News

WorldQuant University welcomed its largest-ever cohort in the Master of Science in Financial Engineering program on Oct. 13, 2025, marking nine consecutive quarters of enrollment growth dating to fall 2023.

The current cohort includes 2,500 enrollments. This achievement furthers WQU’s position as a global leader in high-quality, free education. With over 9,000 active students across all cohorts, the two-year online program is the largest program of its kind worldwide.

Rapidly emerging as a leading provider of financial engineering education,  WQU launched its master’s program in 2016, gained accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission in 2021, and entered a growth phase that continues to accelerate. The master’s program more than doubled in enrollment year-over-year and a 50% increase between July and October 2025.

“This growth is attributable to our focus on reducing barriers to high quality education,” WQU CEO John Endrud said. “We are growing because we are providing aspiring professionals what they need: Accessible, rigorous, applied programs that enable them to connect to opportunity.”

The Master of Science in Financial Engineering, the only entirely free, graduate-level finance program globally, blends finance, mathematics, data science, and advanced technology to prepare students for a variety of dynamic roles. Additional academic offerings include non-degree programs in data science, deep learning, and computer vision. Overall, WQU has served over 30,000 learners since its founding.

Incoming students from 115 countries are already starting to connect online.

“Being part of such a diverse and rapidly growing global community is a remarkable opportunity,” Hussein Amine Ayache wrote on a student message board. “The fact that this is WQU’s largest cohort yet shows how the program continues to empower professionals worldwide who are passionate about quantitative finance, data science, and innovation.”Ayache, the founder and CEO of California-based BYA Technologies, expressed eagerness to start the program, which consists of nine graduate-level courses and a capstone project.

Many incoming students shared his enthusiasm. “I’m so looking forward to this journey with WQU,” Trang Thi Huyen Pham from Vietnam wrote.

You can join our financial engineering learning community. The next cohort begins in January 2026. Apply here.

WorldQuant University is a not-for-profit institution dedicated to the belief that talent is global, but opportunity is not. Offering free online education in advanced technical and quantitative fields, WQU empowers students in over 150 countries with industry-driven curricula and expert faculty to develop in-demand future-ready skills. Accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, WQU is committed to making quality education accessible worldwide. Learn more at wqu.edu.