Financial Times Ranks Smith Master of Finance #4 in U.S.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (June 20, 2017) — A new ranking by the Financial Times, released yesterday, recognizes the Master of Finance program at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business as No. 4 in the nation and No. 38 in the world.

The Financial Times Global Masters in Finance rankings only includes accredited, full-time, cohort-based programs with a minimum of 30 graduates each year. This is the first time the Smith School participated and was ranked.

The rankings measure 17 criteria, gathered from school data and from two surveys, one completed by the business school and the second by alumni who graduated in 2014. Factors that go into the calculation include salary figures three years after graduation, salary increase, value for the money, career progress, employment after three months of completing the program, and data on the program’s diversity, international makeup, faculty, and courses.

According to the Financial Times report, demand for master’s of finance degrees is on the rise from companies looking for well-rounded finance graduates who can navigate “political uncertainty and the complex global economic environment.” The London-based newspaper reports that the number of people from around the world who want to study finance is increasing, especially from China. The rankings also point to a steady increase in the number of women enrolled in master of finance programs.

Launched in 2009, Smith’s MFin program is one of seven specialty programs currently offered by the school. For more information on specialty master's programs at Smith, visit: www.rhsmith.umd.edu/ms.