The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program is the most highly respected designation for investment management professionals. It is the accepted benchmark for technical excellence in national and international financial markets, with networks across the world. CFA is the globally recognized mark of distinction for measuring the expertise, experience and ethics of investment professionals.
Top Chartholder Careers
Top careers include portfolio managers, research analysts, chief executives, consultants, relationship managers, corporate financial analysts, risk managers, and investment bankers.
CFA at BYU Marriott
The finance major is the best preparation for passing the CFA exam, as the core courses closely mirror the various sections of the CFA. Students can expect to average a total of three hundred hours of study time to prepare for the exam. The national passing average for the CFA Level 1 exam is forty-three percent. BYU Marriott’s CFA program participants average over seventy-five percent. Our passing rate is evidence that BYU Marriott’s support and preparation resources are helping students find success. Additionally, if an applicant to the BYU Marriott finance program is pursuing or has achieved the first level of CFA certification, it will be noted positively by the admission committee.
Book Orders
Kaplan Schweser Publishers has given BYU a discounted group rate on CFA books (for Levels 1, 2, and 3) and the Essential Self-Study Package (including the online Question Bank, which normally is an additional cost). These book sets are available to students for $299. Please place your order as early as possible, as the first order will be placed at the end of October. Orders will be charged to your BYU student account. If you may possibly be interested in ordering a book set and would like to receive emails with more information about the CFA Program at BYU, please enter your information here.
Exam Costs and Deadlines
For all exam registration costs and deadlines please visit the CFA website. The costs and deadlines change from year to year.
Scholarship Information
CFA Institute Scholarships – There are several scholarships made available to BYU through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. These scholarships waive the one-time CFA program enrollment fee (if applicable) and reduce the exam registration fee (including access to the curriculum eBook) to $350. Interested students can apply online. For your on-line application, you will need to attach a résumé and a cover letter outlining the following:
- Reasons for wanting to take the exam, including a future career plan
- A study plan to ensure passage of the exam
- Other work experience or special needs
The deadline to apply will be posted here. A panel of professors will review the materials and choose the scholarship recipients.
Peery Foundation’s Reimbursement Program – Through the generosity of the Peery Institute, a reimbursement program is available to those who do not receive a scholarship. The CFA exam must be passed, and the participant must be a BYU student when registration for the exam was completed in order to qualify for the reimbursement. This program will reimburse the cost of the test and registration fees when all the conditions are met (late fees are not covered).
To apply for reimbursement, please submit the following to 610 TNRB within two weeks of the CFA exam results being posted:
- Completed CFA Reimbursement Form
- Copy of the exam registration costs (late registration costs are not reimbursed)
- Copy of the final test results
- W-9 form, or a W-8BEN form for international students
Reimbursements may take up to six weeks to process. For current BYU students, the reimbursement will be deposited into your BYU student account. For students who have recently graduated, a check will be mailed to you at the address you provide to us. Any questions about the CFA Program at BYU can be emailed to Amy Densley at amy@byu.edu.
NOTE: No reimbursements will be made after the December 2023 exam.