Skip to main content
person working on laptop charts

Master of Science in Financial Analysis

Earn Your Master’s Degree and Meet the Growing Demand for Financial Analysts
Invest in your finance career with an online master’s in financial analysis from College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company. The program is dedicated to the advanced study of financial analysis and to developing financial analysis professionals through higher learning and quality student experiences, focusing on critical thinking, ethics, and lifelong learning. Build the expertise to stay competitive in this expanding field.

Why Choose College for Financial Planning®?

  • Skills & Recognition

    A master’s degree shows you have reached a high level of expertise. A graduate degree in financial analysis is immediately recognizable to both clients and firms.

  • CFA Institute University Affiliation Program

    Our Master of Science in Financial Analysis program is part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. It is recognized by CFA Institute as embedding at least 70% of the CFA® Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) from the CFA Program into our curricula.

  • Knowledge for the CAIA® exam

    In addition, a unique portion of the master’s degree includes some of the CAIA® Charter exam curriculum, helping you prepare for the CAIA® exam.In addition, a unique portion of the master’s degree includes some of the CAIA® Charter exam curriculum, helping you prepare for the CAIA® exam.

  • Prior Learning Credit

    If you hold a financial designation or license, or have successfully completed certain courses at the College for Financial Planning®, you may qualify for prior learning credit toward our master’s in financial analysis.

Program Learning Objectives

Graduates should be able to:

  • Know: Identify appropriate tools, techniques, and fiduciary responsibilities used in financial analysis in complex situations for firms and institutional and individual clients.

  • Apply: Apply accounting, economic, and quantitative methods and analyses in financial analysis used in various client-based scenarios and situations.

  • Relate: Relate the practice of portfolio management according to ethical standards.

  • Critical Analysis and Evaluation: Synthesize a sophisticated level of critical evaluation and analysis to financial analysis scenarios and apply advanced techniques in security analysis, asset allocation, and portfolio management for a firm and/or client.

  • Communicate: Prepare comprehensive written reports and effective presentations of financial analysis.

  • Professional Practice: Employ ethical and professional standards when making financial analysis and recommendations, abiding by regulatory and legal guidelines.

  • Lifelong Learning: Engage with the CFA Institute in being contemporary and adopting changes in the financial analysis industry, including related standards and regulations.

  • Discovery: Engage in learning and adopting new thinking in financial analysis including such areas as valuation, corporate performance, and portfolio management as it may apply to contributing to a firm and/or advising clients on complex financial analysis situations.

Program Curriculum

You must complete 30 semester credits with a minimum 3.00 grade point average to graduate from the program.

man at home at table on laptop

Topics Include

  • Economic analysis utilized in investment decision making

  • Financial statement analysis

  • Quantitative methods and analysis beneficial to financial analysis

  • The investment environment including financial markets and institutions

  • Corporate finance

  • Security analysis and valuation

  • Alternative investments, derivatives, and risk management

  • Advanced portfolio management

  • Professional standards and ethics in the investments industry

Apply Now

Core Courses

Demand for Financial Analysts: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm.

CAIA®: CAIAA does not endorse, promote, review, or warrant the accuracy of the products or services offered by Kaplan, Inc., nor does it endorse any pass rates claimed by the provider. CAIAA is not responsible for any fees or costs paid by the user to Kaplan, Inc., nor is CAIAA responsible for any fees or costs of any person or entity providing any services to Kaplan, Inc. CAIA®, CAIA Association®, Chartered Alternative Investment AnalystSM, and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association® are service marks and trademarks owned by CHARTERED ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT ANALYST ASSOCIATION, INC., a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation with its principle place of business at Amherst, Massachusetts, and are used by permission. Kaplan Schweser’s exam preparation products are not available to residents of countries or regions subject to technology or economic and/or trade sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets (OFAC) or other authorities including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or Ukraine (Crimea Region).