Georgetown McDonough’s Master of Science in Finance Experiences Record Increase in Applications and Welcomes Largest Incoming Class

The blended online Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business welcomed 209 students this fall after a record number of applications this year, resulting in its largest incoming class to date. The new cohort also marks a significant milestone for the school as they recognize 10 years since the program’s launch in 2014. 

“As we celebrate our 10th anniversary year, we are thrilled to continue to grow our program while enhancing our admission selectivity, cohort diversity, and commitment to principled leadership and career success,” said Allan Eberhart, senior associate dean of the MSF Program. “For this year’s cohort, our applications had increased by more than 50% by the end of the fifth round in May, allowing us to meet our seat limit early and begin recruiting for the next class.”

This year’s incoming cohort is 58% full-time students, while 42% have chosen to continue their careers and take courses part-time. The class brings significant professional experience to the program, with up to 34 years of work experience in a variety of industries, including accounting, consulting, consumer goods and retail, energy and clean tech, financial services, government, healthcare, marketing, real estate, and technology, to name a few. 14% of the cohort already has a master’s degree and 44% studied non-business or economic majors during their undergraduate careers. 

In addition to their breadth of professional experiences, the class has also achieved academic success in previous educational pursuits. The average GPA is 3.41, up from previous years, with a 20-80% percentile range of 3.15 to 3.72. 

This year’s class also includes strong representation among women and underrepresented minorities – 23% and 30%, respectively – as well as 42% U.S. diversity. The average age of the cohort is 27. 

“This was my first year working on admissions, and it was rewarding to see how our program’s Blended Learning approach resonates with so many prospective students,” said Allen Ammerman, director of academic operations for the MSF program and an assistant teaching professor. “Our Georgetown University MSF program’s low acceptance rate is indicative of the program’s selectivity, while our blended online flexibility makes us accessible to highly qualified students who want a world-class education without having to move to Washington, D.C., in addition to those who desire an on-campus experience.”

The MSF program combines interactive asynchronous course content with weekly live classes to create an unrivaled blended experience for students. The program’s Blended Classroom empowers students to attend class in person or online and receive the same educational experience. The program also offers a dedicated career services team, led by Associate Dean Thomas Stowell, that helps students advance in their current organization or transition to a new job during or after the program.

“We’re excited to begin working with this diverse group of students as they begin their journey toward earning a Master of Science in Finance from Georgetown,” added Sandy Lee, MSF director of operations. “We have several upcoming programs designed to enhance their blended online learning experience, including in-person residencies, career experiences, overseas projects, and hybrid classes.”

Designed to transform today’s best professionals into rising industry leaders, the program offers part-time and full-time options to students depending on their professional and academic preferences, both of which can take up to 21 months. The accelerated option, which takes 10 months to complete, is available for students who are interested in completing their degree in a shorter timeframe through an intensive full-time curriculum experience. 

To learn more about the MSF program’s offerings, please visit the website.