Finance graduate programs prepare students to provideguidance to businesses by studying company financial statements and analyzing commodity prices, sales, costs, expenses and tax rates to determine a company's value by projecting its future earnings. Those with a graduate degree in finance assess the performance of stocks, bonds, commodities and other types of investments. Graduates typically work for banks, insurance companies, mutual and pension funds, securities firms, the business media and other businesses, making investment decisions or recommendations.
Finance Graduate Programs and Curriculum
Students have a variety of graduate finance degrees to choose from.
The Master of Finance, or M.Fin. degree, is a general graduate degree in finance, with a broader scope of financial topics covered in lesser detail.
In contrast, an MBA. in finance prepares students for graduate-level employment in a financial position and equips them with management training. Sometimes, there is an opportunity to specialize in one particular financial field.
A Master of Science in Finance doesn’t always require a bachelor’s degree in a mathematics or finance field, but an undergraduate degree of that genre is helpful. This degree is especially good for students who have little to no managerial experience, but have more of a finance background.
Still confused about which degree is right for you? Here are a few more points to consider. Do you have:
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Experience as a manger?
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Passion for numbers and money?
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An undergraduate degree in a field other than finance or mathematics?
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A desire to work in a specialized finance environment?
The M.Fin. or Master of Science in Finance may be the best choice for you, as you will gain a deeper knowledge of core courses related to financial topics.
On the other hand, do you have:
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Prior experience in the finance industry?
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Passion for numbers and money?
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An undergraduate degree in finance, economics or mathematics?
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A desire to work in a business-type environment?
If so, an MBA in finance may be the right choice for you. You may already have a deeper knowledge of the industry, and an MBA in Finance will help you gain the management skills and general business knowledge to keep your career moving forward.
Finance Career Paths
The opportunities for a graduate of a finance program are almost endless. From manufacturing to retail to transportation to government, there isn’t a single industry that couldn’t benefit from the input of a sound financial manager.

Data according to
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Ed.
Finance Future Job Outlook
Based on the Occupational Employment Statistics Survey done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean income for those employed in the financial sector was slightly more than $58,000 in May of 2010. Pay levels vary with the industry of employment. Employment is also expected to grow 20 percent by 2018.

Data according to
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Ed.