Boston College MSF Program: A Comprehensive Overview

Boston College's Carroll School of Management offers a comprehensive Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program designed to equip students with advanced financial knowledge and practical skills. This intensive professional course focuses on financial theory, quantitative analysis, financial modeling, and decision-making skills, preparing graduates for successful careers across diverse fields within the financial industry.

Program Structure and Options

The MSF Program is designed to meet the diverse needs of finance professionals, career changers, and recent undergraduates. The program is open to both those with work experience and those without. The BC MSF program offers a STEM-designated quantitative finance track. The full-time MSF option allows you to complete the MSF in one full year of study.

Full-Time Program: This option allows students to complete the MSF in one full year of study.
Part-Time Program: The part-time MSF option offers a flexible schedule, enabling students to earn their degrees while continuing to advance their careers. Part-time students take two classes per semester on average. Part-time students can start their program in the spring or fall.
Regular Finance Track: This is a 10-course program designed to be completed in 12 months of full-time study with one entry term in the fall. Students typically take four classes in each of the fall and spring semesters and finish their degrees by taking two classes during the summer. All students must complete Managerial Statistics, a self-paced online course, during the summer prior to arriving on campus.

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Quantitative Finance Track: Boston College’s MSF Quantitative Finance Track is a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) designated program. The Quantitative Finance track is a 10-course program designed for completion in 12 months of full-time study. Spring entrants take four courses in spring, two in summer, and four in fall. Fall entrants take four courses in fall, four in spring, and two in summer. All students must complete Managerial Statistics, a self-paced online course, prior to arriving on campus.

Curriculum Details

The MSF program offers two distinct tracks: the Regular Finance track and the Quantitative Finance track.

Regular Finance Track Curriculum

The Regular Finance track is a 10-course program designed to be completed in 12 months of full-time study. It has one entry term in the fall. Students typically take four classes in each of the fall and spring semesters, and finish their degrees by taking two classes during the summer.

All students must complete Managerial Statistics, a self-paced online course, during the summer prior to arriving on campus. Students will receive instructions and information about the course from the Graduate Student Services Office in June.

*Electives must be 6000- and/or 8000-level electives in the Finance department (MFIN). Finance department 7000-level courses are for MBA students only. Electives may have more than one pre-requisite.

Quantitative Finance Track Curriculum

The Quantitative Finance track is a STEM-designated, 10-course program, designed for completion in 12 months of full-time study.

Required courses include Investments, Corporate Finance, Management of Financial Institutions, and Financial Econometrics, along with four additional core courses and two electives.

Spring entrants take four courses in spring, two in summer, and four in fall. Fall entrants take four courses in fall, four in spring, and two in summer.

All students must complete Managerial Statistics, a self-paced online course, prior to arriving on campus.

Electives

*Electives must be 6000- and/or 8000-level electives in the Finance department (MFIN). Finance department 7000-level courses are for MBA students only. Electives may have more than one pre-requisite.

Important Considerations for Course Selection

Please Note: Students cannot earn credit for both MFIN8850: Global Macro and the Financial System and MFIN8855: Cross Asset Valuation Across Global Markets.

Course Waivers

Incoming students who took an MSF core course as an undergraduate may be eligible to waive the course and to replace it with an elective by passing a waiver exam. Waiver exams must be completed no later than the deadline of August 1. Incoming students requesting a course waiver must submit requests to Professor Michael Barry.

MSF students who received an undergraduate degree from Boston College and who achieved a minimum grade of B+ in an MSF core course taken at Boston College will be allowed to replace that course with an elective, provided they have taken the course within the past five years. Students who received a grade of B or lower or who took the course more than five years prior to starting the MSF program may take a waiver exam or they may retake the course with a professor other than the one who taught their undergraduate course.

STEM Designation

Boston College’s Master of Science in Finance (MSF) Quantitative Finance Track is a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) designated program. This classification allows international MSF graduates on an F-1 visa to potentially qualify for an additional 24 months of training in their field of study (called Optional Practical Training or OPT) beyond the standard 12 months.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must possess a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

You must submit transcripts from every institution where you were enrolled in a degree-granting program. At the time of application, only a self-reported transcript is required but if you are admitted, we will require an official transcript sent directly from your degree-granting institution. bachelor’s degree. bachelor’s degree before starting your application.

Applicants must submit GMAT or GRE scores from within the past five years. We accept both the GMAT Exam and GMAT Focus Edition. Full-time MSF applicants may request consideration for a GMAT/GRE waiver. Part-time MSF candidates may also request consideration for a GMAT/GRE waiver.

citizen or permanent resident, you are required to submit an English language proficiency exam score with your application. We accept TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores.

You have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree or a two-year master’s degree (or higher) at an institution where the medium language of instruction is English. You must have completed your degree in its entirety at the English-medium institution.

You have worked in a full-time, post-degree position for at least two years in the United States or a country where English is an official language.

All applicants must submit a required essay of no more than 500 words telling us about your past experiences, short- and long-term goals, and why you want to pursue an MSF at Boston College.

Application Process

Admission Decisions: Applications are generally reviewed on a rolling basis. This means that, provided their applications are complete, applicants may receive admission decisions before the notification deadlines. For priority consideration, applicants must submit their applications by the earliest date possible. Boston College undergraduates currently in the second semester of their junior year or at any point in their senior year are eligible to apply to the Master of Science in Finance program as fifth-year applicants.

Application Tips

We recommend limiting your resume to one to two pages. We want to hear about you and appreciate when applicants craft a unique response to the questions. Plenty of time to apply for both program, but if you have interest, I would strongly encourage getting things in order. Longer you go in the application cycle, the less spots available.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the MSF program (part-time and full-time) is $2,218 per credit hour.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

All domestic and international applicants to the full-time MBA, MSF, and MSA programs are considered for merit-based scholarships or fellowships. Award decisions are made and communicated with admission decisions. Graduate Assistantships can be offered in combination with scholarship awards, typically to full-time MBA and MSF students. For example, if a student is awarded a $10,000 scholarship, they will receive $5,000 in their first semester and $5,000 in the following semester. These institutional awards are awarded to exceptionally strong MBA, MSA, and MSF candidates.

The Carroll School of Management offers various fellowships and scholarships to support students in their academic pursuits:

Merit-Based Scholarships and Fellowships: All domestic and international applicants to the full-time MBA, MSF, and MSA programs are considered for merit-based scholarships or fellowships.
Graduate Assistantships: Graduate Assistantships can be offered in combination with scholarship awards, typically to full-time MBA and MSF students.
The Diane H. Weiss Fellowship: Established by classmates of Diane H. Weiss, MBA/MSW ’85 in consultation with Ms. Weiss’ father, Warren A. Weiss.
Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) Fellowships: The Carroll School of Management offers Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) Fellowships to full-time MBA applicants who have demonstrated commitment to advancing and supporting women in business. Candidates seeking to apply for this fellowship are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 from either a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and in their application, must submit an essay detailing examples of how they have actively supported and promoted the advancement of women in their professional, academic, or personal lives.
The John J. McMullen Fellowship: Established in 2003 by John J. McMullen P ’81, the fellowship recognizes exceptional candidates for the full-time MBA, MSF, or dual degree MBA/MSF programs who have graduated from the United States Naval Academy. Through the John J. McMullen Fellowship, the Carroll School may recognize exceptional candidates for the full-time MBA, MSF, or dual degree MBA/MSF programs who have graduated from the United States Naval Academy. Eligible candidates will be considered for the Fellowship through the Admission Committee’s review of their applications.
The Michael F. Price Fellowship: Through a gift established in 2000 by Michael F. Price.
Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) LGBT+ Fellowship: The mission of Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) is to increase the influence of the LGBT+ community in business by educating, inspiring, and connecting MBA students and alumni. As a ROMBA partner school, the Carroll School of Management offers the ROMBA LGBT+ Fellowship to two full-time MBA applicants.
R. Stephen Barrett, Jr. and Ruth T. Barrett Fellowship: Established in 2004 by R. Stephen Barrett, Jr., MBA ’78, P ’02 and Ruth T. Barrett.
Military Benefits: The Boston College Carroll School of Management recognizes that the leadership, teamwork, and critical-thinking skills developed through military service are excellent training for success in the business world. Automatic $100 application fee waiver. Veterans and military personnel are eligible for financial assistance with educational expenses through the GI Bill®. Additionally, Boston College is pleased to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Community Service

In alignment with Boston College’s Jesuit values, all Carroll School graduate students fulfill a community service requirement. The Carroll School has a proud tradition of service to our community. In keeping with that tradition and with our Jesuit heritage, all M.S.

Career Prospects

An MSF from the Carroll School is an excellent investment in your future. The Boston College’s MS in Finance program helps students deepen their knowledge of finance, broaden their career opportunities, and make names for themselves in their fields.

Program Update

We are excited to launch a pilot initiative that allows full-time MSF applicants to begin the Quantitative Finance track in the Spring 2026 semester. This new entry point provides added flexibility beyond the traditional fall start. Please note that enrollment for this cohort will be limited.

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