Carnegie Mellon University - MS in Computational Finance

When I was deciding on quant finance programs, I knew I wanted something rigorous — but also something that would actually prepare me for the realities of working in the industry. The MSCF program at Carnegie Mellon has delivered on both fronts.

What really makes this program stand out for me is the career services. They don’t just send out a few job postings and leave you on your own — the team is deeply invested in your success. From day one, they’re helping you fine-tune your resume, prepare for interviews, and navigate the recruiting process. They have real insights into what employers are looking for, and they’re constantly making connections for students. I’ve genuinely felt supported every step of the way.

Another thing I’ve loved is the sheer number of industry practitioners who come in to speak. There’s such a wide variety — people from hedge funds, trading firms, asset managers, you name it — and they give us a perspective you just don’t get from textbooks. It’s a huge value add, and it really helps tie the theory to what’s happening in the real world.

The program is challenging — I won't sugarcoat that. But I’ve grown so much, both technically and professionally. And it’s worth it, because MSCF has a strong reputation on Wall Street, and the placement results reflect that. Most of my classmates are going on to really exciting roles after graduation.

One of my favorite parts of MSCF is that we all take classes together. That shared experience really brings people closer — we’ve built strong friendships and a tight-knit network that I know I’ll carry with me long after the program is over.

If you're looking for a program that will challenge you, support you, and set you up for success in quant finance, I can honestly say MSCF has been the right choice for me.

I joined the MSCF program after working in industry (non-quant) for 3 years. Even prior to applying, the program made me feel wanted with tons of opportunities to talk with admissions staff. This attention never stopped and the program clearly makes students know they're valued.

The curriculum is extremely challenging, I have never worked as hard as I have during this program. In my opinion, this is exactly what you want in a quant masters. If you're paying this premium, you better be getting something good from it, and I certainly have learned the material. The results for CMU speak for themselves, relative to the top 2 ranked programs CMU accepts students with less work experience and more rounded backgrounds (from what I have gathered). Sure, the top 2 programs have better placement stats but they're taking in more prepared students. This program will turn you from a non-quant to a quant, not just take arguably quant ready individuals and give them networking opportunities. CMU really does develop the students.

Street reputation is huge here too, I've had many opportunities and interviews solely from being a CMU student. Career services are great and very helpful. Can't complain.

I entered the MSCF program after 2 years of full time experience in an adjacent (but not directly related) financial field. I chose this program for its focus on technical material, and for the robust coursework that is offered. The classes are taught based on recent developments and research, ensuring that they stay relevant and up to date to what is necessary to know in the industry today. The stats/data science/ML courses especially are phenomenal.

Additionally, it is clear that the alumni network is widespread and that alumni hold the program in very high regard -- being able to network with alumni and hear about their experiences directly (at various school-organized events) has been extremely helpful. I know that my experiences in this program will carry me far through my career going forward.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

I graduated from the MSCF New York campus in December 2020. Prior to the program, I had been working as a research analyst for three years. The curriculum helped me build a stronger foundation in different mathematical financial modeling. The best thing I like is that almost every course involves some kind of coding (of course, some courses are dedicated to pure coding in python and C++). Since CMU is famous for its CS courses, it is one of the reasons why I chose CMU and I am definitely more confident about my programming skills in the workplace now.

It has been a hard year for everyone but we also received a lot of help from the program. Besides the prestige given by the school name in the street, professors and the career center also have put in a lot of effort and helped us secure placement for internships and jobs.

I highly encourage everyone to reach out to alumni on LinkedIn as well, especially those who share some similar background with you. We are all super nice people and would love to share our stories with you in detail. Cheers! :D

I join this program just for its so called well-known career service. But it turns out that the career service in MSCF is just homogeneous to other programs. Nothing special about the career service especially they recruit some new career staff this year. Being in this stage, I felt a bit hopeless about job-searching process.

After working for a few years in the financial industry, I was looking for a master’s program that could teach me the quantitative tools required to advance in this field. I recently graduated from the MSCF program in December 2019, and I am not disappointed to have chosen this degree. The program helped me develop the skill sets and industry connections required to succeed in the ever-changing and increasingly complex financial industry. I found all the support I needed to succeed, both in terms of academics and career development. The program has a great team of dedicated professors, career and academic counselors, classmates and student clubs. As the previous reviews mention, the program is worth the time and money invested in it.

I graduated from MSCF in December 2019, and I highly recommend anyone who's considering an MFE program to apply for MSCF.

My favorite thing about MSCF is the curriculum. During my summer internship, I truly was using everything I learned in class. The curriculum is always up to date and practical to ensure the students' success in their careers. In addition, the career service is exceptional. The staff will do everything to help you secure a job.

MSCF is also highly selective so you'll take classes with some of the smartest and brightest students from all over the world. It takes a lot of effort to succeed in the program, but by the time you graduate, you'll be 100% prepared for your career and build friendships that will last life time!

After gaining a few years of working experience in accounting and business valuation, I decided to switch my career to quantitative. Joining MSCF is one of the best choices that I ever made.
This is a totally new field for me. Before the program, I thought I learned enough for finance, which turned out to be not true. There is a lot more to learn in the program. MSCF provides a wide range of subjects to every student and prepares students well in academics for their careers. MSCF also adjusts the curriculum to meet the needs of the industries, such as multiple machine learning courses are in the curriculum.
MSCF career services are also extraordinary, comparing to some other schools' programs from what I observed.
Even the tuition is a bit higher, MSCF is totally worthy, considering the value I got from this program.

I just graduated from the MSCF Pittsburgh campus in December 2019. I went straight from my undergraduate study to this program. Having an engineering undergraduate background, I am very grateful to have joined the program. I did not have any experience in finance, financial mathematics and economic study at all. This program well-exposed me to these areas and well-prepared me to find a quant job on the investment banking side. The program's focus on presentation and communication classes help me stand out in my internship program.

Having worked for a few years after my undergraduate degree, going back for my Masters felt like a huge investment. I was giving up my career, current salary, and on top of that would be paying rent and tuition. I knew that if I was going to switch careers and give up everything I was making now that I would not settle for the best program and school. I was looking to maximize my return.

I quickly realized that CMU's MSCF program offered the best focus on career services while integrating industry relevant education in the coursework. It was evident from the breadth of information and transparency about their employment statistics that I could ensure this switch would work out net positive for me. I'm incredibly happy that I ended up at MSCF and feel that the investment has already paid off two-fold.