Carnegie Mellon University - MS in Computational Finance

Carnegie Mellon University - MS in Computational Finance

Providing the skills you need to succeed in the financial services industry
Location
New York, NY 10005 | Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Application deadline
Round 1: Dec 1, 2024 | Round 2: Mar 2, 2025
Country
United States
30 Years of Success
The Carnegie Mellon University MSCF degree, the first of its kind founded in 1994, will give you everything you need to excel in quantitative finance. Our unrivaled industry reputation was built over the past 30 years by a network of more than 2,000 alumni, many of whom are top performers on Wall Street and beyond.

Employer-Driven Curriculum
MSCF is the only quantitative finance program that combines four separate colleges into a customized curriculum designed to meet the needs of top employers. MSCF students also benefit from a wide range of experiential learning opportunities to convert theory into practice and gain “real world” quant skills.
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Job Placement Support
The MSCF Career Office will be with you from day one to help you land your dream job. Our team will assist you with a wide range of 1:1 career-building activities and provide multiple opportunities to meet with employers. The newly expanded Quant-in-Residence (QIR) program will give you access to a team of industry professionals for invaluable insights, coaching and advice to help jumpstart your quant finance career.

Scholarships
Each year, 25% of incoming MSCF students receive fellowships. All admitted students are considered for an MSCF Fellowship.

We’re Here to Help
Pursuing a master’s degree is a significant commitment, one that demands not only a considerable amount of hard work but also substantial personal and financial sacrifices.
The decision can be overwhelming, with concerns about tuition funding, lost income, and achieving return-on-investment. Master’s candidates may also be worried about their qualifications, the level of competition, and whether or not they can succeed in the programs.
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MSCF Admissions Team members
Ajay Bell, Emily Wertz & Mia DiIanni

The MSCF admissions team understands the anxiety that all of these considerations can bring and have guided hundreds of students in navigating this key life decision.

“The overall attention I received from the MSCF admissions team and the ease of communication were key factors in my decision. I felt comfortable asking any questions and their candid approach helped ease some doubts during my application process and offer evaluation.” - Lorena Rodríguez Pineda, MSCF Class of 2026


MSCF Resources
Curriculum Overview
Class Profile
Employment Statistics
Current Student Profiles
Alumni Career Report
Admissions Events
Apply to MSCF
2025 Ranking Data
Rank
3
Total Score
93
Peer Score
4.2
% Employed at Graduation
89%
% Employed at 3 months
99%
% Employed in the US
97%
Compensation
$165,025
Cohort Size
101 FT
Acceptance Rate
16.8%
Avg Undergrad GPA
3.85
Tuition
$100,685
Views
99,484
First release
Last update

Ratings

4.67 star(s) 49 reviews 5.00 star(s) Students Quality 5.00 star(s) Courses/Instructors 5.00 star(s) Career Services

Latest reviews

Headline
MSCF: A Program That Cares, Challenges, and Prepares You for Success
Class of
2026
My time at MSCF has been incredible. The classes have been both engaging and practical, with a strong focus on real-world skills. I’ve especially loved the data science and machine learning courses—they’ve not only given me a solid foundation but also a valuable hands-on experience. The professors are fantastic and genuinely make sure we understand the material, going above and beyond to help us succeed.

The community here is amazing too. Working together with other students on assignments or bouncing general ideas off of each other creates a collaborative and supportive vibe that makes the program even more rewarding. What stands out the most, though, is how much the staff cares about each of us. They check in regularly and make sure we’re doing well both academically and personally. This personal touch has made all the difference and really contributes to the welcoming and motivating environment at MSCF.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Headline
MSCF Review
Class of
2025
CMU's MSCF program is special, and not just for its rigorous academics and industry relevance, but for the community it fosters. The alumni network is incredibly supportive and engaged, opening doors and offering guidance long after graduation. The faculty genuinely care—not just about your grades or whether you land a job, but about you as a person. Their support feels personal, not transactional. The student body is collaborative, and filled with people who are experts in all kinds of areas. No matter what you want to learn, you’ll always find someone willing to share their knowledge.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Headline
MSCF: Where Quantitative Excellence Begins
Class of
2026
I entered the MSCF program with a background in Math and Computer Science, but an unsteady foundation in Finance. During an interview with a top-tier asset management firm, I successfully answered over 10 complex fixed income questions — and in that moment, I realized just how instrumental the Fixed Income course from my first semester had been. At the end of the interview, the interviewer said, "I’ve worked with many professionals from the MSCF program — they’re all excellent, which is why I chose to interview you." That was when it truly hit me: the reputation of a program can open doors and create opportunities you wouldn’t get otherwise.

One of the qualities that sets MSCF apart is the unwavering support from its staff. They are deeply committed to guiding students toward becoming top-tier quants and go above and beyond to help us land strong roles in the industry. MSCF also creates countless networking opportunities — whether it's conversations with alumni or events featuring leaders like the Head of Factor Investing at Point72.

Another standout resource is the MSCF Resume Book. It connects students with exclusive job opportunities. Both my classmates and I were contacted through it, and many of us converted those connections into actual offers.

If your primary goal is to break into Quant Finance, Data Science, or Software Engineering, I truly believe MSCF is one of the best choices you can make.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Headline
Undoubtedly One of the Best Programs
Class of
2026
I'm a class of 2026. Attending this program is one of the best decisions i made. MSCF is one of the best programs out there with very high quality teaching resources, career service, and acadmic environment. It also offers location flexibility to be in Pittsburg or New York City, which none of the other programs can do.

Its courses range from mathematics, statistics, machine learning, and programming (python and C++). Faculty at CMU are amazing at teaching with outstanding track record. Students come from all around the world, with some of the best students I have seen in my life, exemplifying the admission competitiveness of the program. Highly recommend to people looking for opportunities in the quant finance space.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Headline
MSCF Review
Class of
2024
Hi, I graduated from this program recently. My experience has been very good.

The best thing about this program is that the curriculum is very thoughtfully tailored to meet industry needs, staying current with frequent updates that reflect the latest developments.

The faculty, particularly the professors specializing in Quant, are true legends in their field and they go above and beyond in creating the assignments and teaching the concepts.

On the career front, the availability of career services has been a game-changer. The continuous support provided in recruiting activities has been instrumental, ensuring that I had access to opportunities to the fullest extent possible.

In summary, it has been a great experience. I have learnt a lot, gained a lot of new skills and also secured a good job in line with my career ambitions and I would whole-heartedly recommend this program to anyone pursuing a career in quant finance.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Headline
Rigorous academics w/ an emphasis on ML and above and beyond career services
Class of
2024
I graduated from undergrad at UC Berkeley studying Math and Economics in 2022 and was looking for a graduate program where I could apply a lot of the technical skills I learned to quant finance. The MSCF program at CMU did all that and more for me. I was initially drawn to it due to the ML emphasis in the course load and the elective offerings (NLP, ML capstone project, Blockchain, etc) as well as the buyside placements it boasts compared to similar programs.

The opportunities I was afforded simply from being part of such a cohesive program and larger alumni community were unparalleled. There were very few companies I wasn’t passing initial resume reviews with and I had a plethora of opportunities that came directly through the career office (who are very supportive and help guide you through any technical or behavioral practice/tips you may need).

As for the academics, I got a well rounded education in traditional finance (options, investment theory, portfolio management), stats, and CS. The condensed course load was certainly challenging as we had 7 weeks or so to master material that could have been given double that time to learn. However we had a very strong community in the NY campus that would routinely study together and were highly motivated by intellectual curiosity and ambition. That sort of culture certainly influences and pushes you to get the most out of the program and prepares you well for the reality of the industry.

All in all, I felt the program exceeded my expectations all around and I learnt a lot, both in terms of hard and soft skills.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Headline
MSCF Review
Class of
2024
I graduated from MSCF NY in December 2023.

Prior to the program, I graduated from a French engineering school and I worked as a quant trader for a little under a year.

I think the program was great in every aspect. On the academic side, all the courses offer an in-depth exploration of their respective subjects. The academic advisor was awesome – really helpful and always there when I needed advice.

On the professional side, the career services were great too, giving solid tips for getting into the finance world. I also think that one of the strengths of the program is the alumni network. I had the opportunity to meet a lot of former students, which was great for building my network and for getting insights into the industry.

Overall, I really enjoyed the program and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to get into quant finance.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
I am proud to be part of the big MSCF family!
Thanks to all the amazing professors, alumni and staff, I managed to realize my dream of undertaking a career in the hedge fund industry in quantitative research. I did my undergraduate degree in computer science in Switzerland and I didn't hesitate a second to travel to the US to receive the great education the MSCF offers. In this program, I managed to round off my background and learn how to apply all the cutting edge methods to financial data. From advanced financial modelling to statistical learning, every single class I attended turned out to be extremely useful in industry. In my opinion, the MSCF provides the best education to train the new generation of quants.
Beside academics, I am honored to have met through the program very interesting classmates which I can now call my friends.
Class of
2021
Short summary: The MSCF program is fantastic.

Alumni: If you join the program, it quickly becomes apparent how strong the MSCF alumni network is. We receive one-on-one resume advice, mock interviewing, and insights into our preferred job function (trading, research, development, …). A quick search on LinkedIn for your desired company will reveal alumni at various levels of seniority due to the program’s impressive staying power (since the mid 90’s).

Faculty: The professors are awesome - they really care about the students and how relevant their content is for internships/fulltime. You’ll frequently find them soliciting feedback and working with the equally great staff to ensure every voice is heard.

Employment: The two points above lead to very strong career opportunities. The vast alumni network allows for hiring managers to be educated on the skillset MSCF students possess, and the passionate professors ensure you have the technical skills needed to succeed. On top of this, and a personal favorite of many MSCF students, is the additional focus on communication. The business communication and presentation classes offer a much-needed reprieve from technical studies, and dive into the importance of all types of communication in the workplace. They make a (very) noticeable difference in student confidence in front of crowds, both for native and non-native English speakers.

The price tags on these programs are steep, but worth it. They have a high ROI, and you are surrounded by incredibly bright classmates who quickly become friends. Everyone brings their own strengths and subject matter knowledge to the program. Although I’m biased, I wholeheartedly recommend the MSCF.
Class of
2021
As a recent grad of CMU MCSF, I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is considering to get a MFE degree and land a job in financial industry specialized in the quantitative direction.

The curriculum is well-rounded and trying to prepared students with not only necessary technical skills and financial knowledge, but also communication and presentation skills to perform in an actual business setting.

Despite that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some difficulties in job searching, the majority of students have started careers with a bright outlook. The steering committee and staffs have been working hard to continue providing us support and career advices.

It's pity that we spent about a half year studying remotely at home and failed to interacts with professors or classmates in person. Studying from most experiences professors and taking courses with smartest students definitely made it an enjoyable journey in MSCF!
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