MS Finance

Get a feel for Wall Street. Gain hands-on experience with real-world projects

Our Master's of Science in Finance (MSF) program offers an innovative and intellectually sophisticated curriculum that prepares graduates for leadership positions in the financial sector.

Whether you're advancing your career, prepping for the CFA exam, or expanding your suite of finance skills, craft your own degree with courses in investment banking, financial intermediation in emerging markets, investment analysis, and more.

Our focused curriculum will prepare you for professional certifications such as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA), among others.

Innovative Learning, Hands-On Training

Small class sizes and experiential learning blend finance theory with applied practical skills and prepare students for big opportunities in a competitive market.

Manage $850K in assets through our student-managed investment fund program, which provides real-world know-how in securities analysis and portfolio management, or get virtual trading floor experience in our cutting-edge financial services and IT lab.

Currently, students oversee about $850,000 in the student-managed investment fund, including assets from a variety of positions, including analysts, fund managers, and portfolio managers. The program mimics the structure of an asset management team, similar to those at Fidelity or Vanguard. Student analysts pitch an investment idea each week, which is then submitted to an advisory board for final approval.

The FSIT lab demonstrates the Kogod School of Business' commitment to preparing students for careers in global finance and technology-related areas, assisting in advanced research, and establishing stronger ties with the corporate community.

Farid Sadeeh, MS Finance student, knew Kogod was for him when he met the program’s faculty. “The professors are great. It’s a smaller program, so the faculty knows you by name. They really care what happens to you when you graduate.”

At Kogod, it's our mission to prepare our graduates to work and lead in all sectors of business: public, private, and nonprofit. We strive to create an interactive learning environment with a strong focus on experiential learning. Our students get hands-on experience in all facets of business through real-world projects inside and outside the classroom. Kogod's broad alumni network and location in our nation’s capital work hand-in-hand to connect our students to the business world beyond campus. The Kogod School of Business at American University is the oldest accredited business school in Washington, DC

Facts and Rankings

Kogod is dedicated to providing rigorous business education and research while encouraging a diverse and forward-thinking community. Our more than 2,500 students and 80 full-time faculty hail from dozens of countries around the world. We are regularly recognized for our commitment to our students and the global business community.

• CEO Magazine ranked Kogod School of Business in Tier 1 North America MBA Schools
• No. 1: Bloomberg Businessweek Best Undergraduate B-Schools for Sustainability (2013)
• No. 5: GraduatePrograms.com Top Accounting Programs (2015)
• No. 5: Princeton Review Full-time MBA in HR
• No. 5: Princeton Review Full-time MBA in Operations
• No. 7: US News & World Report Online Graduate Business Degree for Veterans
• No. 9: TaxTalent Best MS Tax Programs (2014)
• No. 9: The Princeton Review #9 Best Opportunities for Women (2016)
• No. 10: Poets & Quants for Undergraduates’ Top 20 Business Schools Most Popular with International Students (2014)
• No. 13: US News & World Report Full-Time MBA in International Business
• No. 14: US News & World Report Online MBA for Finance
• No. 14: US News & World Report Online MBA for Management
• No. 16: US News & World Report Online Graduate Business Degree
• No. 17: GraduatePrograms.com Top Marketing MBA Programs (2015)
• No. 18: Best Colleges for Earning a Business Degree by Fortune Magazine and Money.com (2015)
• No. 19: Best Value Schools MS in Analytics
• No. 19: Fortune Online MBA
• No. 21: U.S. News & World Report Best Undergraduate Business Specialty – International Business (2016)
• No. 22: QS Best Online MBA in the World
• No. 22: Real Estate Economics Journal Online MBA
• No. 25: US News & World Report Online MBA for Analytics
• No. 25: US News & World Report Online MBA for Veterans
• No. 26: College Factual Best Undergraduate Business Administration and Management program (2016)
• No. 28: TFE MS In Marketing
• No. 35: Princeton Review Best Graduate Entrepreneurship Program
• No. 40: US News & World Report Online MBA
• No. 40: QS MS in Marketing
• No. 41 QS MS in Analytics
• No. 43: Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2016 Best Full-time MBA: US (2016)
• No. 44: AmericaEconomia Full-time MBA
• No. 45: Environmental Sustainability Programs: Net Impact Business UNusual (2014)
• No. 51: Poets & Quants for Undergraduates’ Best Undergraduate Programs (2014)
• No. 58: Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2015 Best Full-time MBA: US (2015)
• No. 60: College Factual Best Undergraduate Accounting Program (2016)
• No. 62: Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2014 Best Undergraduate Business School
• No. 65: Forbes’ Full-time MBA Ranking (2015)
• No. 78: Poets & Quants’ Top 100 U.S. MBA Programs (2016)
• No. 80: Undergraduate U.S. News & World Report (2016)

Degree Programs

In addition to our Full-time MBA program, Kogod also offers seven specialized Master of Science degree programs in Accounting, Analytics, Finance, Marketing, Real Estate, Sustainability Management, and Taxation. Online options are available for the MBA and Analytics programs. We offer undergraduate business degrees with unmatched opportunities for specialization. From our multifaceted BS in Business and Entertainment to our new Entrepreneurship minor, Kogod is dedicated to providing a strong business base for tomorrow’s leaders, no matter what path they pursue. Students at Kogod have access to state-of-the-art facilities, such as our Financial Services and Information Technology Lab, and academic and career services through our Kogod Center for Career Development and Kogod Center for Business Communications. Kogod is also proud to partner with other schools and colleges at American University to support interdisciplinary dual-degree programs.

Accreditation and Memberships

American University's Kogod School of Business is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). AACSB accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Established in 1955, the Kogod School of Business has a diverse population that is driven to make a difference within organizations and in the world at large. Kogod is a proud member of the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), Principles for Responsibly Management Education (PRME) group, the Consortium for Undergraduate International Business Education (CUIBE), and the Stewardship Action Council (SAC).