MSF program No. 6 in the nation, according to QS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The William R. Hough Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program remained in the nation’s top 10 graduate finance programs on QS’ 2023 Master’s in Finance Rankings.

For the fourth consecutive year, the MSF program was named No. 6 among the ranked U.S. programs (No. 4 among U.S. public schools), following the University of California – Los Angeles, the University of California – Berkeley and the University of Texas – Austin.

Among global master’s degree programs in finance, the UF MSF program was named the No. 31 program out of the 189 ranked global programs, securing its spot in the top 16 percent of international master’s programs in finance.

“The UF MSF Program has a 20-plus year history of providing an extensive finance education for reasonable cost with an excellent history of placements in top financial institutions,” said Kelly Herring, Director of the William R. Hough Master of Science in Finance program. “We’re proud to see these qualities reflected in the latest ranking from QS.”

David Brown, BB&T Professor of Free Enterprise, added, “The program scores very well on the job placements of the graduates. The high ranking of the program is effectively a high ranking of the students in the program.”

QS determines its Master’s in Finance Rankings from five key data points: employability (30 percent), alumni outcomes (20 percent), value for money (20 percent), thought leadership (20 percent), and class and faculty diversity (10 percent). The MSF program ranked in the top 10 in the following categories among U.S. programs:

• Value for money – No. 4 in the U.S. with 93.2 points
• Alumni outcomes – No. 7 in the U.S. with 90.8 points
• Thought leadership – No. 7 in the U.S. with 60.9 points
• Employability – No. 10 in the U.S. with 47.4 points

“What sets apart our MSF program in its top-tier success is our excellent program leadership in David Brown and Kelly Herring, our first-rate and highly motivated students, our top-tier faculty who care deeply about providing a first-rate and life-long educational experience, and our generous alums who recruit and give back their time as well as resources that help to make the MSF success continue to happen,” said Andy Naranjo, Chair of the Eugene F. Brigham Finance, Insurance and Real Estate Department and Susan Cameron Professor of Finance.

For students in the Master of Science in Finance, learning extends beyond the excellent faculty lessons in the classroom. MSF students have a number of experiential learning opportunities, including through various stock pitch competitions and the Gator Student Investment Fund (GSIF).

Over the past year, a team of three MSF students won the eighth annual University of Georgia Terry College of Business Stock Pitch Competition. Two other MSF teams finished in the top 12 of the event, which was also attended by teams from the University of Indiana, University of Texas, University of Georgia and University of Virginia, among others.

GSIF, a student-managed investment fund that gives members a realistic asset management experience, saw significant annual progress over the past year, as well. As of January 2022, the value of the fund sat at $1,135,000, having grown from $561,667 in March 2019, thanks to the continued generosity of alumni and friends who understand the real-world impact GSIF is having on students.