Fordham's Master of Science in Quantitative Finance (MSQF) is a STEM-designated, 39-credit degree from the Gabelli School of Business in Manhattan, and it can be finished in as few as 12 months, though most students take 18 to 24. For Fall 2027 you have three admission rounds left, January 15, 2027, March 19, 2027 and rolling, and the GRE and GMAT are encouraged but not required.
I'm Fiona Taft, founder and CEO of QuantMinds, former Executive Director of UC Berkeley's MFE program and former Associate Director at Stanford University. Program details come from Fordham's official pages, checked November 2026. For the advice that applies to every program, see my guide on how to choose a quant master's program.
Fordham MSQF at a glance
| Detail | Fordham MSQF |
|---|---|
| Degree | Master of Science in Quantitative Finance, Gabelli School of Business |
| Credits | 39 (down from 45) |
| STEM | Designated STEM |
| Length | As few as 12 months, though most students take 18 to 24 months |
| Location | Manhattan |
| Start | Fall 2027 |
| Round 1 | October 9, 2026, already closed |
| Round 2 | January 15, 2027, decisions by March 19, 2027 |
| Round 3 | March 19, 2027, decisions by May 14, 2027 |
| Round 4 | Rolling, for domestic and local international candidates |
| Tests | GRE or GMAT encouraged, not required |
| Application fee | $150 unless waived |
Fordham's deadlines table doesn't state a time of day, so submit with room to spare. The Fordham pages I was given don't state class size or applicant numbers.
Which round to aim for
Round 1 closed on October 9, 2026, and that round carried a fee waiver and priority scholarship consideration. If you missed it, Round 2 on January 15, 2027 is the next one, and Fordham also gives Round 2 priority consideration for scholarships. Round 3 on March 19, 2027 is the last day for international applicants who need visa sponsorship from abroad. Round 4 is rolling and is meant for domestic and local international candidates, so don't plan on it if you need a visa from outside the US.
The Gabelli deadlines page lists every round for the on-campus MS programs. Check it again before you submit, because dates can change.
What Fordham asks for
The graduate admissions requirements page lists the checklist for specialized master's programs.
- The online application and the $150 fee, unless it's waived
- Official transcripts. You can start with unofficial or in-progress ones, but you won't be admitted without official copies
- A current resume
- At least one essay, and the topic varies by program
- English proficiency scores if you're an international applicant
- A letter of recommendation, which is optional for specialized master's programs
- GRE or GMAT scores, which are optional
On the program page, Fordham says it encourages, but doesn't require, valid GRE or GMAT scores, and it encourages applicants with a limited quantitative background to consider submitting them. I read that as a plain signal. If your transcript doesn't show the math yet, a strong quant score is one way to show it.
The background Fordham describes
The program page says ideal candidates are proficient in calculus, linear algebra and computer programming. It says they typically hold a degree in math, physics, engineering, economics or computer science, and have studied statistics, differential equations, real analysis, probability theory, econometrics, micro and macroeconomics, accounting, corporate finance and programming.
The bulletin adds that Fordham looks at your background and may ask you to take foundation courses before the core. The listed ones are Foundations of Accounting, Foundations of Economics, Foundations of Finance, Math for Quantitative Finance, and Probability and Statistics. Those can be taken through the Gabelli School. If your math has gaps, here's the math you actually need to break into quant finance.
What's distinctive about the program
The Fordham bulletin lays out the structure. The core is Financial Markets and Modeling, Derivatives, Machine Learning and Econometrics, Time Series Econometrics and Financial Programming, at two credits each. You also take an Internship and Project Report, Business Communication for Quants, and two one-credit research seminars. Business Communication can be waived if you show the background, and then you take an extra elective credit instead. The remaining 24 credits are electives, which can be any QFGB course numbered 8000 to 8999.
The program page lists electives such as Fixed Income Securities, Risk Management, Algo Trading and Market Making and Computational Finance, and says students build skills in derivatives valuation, machine learning and credit risk, among others.
Two format details matter for planning. The bulletin says students are expected to enroll full-time from September to May of the first year, and after that they can take evening classes while working full time or doing an internship. It also notes the program can be finished in as few as 12 months, but most students choose 18 to 24 months because the extra time leaves room for employment.
The program is STEM-designated, and Fordham says eligible students may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. International students should confirm their own eligibility with Fordham's international office.
Costs
I couldn't confirm a tuition figure from a Fordham page for this guide, so I'm not stating one. Check Fordham's official graduate tuition page for the current rate before you budget. The one cost Fordham states on its requirements page is the $150 application fee, waived in Round 1. Scholarship consideration is described as priority in Rounds 1 and 2.
Outcomes
Fordham's program page says that 85 to 90% of its graduates find jobs within three months of graduation, and that within six months the figure approaches 100%. The page doesn't say which graduating class or year that covers. Treat it as the program's own claim. If you want more detail, ask the admissions office, at admissionsgb@fordham.edu or 212-636-6200, which cohort the number covers.
How I'd approach the application
Start with the role you want, then ask whether the courses fit it. A program with a strong risk or fixed income lean reads very differently if you want to trade or build models. Here's how to tell a quant researcher, trader and developer path apart.
Then be straight with yourself about readiness. Fordham describes ideal candidates as proficient in calculus, linear algebra and programming. If any of those is shaky, fix it before you apply. A complete application in Round 3 is a better plan than a rushed one in Round 2, though Round 2 is the one Fordham marks for priority scholarship consideration. Python matters here too, so see Python for quant roles.
Use the essay to connect your background to a specific goal. Fordham asks for at least one, so name the courses and the kind of work you're aiming at, and say what your quantitative preparation looks like. Don't wait to find out whether you need the optional pieces. If a test score or a letter would answer a question your transcript raises, send it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply before I have my final transcripts?
Yes. Fordham says you can start with unofficial or in-progress transcripts, but you won't be admitted without official ones.
Can any required course be waived?
Business Communication for Quants can be waived if you show the background. You then take one extra elective credit and still complete 39 credits.
Will I have to take foundation courses first?
Possibly. The bulletin says Fordham reviews your background and some students are asked to take foundation courses, such as Math for Quantitative Finance, before the core. Students who miss the minimum standards on the examinations must take them and postpone core courses.
Get a second opinion
If you'd like another set of eyes on whether Fordham belongs on your list, or on how your math reads, request a free Discovery Session, a Zoom session with one of our coaches, and we'll work through it together.
Sources
- Gabelli School, MS in Quantitative Finance
- Gabelli School, Graduate Admissions Requirements
- Gabelli School, Graduate Admissions Deadlines
- Fordham Bulletin, Quantitative Finance (M.S.)
Header photo by Ajay Suresh, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY 2.0, cropped and with the Fordham University logo added.
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