The latest ranking represents rapid progress of the financial engineering program
Stevens School of Business is pleased to announce that our master’s in financial engineering program is now among the Top 20 in the US. It is ranked #19 in the nation, according to Quantnet, the leading authority on financial engineering programs. Stevens’ number-19 placement represents significant progress: up five spots in three years – from 24 in 2019 – and two spots, up from 21 last year.
Recent alumni have enjoyed a 98% placement rate within three months of graduation and an average starting salary of $99,443. They also benefit from the extensive network of alumni and industry professionals that Stevens has developed in the New York City area.
Aayushi Gandhi, an associate at Goldman Sachs, who graduated from the financial engineering program in December 2020, says, “In my work, I’m not going to be expected to write code all day, but knowing enough to be able to extract, clean and analyze data helps me do my job that much better. Stevens introduced me to the technical side of finance, which has opened a lot of doors for me.”
Alumni from the financial engineering program at Stevens have benefitted from a practical orientation that few other programs offer. Lessons emphasize how technical tools can address specific challenges in the markets, while preparing students to identify inefficiencies, recognize opportunities and develop innovative new products. The Stevens program also recognizes the systemic nature of financial markets and guides students through the challenges of working in large, interconnected environments.
Lauren Xingjia Zhang, ’13, a senior data and applied scientist at Microsoft, says, “Stevens was a top choice for me because of the sophisticated coursework, numerous alumni on Wall Street, and having dedicated career development coaches. The financial engineering program has given me concrete tools and practices that help me land my current job. This experience was life-changing—professionally and personally.”
"I am very pleased to see the progress, from 24 to 19 in three years," says Gregory Prastacos, the dean of the School of Business. "The growth is indicative of how Stevens gives students a strong foundation in the quantitative and technology skills that are very much in demand in the industry."
Program Director Emmanuel Hatzakis says, “At Stevens, we emphasize academic and career success for our students and graduates. Besides offering a rigorous, high-quality curriculum, we invest a lot of time trying to understand each student individually – their strengths, goals and what they are passionate about – so we can advise them properly and connect them with the best industry mentors. Built into this process is a simulation of the professional environment our students will launch careers at, so they get a head start in thinking, acting and behaving as if they already belong in the workplace culture. The broad and deep industry experience of our faculty, and their extensive professional network enables us to do that and with our other strengths, it is what makes us unique.”
