Finance Scholars Program

About K-State Finance Scholars

The Finance Scholars Program is a selective cohort of approximately 30-35 highly motivated finance majors preparing for careers in investment banking, private equity, asset management, and management consulting through specialized coursework, technical training, and direct engagement with industry professionals.

Program Benefits

• Industry-targeted curriculum and technical workshops focused on financial modeling and interview preparation
• Company visits to financial firms across the United States and internationally to network with professionals and K-State alumni (program travel expenses covered)
• Tiered base scholarships of up to $3,500 per year plus bonus scholarships based on program performance
• Financial housing support for internships located in higher cost-of-living cities
• Dedicated study and research space for Finance Scholars in the Gates Capital Management Center for Financial Analysis
• Executive Mentor Program pairing students with experienced finance alumni in target industries
• Opportunities to compete in national student finance competitions

Learn more about the activities of K-State Finance Scholars from our annual reports:

2023-2024 Annual Report | 2024-2025 Annual Report

Program Requirements

Finance Scholars is a collaborative and high-commitment program. Students receive guidance from peers, faculty, and program leadership, including Managing Director Julia Parcell, Dr. Eric Higgins, and Dr. Sabuhi Sardarli.

Once admitted to the program, students are expected to meet the following requirements:

Academic Requirements

Students must major in Finance and complete the following courses:

• ACCTG 433 — Intermediate Accounting and Analytics II
• FINAN 623—Financial Modeling
• FINAN 653—Securities and Portfolio Analysis
• FINAN 663 — Mergers and Acquisitions
• Two courses out of:
• FINAN 654 — Derivatives Securities and Markets
• FINAN 620 — Fixed Income Securities and Markets
• FINAN 643 — International Financial Management

Professional Development

Finance Scholars are expected to:

• Attend weekly meetings, speaker series, workshops, and training sessions
• Complete a technical certification program focused on financial modeling and interview preparation from providers such as Wall Street Prep, Financeable, Training the Street, Financial Edge, etc.
• Participate in resume and LinkedIn review sessions with the finance career coach
• Join the Executive Mentor Program to build relationships with finance alumni

Want to be involved?

Email kstatecfa@ksu.edu for any questions or inquiries on how to support the Finance Scholars.