It has been a long time since I last checked in on the University of Houston Masters in Finance program. A lot has changed so I am going to used this update as an opportunity to refresh the program and provide an overview of the degree. Houston and all of Texas is seeing incredible growth and the finance sector in the city is incredibly strong. Anyone looking to work in Houston or Texas should definitely check this program out.
Overview
This is a 30 credit hour masters in finance program requiring 6 credits of required foundation courses, 3 credits of required advanced courses, and the remaining 21 credits from elective courses (taken from the schools site). You can customize the program to fit your specific career goals – Corporate Finance, Investments and Portfolio Management, Wealth Management, Quantitative Finance, Energy Finance and Real Estate Finance.
The MSF is part of the CFA University Affiliation Program and also focused on experiential learning. From the site:
- The Cougar Investment Fund (CIF) is a multi-million dollar private investment fund that is managed by selected MBA and MS Finance students.
- Investment and Portfolio Management Project is a 6-credit course taught by an industry expert that uses a virtual fund to simulate the fund management experience.
- Industry Consulting Project allows students to earn 3 credits over the summer while working on a real-life industry project.
The program is also STEM Certified which is important for international students. There is also an advisory board comprised of industry professionals who help provide curriculum guidance and networking for MSF students.
There is also an online option for anyone who is looking for more flexibility.
Admissions
The application process is pretty straight forward. Resume, transcripts, GMAT/GRE, references, etc. If you are a University of Houston business undergrad with a strong GPA you can qualify for a GMAT waiver – something very nice for anyone looking to go right into a masters from undergrad.
Deadlines for the program are as follows:
- Domestic Fall 2022 – July 15th
- Domestic Spring 2023 – November 1st
- International Spring 2023 – October 1st
Tuition for the program is broken out between resident, non-resident and international:
- Resident tuition and fees – $28.505.80
- Non-Resident tuition and fees – $44,165.80
- International Student (w/ resident tuition) – $32,816.80
- International Student – $48,476.80
These are as of writing (July 2022) and subject to change.
Career Information
The University of Houston Masters in Finance program has some placement information. On the schools career webpage they have employment information for the graduating class of 2019 (right before Covid). Over 90% accepted new jobs (92%) with an average salary of $69,214 (with a $6,357 signing bonus). Some of the top employers are:
- Ernst & Young
- JPMorgan Chase
- Exxon Mobil
- PWC
- BBVA
There is also a small class profile:
- Average GMAT – 615
- Average Years Work Experience – 3.3
- Domestic/International : 76% / 24%
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I am glad I checked back in with this program as I think it offers a lot to students. I will make an effort to keep up with this MSF as well. Until next time.
Here is a link to the University of Houston Masters in Finance Program
