Admission Criteria

Please click here for important information about how to prepare to apply to the finance major.  

To begin the application process, click here.

When to Apply

The application opens on January 1st and is due Monday, June 30, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. All prerequisites must be completed by the application date in order to apply.

We also perform early admissions. If we are confident in your ability to succeed in finance, you have a strong application, and you apply by Thursday, May 15, at 11:59 p.m., you may have the chance to be admitted into the program early, prior to the final June deadline. If you are not accepted as part of early admissions, you will still be reviewed with the remaining applicant pool after the final June deadline.

We welcome applications from students finishing their sophomore and junior years, but we have observed that successful outcomes are more likely when students enter our program after their freshman year. Recruiting for finance internships happens quite early. We often see students accept offers in the spring of their sophomore year for an internship between their junior and senior years. Because recruiters are now interviewing and making offers to sophomores for junior internships, we advise students, where possible, to apply to the finance major after their freshman year.  

How to Prepare

Students should also understand that admission to the major is competitive. In 2023, 380 applications were submitted, with 289 admittances. In order to assist students in preparing to apply, we offer the following guidance and counsel:

  • Register for FIN 180: Finance Recruitment Prep. This class is designed for anyone interested in applying to the finance program. It focuses on how to submit a solid application and how to prepare for internships and job placements.
  • Earn strong grades in the prerequisite courses (ACC 200, FIN 201, and 3.0 hours from the following course(s): ACC 310, ECON 110, GSCM 201, GSCM 211, IS 201, MATH 118, MKTG 201, or STAT 121). Grades will be evaluated by assessing the following:
    • Prerequisite grades:
      • Performance in FIN 201 will be determined using posted university grades and input from course instructors.
      • Prerequisite GPA in ACC 200, FIN 201, and your 3.0 hours of additional prerequisite(s) (applications with competitive letter grades in at least two of these classes will be reviewed more favorably)
    • Last 30-credit-hour GPA and BYU GPA (calculations will use the posted university grades)
  • Where a student’s schedule allows, take and earn high marks in one or more of the following courses: IS 110, STAT 121, MATH 118. This is especially important for students applying after their sophomore or junior year.
  • Join and actively participate in the Finance Society.
  • Attend at least one NetTrek.
  • Complete an on-campus internship.
  • Create a properly formatted and polished résumé.
  • Secure a meaningful summer internship.

What Matters to the Admissions Committee

The admissions committee uses a holistic approach to assess applicants. Broadly speaking, the admissions committee is looking to admit students with a high probability of achieving successful outcomes upon completion of the major. When assessing the probability of an applicant achieving a successful outcome, the committee values the following:

  • Clear articulation of the applicant’s career and/or personal aspirations. Please note, the admissions committee welcomes a broad array of professional and personal aspirations.  
  • Concise explanation of how a finance degree will assist in the applicant’s pursuit of her/his stated aspirations.
  • Evidence that the applicant understands the path that will lead the realization of their aspirations.
  • Evidence that the applicant is making progress toward achieving their aspirations.

The admissions committee sees at least five broad categories in which applicants can demonstrate they are making progress toward achieving their aspirations:

  • Academic performance (prerequisite GPA, BYU overall GPA, etc.)
  • Personal attributes (communication skills, charisma, integrity, etc.)
  • Professional experience (on-campus internships, off-campus internships, case competitions, etc.)
  • Professional preparation (participation in the Finance Society, NetTreks, FIN 180, etc.)
  • Other (compelling backstory, leadership experience, overcoming hardship and adversity, etc.)