Published: August 28, 2026
Finance moves fast in the digital age, and you need advanced skills and credentials to excel in this high-powered field. But choosing the right finance master's degree program is critical. Ask yourself: which graduate programs in finance will build on my existing background and align with my career ambitions?
Why get a graduate degree in finance?
If you want to pursue a career in investment banking, asset management, risk analysis, corporate finance, or fintech, an advanced degree makes you more employable and qualifies you for more significant roles.
The demand for master's-level financial skills across top finance graduate programs is high, and the payoff can be considerable. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, financial and business occupations are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2034. The median salary for finance at the managerial level in 2024 was $161,700 per year.
Finance graduate programs will not only prepare you academically for these roles, but they'll offer you more exposure to opportunities by expanding your professional network and, ideally, strengthening your resumé with valuable experiences.
Choosing a finance master's degree
When choosing a finance master's degree, you'll want to choose a finance graduate program that leads toward the goals you want to pursue, of course, but your academic background and work experience will also play a key role in narrowing down your options. It's important to note that there are finance graduate programs that cater to your needs whether you're already in the field or have no financial experience at all.
As you compare graduate programs in finance, consider these key questions:
- Do you already have strong quantitative skills? You may be an ideal candidate for a fintech or quantitative finance graduate program.
- Do you already work in finance? A specialized master's can deepen your expertise and accelerate your career progression.
- Are you pivoting from another field, or do want to lead at the highest levels of business with finance as your competitive edge? A dual degree program that combines finance with an MBA may be your best bet.
Finance graduate programs at D'Amore-McKim
To see how different backgrounds and goals translate into choosing a finance master's degree in the real world, let's explore the range of graduate programs in finance at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business, including the experiences they offer that can distinguish you in the job market.
Three of these programs are STEM-designated, which is a plus for international students seeking to work in the United States after graduation.
Our finance graduate programs at a glance
| Program | Format | STEM-designated? | Years to complete |
| MS in Finance | Part-time | No | 2 |
| MS in Fintech Management | Full-time or part-time | Yes *for full time study only. | 1 year to 20 months |
| MS in Finance/MBA | Full-time or part-time | No | 2–2.5 |
| MS in Quantitative Finance | Full-time | Yes | 1 year to 16 months |
| MS in Quantitative Finance/MBA | Full-time | Yes | 2.5 |
MS in Finance
Your background: An undergraduate degree in a business-related field plus five or more years of work experience in finance.
Your goals: To accelerate your existing finance career without pausing your work. You're aiming for roles such as financial planner, investment banker, mutual fund analyst, or underwriter.
The part-time MS in Finance will help you build advanced skills for diversifying portfolios, minimizing risk, maximizing return, and sustaining financial growth. You'll complete project assignments related to your own company or one where you'd like to work, and you can take advantage of other opportunities such as the 360 Huntington Fund, where you can research, recommend, and choose stocks for a real fund in Northeastern's endowment.
My experience at the 360 Huntington Fund inspired me to pursue a role in investment management that combines my research background with practical investment skills.
Isha Kulkarni, MS in Quantitative Finance'24
MS in Fintech Management
Your background: An undergraduate degree in a business-related field; you may have no work experience or several years in finance or banking.
Your goals: To work with emerging technologies such as digital payments, blockchain, AI, and machine learning as a fintech product manager, financial analyst, or entrepreneur.
The STEM-designated MS in Fintech Management is located on Northeastern's Miami campus, home to many innovative financial services providers such as the Blackstone Group and Goldman Sachs. You'll study data analytics, machine learning, and AI for finance so that you can be the go-to decision-maker in a forward-thinking financial institution or startup.
MS in Finance/MBA
Your background: An undergraduate degree in a business-related field plus several years of working experience in finance.
Your goals: To make an impact in the financial world by leading teams, addressing complex financial challenges, and collaborating with other business leaders. You ultimately envision yourself as a manager or executive in financial planning, portfolio management, private equity, or investment banking.
The MS in Finance/MBA dual degree, offered full-time or part-time, will help you develop specialized expertise in financial strategy, increasing shareholder value, supporting flexible operating models, mitigating risk, and maximizing revenue. If you study full-time, you can participate in our signature corporate residency, where you'll take on a multi-month paid position for a leading firm or startup. If you pursue your degree part-time, you can take advantage of other opportunities such as 360 Huntington Fund or unique travel-based electives.
MS in Quantitative Finance
Your background: An undergraduate degree in finance, economics, computer science, math, statistics, or engineering.
Your goals: To accelerate your finance career with technical expertise that sets you apart. You see yourself as a financial consultant, asset manager, quantitative analyst, algorithmic trader, or financial analyst.
Designed for students seeking technical rigor among graduate programs in finance, the full-time, STEM-designated MS in Quantitative Finance combines financial theory with advanced math, statistical modeling, and programming. If you wish, you can pursue a graduate co-op with a leading company or startup to give you practical experience working in finance.
MS in Quantitative Finance/MBA
Your background: An undergraduate degree in finance, accounting, economics, or business. You may also have a few years of work experience.
Your goals: To combine demanding technical skills with business and financial expertise so you can launch your career in global finance. You see yourself leading in a data-driven financial environment, innovating to solve complex problems and growing your organization.
In the full-time, STEM-designated MS in Quantitative Finance/MBA dual degree program, you'll build a deep background in finance and business along with advanced skills in computer science, engineering, mathematics, statistics, and econometrics. You can choose to apply for a corporate residency of up to 12 months, where you'll put your learning into practice as a paid employee for a leading financial firm or startup.
Key takeaways:
- High-level finance is a fast-growing, rewarding occupation.
- A graduate degree signals expertise to employers and positions you to seek significant roles.
- Your goals, academic background, and work experience are the key factors in choosing a finance master's degree.
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Career impact for D'Amore-McKim graduates
Turning athletic discipline into financial expertise
“What I've learned is that pursuing my master's degree and competing as a D1 track and field athlete have made me more organized, resilient, and intentional. Doing one or the other wouldn't challenge me in the same way. Balancing both forces me to level up.”
Fund and co-op shape the path from accounting to quantitative finance
My experience with Bloomberg Terminal through the 360 Huntington Fund gave me a strong advantage in finance. I learned how to access real-time market data, analyze trends, and build valuation models using professional-grade tools. Bloomberg isn't just about data, it's about making informed decisions quickly, and mastering it gave me a competitive edge.”
Hands-on learning, Wall Street results
“The program provided a strong foundation in quantitative financial analysis and allowed me to select electives that aligned with my career goals.”
Take the next step
Choosing a finance master's degree is a big decision. Connect with us or attend an upcoming event to learn more about which of our graduate programs in finance is best aligned with your goals.
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