

MS in Financial Engineering
MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University Overview
Columbia University offers a 12 months MS in Financial Engineering at the PG level. The course is among the popular program that international students want to study abroad.
International students are required to take exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo to meet the basic eligibility criteria by submitting valid scores. Students must pay the Columbia University tuition fees of USD 93,024 for the MS in Financial Engineering. Additionally, they should plan for other expenses, including accommodation, hostel fees, food, books, supplies, and utilities. The estimated Columbia University cost of living is USD 18,274.
Duration | 12 months Get Curriculum |
Tuition & Fees | ₹66.77 Lakh Get Fees details |
International Students Admission Website | Go to Website |
Official Career Service Website | Go to Website |
Course Level | PG Degree |
- Overview
- Fees
- Curriculum
- Entry Requirements
- Application Process
- Rankings
- Placements
- Highlights
- Scholarships
MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University Fees
Students can pursue Columbia University MS in Financial Engineering at an affordable cost. The university tuition fees for the program is USD 93,024. Apart from tuition fees, students also manage additional costs such as Hostel and Meals, Transportation, Books and Supplies, Personal Expenses, etc. The total expense may vary at the university, depending on the additional charges levied by the Columbia University.
International students have to make a budget to manage the cost of living, which is USD 18,274.
Students can check the table below for Columbia University MS in Financial Engineering fee breakup:
Fees components | Amount (for 1 year) |
---|---|
Tuition & fees | INR 66,77,465 |
Fees components | Amount (for 1 year) |
---|---|
Hostel & Meals | INR 15,67,859 |
Insurance | INR 4,39,657 |
MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University Curriculum
For detailed information regarding the MS in Financial Engineering program at MS in Financial Engineering, click on the green button below. The curriculum PDF provides all important information students may need to know related to the course including subjects taught, available electives and other course-related content. The PDF also provides a semester-wise breakup of the overall course structure.
Download exam sample paper
MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University Entry Requirements
- No specific cutoff mentioned
- CGPA - 3/4
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- Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an institution of acceptable standing
- Applicants aspiring to join the MSFE program are expected to possess a strong foundational knowledge of essential subjects such as calculus, linear algebra, probability, and statistics
- Familiarity with differential equations would also be advantageous. Proficiency in coding and the ability to work with financial models, conduct scenario simulations, and analyze and mine data are integral to the program
- A robust comprehension of finance concepts is indispensable. This includes a solid understanding of derivatives, risk management, portfolio theory, and the dynamics of financial markets. Immersing yourself in financial news and staying attuned to market trends can greatly enhance your perspective.
- 3.0 (out of 4) GPA is preferred. Most successful applicants have a GPA higher than 3.0

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Out of 10
- N/A
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- Applicants are welcome to apply to our programs with only 3 years of undergraduate experience. However, the University recommends having a 4-year degree to cover all the prerequisites for the program. While there are no official prerequisites for our programs, the University does ask that our students have a background in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and probability & statistics. It would also help if applicants have some knowledge of computer languages C++, Python, and Matlab. Overall, the University places the highest priority on quantitative skills, followed by programming experience, and internship/work experience

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Out of 10
- Marks - 99/120
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- There are no minimum test score requirements to apply for admission consideration. However, it may be necessary to improve English proficiency if students scored an overall score of 99 or lower
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- Marks - 68/90
- There are no minimum test score requirements to apply for admission consideration. However, it may be necessary to improve English proficiency if students scored an overall score of 68 or lower
- Marks - 6.5/9
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- There are no minimum test score requirements to apply for admission consideration. However, it may be necessary to improve English proficiency if students scored an overall score of 6.5 or lower
- Get a Full FREE IELTS Prep Course with Shiksha Study Abroad – Limited Seats for Weekend & Weekday Batches! Register now for IELTS
- No specific cutoff mentioned
- For future admission cycles, the University recommends preparing for the GRE, as it has historically been a required component
- Marks - 130/160
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- There are no minimum test score requirements to apply for admission consideration. However, it may be necessary to improve English proficiency if students scored an overall score of 130 or lower
- Take Duolingo English Test from your home, in just 1 hour and get results in 2 days. 70% cheaper than other English Tests. Register now for Duolingo
- After applying, applicants will be able to submit a video interview through the application portal. The university will be asked three random questions and will have three minutes to respond. Applicants are encouraged to answer as if speaking in a face-to-face conversation. There is no need to stress about the interview—it is simply a way for us to get to know them better
- The university recommends that prospective students have some professional experience, either in the form of a full-time position or an internship
MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia University does not set any minimum eligible scores for international students willing to join the master's programs. However, it is recommended to aim score above 320 on the GRE and over 700 on GMAT for successful admission. In addition, students who scored or performed well academically and were involved in relevant internships may get some sort of relief in standardized test scores. Columbia University is tough to get into for international students, and that is why they must aim to score much higher than the recommended scores.
The UNBC acceptance rate is 70-75%. this shows that the university is moderately selective and you can increase your chances of acceptance by meeting the eligibility requirements and submission of mandatory documents as required for the admission process.
The Columbia University tuition fees for international applicants are based on the programs and the year of study. The tuition cost is quite high for Indians, and ranges between INR 51L and INR 59 L for undergraduate and INR 20L and INR 1.23 Cr for postgraduate. Students must make a separate budget for housing and food, books, and personal expenses, and more. Students can check the table below for the first-year tuition fees of popular programs:
Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
---|---|
BBA (7 courses) | INR 58 L - 59 L |
B.E. / B.Tech (14 courses) | INR 52 L - 59 L |
B.A. (55 courses) | INR 58 L - 59 L |
M.A. (140 courses) | INR 20 L - 75 L |
MS (74 courses) | INR 28 L - 1 Cr |
MBA/PGDM (19 courses) | INR 45 L - 80 L |
Others PG (28 courses) | INR 28 L - 1 Cr |
B.Sc. (20 courses) | INR 58 L - 59 L |
MBA/PGDM6 (6 courses) | INR 52 L - 84 L |
The minimum GPA required for getting into Columbia Uni is 3.7-4.0. The University prioritizes students who stand out both in academics and other non-academic activities such as community events, social and cultural events, among others.
International students are advised to perform consistently well across different levels of their education to have the best chances of admission.
While both Columbia and Harvard, are part of the best universities in USA, they are also highly selective. The Columbia University acceptance rate is 4.9% for the Class of 2029, while the Harvard University acceptance rate is 3.6%. Thus, it can be said that Harvard is marginally tough to secure admissions at than Columbia, however, there is not much between them.
MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University Application Process
- Offical transcripts
- Official GRE Test Scores
- Proof of English proficiency scores
- Copy of passport
- Columbia offers a monthly payment plan to enable students to pay tuition and fees over several months, rather than in one payment
- The Payment Plan is available for the Fall term, Spring term, the annual academic year plan (Fall & Spring), or Summer term
- $45 annual enrollment fee and $25 enrollment fee per term (Fall, Spring and Summer terms) and $30 returned payment fee if a payment is returned
- Up to 5 Payments are available for a fall term plan. Plan enrollment closes after November 26
- Up to 5 Payments are available for a spring term plan. Plan enrollment closes after April 24
MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University Rankings
Rank | Rank Publisher |
---|---|
#10 | |
#14 | |
#17 |
MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University Placements
Particulars | Statistics (2025) |
---|---|
Internship Available | Yes, The IEOR Career Team is dedicated to assisting students with professional development and internship and job placement |
MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University Students also asked
Both Columbia and Yale, form part of the top 10 universities in USA. Choosing between them, can be tricky, as each has its own strengths, however, here is a detailed comparison between the two, to help make things easier:
Parameter | Columbia University | Yale University |
---|---|---|
Location | 116th and Broadway, New York, NY 10027, USA | New Haven, CT 06520, USA |
Fees | UG: INR 51.6 L-INR 1.25 Cr PG: INR 20.5 L-INR 1.25 Cr | UG: INR 57 L PG: INR 54.6 L |
Academic Structure | Rigid Curriculum, must specify the major earlier | More Flexible Curriculum, can choose a major later |
International Student Population | 1,241 | 3,900 |
Acceptance Rate | 4.28% | 4.5% |
Career Prospects | Strong connections across industries in NYC | Connections acrosss the US |
Shiksha Popularity Ranking | #10 in USA | #7 in USA |
Shiksha Global Ranking | #17 | #11 |
Columbia University ranks #10 among all colleges & universities in the United States, as per the latest global university rankings rolled out by Shiksha.
The institute is also a part of the prestigious group of Ivy League Schools that are known for being the best higher educational institutes in the United States.
Further, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranks Columbia #38 as part of its variation of the World University Rankings 2026, again cementing its status as one of the best universities in the world.
No, UBC, is not an Ivy League institute, as it is based in Canada. The Ivy League only comprises of colleges & universities from the United States, & as a result UBC is not eligible to be considered in that group.
However, it still maintains a great academic environment, & many prominent publications, consider it a part of the "Canadian Ivys", an unofficial name given to some of the best institutions in Canada.
The University of British Columbia offers a number of programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is known for its academic excellence in research and teaching all over the world. The university is famous for its programs in Design & Arts, Engineering, Education, Business, Law, Nursing, Technology etc. The UBC courses include more than 250 undergraduate and over 350 postgraduate programs across a wide range of subjects.
According to the latest employment data, the employment and post-study plans rate at Columbia Journalism School is around 79%.
In the graduate class of 2024, out of the 260 members, 205 students have either secured employment or have plans to pursue internships, freelancing, higher studies, etc.
Columbia UniversityStudents Ratings & Reviews
- 67% students never faced discrimination in this university
MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University Highlights
- Financial Engineering is a multidisciplinary field involving financial theory, engineering methods, mathematical tools, and programming
- It is designed for students who wish to work in industries such as securities, banking, and financial management and consulting, or general manufacturing and service firms
- The first half of the program is devoted to tools of the trade and their use in modeling financial markets and instruments
- The MSFE curriculum includes courses in stochastic processes, optimization, numerical techniques, Monte Carlo simulation, and data analysis
- Students make use of these methods in portfolio theory, derivatives valuation, and financial risk analysis
- The second half gives students an opportunity to take more advanced courses or study specialized topics, ranging from models of the term structure of interest rates to a study of the implied volatility smile, as well as a course on applications programming for financial engineering
- The program offers seven concentrations, including:
MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University Scholarships
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