Master’s degrees continue to be a prime choice among individuals wanting to pursue careers in accounting. Pursuing an online accounting program is a convenient choice. It offers graduate students many options once they graduate. Regardless of their purpose, all organizations and industries rely on the work of accountants and solid accounting principles to succeed. They also depend on knowledgeable and savvy professionals who know how to help them organize, plan, maintain and develop. As such, the demand for business professionals trained in accounting is high. The demand is so high that pursuing a degree like an Online Master’s in Accounting can add thousands of dollars in earning potential.
The Best Online Master’s in Accounting Programs in the Nation
Are you considering what a career in accounting looks like? You may be interested to learn more about what goes into earning a top online master’s in accounting. Pursuing an accounting degree in a traditional, in-class format may appeal to some. But it’s important to understand the flexibility and convenience a distance degree offers. Here is a ranking of twenty-five of the top online master’s in accounting programs currently available.
Methodology
Our goal was to identify the best Online Master’s in Accounting programs. The top business schools in the country were examined. We identified the online and hybrid master’s degrees focused on accounting and taxation. This resulting list is a consensus ranking. It combines data from five leading business school rankings: Bloomberg Businessweek, U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, The Financial Times, and The Economist. The data for each Online Master’s in Accounting program was averaged and converted to a 100-point scale. This revealed each degree’s Consensus Score. The tuition of the accounting degree was used to break any ties.
An online master’s in accounting program is available at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. Business professionals who are currently working, raising a family, traveling, or serving in the military and are interested in pursuing a Master of Accounting degree will discover that it doesn’t get any better than UNC’s distance degree. Whether they are recent college graduates seeking their first real job, mid-level professionals looking to switch careers, or seasoned business leaders seeking to advance their careers, the top-ranked online UNC MAC Program welcomes them. This stellar degree features the same high-caliber curriculum, top-notch instructors, peer-to-peer dynamics, and award-winning recruitment opportunities as the university’s on-campus format. The online program also features an immersive experience and a mixture of academic rigor and real-world experiential learning. Highlights of the online Master’s of Accountancy include that it is open to all students from various educational and professional backgrounds, comprises 36-48 credits (depending on previous coursework), and starts four times each year: January, March, June, and September. No wonder this online master’s in accounting is the best in the nation.
The University of Southern California features an online master’s in accounting program at the Marshall School of Business. Marshall’s online Master of Business Taxation for Working Professionals (MBT-WP) is the perfect fit for fully employed tax professionals ready to deepen and broaden their skills and knowledge of taxation while learning research techniques critical to success as professionals. One year of tax-related experience is required for admission into the MBT-WP program. Enrolled students can take classes online, on-campus, or both with a top-notch faculty and cutting-edge resources. Small class sizes facilitate intimate and personalized instruction with a high-quality educational experience. USC’s online Master of Business Taxation for Working Professionals has been created as a ten-course degree spread between five required tax courses and five tax electives. The online curriculum is identical to the on-campus program and qualifies graduates to sit for the Uniform CPA Exam. This program has been developed for professionals already working in the tax field, ready to deepen their knowledge by studying various tax topics. Marshall’s online master’s in accounting degree will put the skills and knowledge business students learn into practice.
The Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota features an exemplary online master’s in accounting program. Master of Business Taxation instructors at the business school come from some of the nation’s leading tax firms and major corporations. They bring firsthand knowledge and experience from small businesses and international corporations. With a network of over one thousand Master of Business Taxation alumni and connections to employers worldwide, the online MBT program will exponentially expand enrolled students’ professional opportunities. Graduate students seeking this degree can balance their Master of Business Taxation classes while working with asynchronous weekly classes, breaking during the peak of the tax season, and enjoy the flexibility of online courses. Offered as one of the best graduate tax programs in the U.S., the Carlson School Master of Business Taxation Program fuses world-class instructors boasting a wealth of industry experience and an impressive local business community resulting in a career-shaping experience for online students. This excellent online accounting program aids business leaders in realizing their full potential.
An online master’s in accounting program is available at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. Enrolled students gain specialized knowledge and skills in tax law, research, planning, and analysis. Graduates of this program emerge with the expertise to guide a firm’s critical tax management strategy. This fully online degree program provides distance learners with a world-class education delivered at a pace that fits their active lifestyles. No GMAT is needed during the admissions process. With many pages of tax law, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) pronouncements, and regulations, taxation is not a simple subject. Professionals in accounting can gain the expertise they need to become highly valued tax advisers by earning the Penn State Master’s in Taxation, available through Penn State World Campus. Early-career accounting students may use credits earned by completing specialized taxation courses to meet the 150-credit requirement needed to sit for the CPA exam. Master’s in accounting students won’t have to put their lives on hold when choosing this degree.
The UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management offers an online master’s in accounting program. The business school gives accounting students two distinct pathways to advance an accounting career: the master’s in accounting flex and the master’s in accounting cohort. UT Dallas’ flex program offers multiple tracks, allowing graduate students to select courses that coincide with their professional goals. In contrast, the cohort is designed with a predetermined course sequence and emphasizes preparation to sit for the U.S. CPA exam. Whether working full-time or working through a full-time course load, accounting students can obtain degrees that will change their future. The flex program allows master’s students to complete their program through a full-time or part-time format by starting the program in the fall, spring, or summer term. Students choosing the flex program can select courses that will advance their accounting career objectives, whether their interest is in public or corporate accounting, accounting systems, assurance services, taxation, or internal audit systems. It is clear why Jindal’s accounting degree is easily a top-five program.
An online master’s in accounting program is available at the Olin Business School at the Washington University in St. Louis. With this focused, rigorous program, graduates take a deep dive into accounting principles and theory while they gain a solid understanding of today’s business landscape. The online Master of Accounting program is known for its dedicated, expert professors and a best-in-class digital learning experience. There are three levels of credentials so students can build their resumes as they progress through graduate certificates, advanced graduate certificates, and degrees. Courses include Business Analysis, Using Financial Statements, Ethical Decision Making in Accounting, and Advanced Business Analysis Using Financial Statements. Students in this accounting program enjoy a personalized, propriety online learning format known as “learn.WashU.” It was developed by the business school’s Center for Digital Education and currently provides students with engaging sessions and a cutting-edge user experience. A degree from WashU is well respected and opens doors throughout one’s career.
An online master’s in accounting program is offered at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management. This innovative online accounting degree allows distance learners to pursue the Jenkins Master of Accounting Program on their terms and at their own pace. Enrolled students enjoy true flexibility as they earn a top-ranked degree while accelerating their professional careers. Balancing work, family, and other priorities can make pursuing a graduate degree on campus an ideological commitment. So NCSU built its flexible online MAC program to give working professionals the equivalent outstanding experience as its in-person program, which is fully online. Online students take the same classes, taught by the same renowned instructors. They can earn their degrees in as little as one year or up to six years. They may also access the same concentrations and study abroad options. All students complete all accounting prerequisite courses through the ASAP Online Prerequisite Program. Online master’s in accounting students will thrive within this program.
An online master’s in accounting program is available at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Newark and New Brunswick’s Rutgers Business School. The business school’s online Master of Accountancy in Professional Accounting program is a 30-credit, part-time accounting degree for students seeking an advanced degree in accounting yet lacking a traditional educational or professional accounting background. This program is offered 100% online. The curriculum balances accounting theory and practice and prepares professionals to meet the needs of the accounting profession or make a successful career change without the financial burden of pursuing an MBA. Distance learners with work experience and an undergraduate degree in a business discipline other than accounting will discover the professional accounting program will help them prepare for a successful transition into a career in accounting. Program highlights include an eleven-course structure, fall, spring, and summer starts, and a part-time course of study with the option of transferring into a full-time MBA in Professional Accounting program.
The Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona provides an excellent online master’s in accounting program. Students enrolled in this online program learn from the same renowned instructors as the on-campus MSA program. Accounting students develop the mastery to take their accounting career further and earn credit toward obtaining their CPA license. Distance learners complete thirty required units, including eighteen graduate accounting work units. Business students can choose from the business school’s online MBA business courses for the remaining twelve units. This program offers students the flexibility to study what interests them most. Online MSA program requirements include a four-year undergraduate degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA and an acceptable GMAT score (typically between 500-700). Prerequisite courses may need to be completed before or during the program. In addition to the required prerequisites, the online MSA program requires thirty units of coursework, eighteen units of which are graduate accounting coursework. This accounting degree offers so much to today’s business students.
Northeastern University provides an online master’s in accounting program at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business. Program designers understand that savvy accounting experts who can navigate current tax legislation and effectively plan for what comes next are in demand. This online MS in Taxation program helps graduate students excel in the ever-expanding realm of tax laws and regulations. Through Northeastern’s future-focused lens, enrolled students study the latest taxation issues and issues presented by developments in international policies, technology, and federal laws. Online students also learn to hone their unique human skills like creativity and decision-making, making them influential modern business leaders. The program structure includes fifteen credits of required courses and fifteen credits of electives. Most students take twenty months to complete this degree when studying online. Distance degree participants get a chance to build a stellar peer and alumni network. Working professional students can apply for an abbreviated spring term that allows a pause during the hectic tax season. Hands down, this is an excellent online master’s in accounting degree for today’s remote learners.
The Kogod School of Business at American University provides an online master’s in accounting program. All program requirements within Kogod’s online MS in accounting program can be satisfied in less than a year when taking classes at a high pace. Kogod’s online MS in accounting program stands as a 30-37.5 credit hour degree, dependent upon the candidate’s undergraduate coursework experience. The program satisfies the 150-hour CPA licensure requirement, and qualified graduates can be eligible to sit for the CPA exam. Kogod’s online MS in accounting is offered 100% online through live lectures and pre-recorded classes. The online MS in accounting gives graduate students the curriculum flexibility to add an in-demand certificate in taxation or forensic accounting. By pursuing Kogod’s online MS in accounting program, graduate students are eligible for up to six exemptions of the fourteen ACCA exams. This online MS in accounting allows professionals to prepare for the CGFM, CPA, CFE, and CMA certifications. These are some of the many reasons why this accounting degree is an excellent investment in one’s education.
The C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston currently features an online master’s in accounting program. Program architects understand that while a career in accounting can take a professional in many different directions, it all starts with a solid academic foundation. With the 100% online Master of Science in Accountancy (MSACCY) from the C. T. Bauer College of Business, distance learners get the technical and soft skills they need to grow as invaluable resources to any organization or client. The Online MSACCY Program has been created with the working professional in mind. Enrolled students learn from a knowledgeable team of faculty members who are distinguished academic scholars and high-level professionals with real-world experience in contemporary accounting issues. The curriculum allows students to apply research techniques and critical thinking skills to facilitate a smooth approach to complex accounting issues. Graduate students in accounting will enjoy engaging in synchronous online courses incorporating innovative teaching methods. With the Online MSACCY, students will be ready for today’s accounting careers’ problems — and rewards.
The Michael F. Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma provides an excellent online master’s in accounting program. Answering the need for accounting professionals to meet a 150-hour requirement (with thirty credit hours required in upper-division/graduate accounting) to take the CPA exam, the University of Oklahoma’s business school now offers its Master of Accountancy in a 100% online format. This is the same curriculum delivered on campus, yet it is easily accessible worldwide. The Online Master of Accountancy (MAcc) benefits include solid accounting expertise. The AACSB International accredits the John T. Steed School of Accounting. This accreditation assures that the program is top-notch while providing appropriate preparation for the CPA Exam. Flexible delivery on the learner’s time means enrolled students can study when and where they choose with the online format. All program requirements can be satisfied in under two years while students work full-time. Each year, one online MACC student is eligible for a 100% scholarship, and four MACC students qualify for a 50% scholarship. There are many advantages to this distance degree.
Bentley University’s McCallum Graduate School of Business provides an excellent online master’s in accounting program. Business leaders understand that the increasing development of machine learning, big data, analytics, and blockchain is creating exciting advances in accounting. Bentley’s online Master’s in Accounting (MSA) builds upon the business school’s century-old accounting legacy and infuses it with analytics and technology to give accounting professionals the skills they need to succeed in a respected, in-demand profession. Introduced as the first program in Massachusetts to gain separate accountancy accreditation from AACSB International, program leaders are proud to announce the new STEM-designated curriculum is among few programs to collaborate with KPMG’s Data and Analytics Program, ensuring that what enrolled students learn is industry applicable. Master’s in accounting students can count on this program. Five career-goal-matching specializations are offered: Information Systems, Assurance, Advisory, Corporate Financial Reporting, and Analytics. This online master’s in accounting degree features advantages you won’t find anywhere else.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management features an online master’s in accounting program. Isenberg’s online MS in Accounting is a top-ranked program in New England. It is one of a select few to achieve the AACSB accreditation in accounting. Program designers have created a degree that prepares distance learners for the best jobs in accounting in a way that fits their lifestyles. Working with internationally recognized instructors in accounting and auditing, enrolled students learn to apply real-world practices and solutions through a progressive curriculum committed to cohort-based learning and hands-on application. The graduate students’ knowledge in the program fulfills the educational requirements they need to become licensed Certified Public Accountants (CPA) in Massachusetts. Graduate students with a bachelor’s degree in accounting will want to take advantage of the Professional Track, which immerses them in advanced coursework immediately. Designed to fit an active professional’s lifestyle, this online master’s in accounting program has it all.
The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University provides an online master’s in accounting program. This stellar program helps students advance their accounting careers or gain access to finance roles. Within the online program, students learn the same content from the same instructors as students enrolled in Whitman’s on-campus accounting program. Graduates of this online program have proven to be successful at well-known organizations, including Micron Technology, Audible, KPMG, and Lockheed Martin. The online MS in Professional Accounting curriculum equips distance learners in data analytics, auditing, international accounting and reporting, financial statement analysis, and taxes and business strategy. Incoming students with academic experience in accounting can complete the thirty-credit master’s in accounting program in one year to 15 months. Students lacking accounting coursework are placed in an individualized program of study that can be completed in less than two years. This accounting program combines quality academics with real-world learning students won’t want to pass up.
An online master’s in accounting program is delivered at Florida International University’s Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Graduate School of Business. Enrolled students gain the competitive skills they need to take on accounting’s ever-evolving challenges. FIU’s online Master of Accounting (MACC) program is open to distance learners who majored in accounting or business at the undergraduate level. It offers specializations in taxation and assurance. Featuring convenient evening and 100% online classes, professionals balance career development among other life responsibilities. Master’s students gain access to the Wiley CPA Gold Course to best prepare them to take the CPA exam. The ten-month-long online MACC for Accounting Majors is the perfect degree for students with previous business and accounting credentials. Enrolled students with a non-accounting business degree (including those with an international Bachelor of Accounting degree) may receive conditional admission to the online Master of Accounting program (MACC) pending prerequisite course completion. Florida International University has hit a home run with this online master’s in accounting degree.
The School of Business at UConn provides an online master’s in accounting program. Business leaders understand that all organizations, from small non-profits to Fortune 100s, prosper with accountants. It is no surprise; that those accounting positions are plentiful and in high demand. For years organizations like U.S. News & World Report have named Accounting one of the best business positions advanced academics can pursue. The online Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) from the University of Connecticut’s (UConn) School of Business exists as an AACSB Accredited program. Over the years, UConn MSA alumni have earned the American Institute of CPAs’ Elijah Watt Sells Award. Earning an online MSA from UConn can open doors to leadership positions, help graduate students increase their earning potential, and fuel a career switch. UConn is one of less than 200 institutions with specialized AACSB Accreditation for its accounting programs. This accounting master’s degree is recognized by the United States Distance Learning Association for being exceptional in online learning. This degree is an excellent choice.
An online master’s in accounting program is available at the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business. Since the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants identified an increasing demand for CPAs, the main issue consuming the accounting world is recruiting and retaining new talent. This reality presents the perfect opportunity for aspiring accounting professionals. With the demand for accountants, this online Master of Accountancy (MAcc) is the premier avenue to connect graduate students to a high-demand field. The Online Master of Accountancy requires thirty credit hours, fifteen of which must be at the 8000-graduate level, during three consecutive semesters (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Enrolled students can take the coursework over several years to assist with professional and personal commitments. Courses include Auditing Theory and Practice, Accounting and Business Strategic Analysis, Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders, Accounting Ethics, and Financial Accounting Theory and Practice. It is no wonder this is a top-twenty program.
The Fox School of Business at Temple University features a top-notch online master’s in accounting program. Program architects understand that the role of today’s financial leaders requires an ever-growing skill set, including expertise in financial management and management accounting. The business school’s online Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Management at Temple equips distance learners with the competencies needed for financial management, managerial accounting, financial planning, and financial analysis professionals. The part-time, online accounting master’s program prepares graduate students to earn the certification of globally recognized and respected Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Fox’s online Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Management is designed for active professionals in accounting, finance, management, and supply chain positions who want to increase and upskill their career mobility. Graduates of this distance degree can expect to obtain credentials that indicate they have mastered critical business concepts that will provide value to their employers in a complicated and high-stakes environment. This online master’s in accounting is excellent.
The Harbert College of Business at Auburn features an online master’s in accounting program. Today’s graduate students can earn a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) online from the comfort of their own homes at the Harbert College of Business. Featuring options for students with accounting undergraduate degrees or degrees in other disciplines, the MAcc prepares distance learners to be successful in the accounting profession. The business school’s online MAcc program offers the same lessons, instruction, faculty, exams, and assignments as its campus counterpart. The courses are designed to prepare learners to successfully pass the CPA Exam and strengthen their technical, research, and communication skills while culminating in an AACSB-accredited degree. Designed for active professionals, this degree takes two years (five semesters of two classes) to complete while enrolled students work full-time. The Traditional MAcc is 30 semester hours and is designed for accounting students who hold an undergraduate degree in accounting. This accounting program would be an asset to any accounting student’s portfolio.
An exemplary online master’s in accounting program is featured at the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics. Delivered within the prestigious Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, this online master’s in accounting practice is designed for professionals to move into diverse accounting careers or advance in their current roles. The AACSB International accredits this program. This accrediting entity exists as the world’s highest standard of business school accreditation and a distinction that less than 5% of business schools worldwide can boast. An online master’s in accounting practice degree from UD is personally rewarding and can boost one’s salary potential. Upon graduation, all online students benefit from career-ready skills. UD’s accounting courses emphasize management, financial reporting, and database design. These in-demand skills correlate with higher salaries for accountants. Accounting managers with these marketable skills ban boost their yearly salary by thousands. The University of Delaware’s online master’s in accounting program has a lot going for it.
An online master’s in accounting program is delivered at Louisiana State University’s E. J. Ourso College of Business. Graduate students enrolled in the online Master of Professional Accountancy prepare for successful careers in public accounting. Within the business school, they find a distance degree that emphasizes problem-solving, decision making, understanding the role of business in society, analytical and critical thinking skills, and developing leadership ability and social responsibility. All master’s students receive in-depth training in finance, accounting, and related subjects to pursue careers in accounting, consulting, auditing, tax, financial planning, management, and more. Students also get connected with the top employers in the state and worldwide as they tap into USD’s robust accounting employer and alumni networks. Employers routinely recruit accounting students as they have the highest career placement rates at Beacom School of Business. Graduates of this online master’s in accounting can establish themselves as leaders within any organization.
The College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Kent State University provides an excellent online master’s in accounting program. The business school’s online Master of Science in Accounting degree is for working students interested in emphasizing accounting. More than just credits and debits, the MSA program promotes critical thinking, relevant application of technology, practical communication skills, and ethical problem-solving. It prepares future professionals for rewarding and challenging careers. Graduates of this program pursue careers in auditing, consulting, taxation, fraud investigation, management, law enforcement, and investment banking. The flexible fusion of required coursework in accounting and electives from various business disciplines provides graduate students with a solid foundation in accounting and an understanding of the practical applications of accounting across all business facets. Online MSA graduates sit for professional certifications like the CPA, CIA, CMA, CISA, and CFE. This distance degree provides an excellent foundation for career advancement and growing professional networks.
An online master’s in accounting is available at Portland State University’s School of Business. The business school’s Master of Taxation degree equips distance learners with tax expertise that is difficult to automate. Program designers realize that advanced tax expertise has universal value, and the demand is growing. The American Institute of CPAs reports a growing shortage of tax professionals with graduate degrees in taxation. Portland State University’s Master of Taxation trains master’s students to meet the needs of this advanced field. Co-developed with the top Pacific Northwest public accountants and corporate tax specialists, Portland State’s master’s program offers specialized tax education that employers require. The online format makes the Master of Taxation accessible to traditional students, active tax practitioners, and professionals with full-time jobs. Enrolled students build highly marketable tax expertise and develop thinking skills that cannot be replaced by tax software or technology. With this Master of Taxation degree, professionals make immediate career progress and build foundations for long-term success. This degree packs a punch.
Here are some reasons one should pursue an accounting-related online master’s program:
Online Master’s in Accounting Students Are All but Guaranteed an Enriching Study Experience
Online Master’s in Accounting Students Acquire Valuable and Relevant Skills and Knowledge
Everybody in high school is exposed to the different types of mathematics, whether remedial math, algebra, geometry, computer science, calculus, or trigonometry. However, few people go on to apply what is learned in these math courses to their daily lives. Business professionals with careers in accounting apply accounting principles at work and outside of work. These professionals can use their knowledge of profit and loss ratios, payroll management, and other accounting-related concepts when they start their own businesses. Knowledge and experience in accounting can help graduate students manage their homes, such as managing family budgets and expenses effectively and efficiently with sheets and ledgers.
Online Master’s in Accounting Students can Pursue other Degrees alongside their Programs
Many accounting majors take other degrees simultaneously. Since there are great courses related to accounting and finance, some students double major. They pair their online Master’s in Accounting with a Major in Accounting and Business Management, Major in Accounting and Business Entrepreneurship, or a Major in Accounting and Finance. Graduate students who pursue a double degree acquire more credentials for their CV and resume. This can increase their chances of employment. Aside from this, double majors in accounting also allow themselves to broaden their horizons and work in different industries.
Online Master’s in Accounting Students Often get Hired Quickly
Accounting is at the top of the list with high and fast hiring rates. Job opening rates and availability of work positions are some of the top factors for students when making career choices. Everyone is motivated to land a good-paying job as quickly as possible.
Online Master’s in Accounting Students Will Always be in Demand
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transitioning from written to digital ledgers
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utilizing more advanced software, and
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applications that help make work faster and more productive.
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business analysts,
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finance managers,
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financial and investment advisors,
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and more.
Online Master’s in Accounting Students have International Opportunities
Do you want to hear another great thing about accounting? Working professionals can get exposure to various international opportunities. Graduate students planning on working abroad can quickly get a position overseas with an accounting education. Most accounting techniques and principles apply across international borders. Although there are exceptions for some specifics of law that may apply to specific countries. Some students only need a couple of additional classes to gain exposure to the fundamental accounting laws of the region or country they wish to migrate to and take an exam.
Online Master’s in Accounting Students Enjoy Excellent Career Advancement Potential
For years, accounting has consistently topped national lists of the most popular and lucrative degrees pursued in college. Because of the timeless existence of business and trade in the modern world, it is fair to say the world will always need some form of accounting and finance management. And additionally, accounting will remain one of the world’s best degree options.
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