It has been too long since I last updated everyone on the Ohio State University Masters in Finance program. The school has updated its placement information with a lot more detail and the 2018 class profile is posted. There is also a partnership with the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (“CAIA”) designation that I think is pretty unique. As one of the older MSF programs out there, these constant changes and developments are great. Read below for more information.
Class of 2018 Profile
The class of 2018 has 60 students total. This is a large class, but not unreasonable when I compare it to other programs. The program is largely international, but an impressive 13 countries are represented. I think one of the best aspects of doing a masters program are the students you meet. All in all, this shows how the program has grown and been able to attract students from around the world. Another interesting take away is how diverse the undergraduate majors are and the fact that 48 different undergraduate institutions are represented.
- Average GPA – 3.52
- Average GMAT – 652
- Average GRE Verbal – 153
- Average GRE Quantitative – 162
Partnership with Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association
This is a first for me and not something I routinely see. I have a number of friends who have their CAIA and I have looked at the materials myself. Very interesting subject matter and great for anyone going into alternative investments, wealth management, asset management, etc.
Per the Ohio State University website:
“The partnership with the CAIA Association will provide eight Fisher students with scholarships to sit for the CAIA Charter, an internationally-recognized credential granted upon successful completion of a rigorous two-level exam series, combined with relevant work experience. Earning the CAIA Charter is the gateway to becoming a member of the CAIA Association, a global network of more than 8,400 alternative investment professionals located in more than 90 countries.”
Career Outcomes
The school just posted some updated career outcome information that I think might be helpful.
- Average Starting Salary – $63,840
- % Accepting an Offer Within 6 Months of Graduating:
- Domestic – 95%
- International – 85%
- All students – 88%
The majority (38%) of students went into investment management. This doesn’t surprise me since I believe the school is both a CFA partner program and also working with the CAIA. The next bigger percentage of students (20%) went into corporate finance/investment banking. The rest went into a variety of different industries such as real estate, commercial banking and consulting. Pretty diverse outcomes. Placements are also spread across the country which should help students graduating from the program as they will have alumni from coast to coast.
Admissions
The program has officially ended its rounds of admission, but I would encourage anyone who is still considering the program to email the school and see if they have spots open. They mention on the site that they will still accept applications on an as needed basis. There is always some shift between admitted students and those who commit. Just because the application cycle is closed doesn’t mean there still isn’t a chance to find a seat.
All in all, lots of positive things going on at the Ohio State University Masters in Finance program. I’ve always liked the school and how the program was set up. Over the years my respect has only grown. I especially appreciate the frequent updates the program tries to do. I think it helps students pick a school and shows they care about providing information for students to try and make their decision with.
Here is a link to the Ohio State University Masters in Finance program
