Admission Requirements
The M.S. in Finance program application deadlines are July 1 for August start, November 1 for January start and April 1 for May start.
Prerequisites for M.S. in Finance
Prerequisites for the M.S. in Finance include college-level statistics and college-level calculus. We also recommend students have taken introductory courses in finance, accounting and economics prior to applying to the program.
Bachelor’s degree, 3.0 GPA recommended
Official transcripts are required for admission.
GMAT or GRE score
- A GMAT score of 600 (GMAT Focus Edition equivalent score: 555) is highly recommended. Alternatively, a comparable GRE score will be considered. Scores must be from the last five years.
- Applicants who hold a Ph.D., JD, MD or Pharm D, or are currently enrolled in medical school do not have to submit a GMAT or GRE score. Applicants who have been admitted to the Nebraska College of Law do not have to submit a GMAT or GRE score.
- If you have 5 or more years of significant managerial, operational or decision-making experience and an acceptable undergraduate GPA, you are not required to submit a GMAT score. You must, however, submit as a reference your current supervisor who can verify your work experience. Please include this person as one of your references in section 3 below. In the first part of your Personal Statement, you should include your request for the GMAT waiver based on your work experience. All GMAT waivers will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for a GMAT waiver, candidates must start an application.
- If you choose to take the GMAT, please have your results forwarded to Nebraska (school code S40-HW-48). Once you take the exam, enter your unofficial scores into the graduate application. GMAT scores more than five years old will not be accepted. Please visit the official GMAT website for more information and to register for the test.
- If you choose to take the GRE, please have your results forwarded to Nebraska (school code 6877). Once you take the exam, enter your unofficial scores into the graduate application. GRE scores more than five years old will not be accepted. A comparison tool is available to see how your GRE scores compare to our recommended 600 GMAT. Please visit the official GRE website for more information and to register for the test.
Three reference names and contact information
All three references must be former or current supervisors or professors. Nebraska will contact your references only if the committee deems it necessary. You do not need to include letters of recommendations.
Personal Statement
All applicants are required to submit a personal statement of 750 words or less through the graduate application. The statement is evaluated on content, sentence structure and grammar. Your personal statement should include the following:
- Briefly describe your past professional experience and relevant skills.
- What would you contribute to our program?
- What are some of your short- and long-term professional goals?
- How would a University of Nebraska–Lincoln M.S. in Finance assist you in achieving your goals?
Professional Resume
A professional resume should be submitted through the graduate application. Please include the following: relevant work experience, skills and involvement and education.
TOEFL exam (required for international students)
TOEFL score (minimum score of 550 written, 213 computer based or 80 iBT)
Alternatively, international students may submit IELTS scores. A score of 6.5 is required.
Please note: The M.S. in Finance program welcomes international applicants wishing to study remotely from their country of residence; but, as an online program, the M.S. in Finance does not meet requirements to sponsor student visas for study in the United States.
Admissions Process
Apply
Apply online and submit the $50 application fee.
Apply Online Now
Upload Supporting Documents
All Supporting Documents including unofficial transcripts and test scores are uploaded directly via the graduate application.
You are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each post-secondary institution you have attended during the application review process.
Submit Official Transcripts
If you are admitted, you will be required to submit an official transcript sent directly from each institution you have attended to
The Office of Graduate Studies. We recommend that you complete this task before your admitted term begins. A hold will be placed
on your account if they do not receive your official transcripts by October 1 for the fall term, February 1 for the spring term and July 1
for the summer term. Students will have until that day to submit official transcripts or your admission will be rescinded.
Transcripts can be sent electronically to graduate@unl.edu or by mail to
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Graduate Admissions
1100 Seaton Hall
Lincoln, NE 68588-0619
International Student Transcript Submission
If you are an international student, please refer to the Nebraska Office of Graduate Studies for transcript and document information.
International Transcript Information
Additional information on Application Requirements can be found at Graduate Studies website.