The University of Illinois Masters in Finance program is, if I remember correctly, the oldest MSF in the united states. I definitely know that this program has been around for a very long time and has been producing MSF graduates since before I started my program. UIUC is a very well respected university both nationally and internationally and this brand recognition makes this a popular program with domestic as well as international students. It has been a year since I last wrote about the program – far too long. I promise to make this program one of the ones that I check back in with more frequency. Enjoy the update.
Overview
This is a three semester, STEM-designated MSF program providing students strong foundation in the principles and practices of finance. Students can choose electives and pick from 6 different tracks, allowing for a focused education depending on your individual interests (tracks listed below).
- Asset Management
- Corporate Finance
- Data Analytics and Fintech
- Quantitative Finance
- Real Estate
- Finance Research (PhD Specialization)
The UIUC MSF also allows for an option full semester practicum project which I love as it allows you to work on real world problems, amazing from a learning perspective as well as helpful in bolstering your resume.
Admissions
The application process is pretty standard with its requirements. They give guidance on what the personal essay should answer, which I like – What is your area of interest in finance? What are your goals upon completion of the MSF program? What choices have led you to your current career path and position?.
The application cycle is now open for the fall class, with plenty of time to apply.
Application deadlines for Fall 2021:
- Round 3 Deadline: May 2, 2021*
- *Final deadline for international applicants requiring a visa
- Round 4 Deadline: June 13, 2021
Application deadlines for Spring 2022:
- Round 1 Deadline: September 12, 2021*
- *Final deadline for international applicants requiring a visa
- Round 2 Deadline: October 10, 2021
Class Profile
I compared this to what I wrote last year and it looks as if they haven’t updated the class profile for this years program, but I wanted to include the results since I think they are helpful when you are trying to compare your stats with who has gotten into the program. This is a larger MSF so plenty of room for students.
- Class Size – 133 Students
- Avg. GPA – 3.41
- Avg. GMAT – 686
- Avg. GRE – 317
- Avg. Work Experience – 9 months
Tuition
I compared this to last year and there has been a slight increase in tuition, but not a lot. Please keep in mind that tuition and fees are subject to change without notice.
| Costs | Fall ’20 | Spring ’21 | Fall ’21 | Total |
| Tuition | $20,815 | $20,815 | $20,815 | $62,445 |
| Campus Fees | $2,375 | $2,508 | $2,508 | $67,391 |
| Total | $23,190 | $23,323 | $23,323 | $69,836 |
There is also an additional International Student Fee of $35 that will be assessed.
Career Outcomes
The university does a good job of listing all the historic hiring firms and placements for students, something I like. I’d love to see this broken out by year, but sometimes this doesn’t really show the correct picture. Either way, some impressive firms and a long history of helping students find jobs and start their careers.
- 90% Placement rate within six months of graduation (2019 graduates)
-
$4,023 Average signing bonus (2017-2019 Graduates)
You can find a full list of hiring firms here at the programs career resources page, but I have included a sample list of hiring companies below:
| Allstate | Deloitte | HSBC |
| American Express | E&Y | KPMG |
| BMO Harris | General Motors | Northern Trust Bank |
| Citi | Goldman Sachs | PayPal |
| CITIC Securities | Grant Thornton | Wells Fargo |
—
This is the update for now. As you can see, the program has been doing very well and placing students into some well respected firms. Plenty of time to get an application in as well. Ill update this program much more often going forward.
Here is a link to the University of Illinois Masters in Finance Program
