MS in Finance

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Our Purpose Is Helping You Fulfill Yours.

Fairfield University's Master of Science in Finance provides unique opportunities for individuals who want to further their careers in the areas of investments, corporate finance, and banking. The MS in Finance can be pursued on either a full-time or part-time basis and consists of 10 three-credit courses. It's especially useful for those seeking certification as a chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial manager (CFM), or a financial risk manager (FRM). No matter which program you choose, you’ll work closely with a talented faculty committed to your career endeavors. Further, the Dolan School MS in Finance program is a member of the CFA® Institute University Affiliation Program (UAP).

CFA Institute University Affiliation Program is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.

Program Specializations

  • Business Analytics – develop your skills for continuous iterative exploration and investigation of past business performance to gain insight and drive business planning by using data and statistical methods.
  • Corporate Finance - broaden and deepen your skills in corporate development/strategic planning and/or risk management
  • Accounting – sharpen your accounting acumen. Candidates must have an undergraduate degree (BS or BA) with a major in accounting or the equivalent for the Accounting specialization.

This degree is STEM Designated and provides students with the ability to compete for the growing employment demand of jobs in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.

Fairfield Dolan | MS in Finance

Fairfield Dolan Rankings

U.S. News & World Report Rankings Badge
#26
Accounting
U.S. News & World Report Rankings Badge
#15
Marketing
U.S. News & World Report Rankings Badge
#17
Finance
U.S. News & World Report Rankings Badge
#18
Business Analytics
– U.S. News & World Report

Master of Finance Students at a Glance

21 – 34
Age Range

24
Average Age

3.58
Average GPA

35%
Female

65%
Male

Undergraduate Majors: Accounting / Business Administration / Chemistry / Computer Science / Economics / Finance / Information Systems / Liberal Arts / Mechanical Engineering / Politics

Working at: Morgan Stanley / PwC / JPMorgan Chase / Bank of China/ Bridgewater Associates/ Optima group/ SS&C Technologies/ O’Shaughnessy Asset Management

Requirements & Curriculum

Required Courses

Corporate Finance
Investment Analysis
Portfolio Management
Global Financial Markets and Institutions
Derivative Securities
Financial Risk Management
Research Methods in Finance
Select a specialization (Accounting, Business Analytics, or Corporate Finance) or three (3) elective courses

A detailed list of course requirements, offerings, and more can be viewed in the University’s course catalog.

Dolan Admission

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent) or have completed the equivalent coursework prior to beginning the program.

Graduate Fellowship

Fairfield Dolan offers merit-based graduate fellowships that provide substantial financial support towards the cost of tuition. In addition, students who qualify can apply for a competitive scholarship that covers much of the cost of attending. Admitted students are eligible to apply for a limited number of entrance scholarships. These one-time awards are applied to offset the cost of the first semester of study. As these are very competitive, it is best to apply early if you wish to be considered for this form of support.

Women in Scholars Program-for candidates interested in pursuing a Fairfield Dolan graduate degree program.  This scholarship also includes a mentoring component with Bank of America and Merrill Lynch.

Please contact Leanne De Los Santos at ldelossantos@fairfield.edu for additional information.

Stag Spotlight

Xinyi Chen headshot

Xinyi Chen

Financial Analyst at Paradigm Financial Partners, LLC
Read Xinyi's Testimonial
“Fairfield University is a great place to get inspired and learn. All the professors I met are full of knowledge and passion while the courses are comprehensive and challenging. The road to obtain the MS in Finance is more like a process of exploring self-potentials in the financial field. The most valuable thing I learned from Dolan is to believe in myself. In the wide ranging financial circle, I believe I could fit anywhere.”

— Xinyi Chen

Christopher D. Madden headshot

Christopher D. Madden

Class of ’19

Finance Investment Research Associate, CAPTRUST

Read Christopher's Testimonial
“People will always make the world go round. In line with its Jesuit mission, Fairfield University’s expert faculty instill the values to influence people and cultivate the know-how to understand what drive decisions that matter most. The MSF’s comprehensive curriculum integrates experiential learning with the critical nuts and bolts of finance. Fairfield Dolan launched me into the next phase of my career confidently and granted lifelong friendships along the way.”

— Christopher D. Madden ’19

Johnny Paradise headshot

Johnny Paradise

Associate Director, Business Development, Asset Manager Sector, Europe HSBC Markets & Securities Services
Read Johnny's Testimonial
“I really enjoyed the MSF program. The teaching format worked really well for me and the professors were some of the best I’ve had. They blended theory with real world experience and we always had lively debates, something I would actually look forward to.”

— Johnny Paradise

Juan Prieto, CAIA headshot

Juan Prieto, CAIA

Head of Alternative Investments, Mutual of Omaha

Read Juan's Testimonial
“The MS in Finance at Fairfield University catapulted my career to the next level by giving me the necessary tools to succeed as an investment analyst. The faculty was top notch and the curriculum was relevant and challenging at the same time.”

— Juan Prieto

More About Master of Science in Finance

The Fairfield Dolan Experience

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The Fairfield Dolan Experience

Diversity and Inclusive Excellence

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Diversity and Inclusive Excellence

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As a Jesuit, Catholic university, Fairfield is dedicated to diversity and inclusion; to radical hospitality in service of racial, social, and economic justice.

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Career & Professional Development

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Career & Professional Development

Today's graduate student must be prepared with skills to last a lifetime of job searches and career shifts. Dolan’s close partnerships with nationally recognized companies and successful alumni will open the door to top notch learning opportunities and lifelong connections. Whether students are looking to start their career, advance their career within their current organization, or pivot to another career, Dolan finance master's degree will provide students with the necessary skills and resources needed to succeed.

Engaged Alumni Network

Alumni play a significant role in the mentoring and advocacy of current students by helping our students gain industry or company insight through informational interviews, mentorship, and more.

Executive Series and Leadership Opportunities

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Executive Series and Leadership Opportunities

Complementing Fairfield Dolan’s traditional pedagogical mission is a series of diverse and distinctive events designed to enrich graduate student coursework including the Dolan Lecture, Dean’s Executive Forums, Fairfield StartUp Showcase, and Professional Development Series Events.

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Future-Ready Facility

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Future-Ready Facility

Fairfield Dolan’s 80,500 square foot, $40 million facility gives Fairfield business students every advantage they need to make them future ready.

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Dolan Newsletter

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Dolan Newsletter

Learn more about what our faculty and students are doing, as well as stay up-to-date on our rankings and accolades, programs, and more.

Read Our Newsletter

Dolan Report

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Dolan Report

We invite you to view the Dolan Update, a year in review of Charles F. Dolan School of Business News.

Read the Dolan Report

Advisory Board

Meet the Advisory Board Members

Advisory Board

Joseph P. Brennan
Global Chief Risk Officer
Vanguard 

Jorge Chiluisa ‘89
SVP, Relationship Manager
Siena Lending Group

Ed Fletcher
Partner
Atlas Holdings LLC

Tom Luglio ’86
Managing Director
Credit Suisse

Margarita Pineda-Ucero
Senior Consultant in Enterprise Risk Management & Chief Risk Officer
Women Dignity Alliance

Lindsey Pulito-Moore ’04
CFO of Bloomberg Enterprise Sales & Analytics
Bloomberg

Kyle Siebert ’08
SVP Private Banking
HSBC

John Welch ’87
Chief Executive, North America
AXA XL Reinsurance

Faculty & Administration

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Faculty & Administration

Fairfield University’s Charles F. Dolan School of Business boasts experienced faculty who teach students the fundamentals, ethics, and new developments in business on a local and global scale.

Meet the Faculty & Administration

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The MSF program is designed to accommodate a variety of students from different backgrounds. Pre-requisite coursework includes Financial Accounting, Statistics, Microeconomics, and Macroeconomics. Prerequisite coursework can be completed at Fairfield University. An Accounting workbook can be completed to demonstrate proficiency in lieu of a 3-credit course.

Full-time candidates can complete the program in as quickly as one year.
Part-time candidates can complete the program in as quickly as two years.

  • Traditional: 14-week
  • Accelerated: 7-week
  • Intensive
  • Summer: 7-week accelerated
  • Online or hybrid formats of any of the above schedules

Traditional courses are taught as lectures/seminars. Courses offered in other formats are designed to offer the same type of classroom experience as the traditional format. Some classes use online discussion, chats, blogs, electronic portfolios, and more as ways to enhance the course experience. Classes taught fully online deliver lectures through a variety of means, and use any or all of the above methods to ensure student participation, comprehension, and performance.

See tuition and fees for Fairfield University graduate programs.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

The GMAT/GRE exam is required for applicants to the MSF program. This requirement may be waived. Please refer to our waiver policy.

Yes, please review the application requirements for international students. The MSF program is STEM designated.

For information, please contact Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs Leanne De Los Santos at ldelossantos@fairfield.edu or 203-254-4000 x3219.

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