Admissions
Eligibility
The MS in Finance, Investment, and Banking program is open to all UW–Madison undergraduate students. The program adds one incremental year beyond the undergraduate requirements.
Students who have already completed an undergraduate degree outside of UW–Madison may wish to consider the Wisconsin Full-Time MBA specialization in applied security analysis.
Important Dates
| Late January (junior year) | Application Due |
| February | Admissions interviews scheduled |
| March | Admissions decisions announced |
| Fall/spring semester (senior year) | Interviews for internships |
| Summer following senior year | Internships |
How We Decide
When considering applications to the MS in Finance program, we look for the following characteristics:
- Academic excellence, including an academic profile that will lead to graduate school admission
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Excellent analytical capabilities
- Leadership and collaboration skills
- Demonstrated knowledge of the profession and why it is a good fit for you
The admissions committee places some emphasis on a student’s involvement in activities outside the classroom, such as participation in student organizations. These activities help students develop the personal and professional characteristics that will support academic and career success.
Application Process
The application process to the MS in Finance program has two parts.
1. Apply to the MS in Finance program
Apply online to the MS in Finance, Investment, and Banking program in the spring semester of your junior year. The deadline to apply is in late January.
Apply now
2. Apply to the Graduate Program
Following your admission to the program as an MS in Finance candidate and at the start of your senior year, you will complete a separate, online application process with the UW–Madison Graduate School. This application process requires you to complete certain essays.
Program Tuition and Fees for 2024–2025 Academic Year
| Item | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $27,764.80 | $51,413.28 |
| Segregated Fees* | $1,596.62 | $1,596.62 |
| Yearly Total | $29,361.42 | $53,009.90 |
Exact tuition and fees are set each August by the state legislature; tuition may vary from year to year. Additional information is available from the Bursar’s Office.
*The segregated fee rate is updated each summer by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
**Minnesota residents may be eligible for reduced tuition as participants in the Minnesota–Wisconsin reciprocity agreement. Students certified under this agreement, although classified as nonresidents, are assessed the comparable instructional fees in effect at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities campus, plus the segregated fees assessed to all UW–Madison graduate students. Contact the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office for a reciprocity application.
Financial Support
- Financial support may be available for MS in Finance students in the form of tuition awards, CFA Institute scholarships, or teaching assistantship opportunities. Please contact us with any questions.
- In addition, each student completes a paid internship in the summer following the senior year.
- Students who join the Hawk Center’s Applied Security Analysis Program for the optional winter trip to New York City and Boston will have some of their travel costs subsidized.
- Additional resources are available from the Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Frequently Asked Questions
As an undergraduate student in finance at the Wisconsin School of Business, you will have several opportunities to learn about the MS in Finance, Investment, and Banking program and get answers to your questions. These include information sessions and one-on-one meetings with an advisor.
The schedule for MS in Finance events will be announced via email, in your undergraduate finance classes, and at student organization meetings. You are encouraged to attend these events to learn more about the curriculum, the admissions process, and career opportunities in investment research and portfolio management.
Yes! If this is your situation, you may need more than five years to graduate from both the BBA and MS in Finance programs at the Wisconsin School of Business. If you are committed to this program and feel it is a good fit for you, we will gladly work with you to accommodate your circumstances.
Not at all. This situation can occur when students made a commitment to pursuing finance early in their undergraduate studies. If you have already met some of the MS in Finance course requirements prior to your senior year as an undergraduate, an advisor will work with you to modify your course of study.
If you are not accepted into the MS in Finance program, you still have the opportunity to complete an undergraduate degree in finance at the Wisconsin School of Business and sit for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams. If this is your situation, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with your academic advisor; he or she can help you restructure your course plan to achieve your objectives. You may also wish to return to school full-time after gaining some professional work experience, entering a graduate program such as the Wisconsin Full-Time MBA with a specialization in applied security analysis.