SMU vs USC for the Msc in finance - international student

I had admits from both schools last year and am planning to attend either this year for the MSF. I was leaning towards USC however the stats seem very very weak for a well ranked school as opposed to SMU. 

https://www.marshall.usc.edu/programs/graduate-pr…

https://www.smu.edu/-/media/Site/Cox/CentersAndIn…

Only 83% employment rate and a lower starting salary than SMU despite being in a better location? What am i missing? 

I have over 3 years of work ex - 1 in tier 3 boutique consulting, 1 in RE at JLL and 1 at LVHM 

I am an international student from India 

4 Comments
 

VP in PE - LBOs:

SMU undergrad alum here, suggest going with USC. Undergrad has some (surprisingly) very strong programs/placements for IB/PE (e.g. Alts) but MSF isn’t on the same caliber. 


But unfortunately the placements at USC seem to be terrible in comparison for some reason

 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights regarding your decision between SMU and USC for the MSF program:

SMU (Southern Methodist University)

  • Professional Growth Opportunities: SMU has strong professional growth opportunities with high placement rates in top investment banking firms.
  • Employment Stats:
    • Investment Banking:
    • Director/MD: $592K
    • Vice President: $390K
    • Associates: $258K
    • 3rd+ Year Analyst: $187K
    • 2nd Year Analyst: $168K
    • Intern/Summer Associate: $167K
    • 1st Year Analyst: $166K
    • Intern/Summer Analyst: $95K
  • Top Employers: Lincoln International, Lazard Freres, Financial Technology Partners, Jefferies & Company, UBS AG.

USC (University of Southern California)

  • Employment Rate: 83% employment rate, which is lower compared to SMU.
  • Starting Salary: Lower starting salary compared to SMU despite being in a better location.

Considerations:

  • Work Experience: You have over 3 years of work experience in boutique consulting, real estate at JLL, and LVHM, which is a strong background.
  • Location: While USC is in a better location, the employment rate and starting salary statistics seem weaker compared to SMU.

Conclusion:

Given the higher employment rate and starting salary at SMU, along with strong placements in top investment banking firms, SMU might be a better choice for your MSF program, especially considering your international status and work experience.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the following links: - https://www.marshall.usc.edu/programs/graduate-programs/specialized-mas…</a">USC MSF Program - https://www.smu.edu/-/media/Site/Cox/CentersAndInstitutes/CMC/SMU-Cox-M…</a">SMU Cox MSF Employment Report 2023

Sources: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/school/southern-methodist-uni-smu?customgpt=1, MSF or MBA for my experience level?, MSF & International Students - A Message, SG Universities: MSF or MBA?, Any SMU MSF current/former students here?

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

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