COMPARE NYU MSMF vs Columbia MFE

Rank
Program
Total Score
Peer Score
Employed at Graduation (%)
Employed at 3 months (%)
Base salary
Cohort Size
Acceptance Rate (%)
Tuition
Rank
6
🇺🇸
2025
Columbia University New York, NY 10027
3.21 star(s) 14 reviews
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6
2025
Columbia University
85
3.6
37
100
122.9K
123
10.52
93.02K
Rank
13
🇺🇸
2025
New York University New York, NY 10012
4.64 star(s) 11 reviews
🇺🇸
13
2025
New York University
69
3.6
40
49
104.1K
30
18.31
84.96K
NYU MathFin is more inclined towards research and strategies making it a suitable choice for you.
All in all it's more hardcore and selective than Columbia MFE, plus a stronger career service (smaller applicant pool and resume books being sent out).

Just my $0.02
Seems that NYU Courant does not allow international students to find internships during the first two semesters. Would that cut into the possibility to find a good summer internship due to lack of work experience?
 
Seems that NYU Courant does not allow international students to find internships during the first two semesters. Would that cut into the possibility to find a good summer internship due to lack of work experience?
I don't believe international students are allowed to work during the first two semesters at any program, even Columbia.
 
I don't believe international students are allowed to work during the first two semesters at any program, even Columbia.

They can do unpaid internships, even though it's not allowed(not sure), but many people are doing so. I don't know the situation for Columbia MFE and NYU, but I know Columbia MAFN has a 'course' named 'unpaid internship' in spring semester, for students to do that legally. And generally many unpaid internships don't require you to have that official status.
 
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Seems that NYU Courant does not allow international students to find internships during the first two semesters. Would that cut into the possibility to find a good summer internship due to lack of work experience?

That's where networking comes into play (for summer internships). Don't join a program expecting that internship and job opportunities will be served on a silver platter.
 
'Columbia MFE verus NYU MathFin' was merged into this thread.
I was wondering whether anyone is willing to compare Columbia MFE with NYU MathFin, in areas including curriculum, career service and academic atmosphere.

I hear that NYU MathFin only has classes in evening. Is that true? Also, what are key differences between Columbia MFE curriculum and NYU MathFin curriculum? In terms of recruiting, what advantages does each school has? Which school is more likely to prepare students for getting quantitative research job?

Also, do professors in NYU MathFin most adjunct professors or professors at Courant? In addition, if I plan to do PhD in Finance/Financial Mathematics, which program is more preferable?

I have done research on websites. I really need your suggestions to help me make a final decision.

Thanks so much!
 
I would suggest go with Nyu mathfin. Courant institute has a much better brand value. Also they professors who teach the couses there are awesome. Their coursework(buy side focused) is impeccable and a small batch size will help in getting personalized attention. Also if you plan for a PhD in future courant's brand name would really help.
 
I would suggest go with Nyu mathfin. Courant institute has a much better brand value. Also they professors who teach the couses there are awesome. Their coursework(buy side focused) is impeccable and a small batch size will help in getting personalized attention. Also if you plan for a PhD in future courant's brand name would really help.
Thanks! Would you like to mention several courses?
 
I would suggest go with Nyu mathfin. Courant institute has a much better brand value. Also they professors who teach the couses there are awesome. Their coursework(buy side focused) is impeccable and a small batch size will help in getting personalized attention. Also if you plan for a PhD in future courant's brand name would really help.

Agreed. Classes that are highly mathematics such as stochastic calculus are taught by professors at Courant while others that are more practical such as active portfolio management, market microstructure etc. are taught by adjunct professors who are practitioners in the industry.

I'm going to intern at a global hedge fund this summer and the whole recruiting process was done internally, meaning the firm came to Courant to pick resumes. So there are a lot of such exclusive opportunities that are dedicated to MathFin students.

The reason why most classes are at night(5-7 or 7-9) is because there are part-time students in the program. I don't mind it so far. Actually quite like it since we could do interviews and other events during the day.
 
Agreed. Classes that are highly mathematics such as stochastic calculus are taught by professors at Courant while others that are more practical such as active portfolio management, market microstructure etc. are taught by adjunct professors who are practitioners in the industry.

I'm going to intern at a global hedge fund this summer and the whole recruiting process was done internally, meaning the firm came to Courant to pick resumes. So there are a lot of such exclusive opportunities that are dedicated to MathFin students.

The reason why most classes are at night(5-7 or 7-9) is because there are part-time students in the program. I don't mind it so far. Actually quite like it since we could do interviews and other events during the day.

Thanks for sharing your experience with me! Also, do curriculum focus on training in programming and computational techniques? Some people say that classes at Courant are a bit theoretical. Which classes do you find helpful during job search?
 
Thanks for sharing your experience with me! Also, do curriculum focus on training in programming and computational techniques? Some people say that classes at Courant are a bit theoretical. Which classes do you find helpful during job search?

Yes, most classes are required to use python to implement models and algorithms. There are also two programming classes that focus on Java and Python, respectively. I heard that statement before coming into the program but now I think ppl misunderstand it. Yes courses normally require you to understand the mathematical derivations behind the subjects, but the subject itself is practical and related to what people do on the street.

For your last question, to be honest, if you have a good time in finding internships, you are not going to use too much stuff in class because you might find your internship in October or November, 2-3 months after starting the program. Nonetheless, I find OOP in Java and Risk & Portfolio Mngmnt at the first semester quite useful in interviews.
 
Night classes also accommodate the working schedules of the adjunct professors. Columbia's MFE/MAFN courses are also mostly at night for the practitioners' sake.
 
'NYU Math in Finance vs Columbia MFE' was merged into this thread.
Hi everybody, I am writing to ask for some suggestions on NYU Math in Finance vs Columbia MFE. I received admissions from both programs recently, but I have not decided which one to go. Could you please share some views on the courses, career service, internships&job placements of both programs.

Thank you so much. Wish everyone have a dream offer~
p.s. My BG some of you might be interested in: Cambridge Math Part iii, GRE 328, some quant internships
 
Well one big thing to consider is the Nyu has night classes while Columbia has day classes. For me I perform better I the morning and prefer that over staying in school till 9. Overall it won’t make to much of a difference where you go it’s just some small preferences. For example Nyu has a smaller class size then Columbia so that might be something to look into. So look at some of the smaller stuff and you’ll be good no matter where you go.
 
Well one big thing to consider is the Nyu has night classes while Columbia has day classes. For me I perform better I the morning and prefer that over staying in school till 9. Overall it won’t make to much of a difference where you go it’s just some small preferences. For example Nyu has a smaller class size then Columbia so that might be something to look into. So look at some of the smaller stuff and you’ll be good no matter where you go.
Thanks. I think night class is ok for me:D
 
I would do a LinkedIn search as well such as Columbia mfe LinkedIn or columbia masters in financial engineering LinkedIn. And you could add a company name next to it and look at where graduates are going
 
Hi everybody, I am writing to ask for some suggestions on NYU Math in Finance vs Columbia MFE. I received admissions from both programs recently, but I have not decided which one to go. Could you please share some views on the courses, career service, internships&job placements of both programs.

Thank you so much. Wish everyone have a dream offer~
p.s. My BG some of you might be interested in: Cambridge Math Part iii, GRE 328, some quant internships
Would you mind sharing your timeline? i.e. submission date, interview invitation data, admission date. Also, did you receive an email to ask you to check for status or you login into the website? Congrats!
 
Are people ( who received interview invites ) also getting rejections? Just curious how long it will take to know the exact status ( whatever it might be ).
 
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