Applying to the M.S. in Finance

Applications are accepted at any time up until a week before classes begin. You may begin in the fall, spring or summer. Applicants are considered for admission on a rolling basis. Full-time program applicants interested in merit-based funding consideration should apply early as those awards are distributed on a rolling basis typically at or close to the time of admission.

Suggested Application Deadlines:

Fall Semester - August 4

• February 1 for priority consideration for funding (first round of funding)
• June 1 for international applicants

Spring Semester - January 1

• October 1 for priority consideration for funding
• November 15 for international applicants

Summer Session - May 1

• International applicants: Admission is generally not granted for this term.

1. Application Fee

A $75 application fee is due when you submit your online application.

2. Bachelor’s Degree

A four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree in any academic field from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required.

3. Transcripts

Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework are required with your application.

4. Resume

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae documenting your prior work experience, publications, honors and awards received and a summary of your educational credentials.

5. Prerequisites

Incoming students are expected to have:

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• An understanding of the fundamentals of finance and accounting concepts (equivalent to FINC311 Principles of Finance, ACCT207 Accounting I and ACCT208 Accounting II)
• Basic computer skills
• Completed college level statistics, calculus and finite mathematics (equivalent to MATH201 Introduction to Statistics I and Math202 Introduction to Statistics II, MATH230 Calculus and MATH221 Finite Mathematics with Applications)

6. GRE or GMAT Scores

Our typical applicant has the equivalent of a 4-year US Bachelor’s degree, a 3.2/4.0 GPA with strong analytical coursework and a minimum of two months of full-time professional internship experience.

If you wish to strengthen your application you may take, at your option, the GMAT/GRE, but submission of scores is not required. If you are not submitting a GMAT/GRE score, please select that you request a waiver on the Test Score Waivers page of the application.

7. Personal Statement

Submit an application essay (personal statement) on the following topic: specifically, how will an M.S. in finance from the Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware help you achieve your professional goals?

8. Two Letters of Recommendation

Submit two letters of recommendation from faculty and/or employers. Letters of recommendation should be completed online or mailed collectively to the Office of Graduate & Professional Education.

If your native language is not English, please solicit at least one recommendation letter from a native English speaker who can attest to your English language skills.

9. Interview

An interview in person or online may be requested.

Tuition

The tuition rate for 2024-2025 is $1,069/credit.

Fees

All graduate students are responsible for mandatory fees in the fall and spring semesters. These fees vary based on whether a student is taking the program on a full-time or part-time basis. There are no registration fees for online programs. To verify whether your program is available online, see University of Delaware's online programs page.

Please visit the graduate fees and financial aid page in the Graduate Catalog for full details.

The University of Delaware is an ideal place for a great education in a global atmosphere. As an international student, you’ll join fellow students from over 100 countries. Nearly 30% of all the University’s graduate students and approximately 44% of the Lerner College graduate students are internationals.

International Application Requirements

As an international applicant, you must:

• Fulfill all the admissions requirements for domestic students.
• Provide translation and other supporting documents for transcripts.
• Demonstrate English proficiency by doing one of the following:
  • Submit a TOEFL score of 100 or higher,
  • Submit an IELTS score of 7.5 or higher,
  • Provide proof of having earned a college degree in a country where English is the primary language, or
  • Apply through the Conditional Admission Program (CAP)

The Graduate & Professional Education office provides more detailed TOEFL information on its test scores page. Please note World Education Services (WES) evaluations are no longer accepted.

Conditional Admission Program (CAP)

The Conditional Admissions Program (CAP) provides international students acceptance into the program without the need to take the TOEFL exam. After completing CAP at the University of Delaware’s English Language Institute (ELI) you begin your coursework. The length of time you will need to study in the ELI depends on your English skills when you enter the program. Please see the Graduate CAP Business Track page on the ELI website for more information.

Graduate Pathways

Graduate Pathways is a one-semester preparation program for international students whose language proficiency approaches the admission requirement (85-99 on the TOEFL iBT or 7.0 on the IELTS). You will take classes in English for graduate studies plus one course from your program with language support from the English Language Institute (ELI). Please see the Graduate Pathways page on the ELI website for more details.

Services for International Students

UD and the Lerner College offer many services to help you, both in class and out.

• The Conditional Admission Program (CAP)
• Graduate student organizations
• International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)