M.S. in Finance
Mastery makes your career move faster. Our M.S. in Finance program will help you earn the credentials you need for that next big promotion. Learn from Big Ten faculty in relevant online classes and plan for advancement with personalized career coaching.
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Prepare to Advance Your Career
The value of our Master of Science in Finance degree continues to rise as it was recently accepted into the CFA® Institute University Affiliation program. Entry into this program signifies our curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and prepares students to sit for the Chartered Financial Analyst examinations.
Expert Instruction
Learn from Big Ten Faculty who will provide you with relevant, hands-on experience.
Learn MoreProjected Growth in Demand
The job outlook for finance is strong with projected growth of 11% over the next decade, so now is the perfect time to become proficient in finance and have the credentials to prove it.
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Start Your Application
May Start | Apply by April 1
August Start | Apply by July 1
January Start | Apply by November 1
Admission Requirements
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Admission Requirements
The M.S. in Finance program application deadlines is July 1 for the following Fall semester.
Prerequisites for M.S. in Finance
Prerequisites for the M.S. in Finance include college-level statistics and college-level calculus. We also recommend students have taken introductory courses in finance, accounting and economics prior to applying to the program.
Bachelor’s degree, 3.0 GPA recommended
Official transcripts are required for admission.
GMAT or GRE score
- A GMAT score of 600 (GMAT Focus Edition equivalent score: 555) is highly recommended. Alternatively, a comparable GRE score will be considered. Scores must be from the last five years.
- Applicants who hold a Ph.D., JD, MD or Pharm D, or are currently enrolled in medical school do not have to submit a GMAT or GRE score. Applicants who have been admitted to the Nebraska College of Law do not have to submit a GMAT or GRE score.
- If you have 5 or more years of significant managerial, operational or decision-making experience and an acceptable undergraduate GPA, you are not required to submit a GMAT score. You must, however, submit as a reference your current supervisor who can verify your work experience. Please include this person as one of your references in section 3 below. In the first part of your Personal Statement, you should include your request for the GMAT waiver based on your work experience. All GMAT waivers will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for a GMAT waiver, candidates must start an application.
- If you choose to take the GMAT, please have your results forwarded to Nebraska (school code S40-HW-48). Once you take the exam, enter your unofficial scores into the graduate application. GMAT scores more than five years old will not be accepted. Please visit the official GMAT website for more information and to register for the test.
- If you choose to take the GRE, please have your results forwarded to Nebraska (school code 6877). Once you take the exam, enter your unofficial scores into the graduate application. GRE scores more than five years old will not be accepted. A comparison tool is available to see how your GRE scores compare to our recommended 600 GMAT. Please visit the official GRE website for more information and to register for the test.
Three reference names and contact information
All three references must be former or current supervisors or professors. Nebraska will contact your references only if the committee deems it necessary. You do not need to include letters of recommendations.
Personal Statement
All applicants are required to submit a personal statement of 750 words or less through the graduate application. The statement is evaluated on content, sentence structure and grammar. Your personal statement should include the following:
- Briefly describe your past professional experience and relevant skills.
- What would you contribute to our program?
- What are some of your short- and long-term professional goals?
- How would a University of Nebraska–Lincoln M.S. in Finance assist you in achieving your goals?
Professional Resume
A professional resume should be submitted through the graduate application. Please include the following: relevant work experience, skills and involvement and education.
TOEFL exam (required for international students)
TOEFL score (minimum score of 550 written, 213 computer based or 80 iBT)
Alternatively, international students may submit IELTS scores. A score of 6.5 is required.
Admission Process
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Admissions Process
Apply
Apply online and submit the $50 application fee.
Upload Supporting Documents
All Supporting Documents including unofficial transcripts and test scores are uploaded directly via the graduate application.
You are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each post-secondary institution you have attended during the application review process.
Submit Official Transcripts
If you are admitted, you will be required to submit an official transcript sent directly from each institution you have attended to The Office of Graduate Studies. We recommend that you complete this task before your admitted term begins. A hold will be placed on your account if they do not receive your official transcripts by October 1 for the fall term, February 1 for the spring term and July 1 for the summer term. Students will have until that day to submit official transcripts or your admission will be rescinded.
Transcripts can be sent electronically to graduate@unl.edu or by mail to
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Graduate Admissions
1100 Seaton Hall
Lincoln, NE 68588-0619
International Student Transcript Submission
If you are an international student, please refer to the Nebraska Office of Graduate Studies for transcript and document information.
International Transcript Information
Additional information on Application Requirements can be found at Graduate Studies website.
"As a working professional, wife, mother of busy kids and someone who prioritizes time for my own health, I needed a program that would offer time flexibility without compromising the rigorous curriculum of finance. Nebraska has done just that."
- Allison Dahl, '21
Info Session
Join us to learn more about the M.S. in Finance program by attending a virtual info session. There is no cost for the webinar. Please register to receive the Zoom information and your online passcode.
| April 17 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (central) | Register Now |
Fair Tuition
$700 per credit hour
Nebraska's online master's programs are one of the best values for the money because of our combination of fair program cost and strong preparation for career advancement.
The flat $700 per credit hour rate applies to all students, regardless of where you live. Compared to similar programs, our students pay over $18,000 less over the course of the program.
In accordance with Federal Financial Aid requirements, Nebraska provides an estimated Cost of Attendance as a standardized estimate of the overall cost of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for a specific period. It represents the best estimate of expenses a student might expect to incur.
| Breakdown of Tuition & Fees: | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $639.00 |
| Technology Fee | $11.00 |
| Library Fee | $8.25 |
| Online Course Fee | $35.00 |
| Registration Fee | $20.00 per 3 credits |
| Total | $700.00 |
*Based on 2024-25 Tuition Rates
Talent Investment Program
We offer three-year flexible partnership agreements for companies and organizations to offer a 15% tuition reduction for Nebraska's online business master's degrees and graduate certificate programs to their employees and members. There is no minimum or maximum number of students required to take advantage of the program.
Advance Your Career with a Purposeful Curriculum
The M.S. in Finance curriculum is designed to provide you with the fundamental skills that employers need to make the smartest financial and investment decisions, and it’s the same curriculum that will assist in preparing you for certification exams or your next career move.