In a challenging and competitive job market, the Kelley School of Business MS in Finance (MSF) Program is proud to highlight the successful career outcomes of their 2025 graduates. Scott Smart, chair of Finance Graduate Programs, details specifics on who’s hiring, what roles MSF graduates are landing, and how Kelley uniquely supports students for lasting career success.
What are the career outcomes for Kelley MSF graduates in 2025?
“The MSF class of 2025 hiring statistics are significantly better than the last two years across all measures. By July, 84% of our December 2024 and May 2025 graduates received job offers. The average salary for this group was approximately 15% higher compared to 2024. The mean salary for 2025 graduates was $92,768, with a mean signing bonus of $8,781. For students who sought a summer internship, 91% landed one.”
Which companies are hiring Kelley MSF’25 graduates?
“A variety of top companies hired our graduates this year, including J.P.Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Stifel, Stout, Deutsche Bank, Guggenheim, Houlihan Lokey, Cleveland Research Company, Brown Gibbons Lang & Company, Cantor Fitzgerald, Deloitte, EY, and more. You can see the full list of hiring companies, as well as those from previous years, on our website.”
What are the most common job titles and industries for MSF graduates?
“With the majority of MSF graduates landing some type of financial services role, the most common job title is investment banking analyst. Beyond that, MSF graduates have a diverse range of titles, mostly with ‘analyst’ in them, such as financial analyst and capital markets analyst. In terms of industries, the MSF Class of 2025 has:
- Ten graduates in capital markets jobs (equity research, debt research, sales and trading)
- Nine graduates at investment banks
- Eight graduates in other financial services (commercial and corporate banking, providing services to financial firms, insurance)
- Six graduates in corporate finance
- Five graduates in wealth management
- Five graduates in accounting, consulting, or risk management advisory roles.”
How does the Kelley alumni network support students in the master’s in finance program?
“Kelley alumni play a significant role. We consistently advise students to begin their job search by networking with Kelley alums at specific firms, and many jobs are found through alumni connections.
I want to emphasize the importance of networking in the job search process. The students who are most successful are the ones who are most diligent about networking, most open to feedback, and most receptive to coaching from me, my staff, or the career services staff. It’s never too early to start making connections.
One of the real advantages of this program is the tremendous Kelley network students can access. Many students apply to our program because their undergraduate institutions lacked the kind of network that Kelley provides. They realize how important a strong professional network is and want to plug into one while earning their master’s degree. Students must be diligent in utilizing this valuable resource.”
What sets Kelley MSF graduates apart to employers?
“Several factors differentiate Kelley MSF graduates:
- Diverse backgrounds: While we have many undergraduate business and finance majors, we also have students from the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. They bring different perspectives. For example, one of our graduates with a biotech background went to work for a biopharmaceutical company, leveraging both his finance training and undergraduate experience—and both areas of knowledge benefited him in landing the job.
- Strong training: Our graduate finance courses provide advanced knowledge and expertise in financial theory, analysis, valuation, and investment management, in addition to other areas.
- Maturity and experience: MSF students typically accrue at least one additional year of academic instruction compared to undergraduates, gaining experiences that prepare them for advanced roles.”
How invested are Kelley faculty and staff in a student’s job search?
“As the faculty chair, I receive weekly reports on students’ progress in the job market, as does the associate chair. We regularly talk about the data and provide encouragement or a nudge to students who need career support. Additionally, all students in our program have a career coach through Graduate Career Services. Mark Wegener, a senior lecturer in the MSF program, brings approximately 30 years of banking experience and an extensive network and provides valuable advice to students looking for a job. He always has his eye on the placement outcomes. There are many resources dedicated to helping our students succeed in the job market, which is probably our most important differentiating factor.”
Is a master’s in finance worth it? The Kelley MSF program is designed to do for you what it did for the MSF Class of 2025—equip you with a depth of financial expertise, support your connections with top finance companies to work for, and empower you to launch a dynamic career.
Discover how the Kelley MSF can propel your career trajectory. Provide us with your contact information to schedule a one-on-one meeting (in person or virtual) with our admissions team. We’re eager to talk about your career goals and how the Kelley MSF can get you where you want to go.