Master of Science in Finance

We admit students in both fall and spring semesters. For admissions, we look at the entire application package, including transcripts, rather than focusing on any one test score. We target a 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) undergraduate grade point average and a 600 or better on the GMAT (the code for LSU is 6373), with a balance between the verbal and quantitative sections. For Fall 2021, we will waive the GMAT requirement for well-qualified candidates ( >3.5 GPA and good references are required). 

We encourage but do not require work experience.   

The MS Finance program at LSU is small, with a total census of around 25. We usually accept between five and ten students each semester.

Since the curriculum is tailored to each applicant's needs, we require that you have already established a career goal and reasons for seeking the MS Finance degree. This information should be included in your statement of purpose on the graduate school application form and used to determine your program of study. 

Letters of recommendation are also an important part of the assessment process. We use them to help us determine the applicant's likelihood of success both in the program and after graduation. We do not require specific forms for these letters; the respondent should write on standard letterhead. 

International applicants must also provide an official TOEFL score (the code for LSU is also 6373) of at least 550 on the paper-based exam, 213 on the computer-based exam, or 79 on the internet-based exam to be considered for admission. 

The applicant's undergraduate degree should be equivalent to that from a four-year accredited U.S. institution. Applicants should have successfully completed the core requirements for a business degree, roughly the equivalent of at least a comprehensive undergraduate minor in business administration:  calculus, micro-economics, macro-economics, one year of accounting including financial accounting, statistics through regression and hypothesis testing, business law, principles of marketing, principles of management, principles of finance, and either production management or operations research. Applicants should also be proficient in office applications software (i.e., word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation). 

Students seeking the MS Finance degree must meet all degree requirements specified by the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School as well as specific departmental requirements outlined in the MS Finance Admissions section.

Prospective students should send all applicant documents and materials to the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School. Applicants should be sure to include:

• résumé
• letters of recommendation
• copies of the applicant's GMAT and TOEFL (international only) scores

This site also contains much information about the admissions process. The Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School sets the deadline of May 15 for Fall admission and October 15 for Spring admission but advises international students to submit their application at least ten months in advance of enrolling.

View tuition and fee estimates published yearly by LSU. The LSU International Services Office publishes estimates for standard living expenses including tuition and fees, view expense information for the current year. 

We currently do not offer any assistantships for the masters program for the coming academic year.

In addition to the standard MS Finance program, we offer alternate paths to obtaining a master's degree in finance.