If you’re looking to propel your career in finance by studying at one of the top schools in the US, then you’ve likely already set your sights on earning a place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The university is known far and wide for its finance courses and the high standard of education that is upheld at the institution.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to get a finance degree from MIT and take a look at the options you have at your disposal at both undergraduate and masters-level.
After your reading, you’ll be able to make an informed decision as to what finance degree would be the best for your respective career and academic pursuits.
Study Finance at MIT
There’s a reason why MIT is at the top of everyone’s list when it comes to studying for a finance degree. The university is one of the highest-performing and most sought-after options when it comes to studying the subject at a higher level. It also provides an avenue for learning that caters for all aspirations in the sector.
The MIT Sloan School of Management is ranked #6 for the best graduate business programs according to U.S. News and World Report rankings for 2024-25
The esteemed Master of Finance program has gained considerable recognition for its early career STEM designation. The university leaves graduates ready to make an impact from the moment they conclude their studies with an understanding of market mechanisms by blending financial concepts with practical applications.
The opportunity for students to tailor their learning journey according to the skills they wish to develop and the areas they intend on pursuing after completing their course is another incentive that entices students to study here.
When you couple this with the opportunity to specialize in areas like engineering, capital markets, corporate finance or impact finance, it becomes apparent why so many students from the US and further afield compete for a place on their finance courses.
Now, once graduation day finally rolls around, you’re going to want to be equipped with the mix of skills that employers seek in fresh graduates.
This is another reason why MIT stands at the top of the list, as one of the distinctive features of studying finance here is the Action Learning method. This innovative approach merges academic rigor with real-world business dilemmas.
It’s always helpful to keep your future career in mind when selecting suitable courses that will act as a bridge for a seamless transition into that career path.
Given that as a finance professional, you’ll need to work in diverse teams, the fact that MIT places such a heavy focus on students working in teams under the guidance of seasoned professors should definitely check a few boxes on your search criteria.
This not only enhances your collection of results-driven case studies that will add to your resume but also nurtures essential professional skills that are in such high demand in the job market.
Lastly, as you’d expect from a university as prestigious as MIT, it boasts a faculty renowned for its pioneering work in financial innovation.
This means that you can take comfort in knowing that your learning will be in capable hands. The faculty will have worked with countless students, helping them accomplish their respective goals in the subject!
MIT's Undergraduate 15-3: Finance Course
At the undergraduate level, students flock in numbers to apply for the 15-3 Finance program. Unfortunately, only a select number of applicants can be successful, making it very competitive for students to secure a place.
The potential for students to mold their learning in line with their academic and professional goals is what sets it apart from other leading institutions. Students have a curriculum of core subjects and are given a degree of choice in how they supplement these classes with their elective modules.
The number of Undergraduate Students studying Finance at MIT. So, you can expect to get plenty of one-on-one learning opportunities!
Unlock your potential and secure a bright future by immersing yourself in the curriculum offered by the best finance schools in the US.
Core Subjects
When it comes to the compulsory subjects that you’ll be carrying out over the course of your undergraduate finance degree, you will have 5-6 subjects to fill the base of your timetable.
- Managerial Finance
- Corporate Finance
- Accounting
- Microeconomics and Probability
- Statistics
With your future assessments in mind, you also might be persuaded to take the communication course that MIT offers its students. This will enhance your presentation and writing abilities, which might help you jump up a few grades in your assessments throughout the degree.
Elective Courses
When you consider that over half of the modules that you’ll take on your finance degree will be a result of the options you select, you can see how you are very much in charge of your own learning.
Supplementing the core subjects that we touched on, you'll have the opportunity to select seven modules from a set of specialized electives.
Keep in mind that you’ll have to select at least two classes from the Finance group of electives. There are plenty to choose from, with offerings like Entrepreneurial Finance, Financial Markets and Options and Future Markets on the cards.
The remainder of your electives can be chosen from either the Core Electives or Topics in Finance groups, which offer modules like International Capital Markets, Financial Engineering and Consumer Finance and FinTech.
Entry Requirements
🎓 Strong GPA
⚾️ Extracurricular Activities
✍️ Personal Essay
In order to major in finance, you’ll need to enroll in MIT’s undergraduate management and business program and major in finance (15-3).
There is no set GPA for you to set your sights on for admission, as the application process for MIT considers a wide range of elements in its admission procedure.
Having a strong GPA will, of course, make life an awful lot easier for you, but there is also a need to have extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and a well-written personal essay along with your standardized test scores (SAT or ACT).
You’ll need one of your letters of recommendation to come from a math or science teacher, while the other will have to be written by a humanities, social science, or language teacher.
While there are no official minimum MIT GPA requirements, you should aim for a weighted GPA of over 4.17.
MIT emphasize a "broad, rigorous program in high school" to ensure students are well-prepared for MIT's challenging academic environment, so while a GPA upwards of 4.17 might bring eyes to your resume, it's important that it's decorated with some other credential in order to stand out from the competition.
MIT's Master of Finance Program
By choosing to set yourself the tall task of graduating from the Masters of Finance (MFin) program at MIT, you'll be embarking on a program that has been designed as a catalyst for professionals looking to kickstart their careers in STEM fields.
Throughout your time working through the course’s comprehensive curriculum, you’ll explore a number of concepts with practical applications that will prepare you for success in the ever-evolving finance industry.
The program provides a base while allowing you to customize your learning experience. You have the option to specialize in areas such as engineering, capital markets, corporate finance, or impact finance, which enables you to tailor your degree based on your career goals.
A standout feature of the program is MIT Sloan’s Action Learning methodology, which offers an innovative learning approach that merges academic rigor with real-world business dilemmas.
So, if you’re looking to beef up your resume, this is an attractive aspect of the course, as it has plenty of opportunities for students to work in teams, working collaboratively alongside industry partners under the guidance of the university’s professors.
Not only does this provide you with a host of practical skills that prepare you for your respective career path in finance, but it also provides some impressive talking points for future interviews.
The icing on the cake is that the program offers two completion options, allowing you to complete the course over the span of 18 months. The track provides flexibility to pursue an internship, additional coursework or a thesis.
If you’re eager to get things started a bit sooner, then you can also opt for the 12-month accelerated path, which provides plenty of hands-on learning opportunities to get you where you need to be a little faster.
Why Study Finance at MIT
Coming out the other end of the tunnel and earning a finance degree from MIT will stand for you for the remainder of your professional career.
As an MIT graduate, you'll be well-positioned for a successful career in finance, and you’ll be in possession of many of the skills that are sought after by potential employers.
When you consider the pace at which the finance sector evolves, the adaptive skill set that you learn throughout your education at the school will allow you to make an impact from the moment you graduate and into the future.
On top of that, MIT’s strong ties with industry leaders present some valuable opportunities to get your foot in the door at some of the major financial firms across the US and beyond!
If you feel like MIT is an appropriate next step in the career path you envision for yourself, then make sure to add it to your shortlist of prospective finance schools!
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