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Online MS in Finance

Chart an In-Demand Career With the Online Master of Science in Finance

Business may run on numbers, but it relies on people who can build and analyze sophisticated models to translate financial figures into bold insights and innovative strategies. The finance professionals who have a firm grasp of the technical skills and practices of finance have the singular ability to clearly deliver contemporary solutions in all facets of management and finance.

William & Mary’s Online Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program prepares future CFOs and investment managers with the quantitative and leadership skills necessary to identify value-creation opportunities and assess risk, navigate global challenges, foster change and create value in an ethical manner. When you choose the Online MSF, you have the opportunity to graduate with both your master’s degree and a specialized finance certificate—either a Corporate Finance certificate or an Investment Management certificate—in as few as 16 months. Earn two credentials and get a deep dive into finance more quickly and thoroughly than you would with a typical MBA.

As a “Public Ivy” institution, William & Mary brings a real-world application focus to every aspect of the Online Master’s in Finance curriculum. Whether you’re aiming for the C-suite, pursuing an investment management career, or looking to enhance your current financial role, our program delivers immediate value through practical skills that translate directly to workplace success.

Program Details

  • 16 Months to Completion
  • 32 Credits
  • 8 Courses
  • 7.5 Weeks Per Course
  • 100% online
  • Optional weekend residency*
  • No GMAT/GRE required
  • 3 starts per year: August, January and May

*Students who attend Residency Weekend will earn one additional credit. Read more about the Residency Weekend experience.

Why Earn Your Master’s in Finance Online at William & Mary?

From a career as a financial manager to the C-suite, you’ll benefit from a strong outlook for financial careers with a master’s degree in finance online from William & Mary.

17%
growth in financial manager jobs through 20331
#16
Financial Manager ranking in Best Paying Jobs3
#1
Financial Manager ranking for Best Business Jobs3
$161,700
median annual pay for financial managers2
$203,589
Average base annual salary for a CFO4

William & Mary’s reputation as a “Public Ivy” institution means your online master’s degree in finance carries the prestige and recognition employers respect. Our flexible format allows you to balance work and education while building the expertise needed for financial leadership. The optional Residency Weekend provides valuable face-to-face networking opportunities with peers and faculty, enhancing your educational experience.

Our Online Master’s in Finance program combines academic rigor with practical application, preparing you for immediate career advancement while building a foundation for long-term success in executive financial roles.

A Finance Curriculum That Blends Strategy and Real-World Skills

Our Online Master’s in Finance program is centered on four pillars—principled value creation; financial modeling, analysis and decision-making; global financial strategy; and effective communication of complex financial information and strategies. These are the conceptual and technical skills every finance professional must possess and fully master in order to find near and long-term success in corporate finance, investment management, real estate finance, commercial banking, consulting and more.

Our 32-credit curriculum can be broken down into the following two types of courses:

  • 6 core courses, worth a total of 24 credits
  • 2 elective courses, worth a total of 8 credits

Complete your master’s in finance online in 16 months with 8 total courses—6 core classes and 2 electives of your choosing for a deep dive into finance more quickly and thoroughly than a general MBA program.

Core Online MS in Finance Courses (24 credits)

BUAD 5027 Financial Statement Analysis and Modeling (4 credits)

This course introduces students to the elements of financial statement analysis and increases students’ ability to extract and use information from financial reports. In addition, students will learn how to use this information to forecast a complete set of financial statements and prepare a three-statement model.

BUAD 5127 Principles of Finance (4 credits)

Finance focuses on how people and businesses evaluate investment opportunities and raise capital to fund them. This course will provide you with an understanding of the financial principles that guide decision-making and equip you with the basic tools necessary for analyzing and interpreting financial data.

BUAD 5417 Advanced Corporate Finance (4 credits)

The objective of this course is to study the major decision-making areas of managerial finance. The course reviews the theory and empirical evidence related to investment and financing policies of the firm and to develop decision-making ability in these areas.

BUAD 5317 Corporate Valuation and Credit Analysis (4 credits)

This course will familiarize students with the tools and techniques for valuing corporate investment projects and assets in a wide range of settings. It offers hands-on experience in building and interpreting valuation models in Excel as commonly used by corporate financial managers, investment managers, and investment bankers.

BUAD 5527 Investments (4 credits)

The course introduces the theory and practice of portfolio management and investments in various asset classes. Emphasis is placed on wealth/asset management and hands-on development and use of financial software tools.

BUAD 5617 Applied Investment Management (4 credits)

This course introduces students to the theoretical foundation and practical skills that are essential to managing investment portfolios. Students will also learn up-to-date knowledge on financial markets and the asset management industry.

Elective Online MS in Finance Courses (Choose 2)

BUAD 6007 Behavioral Finance (4 credits)

This course analyzes how individuals, firms and other organizations make decisions. Standard economic and financial models assume rational agents, even though people may not always act rationally. In this course, we will study theories and evidence from psychology on individual decision-making, focusing on biases, heuristics, and other factors that are missing from these standard models. We will discuss and analyze topical applications to economics (e.g., intertemporal choice, retirement savings, altruism) and finance (e.g., efficient markets, investor psychology, bubbles), including improved economic theory and potential public policy responses. The course will also improve students’ understanding of individual behavior with an aim to improve their own decision-making in professional and personal settings.

BUAD 6207 Real Estate Finance (4 credits)

The value of real estate is roughly the same as that of the stock market, yet business decision-makers often overlook its importance. For example, real estate requires a fundamental choice for every firm and individual: the decision to rent vs. own commercial/residential real estate. The real estate market collapse in 2008, which led to a global financial crisis, has changed the way we think about commercial and residential real estate. It is of great import to manage the financial risk of real estate as its very nature is to have tremendous financial leverage. This class will cover a wide range of real estate topics from understanding the home buying process to programming complex mortgages.

BUAD 6307 Real Estate Investments (4 credits)

Real estate has become an established asset class in which private individuals and institutions, pensions, life companies and foreign investors have increasingly invested. This is due largely to real estate’s large investable universe, high yield, low volatility and diversification characteristics, resulting in potentially enhanced diversified portfolio risk adjusted returns. Broadly speaking, real estate’s investable universe can be categorized into four quadrants, based on whether the investment is public or private, and whether the investment is equity or debt. While each quadrant has distinct investment characteristics, the underlying property and its ability to generate rental income ultimately drives investment performance. As such, an understanding of real estate property types, markets, underlying assets and tenancy, along with the respective space and capital markets in which an asset operates, is necessary when analyzing an investment opportunity. Additionally, an understanding of the various real estate investment vehicles, strategies and structures is important, especially when considering a real estate investment in the context of a multi-asset portfolio. In this course, students will explore each of these and several related topics that will improve their understanding of the real estate asset class, and if desired, prepare them for exciting careers in the real estate industry.

BUAD 6107 Money, Banking and Financial Markets (4 credits)

At the macro level, financial institutions and financial markets exist as the key intermediaries needed for efficient allocation of capital in a market economy. Financial intermediaries are entities, like banks and mutual funds, that take in household savings on the one hand, and, on the other hand, allocate these savings to businesses and others for investment in productive capital projects such as new factories, new software development and so on. Financial institutions and both central banks, like the Federal Reserve and commercial banks, like Bank of America, are considered special because of the additional unique role they play in operation of the monetary system, which includes the money supply and related means of payment, which underlies all economic transactions.

The intertwined goals of this course are to (1) develop a strategic-level understanding of the economics of the financial sector as a whole, including interest rate and exchange rate determination, money creation by central banks, the operations of banks and the payments system, and (2) develop in depth knowledge of how some of the largest individual money/financial markets function, what financial services and products these markets offer, and how these products might be of value to the corporations and investors. The key financial markets analyzed in this course are the money markets, including both the commercial and shadow banking systems, the foreign exchange markets and role of banks as broker-dealers, public and private bond placement, the mortgage markets, and interest rate swaps. Among the financial institutions we examine are the two most important central banks, U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, large commercial banks, money market mutual fund companies, and foreign exchange market makers.

Stackable Finance Certificates

William & Mary offers specialized graduate certificates that can be completed in just 7-8 months:

Corporate Finance Certificate: Master the skills needed to drive financial strategy and value creation within organizations. This certificate prepares you for roles in corporate financial planning, analysis, and leadership.

Investment Management Certificate: Develop expertise in portfolio management, securities analysis and investment strategy. This certificate is ideal for those pursuing careers in asset management, wealth management or investment advisory.

These certificates stack seamlessly into the full Online Master of Science in Finance program, allowing you to earn a valuable credential quickly while progressing toward your master’s degree. All certificate courses count toward your MS in Finance, creating an efficient path to both credentials.

As an Online MSF student, you can add the Corporate Finance Certificate to your credentials at no extra cost by completing Financial Statement Analysis & Modeling, Principles of Finance, Corporate Valuation and Credit Analysis, Advanced Corporate Finance. You can earn the Investment Management Certificate by completing Principles of Finance, Investments, Applied Investment Management and Behavioral Finance.

Explore our specialized finance certificates and accelerate your career growth.

Become a Confident Leader in Finance

Build essential knowledge you need for a successful finance career with immersive learning experiences that demonstrate practical applications of course materials. William & Mary’s Online MSF program prepares you to step into leadership positions with confidence through:

  • Case analysis: Apply finance concepts to real-world business scenarios
  • Strategic decision-making exercises: Learn to navigate the uncertainty of financial models
  • Extensive simulation exercises: Gain authentic experience in forecasting, modeling, exercising strategic skills and making decisions
Confident female William & Mary student standing in front of a whiteboard with arms crossed

Meet the Challenge to Elevate Your Performance and Accelerate Your Career

The Online Master of Science in Finance strives to develop confident leaders in finance. When you graduate from this program, you will be able to successfully employ skills leaders need, including:

Technical and Analytical Skills

Use Excel and other industry-specific software to construct, analyze and interpret sophisticated financial models.

Scenario Analysis

Model the consequences of different outcomes to inform decisions on whether to take/mitigate certain risks and to optimize performance.

Financial Strategy

Drive strategy by overseeing the financial health of organizations. Instill a mindset that identifies uncertainties, challenges and growth opportunities.

Communication Skills

Communicate complex financial data and insights effectively by creating presentations and financial reports.

Through these experiences, you will build confidence to step into leadership positions and gain knowledge and skills that apply to your work now and in the future. Graduate from this program as a well-rounded financial professional ready to lead in corporate finance, investment management or other specialized finance fields.

Career Outlook for Online Master of Science in Finance Graduates

The job market for financial professionals with advanced credentials continues to grow, making now an ideal time to earn your master's degree in finance online. Finance leaders with strategic vision and analytical expertise are in high demand across industries.

William & Mary’s “Public Ivy” reputation and rigorous, applied curriculum prepare you to excel in these competitive fields. Our graduates leverage their advanced financial modeling, valuation and strategic decision-making skills to secure leadership roles and command competitive salaries.

With projected 17% growth in financial manager positions through 20331 and median annual salaries at $161,700,2 an Online Master’s in Finance from William & Mary positions you for both immediate career advancement and long-term success.

Discover the diverse career paths available with a master’s in finance.

“My classes at William & Mary have helped me prepare for the CFA exam. From a theory and an application standpoint, I feel a lot more confident and better prepared. I also feel like I can critically assess any financial issues, models or anything that they may throw at me during that exam.”
– Shay P., MS in Finance ’24

Learn From Industry-Leading Faculty

William & Mary is ranked #5 for Best Business Professors by The Princeton Review,5 reflecting our commitment to excellence in finance education. Our faculty brings a powerful combination of academic expertise and industry experience to the online classroom.

In the Online MS in Finance program, you’ll learn from the same distinguished professors who teach on campus, ensuring a consistent, high-quality educational experience. These finance leaders bring current industry practices and cutting-edge research into every course, providing you with insights that go beyond textbook theory.

This program is offered 100% online, but you’ll receive personalized attention and support through:

  • Interactive video lectures and discussions
  • One-on-one faculty office hours
  • Collaborative projects with real-world applications
  • Dedicated academic advisors focused on your success

Meet our distinguished finance faculty and discover how they can help you achieve your career goals.

More Than a Degree.
This Is Your Launchpad.

A William & Mary education is not just a degree but a unique connection to a tight-knit community of students, alumni, bold educators and driven, principled, connected leaders. Build your brand with a university known for breaking barriers, championing integrity and channeling academic grit since its inception.

The Raymond A. Mason School of Business imparts essential business knowledge and builds the dynamic mindset necessary to lead in today’s challenging and rapidly changing business environment. As an online graduate business student, you will:

✓ Graduate with the perspective to envision and enact positive change
✓ Access mentorship and experiential learning opportunities
✓ Receive personalized career support
✓ Build a lasting network to bolster your career for years to come

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Sources
  1. Retrieved May 5, 2025, from bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm#tab-6
  2. Retrieved May 5, 2025, from bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm
  3. Retrieved  May 5, 2025, from money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/financial-manager
  4. Retrieved  May 5, 2025, from glassdoor.com/Salaries/chief-financial-officer-salary-SRCH_KO0,23.htm
  5. Retrieved May 5, 2025, from princetonreview.com/business-school-rankings?rankings=best-professors