The University of Kentucky Masters in Finance program is a little over two years old now and there are a number changes that have come to my attention. The program continues to grow and mature and I have seen an increase of interest on the site regarding southern MSF schools. I spend a lot of time in Charlotte and Atlanta so this does not surprise me.
STEM Certified
The UK MSF just received STEM Certification. As all of you have read in the past, I think this is great news and quickly becoming the standard for MSF programs. International students will have a hard time attending a program that doesn’t have this and rightfully so. Being STEM Certified allows international students to stay in the United States for up to 3 years on their OPT. Definitely a game changer for anyone considering which program to choose.
Placements
Kentucky is pretty interesting in the fact that they list students names and where they have been placed. Talk about total transparency. I will respect the privacy of those individuals and only list positions below.
- Florida Financial Advisors
- Citizens Bank in Boston
- Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions
- Boston Innovation Growth Inc.
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
- Tempur-Sealy International
- Venture First
- Syneos Health
- AT&T
- Forge Innovation Development Corp
- US Dept of Defense
These placements are limited, but I like the fact that the school is celebrating where their students are going for work. I think it is helpful as you can see a mixture of corporate finance, commercial banking, government, etc.
Admissions
The application process is pretty standard when compared to other MSF programs. What I think makes the Kentucky Masters in Finance stand out is the fact that applicants can apply for a waiver for the GRE or GMAT exam. This is a big cost and time savings and a bright spot for individuals who have a tough time with standardized tests.
“The minimum undergraduate GPA requirement is 2.75. We accept either GRE or GMAT. The minimum for GMAT is 550. The minimum for GRE is 300 (V+Q+writing). We accept either TOEFL or IELTS: minimum TOEFL score is 550 (paper-based) 213 (computer-based), or 79 (internet-based). The minimum IELTS score is 6.5. However, the TOEFL/IELTS minimum requirement can be waived through a Skype interview.
The GMAT/GRE exams may be waived by the MSF Admissions Committee as part of the graduate test requirement. Sole discretion of any GMAT/GRE waiver remains with the MSF Admissions Committee and any waiver granted does not guarantee acceptance. The GMAT or GRE can still be recommended by the MSF Admissions Committee to strengthen the overall competitiveness of the applicant.
If you meet any of the following criteria, you may be considered for a waiver:
- If the applicant has been awarded a Masters, Doctorate, or a terminal degree such as in Law, Dentistry, Medicine or Pharmacy Doctorate, or presently enrolled in such programs and in good standing
- If the applicant has an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher
- If the applicant has professional work experience with heavy emphasis on finance, position(s) held, tenure, professional responsibilities and specific accomplishments in finance. Combined with career experience, additional considerations will be given to those who have demonstrated prior academic achievement and/or those who have obtained additional professional certifications (such as CPA, CFA, or FRM), professional trainings/courses and/or credentials.”
This is a pretty flexible policy and I think it will be of interest for many of you considering which masters program to apply to.
Miscellaneous
There are a lot of good things that the University of Kentucky Masters in Finance has going on for itself. The program is in the CFA Partner program. Students get real world experience managing the $5 million student managed fund. The business school has a new finance lab with CapIQ, Bloomberg and other industry leading financial software. Tuition for the current year is $37,750 for out of state students. Very reasonable.
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I hope this update was useful to everyone. The program continues to grow and I like a lot of the flexibility when it comes to admissions, as well as how affordable the program is. Placement transparency is also a good sign. I will try and get more information and maybe a student review. Until then, keep checking back for more!
Here is a link to University of Kentucky Masters in Finance Program
