The Eller MSF has been accepted into the CFA Institute University Recognition Program. This status is granted to institutions whose degree programs incorporate at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), which provide students with a solid grounding the Candidate Body of Knowledge and positions them well to sit for the CFA exams.

To help students supplement their knowledge from coursework and collaborate in exam preparation, the Department of Finance has a student-led CFA Club. Club members learn more about the program, participate in exam study groups with other students, and learn more about the investment industry from local CFA charter holders and other guest speakers. Club meeting times may be chosen based on the course schedule for MS in Finance students, though undergraduate finance students are welcome to join as well!

The Department of Finance receives CFA Institute Student Scholarships each year. These scholarships are available to University of Arizona students eligible to take a CFA exam and have not yet registered for their next exam. Scholarship recipients have their enrollment fee waived and exam registration reduced to $600. Learn more: Student Scholarship (cfainstitute.org).

Read the guide to CFA Scholarships

The Department of Finance is an academic partner with the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst  (CAIA) Association and can offer eight scholarships per year to our students. The CAIA Association’s Academic Scholarship Program is designed to promote the Association’s mission and to offer scholarships to eligible candidates. 

The scholarship lowers the exam registration fee to US $250 (discounted from the standard rate of $1,395). This includes free access to the official CAIA Core curriculum, an additional $125 value. The standard enrollment fee of $400 will be waived for all scholarship students

Read the CAIA Fact Sheet

Eller partners with the Envestnet Institute to offer a Wealth Management certificate to students interested in learning more about the industry. There are 25 spots open for certificate enrollment each fall and spring semester at no cost to students.

By participating in the program, students have the opportunity to gain an in-depth and broad-based training in investment management with an emphasis on management investment solutions presented by today’s industry leaders and subject matter experts. Learn more: Envestnet Institute On Campus

As part of a partnership with the Financial Modeling Institute (FMI), our students receive free access (discounted from the standard rate of $195) to the FMI’s Foundations program, as a supplemental learning resource.

The Financial Modeling Institute promotes awareness, excellence, and discipline in financial modeling through its international accreditation programs. The FMI foundations course provides fundamental financial modeling knowledge including theory and concepts.

The Foundations program requires a 15-hour time investment and the writing of a multiple-choice exam. Successful candidates will receive a digital badge from the Institute at no cost to our students.

Eller offers a Financial Modeling Club where students can familiarize themselves with the practical aspects of financial modeling. The club meets weekly to engage in model development and hosts monthly guest speaker events. They also maintain a collaborative partnership with UArizona Esports and actively participate in the Financial Modeling World Cup (FMWC). To indicate interest in joining, email uafinancialmodelingclub@gmail.com

“As a former employer, I can tell you the importance of Excel skills even in industries outside of finance. It is the reason the CFA Society of Tucson is a sponsor of the Excel Challenge event. 

I attended the Financial Modeling Club during the first semester last year (I had a class conflict in the second) and I thought it was a fantastic program. It really helped me on the course work in the second semester (particularly Scott Cederburg's class). I would have really struggled if I did not participate in the group.”

- Tripp Shannon, MSF ‘23

Learn more about the Financial Modeling Club

Student Engagement and Career Development supports students as they engage in experiences that expand their capacity to make an impact on authentic challenges facing businesses and communities. Their mission is to help students design and implement career plans aligned with personal strengths and values for a lifetime of opportunity and well-being. Student Engagement and Career Development offers a variety of services including Handshake, which is an online job search resource. More information can be found on the University of Arizona website.