Master of Financial Analysis Frequently Asked Questions

The Master of Financial Analysis degree is a 33 credit program that can be taken on a full or part-time basis. This is a lock step program for full-timers, meaning students will take the same set of academic classes. Students will take five courses in the Fall and five courses in the Spring.

Part-time students have up to 4 years to complete the program and must take the same set of classes in their first and second semester. After that, they are free to take the remaining classes at their own pace, within the maximum time frame. Part-time students are accepted in both the Fall and Spring semesters. Students must complete an Accounting for Managers course before the first semester.

Please review our curriculum for more details.

The CFA exams are only given in English. In addition, English is the language of business. Our program is designed to not only prepare students academically, but the program also provides a way for students to improve their English proficiency. By taking our Summer Intensive Business English (SIBE) program, successful students should perform  better in their finance classes as well as on the CFA exams. Our SIBE program focuses on strengthening English speaking, writing, listening, and reading skills, while expanding practical skills such as professional networking, public speaking and giving presentations, analyzing business publications, conducting meetings, interviews, and negotiations, writing persuasively, and other critical proficiencies. All international students  required to take the TOEFL will be required to attend our 6 week (25 hours per week) SIBE program.  Students will be placed in SIBE classes based on their level of English proficiency from lower intermediate to advanced. International students, exempted from taking the TOEFL (see Admissions) will still benefit from taking the summer intensive English coursework and are strongly urged to do so.

For more information about our SIBE program, please click here.

No. The MFinA program, like all accredited degree programs at Rutgers Business School, provides you with an education not training. The courses are rigorous and teach students to assess and solve problems. The CFA designation certifies to employers that you have the ability to add value to your firm. Many different types of firms value applicants who are proceeding toward the CFA designation. As a result the following list of what jobs CFAs do (source CFA Institute) reflects the value of our degree and the designation to a diverse set of company types:

• 22% Portfolio Manager
• 16% Research Analyst
• 7% Chief Executive
• 6% Consultant
• 5% Corporate Financial Analyst
• 5% Financial Advisor
• 5% Relationship Managers, Sales, & Marketing
• 5% Risk Manager
• 4% Investment Banking Analyst
• 3% Manager of Managers
• 3% Accountant/Auditor
• 3% Strategist
• 3% Trader
• 1% Broker
• 1% Performance Measurement Specialist
• 1% Private Banker

1. We consider:
   1. The applicant's previous coursework
   2. How many quantitative classes the applicant has taken
   3. How well the applicant did in those classes
2. Applicants must have completed at least one semester of calculus, as well as upper level probability and statistics.
3. Applicants must have a high level of performance on the GRE or GMAT and TOEFL. 
   1. GRE: 5529
   2. GMAT: QK5-XT-02
   3. TOEFL iBT: B355
4. Applicants must submit a complete application packet, which consists of two letters of recommendation as well as the application. For further information, please contact the Admissions Office directly at: (973) 353-1234.
5. Further considerations include:
   1. Level of Education: we expect to receive applications from students who hold Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees in areas such as: mathematics, sciences, engineering, economics, management, etc.
   2. GPA: we do not have a set minimum GPA requirement for admission to our program. However GPA is an important factor in assessing the overall strength of each application.
   3. Work Experience:  Not required for full-time students, but could provide a significant 'edge' in the application process. The part-time program is geared toward working professionals. As such, it is strongly suggested that applicants have at least two years of work experience. 
   4. Context: applications are evaluated on the strength of each application on its face and within the context of the overall applicant pool.

For international applicants who have not studied at an American university for 2 or more years or have not taken an American financial accounting class in the last 3 years, classes start at the beginning of July.

For international applicants who have studied at an American university for 2 or more years and have taken an American financial accounting class in the last 3 years, you will attend the International Student Orientation at the end of August.

For US citizens or permanent residents, classes begin on the first day of the fall term.

Our 20 month Part Time program only starts in the fall. Our flex part time program starts in either the fall or spring.

Note that US government visa rules require international students studying in the US to attend full time. Therefore our part time programs are only available to US citizens and permanent residents. 

Yes. A part-time option is available and geared toward working professionals with at least two years of work experience. Our 20 month Part Time program only starts in the fall. Our flex part time program starts in either the fall or spring.

Note that US government visa rules require international students studying in the US to attend full time. Therefore our part time programs are only available to US citizens and permanent residents.

The Rutgers MFinA full-time program is taught at Rutgers Business School's $85 million building on the Livingston campus, one of five campuses that make up Rutgers University-New Brunswick, a secure, suburban campus in rural New Jersey. Students interested in the part-time program have the option of taking courses on the Livingston campus, on the Newark campus and any satellite campus locations.

Students in this program are eligible for financial aid and assistance that are currently available to all graduate students (i.e. state and federal loans and grants). We offer a small number of $5,000 merit based scholarships to deserving enrollees. We do not offer teaching assistantships or graduate assistantships at this time.

The Master of Financial Analysis degree is designed to cover over 70% of the material covered on the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level I exam. As stated on the CFA Institute website:

"The CFA Program is a globally recognized, graduate level curriculum that provides a strong foundation of real-world investment analysis and portfolio management skills along with the practical knowledge you need in today’s investment industry. It also emphasizes the highest ethical and professional standards."

For more information on the CFA designation, visit the CFA Institute website.

Yes. There are graduate student dorms on both Livingston and Busch campuses. Livingston on-campus housing is the closest location to Rutgers Business School, but all New Brunswick/Piscataway on-campus housing is easily accessible by our expansive bus system. To find out more information about graduate on-campus housing including rates click here. Information on dining services can be found by clicking here. A good overview on life at Rutgers as a graduate student can be found by clicking here. To view all of our bus routes, click here.

We will run a non-credit short course on ethics during the program. The course will be held on a Friday so that your other classes are not impacted. To prepare for the ethics portion of the exam you should attend the 7 hour non-credit ethics class.

Level I of the CFA exams is given in December and June. It is anticipated that graduates of the MFinA program will take the Level I exam in June following graduation.

Once your coursework is finished in May, we have arranged for the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of New York (CFASNY) to hold a four day boot camp on our New Brunswick campus. This "boot camp" will bring together all of the topics you have learned in your coursework. The CFASNY is a member institution of the CFAI. They have been offering review classes for over 25 years. All review classes are taught by CFA charter holders. For more information click here.

If, in the 3 years prior to the beginning of the fall term, you have completed a financial accounting class at an Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business accredited university, that class will replace the Accounting for Managers class taught in the program. Students will receive advanced standing and are waived from being required to enroll in the class. This will decrease the required credits from 33 to 30. All other courses must be taken at Rutgers Business School.

The Career Management Office provides career-related counseling, resources, and programs to help current MFINA students and alumni to clarify career goals, establish career plans, and develop job-search skills. We build relationships with alumni, employers, and other career offices to optimize career opportunities while also creating strategic partnerships with our stakeholders.

In addition, the career management office established a partnership with an immigration law firm to provide our employers with set fees and resources for obtaining work visas and employment-based permanent residence options. RBS established a partnership with The Chinese Finance Association, which provides mentoring and professional networking opportunities for current MFINA students.

The strongest job growth for CFAs is in the Asia-Pacific region. While only 15% of CFA charter holders are from the Asia-Pacific Region, nearly 45% of those registered to take the CFA exams were from the same region, indicating strong interest in obtaining the CFA designation in Asia and the Pacific Rim¹. Matthew Richards, CFA, in a 2006 article in the Financial Times², points out that while in the US, 25% of the employees in jobs for which the CFA is a credential are CFAs - that number is only 2% in China and India. This indicates very strong prospects for CFAs in those countries.

We expect some of our students to obtain jobs in the Asia/Pacific Rim area. Resources that can help you achieve jobs in that region are available at CFA Career Services,  including Job Line - a CFA exclusive job board service to apply for top investment jobs throughout the world. Students are urged to join the CFA Institute as candidates and obtain the "CFA Career Guide For Asian Pacific Region."

CFA Career Guide for Asia-Pacific FinanceCFA Career Guide India

1 Source CFA Institute
2 "Crouching tiger hidden dragon - CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST: India and China are likely to leap to prominence in the world of staff trained in finance," by Matthew Richards CFA, Financial Times, June 19, 2006, page 6.

MFINA graduates from the Class of 2023 reported a 81% employment rate* within 6 months of graduation. Note: based on 95% response rate.

MFINA graduates from the Class of 2022 reported a 95% employment rate within 6 months of graduation. Note: based on 95% response rate.

*Placement rate defined as the percentage of graduates who either return to home country to work or obtain employment in US within 6 months of graduation.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows graduate students with F-1 visa status, and who have been pursuing a degree for more than nine months, to work to obtain practical training in their field.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment directly related to an F1 student’s major area of study and is commensurate with the level of education being sought. An F1 student may be authorized 12 months of OPT for study at one education level and may become eligible for another 12 months of OPT after changing to a higher educational level. An F1 student with a degree majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) may apply for extension of an additional 24-month OPT while in a valid period of post-completion OPT. Students in English language training programs are ineligible for practical training.

Yes. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows graduate students with F-1 visa status, and who have been pursuing a degree for more than nine months, to work to obtain practical training (OPT) in their field. The USCIS allows graduates of certain programs to have an additional 24 months of OPT beyond the normal 12 months. These programs are called “STEM” programs and our program qualifies as a STEM degree. As a result of the MFINA STEM designation, students that graduate from the Rutgers Master of Financial Analysis program are eligible to work with a student visa for up to 36 months following graduation.

As a new student, you would need to come into the U.S. and report to Rutgers to activate your SEVIS record and legal status. If you are enrolled for the summer/fall, and unable to come to the U.S., your F-1/J-1 record would need to be deferred to the start of the next semester. You may be able to begin your program from overseas if your department/school provides remote instruction options, but your immigration status would only be activated when you are able to enter the U.S.

More information about delayed enrollment, as well as possibly beginning Rutgers enrollment and courses while abroad (using online or other methods), will be outlined in future communications.

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