SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business has announced the launch of a new Master of Science in Financial Technology (MSFT) program, expanding the school’s portfolio of specialized master’s degrees in response to growing demand at the intersection of finance, data, and emerging technology. The program will welcome its first cohort in fall 2026.
The launch comes as Utah continues to gain momentum as a financial technology hub. A 2025 report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and the University of Utah’s Fintech Center found that Utah’s fintech industry included 67 companies that supported nearly 8,000 direct jobs and over $1 billion in annual wages, with the average salary of $131,500 doubling the state average. As financial technology continues to reshape how individuals, businesses, and institutions transact and manage capital, the need for professionals who bridge the gap between finance and technology has accelerated.
Powered by a unique partnership between the David Eccles School of Business, the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering, and the S.J. Quinney College of Law, students in the MSFT program will engage in interdisciplinary coursework, experiential learning, and a capstone experience focused on real industry challenges.
“Utah has emerged as a national hub for financial technology, creating demand for talent that understands both finance and technology,” said Kurt Dirks, Dean of the David Eccles School of Business. “This program is designed to prepare students to help companies innovate, grow, and thrive by combining technical fluency, financial expertise, and an understanding of the broader business and regulatory environment.”
The MSFT program connects students to Utah’s booming fintech industry through the University of Utah’s Fintech Center, an interdisciplinary hub where education, industry, and innovation come together to shape the future of financial technology. Through faculty and industry collaboration, hands-on workshops, industry-sponsored labs, student programs, research initiatives, and the annual Fintech Xchange conference, the center helps connect academic insight with real-world impact.
MSFT Program Highlights
- Bridges finance and technology through an interdisciplinary curriculum spanning data analytics, AI, blockchain and financial regulation
- Emphasizes applied learning with projects, labs, and a capstone experience focused on market-driven business challenges
- Offers flexibility for working professionals, with full-time and part-time enrollment options
- Delivers a focused, AACSB-accredited 30-credit curriculum that can be completed in as little as one year, designed for rapid career impact
- Leverages Utah’s broader fintech ecosystem and the University of Utah Fintech Center, aligning coursework with employer demand and industry momentum
Utah’s fintech ecosystem gives MSFT students proximity to both sides of the industry: established financial institutions seeking new digital capabilities and emerging companies building the next generation of financial products. Graduates of the MSFT program are prepared for roles including fintech product manager, financial data scientist, risk and compliance analyst, blockchain solutions architect, and innovation consultant, with career pathways at leading fintech organizations such as PayPal, SoFi, Robinhood, and Rocket Money, as well as Utah-based fintech leaders including Plaid, MX, Galileo Financial Technologies, Divvy, and NICE Actimize.The MSFT program aligns with the Eccles School’s mission to advance innovation, workforce development, and economic impact through graduate education.Applications for the inaugural fall 2026 cohort will open soon. Prospective students are encouraged to learn more and connect with the program team for additional information.For more information, visit https://eccles.utah.edu/programs/master-of-science-in-financial-technology/
ABOUT THE DAVID ECCLES SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Founded in 1917, the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah is dedicated to driving student success through academic rigor, immersive real-world learning, and strong career outcomes. Located in one of the nation’s most dynamic regions for business and entrepreneurship, the school is shaped by a distinctive Mountain West ethos of growth, grit, and ambition.
At the Eccles School, students don’t just earn a degree or learn business — they live it. Through a rigorous, integrated curriculum led by renowned faculty and hands-on experiences that translate knowledge into practice, graduates develop strong business fundamentals, durable skills, the mindset, and confidence to lead with integrity and create impact across industries and communities. The school’s centers and institutes serve as a bridge between academics and the business community, connecting students to real-world opportunities while advancing applied research and partnerships that contribute to business and society.Learn more at Eccles.Utah.edu.