Admissions

Let’s Connect

Our admissions specialists are happy to discuss any questions or concerns you might have about the application process, admissions requirements, or any other aspect of the program. We’re eager to meet you and provide personalized support as you explore our program.

 

MSF@Utah.edu
David Eccles School of Business
Robert H. and Katherine B. Garff Building, Room 2350

2025 Application Deadlines

Domestic Applicants

Spring Semester
Priority Deadline September 3
Scholarship Deadline November 1
Final Deadline December 23
Fall Semester
Priority Deadline May 1
Scholarship Deadline June 1
Final Deadline August 9

International Applicants

Spring Semester
Priority Deadline August 30
Final Deadline October 1
Scholarship Deadline November 1
Fall Semester
Priority Deadline February 3
Final Deadline April 1
Scholarship Deadline June 1

Priority Deadline

By submitting a complete application (including all required documents) by the priority deadline:

  • You will receive an early admission decision.

  • If admitted, you will have first pick of course offerings.

International Exception

International applicants who do not require a new F-1 Visa may be able to apply after the international deadline.
Please contact MSF@Utah.edu to learn more.

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    Explore Your Future in Finance

    Join us online to learn how our MSF degree can provide you with the knowledge, skills, and support required for a successful career in finance. We will share unique insights and answer any questions you may have.

    Wednesday, February 19 | 

    12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MT

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Admission Requirements

Please complete the MSF online application to be considered for the program. In the Academic Program section of the application, select Finance MSF from the dropdown list.

The application for both spring and fall opens for the coming year on August 1st. Applications for spring enrollment will be evaluated during the months of August through December. Applications for fall enrollment will be primarily reviewed during the months of January through July.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early and at least two weeks prior to the final deadline. Once your application is complete, your application will be included in a committee review for a program admissions decision. We define a complete application as having received all application requirements including, two letters of recommendation from a professional or academic source, and if applicable, a completed third-party transcript evaluation and an official English language proficiency exam score that meets the program requirements. You will receive email confirmation once your application is considered complete and ready for review. Committee reviews are typically held every two weeks.

The University of Utah Residency Office will evaluate whether you meet the criteria for residency in the state of Utah and eligibility for in-state tuition.  Apply for reclassification to qualify for in-state tuition. Please follow their instructions and deadlines for reclassification. Note you must reclassify before you start the program, as reclassification will no longer be an option for you once you begin the program.

The David Eccles School of Business seeks candidates who are professional and ethical. These behaviors are considered when making admission decisions. Candidates are expected to demonstrate professional and ethical conduct and disposition in their interactions with program staff, fellow students, and faculty.

Applicants must have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. International applicants can find more details pertaining to this requirement in the International Applicants- Additional Requirements section.

Applicants must have earned a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA in their undergraduate degree.

International Applicants must complete additional admissions requirements.

Transcript Evaluation

A course-by-course transcript evaluation must be obtained from an NACES-approved organization selected by the university. The university will cover the cost of this evaluation after you submit your application and we have received your official English language proficiency score. This process normally takes one to two weeks, but during peak periods, this process may take up to 3-4 weeks. Submitting your program application at least four weeks before the final deadline will ensure that you remain eligible for your desired start term.

To facilitate a course-by-course evaluation, please include the following documents with your application:

  1. Unofficial transcripts from all institutions you attended to obtain your bachelor’s degree.
  2. A copy of your diploma.
  3. We do not accept 3-year degrees. However, if you completed a 3-year bachelor’s degree followed by a 1-2 year post-baccalaureate degree, please also include an unofficial copy of your post-baccalaureate transcript and diploma.

Upon admission to the program, you will be required to submit official transcript(s) from the institution(s) where you earned your bachelor’s degree. If these transcripts are in a language other than English, official English translations must also be provided.

English Language Proficiency

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency and the ability to contribute to classroom discussion and interact with faculty and peers. You can find more information about this requirement, as well as a list of countries where English proficiency may not be required here.

We accept the following English language proficiency exams with minimum scores.

  • TOEFL (iBT or computer version only): 90
  • IELTS (IELTS Academic only): 7.0
  • Duolingo: 115

While you may meet the minimum score requirements, this does not guarantee admission into the program. If you score below the minimum, you must re-take the exam before the final deadline.

It takes approximately 2-4 weeks for Utah Admissions to receive and mark the official TOEFL and IELTS scores as having been received. It takes approximately 7 business days for Utah Admissions to receive and mark the official Duolingo scores as having been received. Please account for this timeline when scheduling exams and sending official score reports.

Make sure to send your electronic official English language scores the right way to avoid delays.

  • TOEFL– You can either use the school code, 4853 or select the University of Utah to send your test score. Do not select the David Eccles School of Business.
  • IELTS– During or after the exam, select the University of Utah to repost your score electronically.
  • Duolingo– Log into your Duolingo account, select the “Send Results” button next to your test results and choose the University of Utah as the receiving institution.

I-20 Documentation for F-1 Visa

If you are admitted into the program, you are required to submit I-20 documentation by the appropriate I-20 deadline. The minimum financial amount that you must provide for the I-20 is not equivalent to the program’s tuition and fees. The program cost is lower than the I-20 cost. Without an F-1 Visa, you cannot start the program. Learn more here.

If you are on another visa, it’s in your best interest to consult with an immigration attorney and confirm you can enroll in a graduate program. Note you can only do OPT if you are on an F-1 visa. If you decide to switch to an F-1 visa, you will need to complete this step prior to starting the program.

The annual cost of living can fluctuate. Please refer to the University’s projected cost of living (located at the bottom of the page for estimated expenses related to graduate programs). Keep in mind that these estimates only cover two semesters, while your program may span a minimum of three semesters or more. It is essential to plan for additional expenses beyond the figures provided.

Note

We are committed to ensuring the accuracy and reliability of information used in the admissions process. All information provided by third-party vendors is subject to verification. For the most accurate and up-to-date details, we encourage you to verify any information directly with university representatives.

Ask Us Anything

Do you have questions? Join us online for an International Ask Us Anything Session where we share key information for international applicants and answer any questions you may have.

Applicants are required to obtain two letters of recommendation that demonstrate their unique abilities and experiences pertinent to the graduate program. The Admissions Committee would like to see details about your relevant abilities and experiences, especially those related to the field of study.

  • Choose recommenders who can effectively assess the quality of your work. If you possess full-time professional work experience, it’s preferable to include at least one recommendation letter from a professional. Additionally, we welcome letters of recommendation from faculty, academic advisors, volunteer supervisors, and internship supervisors.
  • We do not accept letters of recommendation from family or friends.
  • We may verify your recommenders by phone. Falsified application materials will disqualify your application to the program.

Applicants must complete two short essays. Please ensure that you review your essay for any misspellings, grammatical errors, or formatting issues before copying and pasting it into the designated essay text box in the application.

Short Essay 1

In 300 – 750 words tell us about a time you overcame adversity. What did you learn from the experience? How have you applied what you learned to your life?

Short Essay 2

In 300 – 750 words why are you pursuing the MSF? Explain how graduate school will contribute to your career goals.

Optional Essay

You have the option to upload an additional essay to address any perceived weaknesses in your academic transcripts or application. We highly recommend completing this optional essay if your GPA falls below the requirement or if there are instances of failed and/or repeated courses on your transcript.

In two minutes or less introduce yourself to the admissions committee and share with us something you’re passionate about. How have you worked to develop that passion. Your video should not exceed two minutes.

In the application, please upload your video in one of the following video formats: 3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, .wmv. We will not accept audio, slide, document formats, nor links (even though these are listed as options).

  • Submit a current, chronological resume (Resume Example)
  • Only include professional work experience. The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission defines professional jobs as those that usually require a college degree.
  • You may include internship experience if it is related to your graduate program of study.

In your application, you are required to list all higher education institutions you’ve attended and provide unofficial transcripts for each institution. While we can accept unofficial transcripts during the admissions stage, the unofficial transcripts must include: the name of the school, your full name, semesters, course numbers, course titles, course grades, semester GPAs, and cumulative GPA.

International applicants please see the International Applicants- Additional Requirements section for transcript details.

When you are ready to submit your application, you will be directed through a payment process. The non-refundable application fee may be paid via credit card or check. Please note that if you choose to pay by check, your application will not be reviewed until payment is received.

Application fees are $55 for domestic applicants and $65 for international applicants.

Prerequisites

Applicants are required to complete the following prerequisite courses with a B or better prior to applying and receiving an admission decision. Work experience cannot substitute the completion of prerequisites. Prerequisites are in addition to the graduate course requirements and will not count toward program completion.

NOTE: Starting Spring Semester 2025, applicants must complete the prerequisite courses with a B or better prior to applying and receiving an admissions decision.

  • Introductory Accounting
    • U of U BCOR 3010, ACCTG 5050 (offered online), or equivalent
  • Financial Management
    • U of U BCOR 3020, FINAN 5050, or equivalent
    • or
    • Series 7 License
    • or
    • CFA Level I

Corequisites:

Corequisites can count as part of your elective credits in the program.

  • Statistics
    • U of U OIS 2340, FINAN 6510, or FINAN 6510
  • Intermediate Excel
    • U of U FINAN 4020 or FINAN 6040

Academically high-achieving students have the option to bypass the admissions committee and receive an admission decision sooner. Qualified Fast Track applicants are no longer required to attain letters of recommendation.

To qualify for Fast Track, you must meet these requirements at the time of application.

  • Minimum 3.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
  • Must have already completed the prerequisite courses with a B or higher.

If you qualify for Fast Track, simply mark “yes” to the Fast Track question in your application. Please note that the admissions coordinator will verify that you meet the Fast Track requirements. If you don’t qualify, you will be asked to provide two letters of recommendation and your application will be put through to a committee review.

You have the option to complete the program with online and in-person classes to combine the flexibility of online teaching with the advantages and direct engagement of traditional teaching. This flexible way of teaching improves your overall experience and your ability to retain what you learn. If admitted, your Academic Advisor will work with you to plan your hybrid schedule.

Application Walkthrough: Applying Made Easy

Filling out an application doesn’t have to be difficult.  Schedule a call or video chat with us at your convenience so we can help you with your application. If you have questions about the application process, contact our admissions team.

Fall 2024 Class Profile

Countries Represented

15

Average GPA

3.54

Students Employed at Program Start

57%

Class Size

79

Age

Student Origin

Undergrad Majors

  • NEW

    Explore Your Future in Finance

    Join us online to learn how our MSF degree can provide you with the knowledge, skills, and support required for a successful career in finance. We will share unique insights and answer any questions you may have.

    Wednesday, March 19 | 

    5:30 pm - 6:30 pm MT

     | Online