3 Reasons Master In Finance Grads Are Employable In Business

Master in Finance graduates are in high demand worldwide. In fact, 94% of employers in Central and South Asia and 83% of employers in Western Europe said they hired these graduates in 2022. 

This means that more employers hired Master in Finance graduates than those from other specialized masters programs, including the Master of Business Analytics and Master of Accounting.

Plus, graduates of Master in Finance programs don’t just excel in careers in the finance sector. Two-thirds of technology companies globally said they hired Master in Finance graduates in 2022, a higher percentage than for finance and accounting companies. 

But why are Master in Finance graduates so employable? What transferable skills do students pick up on this specialized program that make them so highly valued? 

To find out, we’ve taken a look at the Master of Science in Finance curriculum at W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (ASU). With a program that combines technical know-how and soft skills acquisition, students at W. P. Carey graduate with a strong foundation for their future careers—and here’s why. 

1. Students gain necessary technology skills

Organizations that responded to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s (GMAC) Corporate Recruiters Survey 2023 identified technology, software, and programming skills as a key growth area, indicating that these skills will become more critical in the next five years. 

Thankfully, the W. P. Carey School of Business students dive into technology on the nine-month Master in Finance program. 

Over multiple courses, students develop proficiency in the Python programming language. At the same time, the AI and Machine Learning Applications in Finance is a discussion-led course that gives students insights into the future of finance. 

Among specific technologies cited by corporate recruiters as valuable for graduates was blockchain. This is another area where W. P. Carey graduates can claim additional knowledge, as the add-on analytical methods track (which takes the nine-month program to 16 months) gives students a dedicated module on blockchain. 

This technological proficiency also means students can aim for high graduate salaries. The average Master in Finance salary for W. P. Carey graduates in 2023 was $76,545, higher than that of the Master of Accounting or Master of Taxation and Data Analytics programs.

2. Master in Finance grads learn to apply decision-making to finance

There are plenty of careers in finance that require more than technical skills. Decision-making competency is vital to organizational leadership at the highest level, such as a chief financial officer. 

However, even as a financial advisor or financial manager, you’ll be expected to make crucial decisions on behalf of organizations and clients, requiring an ability to weigh up problems and make informed decisions. 

So, across the core courses on the master’s degree in finance at W. P. Carey, students also build relevant soft skills such as critical thinking, risk management, and decision-making. 

Additionally, the final capstone project enables students to apply these skills to a specific area of financial management, including investment and corporate finance. Students who choose the analytical methods track can also gain practical experience in project management and financial decision-making during an integrated internship. 

3. Students learn at the intersection of finance and data

To succeed in the finance jobs of the future, it’ll be necessary for finance graduates to have a more comprehensive education. As digital transformation in the finance industry continues accelerating, graduates need a more “wholistic business education” to meet changing demands and responsibilities. 

In particular, data analysis is becoming a skill of even greater importance for financial managers. With more companies leveraging big data to make decisions, finance professionals must know how to analyze data and share insights with others in an organization. 

Consequently, the Master in Finance at W. P. Carey gives students plenty of opportunities to try their hand at data analysis. For example, the analytical methods track incorporates a module on data mining, introducing students to predictive analytics and data decision-making. 

Separately, Master in Finance students investigate how to use data visualization to improve operational efficiency and harness the power of data across departments. 

Ultimately, it’s no surprise that employers see significant value in Master in Finance graduates. With a blend of high-level technical knowledge and transferable skills in data analysis and project management, these graduates prove their worth in sectors far beyond finance.

Previous graduates of the Master in Finance at W. P. Carey have found diverse roles at Amazon, Goldman Sachs, and Vanguard. 93% of students are employed within six months of graduating. 

The W. P. Carey Master of Finance program is STEM-certified, which may enable students to receive a student visa extension after graduating. This will be ideal for exploring the myriad roles in finance and technology in the US.