MS Financial Engineering at UCLA: Fees 2026 Dates & Requirements

University of California Master of Science (MS) Financial Engineering is officially titled Master of Financial Engineering at UCLA Anderson, a 15-month, full-time, on-campus programme in Los Angeles. It requires a four-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent with quantitative preparation, while Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished. Class of 2027 tuition was US$100,719 (INR 96.12 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference, and the next intake is Fall 2027.

The curriculum combines stochastic calculus, econometrics, financial data analytics and machine learning with a summer internship and a corporate-sponsored Applied Finance Project. It suits applicants who already enjoy mathematics, programming and statistical modelling, but the fixed full-time sequence leaves little room for outside work.

• The entering class target is 95 to 100 students divided into two cohorts.
• Course choices extend into risk management, trading, quantitative asset management and finance applications of artificial intelligence.
• Career Development Series and alumni coaching connect technical preparation with interviews and role selection.

Also Check: UCLA Anderson MFE admission

UCLA MFE Fees and Living Costs 2027

Fall 2027 has a published first-quarter cost-of-attendance estimate, but the complete 15-month programme fee remains unpublished. The current programme fee page lists program charges of US$25,180 (INR 24.03 Lakhs) for Fall 2027. It identifies the four-installment Class of 2027 schedule as prior-cycle context.

Fee cycle: Rows marked Fall 2027 are target-cycle estimates for the first quarter of the 2027-28 academic year. The Class of 2027 rows are prior-cycle references and must not be multiplied into a target tuition or borrowing decision.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.4309 as of 14 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

Source: UCLA Anderson program calendar and fees; the target estimate is stated as Fall 2027, while the four-installment total is labelled Class of 2027.

• The Fall 2027 US$40,951 (INR 39.08 Lakhs) estimate covers one quarter, so request later 2027-28 charges before finalising funding.
• The prior-cycle US$100,719 (INR 96.12 Lakhs) programme fee is a planning reference, not confirmed Fall 2027 tuition.
• The current fee sources list a non-refundable US$200 (INR 19,086) application fee and a US$2,000 (INR 1.91 Lakhs) deposit credited to first-quarter fees.

Cost of Living in Los Angeles for MFE Students

UCLA’s official nine-month estimate is the clearest planning baseline for Los Angeles because it combines food and housing instead of publishing a full itemised budget. It is a 2026-27 reference, so the monthly figures below are calculated averages rather than target-cycle charges.

Source: UCLA Financial Aid cost of attendance, 2026-27 official nine-month food and housing estimates.

Adding the seven Fall 2027 components produces the official one-quarter total of US$40,951 (INR 39.08 Lakhs). A full-programme all-in budget cannot yet be calculated from target-cycle inputs, so keep the 2026-27 living reference separate from later 2027-28 charges.

Read More: USA cost of living for international students

ROI reality: A target-cycle first-quarter budget is published, but the full 15-month fee is not. Secure a written 2027-28 charge schedule before treating the prior-cycle total as your loan requirement.

UCLA MFE Admission 2027

Admission requires a recognised four-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent, strong quantitative preparation, a required GRE or GMAT score and English evidence when applicable. UCLA Anderson also reviews programming, communication, recommendations, essays and evidence that the applicant can manage a fast, fixed sequence.

The best-prepared applicant can connect mathematics, coding and finance to one coherent career direction. The course does not require work experience, but its published preparation list makes a transcript-led quantitative case essential for applicants from India.

Academic and selection baseline: The current MFE admissions requirements page states the following standards and application evidence.

English Language Proficiency

International applicants whose native language is not English need IELTS or TOEFL unless they meet UCLA’s listed English-medium exemption. The course-specific page publishes both legacy TOEFL scales and a new post-21 January 2026 UCLA minimum, so do not self-convert scores.

Test scale note: UCLA says ETS reports both the new 1 to 6 TOEFL scale and a comparable 0 to 120 score for two years. The table preserves the university’s published scales and component thresholds.

ESLPE: The English as a Second Language Placement Examination is required after arrival when the applicant has below 100 on TOEFL iBT or below 7.5 on IELTS. A required English course can extend the time spent at UCLA, and admission is cancelled if the examination is not passed.

• Schedule IELTS or TOEFL early enough to send an official result before the round deadline.
• A 3.0 GPA is a baseline, so use transcripts and projects to show depth across the listed mathematics subjects.
• Keep GRE, GMAT 10th Edition and GMAT Focus Edition scores separate because UCLA publishes different current expectations for each version.

Tip for Indian students: A four-year quantitative degree, course-specific mathematics, complete GRE or GMAT scores and an English route make the application reviewable. Map each transcript course to the stated prerequisites before submitting.

UCLA MFE Application 2027

Fall 2027 is the only published intake, and the application opens in September 2026 before three target rounds. The current official deadline FAQ confirms the dates below, but does not publish target-cycle decision dates.

Application status: The Fall 2027 form is announced but not yet open as of 15 August 2026. The programme is full-time and cohort-based, so applicants should choose a round that leaves time for score reporting, funding and visa preparation.

Confirmed forward-looking deadlines: UCLA publishes dates without portal cutoff times or a timezone. An IST clock conversion would therefore be unreliable, so verify the portal timestamp before submission and treat the university date as controlling.

How to Build the Application

UCLA requires the online application, official test scores, two essays, two recommendations, a resume and transcripts. An interview may follow only after completion, so the written file must explain quantitative readiness without relying on an interview invitation.

• Use a quantitative project to answer the required analytical and creative problem-solving essay.
• Connect the second required essay to a specific quantitative finance path rather than a broad finance interest.
• Ask recommenders to describe mathematical reasoning, coding, modelling or research performance with concrete examples.
• Submit in Round 1 when the file is ready by 30 November 2026 because that is the earliest published deadline.

The programme does not grant admission deferrals, and it does not accept transfer credits or course waivers. Applicants who need a later start should apply in a future cycle rather than assume an offer can be moved.

Application tip: Use Round 1 when your test scores and essays are complete by 30 November 2026. That choice creates the clearest sequence for funding, an I-20 request and the F-1 visa process.

UCLA MFE Scholarships 2027

The UCLA Anderson MFE merit-based scholarship is the only programme-specific award confirmed for completed applications, and no separate scholarship form is required. The award amount is not published for Fall 2027, so applicants should not subtract an assumed scholarship from the programme budget.

UCLA states that scholarship decisions consider academic achievement, work experience and the strength of the overall application. Awards may be made with admission or later in the admissions cycle, which makes a complete early application more useful than waiting for a separate funding deadline.

Funding Routes for Indian Applicants

The current programme page names GRAPES, Non-UCLA scholarship resources and the Quad Fellowship as additional search routes. The MFE page does not state a target award value, Indian eligibility rule or deadline for those routes. Treat them as research leads rather than confirmed Fall 2027 funding.

• Submit the complete MFE application for automatic merit consideration because no additional scholarship application is required.
• Check GRAPES, Non-UCLA scholarship resources and the Quad Fellowship for nationality, degree, field and deadline rules before listing any award in a funding plan.
• International private loans are available without a United States cosigner in the listed lender routes, but borrowing is limited to mandatory student charges and health insurance.
• The US$10,000 (INR 9.54 Lakhs) California Resident Fellowship is restricted to eligible California residents, United States citizens and permanent residents, not Indian international applicants.

Federal loan eligibility is limited to United States citizens and permanent residents, while international students must verify private-loan approval before relying on an offer. Because the full Fall 2027 fee is unpublished, request a written loan limit against the target charge schedule rather than the prior-cycle total.

Check Out: USA scholarships for international students

Scholarship reality: Automatic merit consideration is useful, but the missing Fall 2027 award amount leaves a funding gap. Apply with a plan that works before any scholarship, then treat a later award as a reduction in borrowing.

UCLA MFE Salary 2027

The latest UCLA Anderson programme page reports an 87% employment rate for graduates entering the workforce in 2025. It also reports average starting base plus signing of US$133,980 (INR 1.28 Crore) and average total compensation of US$155,484 (INR 1.48 Crore).

These are course-cohort outcomes based on student-reported data, not guaranteed salaries. The programme also reports 100% participation in summer fieldwork or research for the 2025 outcome group, which matters because the course combines technical study with applied experience.

Outcome scope: The latest programme page and the MFE employment report publish the following course-specific evidence.

Source: UCLA Anderson MFE programme page and Class of 2023 employment report.

The Class of 2023 employment regions were Southern California 39%, East Coast 32%, international locations 15%, Southwest 8%, Northern California 5% and Northwest 1%. Class of 2023 offer lists included BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, PIMCO, UBS and Wells Fargo, which shows reported employer presence rather than typical hiring volume.

Career paths named by UCLA include quantitative trading, quantitative research, data science, portfolio management, risk management, strats and modelling, consulting and valuation. No current official report provides an India-specific salary outcome or an external market benchmark for this course, so those figures should not be substituted.

ROI for Indian Applicants

For return on investment, compare the confirmed course outcomes with a target 15-month budget that remains incomplete. UCLA publishes US$40,951 (INR 39.08 Lakhs) for the Fall 2027 first quarter. The US$100,719 (INR 96.12 Lakhs) full programme fee belongs to the prior-cycle Class of 2027.

• The 2025 cohort reported 87% employment and US$133,980 (INR 1.28 Crore) average starting base plus signing, so model taxes and bonuses separately before borrowing.
• The 15-month STEM course can support up to 36 months of OPT, which extends the job-search window; confirm role eligibility and sponsorship before assuming continued United States income.
• Class of 2023 employment included 39% in Southern California and 32% on the East Coast, so location flexibility changes job-search cost; price housing and relocation for both regions.
• Only 15% of Class of 2023 employment was international, so an India-return plan needs separate local salary evidence; compare a written Indian offer with this United States cost.

Average compensation includes different salary components, and take-home pay changes with taxes, benefits, location and bonus structure. Use a current tax-withholding estimator before translating gross compensation into a repayment plan.

ROI reality: The published employment and compensation evidence is substantial, but the target-cycle full fee is incomplete and the international share is not India-specific. Secure the 2027-28 fee schedule and test both United States and India-return scenarios.

United States Visa for UCLA MFE Students 2027

International students normally enter the United States on an F-1 student visa. UCLA classifies the MFE as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

That designation can support 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) plus a 24-month extension, for a possible 36-month total. OPT is temporary employment directly related to the degree, so the role must fit the approved training rules.

Admitted international students receive Form I-20 instructions from UCLA after paying the enrollment deposit. The Form I-20 is used to request the student visa and should be matched to the target programme and campus.

• The F-1 visa application fee is US$185 (INR 17,655), and the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee is US$350 (INR 33,401).
• The STEM designation may provide a 12-month OPT period plus a 24-month extension, so confirm employer, role and training eligibility before relying on the full 36-month window.
• The H-1B specialty-occupation route has no fixed course-specific salary threshold; employer sponsorship, actual or prevailing wage and selection rules control.
• F-2 status may cover a spouse and unmarried minor children, but F-2 dependants cannot work; permanent residence has no fixed course-linked timeline.

Visa planning: Keep the first-quarter budget, later programme charges, health insurance and visa costs in separate cash-flow lines. The target fee schedule is incomplete, so do not use the STEM work window as a substitute for a confirmed funding plan.

Check Out: UCLA Los Angeles university information

Visa reality: A STEM-designated MFE can support up to 36 months of related practical training, but H-1B sponsorship and selection remain separate decisions. Confirm the I-20, SEVIS payment and employer route before booking travel.

UCLA MFE Ranking 2027

UCLA Anderson publishes programme-specific QS evidence for financial engineering, but its current pages show two different positions. The curriculum page identifies a 2023 QS position of #3 in the United States, while the current programme page states #4 without naming an edition.

Ranking scope: These are programme-level statements, not UCLA’s overall university rank. No 2027 MFE position or previous position is confirmed on the checked official pages.

The official inconsistency means the ranking is useful as historical programme context but not as a 2027 selection rule. Use curriculum, full-time structure, target-cycle fee updates and cohort outcomes to make the course decision.

Read More: UCLA ranking details

Honest take: The programme has a published QS position, but the official pages conflict between #3 and #4. Treat ranking as supporting context and verify the edition before using it in an application decision.