Transform financial data into better business decisions.
Big data is driving big changes in finance. Those who can balance a core knowledge of industry fundamentals -- valuation, financial analysis, risk assessment -- with creative problem-solving and decision-making skills are poised to lead the future. The Master of Finance and Master of Business Analytics joint degree combines the finance curriculum ranked #1 Best in Finance by the Financial Times with leading-edge analytics instruction that will put you ahead of the pack.
One extra semester, two master's degrees
It's a no brainer: In just 16 more weeks you'll earn a master's degree in two of the top fields in business. The one-two punch of these degrees gets you ready to tackle the industry's toughest challenges.
Make sense of the numbers
Finance is accumulating more data than Excel alone can manage. With an understanding of Tableau, R, Python, and SQL, you'll have the know-how to dive deep into the numbers, make strategic recommendations, and determine the ROI of both products and portfolios.
Get an edge in the job market
Two master's degrees on your resume will no doubt get noticed by hiring managers. But that's just the beginning. The broad business perspective you'll gain in the program will also arm you with the skills and ability to move up faster.
STEM-designated joint program
Tippie's Master of Finance and Master of Business Analytics programs are designated STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) academic programs. This designation opens doors to STEM-specific scholarships, grants, financial assistance, and employment opportunities for students and graduates.
For international students, STEM designation means additional opportunities to stay and work in the US—up to three years after graduation—under the STEM OPT program. Each additional year is another entry into the H1B visa lottery, boosting your chances of securing an H1B.
Program overview
Duration
2 years
Timing
Typically, students begin the joint degree program in the fall semester following their acceptance into the program.
Credit hours required
63 semester hours of master's coursework (17 core courses, 4 electives, 1 experiential finance course or additional elective).
Tuition
Iowa residents - $11,726.50 per semester
Non-residents - $17,989.50 per semester
All tuition and fees reported here are for planning purposes only. The exact cost to you may vary based on Iowa Board of Regents tuition fluctuations, fee changes, scholarships, awards, or financial assistance to which you are entitled.
Criteria for determining residency are specified by the University of Iowa Office of the Registrar.
Minimum requirements
Bachelor's degree
Earned from a regionally accredited college/university or equivalent from another country. We accept students from all undergraduate majors; a business degree is not required.
Optional: GMAT or GRE
While not required, you do have the option to include a GMAT or GRE score to strengthen your application. Test scores are valid for five years.
English proficiency: TOEFL/IELTS
International candidates only. Minimum TOEFL cores are 100 iBT, 600 CBT, and 7.0 IELTS with no sub-score below 6.0. Waivers available for those who qualify.
GPA
Cumulative 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale, or foreign equivalent.
Joint degree plan of study
1st year
Fall: 16 s.h.
- FIN:9400 or BAIS:9400 Professional Development and Business Acumen
- MBA:8140:0800 Corporate Financial Reporting
- MBA:8180:0800 Managerial Finance
- BAIS:6050:0700 or 800 Data Management and Visual Analytics
- BAIS:6060:0700 Data Programming in R or BAIS:6040:0700 Data Programming in Python
- BAIS:9100:0700 or 0800 Data and Decisions
Spring: 16 s.h.
- FIN:9400 or BAIS:9400 Professional Development and Business Acumen
- MBA:8130:0701 or 801 Business Communication
- FIN:9150:0800 Financial Modeling and Firm Valuation
- FIN:9200:0800 Portfolio Management
- BAIS:6070 Data Science
- Elective or FIN experiential course
- Elective or BAIS:9110 Advanced Analytics
2nd year
Fall: 16 s.h.
- MBA:8130:0702 or 802 Business Communication
- MBA:8170:0800 International Environment of the Firm
- FIN:9210 Derivatives and Risk Management
- FIN:9220 Fixed Income
- Elective
- BAIS:6120 Analytics Experience
Spring 15 s.h.
- FIN:9300:0800 Corporate Investment and Financing Decisions
- Elective or FIN experiential course if not yet taken
- Elective or BAIS:9110 Advanced Analytics if not yet taken
- Elective
- Elective
TOTAL: 63 s.h.*
Take the next step
Joint degree programs like the MFIN/MSBA are increasingly popular among high-achieving students. If you're interested in the MFIN/MSBA joint degree program, contact us for more information about the program and how to apply.
Pivot from amateur analyst to data mining pro
As the son of an Iowa alum, Maxwell Hedges had always dreamed of being a Hawkeye. While managing West Virginia University’s club hockey team as an undergrad, overseeing 30+ players and a $250,000 budget, he developed an interest in business that eventually led him to the University of Iowa.
“I used data in a limited way running the team, diving into the numbers and using them to recruit players and track who showed up,” he explains, “I eventually realized that I really wanted to be an expert in this.”
He followed his curiosity all the way to the joint Master of Business Analytics and Finance program at Tippie. And while his undergraduate history major may not be the expected path to a business master’s, it all makes sense to Max.
“What connected my history major and my master’s program is that for both, I had to be able to take a lot of information and explain it in a cohesive way,” he says.
Now Max is well on his way to becoming the data expert—and Hawkeye—he always wanted to be.
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