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Elevate Your Finance Expertise
To stay ahead of the competition in today's complex financial markets, savvy financial analysts and managers must have a clear grasp of how to maximize returns while mitigating risk. Leavey’s Master of Science in Finance and Analytics (MSFA) program combines finance fundamentals with innovative analytical capabilities to provide you with the skillset necessary for a dynamic career at the cutting edge of finance. Whether you are looking to go into corporate finance, investment management, or capital markets, the Leavey MSFA degree will place you at the forefront of emerging trends and evolving needs of the global marketplace.
With a beautiful 105-acre campus, Santa Clara University is located at the center of the most innovative region in the world, with over 7,000 companies and startups in Silicon Valley.
Leavey faculty are teaching scholars–often published in top-ranked journals and presenting at conferences all over the world. Learn more about our Finance & Analytics faculty.
Our curriculum blends team-based collaboration with cutting-edge business practices and hands-on projects, preparing students with skills to power dynamic 21st-century careers.
Combining our core values rooted in the Jesuit tradition with the dynamic ethos of Silicon Valley, we educate ethical business leaders who will work to make our businesses, our community, and our world a better place.
Tap into incredibly strong Leavey and Santa Clara University connections–25,000 and 100,000 alumni respectively. Explore Leavey's alumni network.
Classes are offered in the evenings and weekends to fit your life and goals. Plus, a variety of electives allow you to customize any Leavey degree to your interests and timeline.
Curriculum
Our practical, hands-on curriculum is taught by stellar faculty and distinguished Bay Area practitioners. Classes meet 2-4 days a week in the evenings or on weekends.
2 Units, 5 Weeks
4 Units, 10 Weeks
4 Units, 10 Weeks
4 Units, 10 Weeks
4 Units, 10 Weeks
2 Units, 5 Weeks
2 Units, 5 Weeks
2 Units, 5 Weeks
4 Units, 10 Weeks
4 Units, 10 Weeks
4 Units, 10 Weeks
2 Units, 5 Weeks
For a full list of electives, please visit the Graduate Bulletin.
MS students at the Leavey School of Business are required to complete an experiential learning program requirement in the form of either a practicum or capstone project. Students are able to use real data and apply their classroom learnings to real problems. In addition, it offers a unique opportunity to connect directly to leading companies and potential employers.
*Total academic units and available electives subject to change based on annual curriculum review and updates.
As part of Leavey's experiential learning requirement, our MS students completed the following projects. Explore how these projects connected Leavey students directly with leading Silicon Valley companies and potential employers.
Admissions
Next Steps
Admissions Criteria
Our admissions team looks for:
- Bachelor's Degree – All majors accepted
- Prerequisites – Calculus I & Statistics
- Work Experience – Not required, but may strengthen application
- International Applicants
- Academic Records and Transcripts – Must be evaluated by a NACES member organization
- English Proficiency Test – TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or GMAT/GRE score above 50th percentile on the verbal portion
- Recommended to submit application by Priority Deadline for I20 Preparation
Attend an Admissions Event
Join us at one of many admissions events, including information sessions, networking events, webinars, and class visits. Find an upcoming event that fits in your schedule.
Meet with an Advisor
We know you have questions! Our admissions team is available for one-on-one phone or virtual appointments.
Prepare Your Application Materials
For your application, you'll need:
- Application fee*
- Resume/CV
- Personal statement
- GMAT/GRE scores or test waiver
- Official transcripts*
- 2 letters of recommendation*
- Interview (as requested)
* Waived for Santa Clara University Alumni Pathway applicants
Cost & Financing
The estimated cost for the MS in Finance & Analytics program is $1,462 per unit for the 2024-2025 academic year, with a minimum of 36 units required for graduation. Program fees are subject to adjustment annually, and the number of required units may change. Visit the University Financial Aid Office website for more information about the cost of attendance.
Merit scholarships are automatically considered at the time of application. The majority of merit awards are given to students with a GRE or GMAT score officially submitted, and to students who apply by priority deadlines. Explore all available graduate business scholarships.
The University Financial Aid Office can help in locating and applying for federal or private loans. You may visit the staff in Patricia A. and Stephen C. Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building; call (408) 551-1000, or email onestop@scu.edu.
Some students receive financial assistance from their employers that can help offset the cost of attendance. Check out this article from Indeed for tips on gaining employer support for your journey to a graduate degree.
All of our on-campus MS Programs are STEM-designated degrees and graduating students are eligible for the STEM OPT extension depending on their situation. Length depends on whether or not students have used any OPT time prior to joining our program.
Interested in Even More Flexibility?
Rooted in innovation, collaboration and integrity, our Online MS in Finance & Analytics lets you complete classes from where you prefer, on your schedule.
Applications are normally open 9 months in advance of the application deadline.
Yes. Applicants are eligible to apply without the prerequisite(s), but must fulfill the prerequisite(s) prior to enrolling.
- MS Business Analytics: 1 course of college-level calculus and 1 course of college-level statistics
- MS Financial Analytics: 1 course of college-level calculus and 1 course of college-level statistics
- MS Information Systems: 1 course of college-level programming (accepted languages are Python, Java, R, C and C++ only)
- MS Marketing: No prerequisites
Courses from Coursera, Straighterline, Udacity, edX, or the like, are not accepted. Prerequisites must be taken at an accredited university. Applicants may take the prerequisites through a University of California Extension, though a comparable university or community college is accepted, if accredited.
Prerequisites must have at minimum the following course content:
- Statistics - Topics in statistics should include descriptive statistics, regression, probability, random variables and distributions, the central limit theorem, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing for 1 & 2 populations, goodness of fit, and contingency tables.
- Programming Language - C, C++, Java, Python, or R. Students should have an intermediate understanding of the language after the completion of their course. Languages such as Javascript, HTML, SQL and CSS will not fulfill the requirement.
- Calculus 1 - Topics should include differential and integral calculus, key concepts of limit, derivative and continuity, derivatives in graphing and optimizing functions, and fundamental theorem of calculus.
No. Prerequisite competencies must be taken from accredited colleges/universities who can provide us with an official transcript showing successful completion (grade)
Our MS programs do not require full-time work experience. However, work experience is preferred and many MS students have had between 1-3 years of work experience prior to enrolling, including internship experience. College seniors and recent college graduates are eligible to apply.
While the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) has been the standard exam used for business schools, the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is also accepted. We do not prefer one exam over the other.
We do not have minimum test scores for the GMAT or GRE and your application evaluation is based on a comprehensive review. The average GMAT score for MS programs is 650. The average GRE score is 309 for MS programs. Scores from either test are valid for five (5) years. Applicants are welcome to take either exam more than once; we will only consider the highest score.
Applicants whose first language is not English must achieve a minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL (internet-based test), or 7 on the IELTS, or 125 on Duolingo. Scores are valid for two years. This requirement also may be met by scoring at or above the 50th percentile on the verbal portion of the GMAT or GRE, or if the applicant has a degree from an accredited U.S. university.
GMAT School Code: BV3-WB-51
GRE School Code: 4851
TOEFL School Code: 4851; or BusinessCAS B888
Duolingo English Test - Send to Leavey School of Business
Yes, you may submit, however it is preferable that GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, Duolingo and/or IELTS scores are submitted with the application. We recommend that applicants take the test at least 4 weeks before the posted deadline. Delays in taking and/or reporting the test scores will postpone the completion of your application, and ultimately a decision. All scores must be verified.
Yes, but only to strong candidates who demonstrate a combination of good full-time work experience and a strong, verifiable (usually with transcripts) quantitative/technical background. Students who submit waivers risk not being eligible for any merit scholarships.
Yes. All students who submit their completed application by the priority deadline are reviewed for scholarship when we evaluate their application. No additional paperwork is required. Students who submit after that date may be considered if scholarship funds are still available. Scholarships are merit-based.
In addition, the university offers federal and private loans. Domestic students (US citizens and permanent residents) are eligible for both federal and private loans, while international students are only eligible for private loans with or without a creditworthy US cosigner.
On-Campus Programs
MSIS:
Winter Deadline (approximate start date early January)
- October 1st final deadline
Fall Deadline (approximate start date mid-September)
- April 1st for scholarship priority
- May 1st final deadline
MSBA, MSFA:
Fall Deadline (approximate start date mid-September)
- April 1st for scholarship priority
- May 1st final deadline
For the application process, NO. However, you are required to submit an official transcript for each school you attended or an official foreign evaluation (if you’ve attended an international school) before the first quarter begins.
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from outside of the United States are required to have their official transcripts evaluated, regardless if the transcript is printed in English. (Applicants with a US master’s degree are waived this requirement.) We require a course-by-course, cumulative GPA, and U.S. degree equivalency evaluation. We have several service providers.
Maybe. All international bachelor’s degrees MUST be evaluated (see above) and determined to be equivalent to a US bachelor's degree. Click here to read about the policy for admitting students with a three-year degree.
To qualify for internships, international students on an F-1 visa MUST complete three consecutive quarters as a full-time student. They must also submit a request to pursue the internship with student programs and the ISS Office.
We prefer letters of recommendations from your professional network, that is, supervisors and colleagues; however, we also accept letters of recommendations from those you have worked with in academic and volunteering settings, particularly for those who will or have recently completed an undergraduate degree prior to the start of the program.
Qualified applicants will be invited to interview either in person or via Zoom.
After an application is submitted, applicants will receive an email with login credentials to access their Application Status page. This page will show the application checklist, any missing materials, and provide the option to upload any additional documents.
Once the application is complete, qualified applicants will receive an invitation to schedule an on-campus or video admission interview. Following the interview, most applicants will receive an admission decision within two weeks after the final admissions interview.
Once admitted students must place a nonrefundable deposit within 2 weeks to hold a seat in the program to which they were admitted. The deposit is credited toward the first quarter of tuition.
MSIS: $750
MSBA, MSFA: $1000
We offer a total of four online programs, including three MS programs - MS in Business Analytics, MS in Finance and Analytics, and MS in Marketing - as well as our Online MBA. To learn more about our online offerings, visit here.
Yes, SCU offers Graduate Housing options.
Many of our Graduate Students choose their own accommodation within walking distance of campus. The admission team will not work with students directly to secure housing, but may offer opportunities to connect with other admitted students prior to the start of the program.