Why These Programs?
Our goal is to connect students with the best online Masters in Accounting degree programs in the country. We scored each online Masters of Accounting program on more than 15 variables across four categories and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best. Note: all picks are sorted by tuition, lowest to highest.
Sponsored School(s)
- Programs Reviewed: 57
- Top Selection Picks: 15
Our Selection Criteria
- Reputation: How the university and program is thought of by its peers.
- Credibility: How well the program ranks in major degree rating publications.
- Flexibility: How flexible the program is in terms of online class times, time to complete degree, etc.
- Value: Comparison of the quality of education to cost.
Your Guide to Earning a Masters in Accounting Degree Online in 2020
Accountants and auditors are in high demand across the United States. The economy is expanding, new companies are being created, and current businesses are growing. By earning an online Master’s in Accounting, you will be prepared for the booming business market with specialized skills in accounting, finance, statistics, business management, and more.
Those advanced skills are what you learn in an online Master’s in Accounting program, and it pays: Graduates enjoy more job opportunities and more compensation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that professionals with a master’s degree earn an average of $12,000 more per year. Plus, the highest earners in accounting with advanced degrees can earn as much as $122,800 per year.
As an experienced accountant with an online master’s degree in accounting, you will have higher pay and job responsibilities in your future. So consider getting that online accounting graduate degree today.
Best Online Masters in Accounting Degree Programs
- Rutgers University
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute
- University of Missouri
- University of Connecticut
- Auburn University
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- National University
- Pennsylvania State University
- University of Arizona
- University of Texas – Dallas
- St Johns University
- Maryville University
- University of Miami
- University of North Carolina
- Syracuse University
Best Accredited Online Masters in Accounting Programs for 2020
The array of online master’s in accounting programs offers many choices for those wanting advanced training in the field. But with so many online degree choices, actually deciding which is for you can be daunting. This guide to earning an accounting degree online will help you to make the best choice by explaining application requirements, prices, curriculum, and program outcomes.
Online degree programs typically offer flexible, asynchronous classes with platforms such as Blackboard or Canvas. Some universities offer other learning models. Our guide will explain if the program has synchronous or asynchronous courses, on-campus residencies, or cohort learning.
To learn more about a specific online degree program, contact each school’s admissions office. Once you make your choice, the university’s admission specialists can help you complete their application.
Rutgers University
The online Master of Accountancy program at Rutgers University is among the best graduate accounting programs in the United States, with a challenging curriculum endorsed by the Institute of Management Accountants. This AACSB-accredited program is designed to meet the career goals of accounting graduates who want to prepare for the CPA or CMA exams and enjoy lucrative careers.
The Rutgers Business School Master of Accountancy in Financial Accounting is a 30-credit, online, and in-person accounting program that combines the best aspects of online and classroom learning to give you and hiring accounting companies the most flexibility possible.
Earn your master’s in accounting in only one year, and send your career to the next level.
Highlights of this accredited MACC program are:
- No previous work experience is required, so you can begin as soon as you have your bachelor’s degree.
- No GMAT scores needed for Rutgers Business School and the College of New Jersey undergraduates with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
- Online and in-person courses that allow you to be ready for the business hiring cycle and finish most of your degree before you begin your first job.
- Obtain the 150 credits you need to sit for the CPA or CMA examination as you complete your master’s program.
- Job placement opportunities are provided with a large CPA exam review provider.
- Get interview, career coaching, and resume advice from dedicated staff.
As of 2015, 90% of master of accountancy students had full-time jobs within six months of graduation. Every year, Rutgers graduates are hired to join the accounting teams of many major corporations from the Big Four accounting firms, to nonprofit organizations, to smaller, specialized firms.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Accountancy in Professional Accounting; Financial Accounting; Governmental Accounting
Tuition – In-State/Out-of-State: $11,940.00/semester
Per Credit: $995
Credit requirements: 30
Program length: 1-year full time
Delivery
Format: Online and in-person classes
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: None
GRE/GMAT: No GMAT scores needed for Rutgers Business School and the College of New Jersey undergraduates with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Contact
Phone: (973) 353-1234
Email: admit@business.rutgers.edu
Social media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/RutgersBusinessSchool; https://www.linkedin.com/school/rutgers-business-school/; https://twitter.com/RutgersBSchool
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
The Master of Science in Accountancy at SUNY Polytechnic Institute consists of 33 credit hours and 11 courses that allow students to become high-achieving accounting professionals. This Master of Accountancy program allows students to satisfy the 150-hour licensure requirements for New York State and was developed because of two demands.
The first was the higher number of accountants who had undergraduate degrees in accounting and wanted to continue to develop in their professional accounting careers, which included public, corporate, nonprofit, and government accounting.
Also, due to the 150 credit hour education requirement that was established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants beginning in 2000, the program was created to qualify students to sit for the CMA and CPA examinations.
The AACSB-accredited program is made for students who have an undergraduate degree in accounting. Students who do not have this background can still earn their master’s with the completion of several prerequisite courses.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Science in Accountancy
Tuition – In-State/Out-of-State: $6,785 per semester online
Per Credit: $471 resident; $963 non-resident
Credit requirements: 30
Program length: 1 year full time
Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: Check admissions office
GRE/GMAT: GMAT scores are required
Contact
Phone: (315) 792-7347
Email: graduate@sunypoly.edu
Social media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/sunypolytechnic; https://twitter.com/SUNYPolyInst; https://www.instagram.com/sunypolytechnic/; https://www.youtube.com/c/SUNYPolytechnicInstitute
University of Missouri
The online Master of Accountancy at the University of Missouri is unique in the state because it stresses professional development in accounting as well as career services. Students who want to become a CPA are making a good choice to study accounting in this one year, AACSB-accredited program.
This master’s program is 100% online, and you do not need to visit a college campus. But online students are invited to attend symposia, professional development workshops, career fairs, and other career-related events.
All courses are semester-based, and students with full-time jobs usually take one class per semester and finish the master’s program in one to three years. Courses cover auditing, ethics, forensic accounting, fraud examination, governmental accounting, taxation, and international accounting.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Accountancy
Tuition – In-State/Out-of-State: $23,856 total
Per Credit: $795
Credit requirements: 30
Program length: 1-year full time
Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: Check admissions office
GRE/GMAT: Competitive scores on either test are required
Contact
Phone: (573) 882-2491
Email: MizzouOnline@missouri.edu
University of Connecticut
The University of Connecticut offers an online Master of Science in Accounting that is known as one of the best online, accredited accounting programs in the country. UConn is one of just 187 universities that have an accounting program that is accredited by the AACSB. This program also has been recognized by the US Distance Learning Association as one of the best in online learning.
The online master of accountancy program is focused on issues that are vital to the modern accounting profession. Many of the students in the program say they can use their newly-acquired accounting knowledge in their current work.
The online master’s program is appropriate for new BS in accounting graduates who need more credits to sit for the CPA exam. Also, anyone in accounting who wants more education to apply for a senior accounting role is a good fit for this program as well. The program is ranked #8 by US News and World Report for online accounting programs.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Science in Accounting
Per Credit: $875 per credit hour
Credit requirements: 30
Program length: 1-year full time
Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: Check admissions office
GRE/GMAT: GMAT scores are required
Contact
Phone: (860) 486-0334
Email: erika.durning@uconn.edu
Auburn University
The online Master of Accountancy program at Auburn University is made for working professionals and is the same degree as the on-campus program. The online and on-campus programs are accredited by the AACSB. The Auburn accounting online classes provide students with the skills, research, and communication skills they need to pass the CPA examination.
The online accounting courses are a combination of traditional instruction with cutting edge delivery methods. Students can complete the degree in two years while working full time. Students who are not working can finish in one year.
Students are required to participate in a three-day campus residency during the final spring semester. You will participate in the Auburn MAcc Leadership Summit, which features social events, leadership workshops, and business seminars.
The Auburn University Harbert College of Business is ranked 13% for online graduate programs in the US, according to US News & World Report. The class of 2019 had a 93% pass rate on all four sections of the CPA examination.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Science in Accounting
Program Cost: $27,000 total
Per Credit: $900
Credit requirements: 30
Program length: 1-year full time, 2-years part time.
Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: Check admissions office
GRE/GMAT: GMAT scores are required
Contact
Phone: (334) 844-4835
Email: https://harbert.auburn.edu/contact.html
Social media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/AuburnHarbertBusiness; https://twitter.com/AUHarbertBiz; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnUjd7ObxHC0UL7u1Q6cT5w; https://www.linkedin.com/school/auburn-university-raymond-j.-harbert-college-of-business/; https://www.instagram.com/auburnharbertbusiness/
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers an online Master of Science in Accounting that is accredited and highly respected across the country. In a partnership with Coursera, this online degree puts every graduate at the cutting edge of the accounting field and offers extensive, accounting hands-on practice, as well as a dynamic curriculum that evolves as the profession changes. It is a highly interactive online program with live classes, team projects, and regular personal contact with professors.
The accounting courses are taught by some of the best professors in the world. The accounting department is accredited by the AACSB and is regularly ranked one of the top programs in the US. It is well suited to people working in the field already or those who are entering accounting for the first time.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Science in Accounting
Program Cost: $27,200
Per Credit: $850
Credit requirements: 32
Program length: 1-year full time
Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: None to 2-3 years
GRE/GMAT: GMAT scores are required
Contact
Phone: (217) 244-1103
Email: onlineMSA@illinois.edu
National University
National University offers an online Master of Accountancy that will provide you with the skills, competencies, knowledge, and judgment to succeed at the highest levels of the accounting profession. The coursework from this AACSB-accredited program will prepare you for critical professional examinations, including CPA, CMA and CIA.
This one year, full-time program will provide you with a global business and accounting perspective, enhancing your critical thinking, boosting your communication skills, and also integrates real-world applications into your education. It is designed for students with little previous accounting coursework and is provided synchronously online.
National University teaches students and professionals essential accounting principles and practical application with innovative methods and faculty that is focused on student outcomes. You will be prepared for careers in public accounting, corporate accounting, internal auditing, accounting in government and nonprofit organizations.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Accountancy
Per Credit: $442
Credit requirements: 30
Program length: 1-year full time
Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: None
GRE/GMAT: Check with admissions
Contact
Phone: (855) 355-6288
Email: advisor@nu.edu
Social media channels: https://www.facebook.com/nationaluniversity; https://twitter.com/natuniv; https://www.instagram.com/nationaluniversity/; https://www.linkedin.com/school/national-university/; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClVkT52nlUbaGDBzWV6xg0w
Pennsylvania State University
Penn State World Campus offers an online Master of Professional Accounting that will provide you with the expanded knowledge base you need to become an efficient and effective accounting professional, including the preparation to become a CPA. If you have completed your undergraduate degree in accounting or business and still need to satisfy your 150-credit hour educational requirements to sit for the CPA examination, this AACSB-accredited program could be a good choice for you.
The Penn State World Campus online master’s program is taught by full-time business and accounting professors at Penn State. All faculty are skilled in teaching online and will teach you advanced accounting principles and how to evaluate business problems.
Many students who graduate from this one-year program are prepared for a rewarding career in auditing and public accounting, managerial or industrial accounting, and governmental and nonprofit accounting.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Professional Accounting
Program Cost: $11,412 flat rate per semester with 12+ credits
Per Credit: $951 per credit for less than 12 credits per semester
Credit requirements: 30
Program length: 1-year full time
Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: Not listed
GRE/GMAT: GRE or GMAT scores required
Contact
Phone: (814) 865-5403
Email: pennstateonline@psu.edu
Social media channels: https://www.facebook.com/psuworldcampus; https://twitter.com/PSUWorldcampus; https://www.linkedin.com/school/penn-state-world-campus/; https://www.instagram.com/pennstateworldcampus/; https://www.youtube.com/user/PSUWorldCampus; https://www.pinterest.com/PSUWorldCampus/;
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona offers an online Master of Science in Accounting that will prepare you for a career in professional management and financial accounting, as it provides you with essential training in essential accounting concepts. This is an AACSB-accredited program that provides the hours and coursework required to sit for the CPA examination.
Students take 30 credit hours, which includes 18 hours of accounting courses and 12 units of MBA and accounting electives. Courses include Advanced Accounting; Information Technology Audit; Ethics for Professional Accountants; Business Law for Accountants; Advanced Federal Taxation; and Accounting Theory and Institutions.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Science in Accounting
Program Cost: $30,000
Per Credit: $1,000
Credit requirements: 30
Program length: 1 year to two years
Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: Not listed
GRE/GMAT: Check with admissions
Contact
Phone: (520) 621-0898
Email: onlineadmissions@email.arizona.edu
University of Texas – Dallas
The University of Texas-Dallas offers an online Master of Science in Accounting that is AACSB-accredited and offers more than 30 accounting electives, and flexible program length that can be completed online and in the evenings on campus.
For local students, Dallas is ranked as one of the best cities for jobs, according to Forbes 2018, and approximately 70% of recent graduates participated in an internship while in the program. The rigorous curriculum will prepare you to sit for various certification exams, including the CPA, CMA, and CIA. Students also can fast track six hours of required undergraduate accounting electives toward the Master of Science in Accounting degree.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Science in Accounting
Program Cost: Check with admissions office
Credit requirements: 36
Program length: 12-20 months
Delivery
Format: Online, on-campus
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: None to 2-3 years
GRE/GMAT: GRE or GMAT scores are required
Contact
Phone: (972) 883-2705
Email: jindal@utdallas.edu
Social media channels: https://www.facebook.com/jindal.utdallas; https://twitter.com/jindal_utdallas; https://www.instagram.com/jindal_utdallas/; https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-texas-at-dallas—naveen-jindal-school-of-management/
St. Johns University
St. John’s University offers an online Master of Science in Accounting that is AACSB-accredited. It provides you with the specialized technical knowledge and competencies in tax, auditing, and accounting necessary to advance your career in public and financial accounting in industry, government, and nonprofit organizations.
The comprehensive and innovative curriculum will prepare you for the CPA exam and keeps up with changing financial regulations to provide graduates the forward-looking skills and knowledge they need to excel in the accounting profession.
Students in this online accounting program learn from full-time professors who hold doctoral or terminal law degrees, as well as CPA designations.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Science in Accounting
Per credit: $1,280
Credit requirements: 33
Program length: 12-24 months
Delivery
Format: Online, on-campus
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: Not listed
GRE/GMAT: GRE or GMAT waivers available
Contact
Phone: (844) 393-1677
Email: online@stjohns.edu
Social media channels: https://www.facebook.com/stjohnsu/; https://twitter.com/StJohnsU; https://www.youtube.com/user/stjohnsedu?feature=watch; https://www.linkedin.com/school/st.-john’s-university/
Maryville University
Maryville University offers a Master of Science in Accounting that develops your practical, advanced accounting skills, business expertise, and financial savvy you need to succeed at the highest levels of the accounting profession.
This program can be completed in as few as 10 months and is accredited by the respected ACBSP. Maryville University’s online master’s in accounting is one of the few programs that includes official Becker exam prep courses in the curriculum. This means when you complete the program, you will be ready to sit for the CPA examination without additional studying.
Subjects covered include tax planning, strategic accounting, financial reporting, auditing, regulation, and more.
Accreditation
ACBSP
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Science in Accounting
Per credit: $765
Credit requirements: 60
Program length: 10-24 months
Delivery
Format: Online, on-campus
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: 0 to several years
GRE/GMAT: Not required
Contact
Phone: (888) 266-0574
Email: Admissions@online.maryville.edu
Social media channels: https://www.facebook.com/MaryvilleUniversityOnline/; https://twitter.com/maryvilleonline; https://www.instagram.com/maryvilleonline/; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLLZpj0z6JAFZg3FMr3u-JQ
University of Miami
The University of Miami offers an online Master of Professional Accounting that is accredited by the AACSB and can be earned in as few as 16-20 months. The program has relevant and rigorous courses that will prepare you for the CPA examination. You also can earn other valuable certifications such as Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified Internal Auditor, and Certified Management Accountant.
For students who lack accounting experience, it is recommended to complete the Accounting Practice Certificate and the Master of Professional Accounting or the MBA with a focus area in accounting.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Science in Accounting
Per credit: $2,100
Credit requirements: 32
Program length: 16-20 months
Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: None to 2-3 years
GRE/GMAT: GRE waiver available
Contact
Phone: (800) 411-2290
Social media channels: https://www.facebook.com/MiamiUOnline; https://www.instagram.com/uomonline/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/university-of-miami-uonline/; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-v1P9GEWjpAUNBoBBJ0rpA
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina offers an online Master of Accounting degree that is accredited by the AACSB. The program is ranked by some publications as the top online accounting program in the nation, with Linkedin ranking it as the best graduate university for accounting professionals. The Kenan-Flagler Business School is ranked by The Economist as the #8 business school alumni network.
The online format offers a flexible pace and schedule that allows students 12-36 months to earn their accounting degree. Each live class meets each week for two hours by webcam in a virtual classroom. There are several sections in each class so you can work your class time around your schedule.
On the first day of class, you will have an orientation and leadership immersion in Chapel Hill to meet professors and classmates and to participate in a one-credit leadership class.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Accounting
Per credit: $1446
Credit requirements: 36-48
Program length: 12-36 months
Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: 0 to several years
GRE/GMAT: Waivers available
Contact
Phone: (919) 962-3209
Email: mac_info@unc.edu
Social media channels: https://www.facebook.com/KenanFlagler; https://twitter.com/kenanflagler; https://www.instagram.com/unckenanflagler/; https://www.linkedin.com/school/unc-kenan-flagler/
Syracuse University
Syracuse University offers an online Master of Science in Professional Accounting that helps students to advance their accounting careers to the next level or to transition into a finance role. In this AACSB-accredited online program, students will learn the same information and content from the same professors as the on-campus program.
After completing this highly rated accounting program, students will possess an advanced understanding of accounting principles; demonstrate analysis and research skills; and think strategically about how accounting decisions after policies and vice versa.
Many alumni of this master’s in accounting program have gone on to work at KPMG, Lockheed Martin, and Micron Technology.
Accreditation
AACSB
Program Overview
Program name: Master of Science in Accounting
Per credit: $1,446
Credit requirements: 30 credits for students with a bachelor’s degree in accounting; 33-48 credits for students with a bachelor’s degree in another field.
Program length: 12-15 months
Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous
Admission Requirements
Work experience: 0 to several years
GRE/GMAT: GMAT waiver available
Contact
Phone: (844) 797-4622
Email: admissions@onlinebusiness.syr.edu
