William R. Hough MS in Finance program

About the MS in Finance

What you’ll do on the job is what you’ll learn entirely unfiltered at Warrington. Here, you’ll design industry-specific mathematical models, track investments, research investments’ potential risks and performance and examine cash flow statements.

Through all pathways, your instruction begins with financial theories, industry practices and regulations and an exploration of domestic and global markets. Then, you’ll see where and how professionals use these principles day to day for decision-making, budgeting, overseeing mergers, selecting investments and seeking capital.

Complementing competencies with results, multiple hands-on experiences communicate your potential to future employers: an internship following your junior year, parsing financial data with Bloomberg terminals and Capital IQ, and creating a portfolio for a real business.

Tuition assistance

Double-count credits to double down on your dreams.

Once accepted into the combination program, you’ll take 16 graduate-level credits (out of 32) before finishing your bachelor’s. Twelve graduate credits count towards both degrees, resulting in a highly sought-after master’s degree completed in less time and at a lower overall cost. Consult with the Bursar’s Office to learn if you may additionally benefit from:

• Florida Bright Futures: Are you surging ahead with the combination track? Florida Bright Futures recipients who graduate with their bachelor’s degree in seven semesters/105 credits or less may be eligible to apply remaining Florida Bright Futures funding to the first semester of the MS in Finance program.
• Florida Prepaid Students: Once accepted into the combination program, Florida Prepaid students may apply any remaining prepaid funds toward graduate tuition.

Combination degree pathway

Combination degree: Warrington’s combined bachelor’s to master’s in finance program follows your personal timeline — with no delays.

• Warrington gears this combined program to motivated, academically talented undergraduate finance majors and opens it to qualifying students across the University of Florida.
• If interested, you’ll apply during your second year on campus.
• Once accepted, you’ll begin master’s-level requirements during your junior year and complete both degrees within four years.
• During this sequence, a full-time summer internship between your junior and senior years gives you interview practice, a thorough glimpse of the industry and a vital connection for your first post-graduation position.

Joint degree: For other pathways, Warrington’s Non-Traditional degree arrangement lets you share credits between your Ph.D. and an MS in Finance.

How to apply to the MSF program

Prerequisites:

• Completion of required summer credits before starting the third year.
• Finance or General Business majors: Completion of all prerequisites for the 4000-level FIN courses required for the undergraduate degree.
• Non-Finance or General Business majors: Attend an MSF Information Session to learn about combination degree planning for their particular major.
• Keep overall GPA above a 3.5.
• Keep up with finance-related current events.
• After first-year spring semester grades have posted, complete the pre-application form to express interest in applying. After submitting this document, you will be sent an email with further application instructions. Students who submit their application during their second year are eligible to participate in internship recruiting training.

Admission requirements: Applications are only sought from current UF undergraduates. A complete application requires the following by the due date:

• Two letters of recommendation emailed directly to Tayla Hunt by the people making the recommendations. The student is copied on the thank you reply email, so the applicant will know the recommendation has been received.
• Transcripts are available to the MSF Admissions Committee electronically. Applicants do not need to order or email their transcript since the transcript is added to the applicant file from the UF Student Information System. The committee will be looking for strong evidence that the undergraduate courses at UF have not been enough of a challenge. A minimum 3.5 overall GPA is expected for application. The average application GPA for the MSF classes of 2026 and 2027 was 3.91.
• SAT/ACT scores are also accessible to the Admissions Committee electronically. The MSF Program does not require a GMAT nor GRE score. Applicants may submit a GMAT score to enhance the MSF application. Any GMAT score received will be included as part of the holistic application review process. The minimum expected SAT combined math and reading score is 1350/1600, or ACT math 31/36, for application. The MSF classes of 2026 and 2027 average SAT was 1477/1600, and average ACT Math was 33.2/36.0.
• After you have been copied on thank you emails to the people sending your recommendation letters, indicating that both of your recommendation letters have been confirmed, applicants should email the next two items together:
  • Resume formatted for use in the finance industry. Resume material may be verified. Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your CV or resume.
  • Statement of purpose describing the chosen career path and listing firms in the areas of interest. An important criterion for admission is a document focused briefly on long-term career expectations, and more extensively on the junior summer internship from which the applicant would want to receive an offer to return full-time. The document must show evidence that the applicant has a clear idea of what the internship entails, their suitability for the job, and what they like about the job and that area of finance. Include information about how these decisions were made. An Excel or Word table with the following should accompany the paragraphs of text: the list of firms targeted for junior summer internship, the caliber of students those companies select (GPA, other suitability criteria), and some understanding of the recruitment process (hiring calendars for those firms, indication of which companies recruit UF students on campus and which firms that have hired MSF students that do not recruit on campus). Candidates selected to interview should demonstrate characteristics appropriate for graduate business courses and qualifications expected by the firms in their statement of purpose.