁ll of which aligned perfectly with my goals.鈥
鈥淣ot only was I being academically challenged inside of the classroom, but I was also strengthening my networking and communication skills, while making lifelong connections.鈥
鈥淚 chose to pursue my MSF at Boston College due to the reputation of the Carroll School name, 精东影业鈥檚 proximity to America鈥檚 major financial hubs, and the program鈥檚 world-class educational experience.鈥
鈥淭he professors are what make Boston College unique. They are some of the top minds in their fields, with extensive academic and professional achievements.鈥
Application Fee: All applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100 USD.
Admission Decisions: Applications are generally reviewed on a rolling basis. This means that, provided their applications are complete, applicants may receive admission decisions before the notification deadlines. However, it is important for applicants to understand that decisions are only guaranteed by the official notification date.
Rounds & Final Deadlines: For priority consideration, applicants must submit their applications by the earliest date possible. Applications received after the last deadline are reviewed on a space-available basis.
Program Start Date | Apply By | Receive Decision By |
---|---|---|
August 2025 | October 15, 2024 | December 4, 2024 |
听 | January 14, 2025* | February 26, 2025 |
听 | March 11, 2025* | May 28, 2025 |
听 | May 6, 2025 | June 25, 2025 |
听 | June 10, 2025 | July 9, 2025 |
Program Start Date | Apply By | Receive Decision By |
---|---|---|
January 2025 | October 15, 2024 | December 4, 2024 |
听 | December 10, 2024 | Rolling+ |
August 2025 | January 21, 2025 | March 26, 2025 |
听 | March 4, 2025 | May 14, 2025 |
听 | July 8, 2025 | August 6, 2025 |
* International applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by these deadlines.
+ Rolling notification date: Candidates with complete applications, which include the receipt of letters of recommendation, will receive decisions within ten business days.
Boston College undergraduates currently in the second semester of their junior year or at any point in their senior year are eligible to apply to the Master of Science in Finance program as fifth-year applicants. Once enrolled, students can complete their MSA or MSF degree in as little as nine months from the program start date.
Use this component of the application to outline your educational background and professional experience, including part-time and internship roles with months and years in each position.
鉁 Application Tip: We recommend limiting your resume to one to two pages. Please also make sure that your resume corresponds to the information submitted in the 鈥淓mployment鈥 section of your online application.
All applicants must possess a four-year bachelor鈥檚 degree from an accredited college or university. You must submit transcripts from every institution where you were enrolled in a degree-granting program. At the time of application, only a self-reported transcript is required but if you are admitted, we will require an official transcript sent directly from your degree-granting institution. Transcripts should include:
Course names
All grades received (including transfer credits and study abroad programs)
Cumulative GPA
Degree conferral information
Graduates of non-U.S. institutions must possess a college or university degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor鈥檚 degree. If admitted, international students are required to submit an official English translation of all academic credentials, along with a third-party degree verification from an agency such as听听or听.
鉁 Application Tip: Verify that your degree is equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor鈥檚 degree before starting your application. Agencies such as WES provide a variety of .
Applicants must submit GMAT or GRE scores from within the past five years. We accept both the GMAT Exam and GMAT Focus Edition. Our test codes are:
GMAT school code: 44x-J5-96
GRE school code: 3033
GMAT/GRE Waivers
Full-time MSF applicants for Fall 2025 may request consideration for a GMAT/GRE waiver. before completing your application.
Part-time MSF candidates may also request consideration for a GMAT/GRE waiver. before completing your application.
鉁 Application Tip: While Graduate Admissions does not have a preference between the GMAT or GRE, we encourage you to consult class profile data听for average test scores in order to gauge where you stand.听
If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you are required to submit an English language proficiency exam score with your application. We accept TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. We do not accept the Duolingo English Test.听
Scores must be from within the past two years, and applicants must meet the following minimum scores:
TOEFL, iBT, and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 100
IELTS: 7.5
PTE: 68
You are eligible to waive the language test requirement if you meet either of the following criteria:
You have completed a four-year bachelor鈥檚 degree or a two-year master鈥檚 degree (or higher) at an institution where the medium language of instruction is English. You must have completed your degree in its entirety at the English-medium institution. The medium language of instruction must be indicated on your transcript or verified in an official letter from the institution.
You have worked in a full-time, post-degree position for at least two years in the United States or a country where English is an official language. NOTE: Working for a company that conducts its business in English in a country where English is not an official language will not qualify you for a language test waiver.
鉁 Application Tip: If you are eligible to waive the language test requirement, you do not need to submit a waiver request beforehand and can simply move forward with your application.
Only one letter of recommendation is required to complete your application, though we will accept up to three letters.
We are interested in learning about you from an individual who can provide an objective appraisal of your capacity for intensive graduate study and your potential for professional success.
Recommenders are required to submit the recommendation forms online and will receive instructions through email once you complete the 鈥淩ecommendation鈥 section of your application.
鉁 Application Tip: MSF applicants are advised to submit recommendations from either academic references such as professors, or professional references such as supervisors or managers.
All applicants must submit a required essay of no more than 500 words telling us about your past experiences, short- and long-term goals, and why you want to pursue an MSF at Boston College. You may also submit an optional essay that addresses aspects of your candidacy that have not already been covered in other parts of the application.
鉁 Application Tip: We want to hear about you and appreciate when applicants craft a unique response to the questions. Learn more about our essay questions and how to answer them.
If you have any further application-related questions, we encourage you to . These small-group sessions are held through Zoom and led by a member of the Graduate Admissions team.
Thinking about your fit for Carroll School of Management graduate programs?听Review some tips and tactics to assess your candidacy.
You can also email us at bcmba@bc.edu, or schedule a phone call or Zoom appointment with a member of the Graduate Admission team.