The Saint Xavier University Master in Finance program is a program that I just found out about, proving that no matter how long you do something, you are always finding out something new. The university is located in Chicago, IL and offers an online masters in finance for those looking for flexibility in their education.
The Saint Xavier MSF builds their curriculum around the CFA Institute materials. I think this is a good blueprint for schools since the CFA is an industry standard within the financial community. The program requires 33 credit hours that can be completed in about two years (although I think a highly motivated individual could do this in one year). Students take 12 credits of core classes with another 21 credit hours on specialized classes. There are a number of data analysis and other quantitative classes that I think look pretty interesting.
Students need at least a 3.0 GPA (conditional admittance occurs below this and you’ll need a sufficient GMAT to get you in with a sub-3.0 GPA). GMAT is NOT REQUIRED for those with GPA’s above a B. The cost of the program is modest as well, coming in a $915/credit hour or under $33,000 for the whole thing.
There really aren’t too many online MSF’s out there (Georgetown, Indiana, Penn State) so this is a welcome addition. Online education isn’t for everyone, but the ability to advance your education at a reasonable cost and not have to travel after work or give up your job makes studying online a good option for some. I will try and post more as additional information on this program becomes available.
Here is a link to the Saint Xavier University Master in Finance Program