If you’re seeking more advanced career opportunities beyond the scope of what a traditional Bachelors in Accounting has to offer, you should consider going to grad school to complete an accounting Master degree program.
A Masters degree is just that, a degree which demonstrates your mastery over a specific topic. Unlike Bachelor degrees, Masters are almost always a highly specialized degree.
In the world of accounting, and many other disciplines undergrad degrees usually provide the solid foundation required by entry-level careers. For the duration of your undergrad studies your school tries to introduce you to as many topics directly related to your field of study as possible.
On the other hand, if you attend grad school you will spend most of your time deeply learning about only one or two specialized topics related to your field.
For this reason, a Masters in Accounting is the next natural progression for those looking to specialize in one specific accounting field such as:
- Payroll
- Security
- Management accounting
- Business ethics
- Accounting information systems
Even if you don’t already have a Bachelors in Accounting, as long as you possess one in a related field such as Business, Finances or similar area a Masters in Accounting can be beneficial to your long-term career.
Below we’ve compiled a list of the top 15 Masters in Accounting programs offered by online universities.
So without further ado, let’s begin!
Top 15 Accounting Master Degree Programs Off-Campus
1. Walden University: Minneapolis, Minnesota
https://international.waldenuniversity.com
This prestige Midwestern university has a proven track record of academic excellence.
The school’s curriculum for their Master of Science in Accounting is specifically designed to further advance your analytical and critical-thinking skills. As a result, their students will gain a deeper understanding of the accounting principles they choose to concentrate on.
To keep you updated on the current trends in accounting standards and financial management, this university offers accounting specializations such us Accounting with CPA Emphasis, Accounting for the Professional and Self-Designed.
2. Post University: Waterbury, Connecticut
Accelerate your career in the accounting profession by taking an online Master of Science in Accounting degree offered by the Post University’s Malcolm Baldridge School of Business.
This degree program will enhance your skills in business communication, business management, business development, and professional standards and ethics and will let you apply advanced principles and techniques in the key areas of accounting. Courses required include international accounting, leading the professional organization, and current topics in accounting.
The university is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Tuition cost is at $625 per credit hour and it takes 30 hours to complete the program.
Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. Online tuition for their Master’s program can cost upwards of $865 per credit hour with 30 semester credit hours to complete.
3. St. John’s University: Queens, New York
The Peter J. Tobin School of Business at St. John’s offers an online Master of Science in Accounting degree tailored for busy professionals who seek a deeper understanding of the more arcane accounting topics. Students enrolled in this program will greatly expand their existing knowledge and skills of critical accounting subjects. These newly found talents are sure to be in demand as financial regulations and laws are always being tweaked and amended by various governments around the world.
The university is accredited by the AACSB. Though tuition cost is quite high at $ 1,155 per credit hour this degree requires only 30-33 credit hours and can be completed in 1 year.
4. Strayer University: Washington, D.C.
Strayer’s online M.S. in Accounting prepares its students for professional growth in the accounting industry. The university offers five useful and relevant concentrations such us Corporate Accounting, Forensic Accounting, International Accounting, Public Accounting, and Taxation.
These specializations will help students not only to develop knowledge of financial information and systems but also to be able to communicate those ideas effectively to employers and clients.
Furthermore, Strayer University’s accounting degree is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Nearly 87% of its degree recipients were satisfied in meeting their professional advancement. The tuition cost is roughly $775 per credit hour.
5. University of South Dakota: Vermillion, South Dakota
Online Master of Professional Accountancy
www.usd.edu
If you want to establish a career in public accounting, the online Master of Professional Accountancy offered by the University of South Dakota’s Beacom School of Business is the right course for you. This degree program will provide you training in graduate accounting, finance, and related fields. Would-be students are required to take classes such as cost accounting, advanced accounting theory, contemporary topics in auditing, and accounting in government and non-profit organizations.
The school of business at the University of South Dakota has been accredited by the AACSB since 1949. Tuition cost is rather low compared to other Masters programs as it comes in at only $430 per credit hour.
6. Florida Atlantic University: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
A very welcoming environment is what you expect when you enroll at Florida Atlantic University’s Master of Accounting program. This 2-year online degree is intended to meet the needs of busy, working professionals.
This program further guarantees its students knowledge of fraud investigation and prevention, dispute resolution, litigation support and other types of criminal investigations because of its effective and comprehensive study of forensic accounting content.
The university is committed to provide high quality support services like broad academic assistance and a 24-hour IT technical support assistance. Because of this, it’s not a surprise that the university is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Tuition cost is roughly $370 for in-state students and $1,000 for students outside of Florida.
7. Saint Joseph’s College
St. Joseph’s is a mid-sized, highly respected Catholic school founded in the early 1900s. This college offers a number of degree options to their students including graduate programs in accounting.
The Masters of Accounting program at St. Joseph’s focuses on providing students with the critical thinking and interpersonal skills necessary to effectively communicate advanced accounting topics while at the same time coming up with new ingenious solutions to complex accounting problems.
St. Joseph is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and has tuition fees starting at $475 per credit hour.
8. Southern Utah University: Cedar City, Utah
For 18 years and counting, Southern Utah University’s School of Business has been offering its students Masters of Accountancy degrees. The main goal of this degree program is to give its students the knowledge and skills required to progress higher up in the professional accounting field.
Upon graduation, students are expected to become better accountants that can communicate effectively and have an impeccable ethical standing.
This university prides itself on the extremely high career placement rate of its accounting graduates. The school of business has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) to guarantee an international standard for quality management.
Tuition starts at $530 per credit hour based on 3 credit tuition and fees for a resident and $1,500 per credit hour based on 3 credit hours tuition and fees for non-resident.
9. Rutgers University: Newark, New Jersey
Master of Accountancy in Governmental Accounting
www.business.rutgers.edu
Rutgers University offers a unique accounting degree. Its Master of Accountancy in Governmental Accounting is specifically designed for professionals seeking to advance in the field of government financial management, accounting, and auditing. This degree is available exclusively at the university’s school of business and can be done 100% online.
Therefore, students have the flexibility of being able to take part in classes that work best with their schedules.
This university takes the lead as Rutgers Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The tuition cost is $900 and other fees. It requires 30 credits to complete.
10. University of Texas Dallas: Richardson, Texas
With a seal of international recognition, the university’s Naveen Jindal School of Management offers a Master of Science in Accounting degree. This program will enable students and professionals to improve skills needed to be able to adhere to the standards set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Likewise, it provides students with opportunities to concentrate on corporate accounting, assurance services, taxation, and other related accounting essentials.
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has given the university’s business school its seal of approval earning a hallmark of excellence in the field of accounting. This makes its graduates globally-competitive accountants. The tuition is $ 885 per credit hour based on 3 credit hours resident; $1,400 per credit hour based on 3 credit hours for non-resident.
11. Saint Leo University: St. Leo, Florida
Saint Leo University’s Donald R. Tapia School of Business positioned itself to be the provider of strong technical skills in the field of accounting and financial reporting by offering the Master of Accounting degree.
This program aims to tap the inner competencies of would-be and working professionals through an extensive study of advanced accounting principles, contemporary issues in auditing and using financial accounting information. It also prepares students to pass the CPA and CMA examinations as its curriculum is designed for these board examinations.
The university’s School of Business is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), the leading outcomes-based professional accrediting organization for business programs throughout the world. Students are guaranteed with a globally-competitive quality education.
Tuition cost is at $675 per credit hour with 30 semester credit hours to complete.
12. State University of New York Institute of Technology
SUNYIT’s Master of Science in Accountancy degree program was developed to provide an avenue for undergraduate accountants who seek to advance their work in a wide range of professional accounting careers.
It also helps students meet the 150 credit hours required to take the CPA and CMA examinations. Some of the courses include Income Tax Research, Auditing Theory and Management Information Systems.
The university’s School of Business has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the acknowledgment of excellence in business education. Tuition is at $400 per credit hour for resident and $700 per credit hour for non-resident.
13. University of Connecticut
UCONN is ranked by the U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 20 public schools in the United States. It has been in existence since the early 1880s and now has over 30,000 enrolled students; roughly 8,000 of them are in one of the school’s graduate programs.
The Master of Science in Accounting program offered by the school of business is internationally recognized. You can bet you’re getting a quality online education when you enroll in this school because it was the first online graduate degree to be offered by the university.
The goal is to provide students with the necessary information to both successfully complete the 150-hour degree as well as pass the CPA exam. Like many other prestigious business schools, UCONN’s school of business is accredited by the AACSB.
14. Kaplan University: Davenport, Iowa
Kaplan University’s Master of Science in Accounting could be your next step in advancing your career in the accounting industry. Career opportunities for good accounting and auditing professionals are flourishing because of stricter laws and regulations in the financial sector.
The university’s degree program will help you secure your dream accounting job in the future because of its comprehensive and relevant accounting curriculum. Students may choose specializations in the areas of government, tax, audit, and finance.
Aside from the accreditation granted by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Kaplan’s University’s business program is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) which recognizes excellence in the accreditation of business education programs around the world.
Tuition cost is $460 per credit hour for a total of 52 credits. The university allows the students to work the degree into their own schedule through multiple online starts date.
15. Liberty University: Lynchburg, Virginia
If you want to succeed in the business of accounting, take Liberty University’s online Master of Science in Accounting. This degree program prepares students to be exceptionally well in the written and oral competencies within the scope of accounting.
The school assures a more comprehensive study of up-to-date approaches focused on accounting, auditing, and taxation that will make you prosper in your accounting profession. This MSA degree requires students to take Advanced Business Law for Accountants, Advanced Cost Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, and Advanced Financial Accounting Theory.
Be it known that the university’s Business School has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). It means you are assured of its quality education with international standards.
Not only that, its accounting program was listed as one of the top three online accounting programs by the Online Education Database. Tuition cost is at $520 per credit hour based on full-time enrollment. It can be completed in one to two years.
