For the second consecutive year, Marshall’s Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program is ranked #1 in the United States by the Financial Times. The ranking is determined by two sets of criteria: school data including the program’s international reach and the diversity of faculty, board members, and students by gender and citizenship; and an alumni survey that calculates current salary averages and the difference in salary before and after completing the master’s program.

The MS in Finance is a pre-experience program designed for young professionals early in their careers. Grounded in a rigorous STEM curriculum, students have the opportunity to explore their course options through flexibility and specialization across a variety of functions, including commercial and investment banking, quantitative research and trading, risk management, venture capital, private equity, sales and trading, impact investing, and fintech.

According to experts, Gen Z professionals seek a return on investment when it comes to their future prospects and are leaning toward careers in finance and accounting. After just 16 months, Marshall’s MS in Finance program graduates students ready to join the finance sector immediately.

“If you compare Marshall’s program to other schools across the U.S., and even in Asia or Europe, they are not doing the experiential learning to the same level that we are,” said JULIA PLOTTS, outgoing MSF academic director and professor of clinical finance and business economics. “A foundation of real-world projects that complements theoretical knowledge is far more valuable to employers. Companies like our students because they’re strong and that is what makes them attractive for placement.”

Regardless of the student’s aspirations, the MSF program has a path for them.

“If a student comes in and is interested in consulting, then we want them to have access to all of our amazing management and organization faculty who teach these strategy courses,” Plotts continued. “Some of them will go into asset management, others will choose corporate or real estate finance. The program was built to offer unique elective courses that leverage the expertise of our faculty across departments and centers.”

The diversity of electives offered — finance, strategy, entrepreneurship, and data science — enhances the classroom experience and provides mentorship and networking opportunities as MSF students overlap with Marshall MBA and other specialized master cohorts within these courses.

“The MSF curriculum gives students a strong technical background in all aspects of finance — securities valuation, investments, risk management, and more — that are increasingly required in the finance industry to remain competitive as new technologies increase the speed and sophistication of our financial markets and businesses,” explained Shane Shepherd, academic director for the Master of Science in Finance Program and an assistant professor of clinical, finance, and business economics. “Marshall’s MSF program aims to place our students at the forefront of this curve.”