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NYU Tandon School of Engineering - MS in Financial Engineering

NYU Tandon School of Engineering - MS in Financial Engineering

Bridging Financial Theory and Practice
Location
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Application deadline
Feb 15
At the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, we train our students to do exactly that: to engineer the future of finance and transform financial theory into practice. Launched in 1995, the MS in Financial Engineering (MSFE) at the Department of Finance and Risk Engineering (FRE) was the first curriculum to be certified by the International Association for Quantitive Finance (IAQF). As one of the largest and most prestigious financial engineering programs, we expand conventional financial engineering to encompass technology and innovation, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain/cryptocurrencies, and data science. Our international reach creates opportunities for partnerships with the most renowned universities, professors, and institutions from around the world.

ADMISSIONS
The Department receives a large number of applications every year. To be considered for admission into the MS in Financial Engineering program, students must have a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution and proven mathematical proficiency in:

  • Linear Algebra
  • Probability Theory
  • Calculus
  • Applied Statistics
  • Computer Programming
Applicants must submit official transcripts from each institution attended. When applicable, applicants must also demonstrate English language proficiency to be determined by the TOEFL score.

CURRICULUM
The program requires the completion of 33 credits to qualify for graduation. FRE offers over 80 courses, taught by faculty with extensive practical expertise, who produce world-class research while teaching both introductory and advanced courses in a small class setting.

To earn a Master of Science in Financial Engineering, students must complete 33 credits to qualify for graduation, as follows:

  • 5 core courses (15 credits)
  • Focus area and general elective courses within FRE and closely related fields personalized by the student, totaling 13.5 credits
  • 1 applied lab (1.5 credits)
  • Capstone experience (3 credits)
  • Capstone assessment (0 credits)
  • Bloomberg Markets Concepts certification (0 credit)
The program allows students to select courses from the following focus areas:
  • Financial Markets and Corporate Finance
  • Computational Finance
  • Technology and Algorithmic Finance
  • Risk Finance
There are four types of Capstone experiences: theses, projects, special topics, and internships. Projects can be done with industry advisors.

PROGRAM FEATURES
Pre-Program Boot Camp:
In order to help incoming students reach their maximum potential, the FRE department provides a comprehensive two-part pre-program boot camp every summer. The boot camp consists of an optional six-week online course in early summer, and a mandatory two-week intensive program on campus in August prior to the start of the Fall semester. Covered topics include Capital Markets, Advanced Calculus, Linear Algebra, Python Programming, Probability, Statistics & Risk Management.

The boot camp’s purpose is to prepare incoming students for the interview process that will begin soon after the start of the Fall semester. The top financial firms recruit in October for quantitative internships beginning in June of the following year. The boot camp evaluates students on a pass/fail basis, but the perspective gained is invaluable for gaining an overall understanding of firms' expectations of job candidates coming from an engineering school. The types of questions asked by interviewers are broad, ranging from mathematical brain teasers to technical programming questions involving machine learning and artificial intelligence. Candidates may also be asked to take written exams with questions on stochastic calculus, Black-Scholes theory, or Python coding. There is a lot to know, and few people (if anyone) have mastered it all, but attending the boot camp is the fastest way to become familiar with the landscape of topics important to the modern financial services industry.

Customized Educational Experience: NYU Tandon MSFE students have the flexibility to tailor their academic and professional focus in a way that best suits their interests and backgrounds. The Tandon MSFE is not a “one-size-fits-all” program, and is proud to have graduates beginning their careers in a range of functions within the industry; from Traders to Desk Quants, Risk Analysts, Software Developers, and beyond.

Large Course Offering: Over 50 department-specific courses are offered to the Tandon MSFE students each semester.

Small Class Sizes: The average class size is around 15 students, and no classes are larger than 30.

MSFE Career Guidance: In addition to the resources provided by the university-wide NYU Wasserman Career Center MSFE students have the benefit of receiving career support through the in-house FRE Department Career Resources as well. From FRE alumni networking events to recruiting presentations, resume reviews, and mock interviews; there is no shortage of resources available to students in the program. The FRE Career Placement Director works closely with students in the program to provide the resources and guidance they need to succeed.

Weekly Seminars with Industry Practitioners: Students are exposed to industry practitioners through the Peter Carr Brooklyn Quant Experience (BQE) Seminar Series, as well as talks provided via program partnerships, such as the Quantitative Finance Weekly Seminar.

Industry Connectivity: For the Tandon MSFE, integration with industry is not just a “nice to have,” it’s a “must-have.” Between 2016 and 2020, 40 new professors were brought on board from the industry, and that number continues to grow. The program is constantly evolving and adapting to the ever-changing climate of the industry and markets.

For more information, please visit the program's website:
Finance and Risk Engineering

Stay up-to-date with department news whether on the go or at your desk. Follow FRE on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
2026 Ranking Data
Rank
11
Total Score
70
Peer Score
3.1
Employed at Graduation (%)
67%
Employed at 3 months (%)
88%
% Employed in the US
86%
Graduates report rate
80%
Compensation
$109,281
Base salary
$107,478
Salary report rate
72%
Cohort Size
154 FT, 2 PT
Acceptance Rate (%)
38.1%
Yield Rate
27.5%
Tuition
$83,325
Views
57,396
First release
Last update

Ratings

3.70 star(s) 40 reviews 4.50 star(s) Students Quality 4.25 star(s) Courses/Instructors 4.17 star(s) Career Services

Latest reviews

Headline
Programming Your Own Program
Graduation Class
2015
Putting disclaimer upfront, I wouldn’t comment on specific courses or professors, partly because I graduated a decade ago and things changed or escaped me, but more importantly casting lights into corners isn’t that helpful when the real need is an accurate picture of the overall landscape.

Sure. One can complain about the faculty, curriculum, career service, or tuition. But you would probably heard similar things if you talk to students of most other programs. And the almost perfect programs are just too selective to be broadly relevant.

The real question comes to understanding the programs, picking the fit one, and leveraging it to the best. The same program always have successful graduates every year, and can never ensure success for everyone, actually for anyone. It’s just a car, with its pros, cons, and price. We are the drivers, responsible for maneuver and navigation. Therefore why don’t focus on picking the best courses/professors and let the dean worry about the worst?

Looking back, I’m grateful for its quantitative rigor, diverse curriculum, and unparalleled location. Over the ten years, I also witnessed its improvement in candidate caliber, curriculum quality, and career service. I am giving a 4 star rating because it obviously has room to evolve, but the runway it paved is enough for takeoff.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
4.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
4.00 star(s)
Career Services
4.00 star(s)
Andy Nguyen
Andy Nguyen
You have been a member since 2013 so it is a great delight to see you come back and share a review with us. Thank you.
Headline
Honest Review from a Current Student (Graduating 2026)
Graduation Class
2026
Reviewed by Verified Member
I’m a current MFE student (graduating May 2026) with a focus on energy. I came into the program from a finance undergrad with strong motivation but a clear need for deeper mathematical fundamentals, real research experience, and better industry access. After 1.5 years in the program, I’m very happy with my decision to come here. Below are what I consider the strongest aspects of the program, in order, though the lower points are not weak by any means.

1) Community & Culture

Beyond academic rigor, the professors genuinely care about your success and take a personal interest in helping you reach your goals. If you are proactive about your education, they respond exceptionally well -- guiding you toward the projects, topics, and skill sets that matter most for your career.

The cohort is also large and diverse. We are one of the largest across MFE programs ranked on QuantNet. You meet people with different backgrounds, strengths, and industry experiences. These classmates become your study partners, project teammates, and, eventually, part of your professional network. People here work extremely hard, and I’m confident I’ll stay in touch with many of them for years.

The programs administration team are equally supportive. They consistently approach student requests with a “How can we help this student get where they want to go?” mindset from the top down. Whether that means adjusting schedules to accommodate a job, helping with cross-registration, or advising on long-term career goals.

2) Academics & Research Opportunities

The curriculum is rigorous and flexible. Industry-practitioner faculty are extremely strong, and more excellent professors have been joining recently.

If you want deep theory, you can take multiple PhD-level classes that count toward the MFE. If you want practical quant research experience, opportunities are abundant.

You can also cross-register for courses across schools in NYU: Courant, Data Science, Stern, and others. This adds a huge amount of breadth and depth that many other MFEs simply don’t offer.

Importantly, the program is what you make of it. If you are genuinely passionate and actively involved in the subjects you came here to study, you will get enormous value. If you lose interest but still expect top outcomes, you might not have the same experience.

Many of the practitioner professors also go beyond teaching — they help students find internships, refer them for roles, and in some cases hire them for part-time or full-time work.

Professors who have made a particularly strong impact that I'd recommend students learn from are: Bouchouev, Ivan, Yao, Conklin, Shimko, Tang, Perry, Abousallah.

3) Careers

Career support is a real strength at Tandon, especially if you’re willing to put in effort and engage early.

Our careers director, Sara, works incredibly hard on behalf of the students. She supports networking, interview preparation, and overall positioning for competitive roles. The internal job portal she curates is excellent. Many of the strongest roles each year (hedge funds, banks, trading firms, quant/data science positions, and more) come through it.

I will be joining an oil major in their trading arm, which was a perfect match for my energy focus and research interests. I believe the program prepared me extremely well for this path.



The NYU Tandon MFE program rewards motivated, curious, proactive students. If you embrace the coursework, leverage the research ecosystem, and engage with the community, the return on investment is high.

I’m grateful I chose this program and would make the same decision again.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Andy Nguyen
Andy Nguyen
Thank you for your contribution to our community Mark. Your insights and experience are very valuable to prospective students.
Headline
The Career Advantage of NYU MFE
Graduation Class
2017
Since the MFE program is highly career-oriented, most applicants aim to secure strong job opportunities upon graduation. I will focus on the program’s career-support advantages:

1) Industry-aligned curriculum
The course structure closely mirrors real-world industry requirements. The program invites numerous practitioners from both the buy side (e.g., former portfolio managers at top hedge funds) and the sell side (e.g., MD-level quants, risk managers, and traders). The coursework is hands-on and project-driven, allowing students to build impressive, industry-relevant projects that significantly strengthen their résumés and improve their chances of receiving interviews.

Because many professors come directly from industry—and some even run their own firms—they frequently hire students as interns or even full-time employees. This direct access to industry practitioners is an invaluable advantage.

2) FRE Careers Technical Interview Mentorship Program
https://engineering.nyu.edu/academics/departments/finance-and-risk-engineering/employment-outcome/fre-careers-technical-interview-mentorship-program

I am also one of the mentors in this program. We provide free one-on-one mock interviews and interview preparation sessions for students seeking summer internships or full-time positions. Each mentor specializes in one or two technical areas.

This mentoring program helps students avoid low-level mistakes and, more importantly, narrow down the scope of their interview preparation based on specific job targets. Most mentors have many years of industry experience. As interviewers, we have spoken with hundreds of candidates; as interviewees, we have gone through hundreds of interviews ourselves. This depth of experience is extremely valuable for students, especially those who are new to the U.S. and just beginning their career journey.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Andy Nguyen
Andy Nguyen
You've been such a long time member here so we appreciate you take the time to write a review for NYU Tandon.
Headline
Great Coursework and Alumni Network
Graduation Class
2025
My time in the NYU MFE program has been very valuable. The curriculum offers rigorous, technical courses for those who want to deepen their academic foundation, while also providing lighter-workload options for students who wish to focus more on job searching.

In addition, the alumni network is incredibly supportive, and many alumni are generous with their time and willing to share their career insights. In my own experience, I contacted alumni who had worked at the same company I was applying to, and their guidance on interview preparation and team culture played a key role in helping me secure opportunities.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Headline
Opened Doors I Never Thought Possible
Graduation Class
2025
Reviewed by Verified Member
Like many things in life, people can have different opinions about the same experience, and the NYU MFE program is no exception. I can only speak from my own experience.

For me personally, the NYU MFE program opened a door that would otherwise have been impossible to reach. Academically, the program offers a mix of professors with strong industry backgrounds who can bring real-world insights and connections, and others who are deeply focused on theory and dive into the fundamental logic of mathematical models, both perspectives are valuable depending on what you’re looking for.

On the career side, we have Sara, who provides thoughtful career guidance and organizes events that connect students with alumni and help us better understand the industry landscape. I’ve even heard from alumni who said that Sara is one of the main reasons they still stay connected to the program. She truly builds a sense of community that lasts beyond graduation.

I’m genuinely grateful for this program personally. Of course, no master’s degree alone guarantees an ideal job, you still need to find your own direction and put in great effort. But if you’re looking for a solid ladder to help you climb toward your goals, NYU MFE is definitely a great choice that can make a real difference.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Headline
Great Career Placement & Alumni Network
Graduation Class
2024
I actually come from a DS background rather than a traditional quant path, and the NYU MFE program turned out to be an incredibly valuable experience for me, which might be helpful to students with similar profiles who want to explore data science roles within the finance industry.

The best part of my FRE experience was definitely the career placement and alumni network. I found my summer internship through an internal posting on the FRE Net (thanks to Sara’s help!) — it was a financial DS role that gave me hands-on exposure to modeling in a real business context. Later, my full-time opportunity came from a referral by a senior classmate, who also guided me through the preparation process. Without this program and its community, I truly wouldn’t be where I am today.

That said, it’s important for future applicants to keep realistic expectations. Securing a full-time role in the U.S. is competitive and not something any program can guarantee. But compared with peer-level MFE programs, FRE does a solid job providing access to opportunities and mentorship for those who are proactive.

Overall, I’m deeply grateful for the program — it opened the door for my transition from data science into the finance domain, and gave me the foundation for the career I have now.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Headline
Excellent Career Support
Graduation Class
2025
NYU FRE has amazing career support and a solid academic foundation. From day one, we had access to workshops, resume reviews, and mock interviews that really helped me prepare for the job market.

The courses are practical, and professors bring valuable real-world insights. Overall, the program has prepared me well for my future career.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Headline
They think they are helping but aren't
Graduation Class
2023
Pros:
- location
- NYU name brand
Cons:
- They mention resources that will help u landing a job, but nothing really is helpful. They do things on their own timeline and if u want access to materials u have to wait till Sara is ready. They advertise being helpful but most of the times the replies and materials shared are generic and can be easily found online.

I think they are trying hard, especially with new management. You can tell the person at the top genuinely cares about students but the people executing this aren't very supportive - more focussed on protocols and ticking off a box than genuinely ensuring student success.
Recommend
No, I would not recommend this program
Students Quality
3.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
3.00 star(s)
Career Services
1.00 star(s)
  • Anonymous
  • 5.00 star(s)
Headline
Competitive students, great courses, helpful department
Graduation Class
2025
- variety of electives to choose from.
- the placement coordinator is really supportive and helpful.
- academic advisors are great!
- cohort is quite competitive.
- the department encourages participation in multiple events
- having the option of taking Courant courses is unique to NYU
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
  • Anonymous
  • 3.00 star(s)
Headline
Course Grading
Graduation Class
2024
I don't know what happened to this program but it seems most instructors are reluctant to give A or even A minus. Most of the course grades were like B+, B or B-
If the program has a harsh grading scale, it is not suitable for students to seek jobs. (We all know students want to find jobs through this program but the program itself is making it hard for no reason.)
Recommend
No, I would not recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
2.00 star(s)
Career Services
2.00 star(s)
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