The following is from Global Derivative. MFE - University of California, Berkeley
Positives
• Housed in the Haas Business school which promotes the MFE program
• More business oriented perspective
• Balanced program instead of being math or computation focused
• Tailored FE program is helpful to students with non-finance background
• Excellent reputation in NYC
• Strong alumni network and the UCB brand name
• 1 year program, march-march session
• program fee ~ $47,000 (partial internship offset + lower living costs)
Other Features
• Location – west coast (Away from the financial hub of NYC)
• Bigger class size (60) – Director plays an important role in placements to offset locational disadvantage
• Sponsoring this course is made easier by Haas: loans are available to even international students without any credit requirements.
Best suited for:
• Mid-career professionals with some prior work exprerience (relevant preferred)/PhDs/Fresh graduates with steller academic records and some exposure to the industry. The average entrant age is 29 years.
MSCF – Carnegie Mellon University, New York/Pittsburgh
Positives
• Excellent placement services, Housed in the Tepper Business school
• Business perspective
• Computational finance focused
• Tailored FE program is helpful to students with non-finance background
• Excellent reputation in NYC
• Manageable class size split (35+35)
• Strong alumni network
• Special Networking opportunities for NYC campus
• Financial aid/waiver available for some
Other Features
• Program fee ~ $63,000 (partial internship offset + aid/schol for some)
• 1.5 year program, September to January session
• Limited access to professors (NYC Campus)
Best suited for:
• Mid-career professionals with some prior work exprerience (relevant preferred)/Fresh graduates with steller academic records
MSMF – New York University
Positives
• NYC placement (100% record)
• Excellent reputation of the Mathematics dept (Great names)
• Structured curriculum as opposed to wide range of electives
• Mathematics focused yet practical
• Excellent reputation in NYC
• Small class size (30)
Other Features
• Program fee ~ $45,000 (internship offset but Higher NYC living costs)
• Lesser university brand name worldwide than some of the ivy’s
• 1.5 year program, September to January session
Best suited for:
• Freshers with excellent mathematical background/Professionals with 1-2 years of experience
MSFE – Columbia University, New York
Positives
• NYC placement
• Good for those in the field prior to the program and want to get back quickly
• Wide range of electives
•  ractical program
• Excellent reputation in NYC
• Strong alumni network
• Brand name in the US
• 1 yr program, June–June session
Other Features
• Program fee ~ $43,000 (no internship + Higher NYC living costs)
• lacement scene competitive (MBA, MAFN, MSFE)
• Biggest class size (80)
Best suited for:
• Freshers with excellent academic background/Professionals with 1-2 years of experience
MSFM – Stanford University
Positives
• Reputation of Stanford and GSB world over
• Exclusivity (hard to get into)
• Great range of electives/flexibility
• Program fee ~ $35,000 (Internship + Lowest total expenses + Lower living costs)
• Small class size (25)
• Flexible duration, 9 months – 1.5 years
Other Features
• Location – west coast
• Very Mathematically rigorous
• rogram not evolved fully, sailing on Stanford brand
Best suited for:
• Freshers with excellent mathematical background/Professionals with 1-2 years of experience
MFin – Princeton University
Positives
• Reputed as the best Masters in Finance program (not FE)
• Exclusivity (very hard to get into)
• Greatest range of electives/flexibility including FE and Asset Management tracks
• Employment opportunities in IBD (Corp Fin) as well as Quant Finance
• Stress on economics
• Program fee ~ $35,000 per year (Internship + Lower living costs)
• Smallest class size (25)
Other Features
• Duration maybe 1 or 2 years (depends on the admissions committee)
• Theoretical focus
• rogram not evolved fully, sailing on Princeton brand
Best suited for:
• Freshers with excellent mathematical background/Mid career professionals with 1-5 years of experience | 
