Earning a master degree in accounting can help you to rise to the top of this lucrative field. Whether you want to hone your fluency in the language of accounting or you’re looking to undertake a career change, a Masters in Accounting could be for you.
The Accounting major helps students acquire the skills to measure and communicate an organization’s economic activities. Before you start your master’s degree in accounting, you may need to take extra courses to strengthen your background knowledge of accounting, mathematics or finance.
In the list of Top Master in Accounting Programs, you’ll find the best business schools or universities for master in accounting. The following top master’s in accounting programs are all accredited and have been calculated using our unique methodology developed by the education experts.
University of Texas—Austin (McCombs)
One of the largest and most distinguished business schools in the country, the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin is dedicated to educating the business leaders of tomorrow while creating knowledge for industry and society. Texas MPA is the top-ranked program at all degree levels–bachelors, masters, and a doctoral program The master’s in professional accounting from the University of Texas is open to students with and without academic backgrounds in the field. Students with an undergraduate degree in accounting complete 31 credits to meet degree requirements.
Founded In: 1922
Ranking: 1st
Tuition Approximately: $35,324 per year (in-state) & $51,804 per year (out-of-state)
Admission Office Contact: +1 512-471-5921
Website: https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
The University of Pennsylvania’s master’s in accounting is part of the school’s MBA program. To meet the needs of today’s complex markets, Wharton’s Accounting Department takes a multidisciplinary approach to the field, integrating finance and economics with broader perspectives on organizational issues and the business environment. The department’s flexible curriculum also allows interested students to take the required courses toward certification as a CPA (certified public accountant) or CMA (chartered management accountant). The two-year degree integrates theories of accounting, finance, and economics to prepare students for careers in a variety of business settings. The accounting major includes a foundational course in financial accounting that covers in-depth economic principles.
Founded In: 1881
Ranking: 2nd
Tuition Approximately: $70,200 per year
Admission Office Contact: 215-898-6183, mba-admiss@wharton.upenn.edu
Website: https://accounting.wharton.upenn.edu
University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign
The College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has programs in accountancy, business administration, and finance. The College enrolls approximately 3,100 undergraduates and 1,100 graduate students (MBA, masters & Ph.D.). The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has consistently ranked among the top accountancy schools in the United States. The MS in Accountancy (MSA) program offers a one-year graduate accounting degree. Our students include those with limited accounting education as well as students with an undergraduate degree in accounting. The MSA core curriculum applies to all of their students.
Founded In: 1915
Ranking: 3rd
Tuition Approximately: $41,225
Admission Office Contact: 217-333-0857, accy@illinois.edu, fax 217-244-0902
Website: https://business.illinois.edu/accountancy/programs/msa/
Brigham Young University (Marriott)
The BYU Marriott master of accountancy (MAcc) program is a unique and integrated opportunity for many students. Over a five-year span, students earn their BS in accounting and MAcc degrees concurrently. Both degrees will be awarded to students upon graduation day. BYU Marriott accounting students not only are ranked highly academically but also are very highly regarded by accounting firms—including the Big Four. The mission of BYU Marriott’s School of Accountancy (SOA) is to (1) provide a world-class accounting education and to (2) produce rigorous scholarship and thought the leadership that improves the accounting discipline and society. SOA prepares students for careers as professional accountants in industry, government, public accounting, and consulting.
Founded In: 1976
Ranking: 4th
Tuition Approximately: $12,680 per year (LDS member) & $12,680 per year (Non-LDS member)
Admission Office Contact: 84602-3113, marriottschool@byu.edu
Website: https://marriottschool.byu.edu/acc/
The University of Michigan—Ann Arbor (Ross)
Michigan Ross is a top-ranked business school, dedicated to building a better world through business. The Ross Master of Accounting Program delivers the tools and cross-functional expertise you need to multiply your car. At Michigan Ross, their Master of Accounting is about much more than the CPA exam. As a student, you gain a comprehensive understanding of how accounting thrives within the corporate world by customizing one-third of your degree with cross-discipline electives from top-ranked U-M programs. Outside the classroom, you network with MBA students, attend the EY Public Policy Symposium in Washington, D.C., and gain leadership essentials that will aid in your ability to make crucial business decisions. Nearly 100% of graduates find employment within three months of graduation. The master’s in accounting can be completed in eight months and shares a curriculum with the university’s MBA program.
Founded In: 1924
Ranking: 5th
Tuition Approximately: $62,300 per year (in-state) & $67,300 per year (out-of-state)
Admission Office Contact: 734-764-7255, rossmacc@umich.edu
Website: https://michiganross.umich.edu/programs/master-of-accounting
Stanford University
Stanford Graduate School of Business’s accounting area is preeminent in research and teaching related to the dissemination. Faculty in the area teach in the MBA, Stanford MSx, Executive Education, and Ph.D. programs, with courses focusing on two broad areas: financial reporting and management control. Faculty affiliated with the area are worldwide leaders in scholarship and in their contributions to accounting pedagogy. They also help shape accounting practices in the United States and elsewhere as a result of their influence in the standard-setting process. Beyond the core MBA classes, a wide variety of electives cover topics in global financial reporting, financial statement analysis, and accounting-based valuation techniques.
Founded In: 1925
Ranking: 6th
Tuition Approximately: $68,868 per year (full-time)
Admission Office Contact: +1 (650) 723-2146
Website: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/academic-areas/accounting
University of Notre Dame
Mendoza College of Business at University of Notre Dame’ mission is to advance accountancy through programs and research. The programs and research provide an outstanding education for students, create and disseminate knowledge, promote the understanding and ethical practice of accountancy, and serve the community. The M.S. in Accountancy program at the University of Notre Dame is one of the nation’s premier master’s programs. The MSA program at Notre Dame is on that list every year, and is known for its quality, rigor and focus on ethics. The MSA program is designed for individuals with a solid foundation in accounting – typically an accounting or finance major, with limited or no full-time work experience. Mendoza expects their students to become the next generation of leaders in fields that rely on accounting.
Founded In: 1921
Ranking: 7th
Tuition Approximately: $69,200 per year (full-time)
Admission Office Contact: (800) 631-8488, msacct.business@nd.edu
Website: https://mendoza.nd.edu/programs/specialized-masters/ms-in-accountancy/
University of Southern California (Marshall)
USC Marshall School of Business’s Master of Accounting is a full-time, one year program, ranked no. 8 in the country by U.S. News and World Report. The MAcc program provides students opportunities to apply accounting and business knowledge to cases and situations that develop technical knowledge plus skills in research, analysis, and communication. When the USC School of Business was founded in 1920, the Department of Accounting began offering a BSBA with an emphasis in accounting and later an MBA with an accounting track and a doctoral program. In 1979, the USC School of Accounting was established and renamed the USC Leventhal School of Accounting after a $15 million gift from Elaine and Kenneth Leventhal in 1996. The USC Leventhal School of Accounting is consistently ranked among the top accounting schools in the nation. With a challenging curriculum that offers a global focus and delivers the conceptual and technical skills that drive the profession, USC Leventhal aims a step ahead as the profession evolves, leading the way in accounting education. Find your future here.
Founded In: 1979
Ranking: 8th
Tuition Approximately: $60,951 per year (full-time)
Admission Office Contact: 213.740.4838, ACC100@marshall.usc.edu
Website: https://www.marshall.usc.edu/programs/graduate-accounting-programs
New York University (Stern)
At Stern, gain the knowledge essential to succeed in a career in accounting and beyond. The MS in Accounting program at the Stern School of Business is a 1-year program that prepares you to sit for the New York CPA. Students in the MS in Accounting program take courses at Stern’s Greenwich Village location. Graduates of this program satisfy the educational requirements for CPA licensure in New York State. Stern offers a range of MS in Accounting courses that prepare students for unparalleled access to top careers. Stern’s Department of Accounting offers a wide range of courses and programs for students interested in acquiring the skills that will better enable them to serve the information needs of professional clients and the organizations that employ them. The accounting department offers elective courses in the areas of financial statement analysis, financial accounting, managerial accounting, strategic business planning, and taxation. A specialization in accounting provides students with a deeper understanding of accounting reports.
Founded In: 1900
Ranking: 9th
Tuition Approximately: $69,086 per year (full-time)
Admission Office Contact: (212) 998-0100, gradadmissions@stern.nyu.edu
Website: http://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/academic-affairs-advising/masters-programs/ms-accounting
Indiana University (Kelley)
The Kelley School of Business (KSB) is an undergraduate and graduate business school at Indiana University. KSB offers a top-tier business education focused on guiding you toward your own true success. The school offers three master’s degree options for students interested in accounting: a traditional Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an accounting major or minor, an MBA in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA). The innovative, two-year MS in Accounting program at the Kelley School of Business prepares you for critical moments in a fast-paced career. Power your accounting career at Kelley. More than 95% of MSA students obtain jobs within 90 days of graduation.
Founded In: 1920
Ranking: 10th
Tuition Approximately: $26,265 per year (in-state) & $47,128 per year (out-of-state)
Admission Office Contact: +1 812-855-8100
Website: https://kelley.iu.edu/programs/ms-accounting/index.cshtml
University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler)
Successful business leaders agree: Accounting is the language of business. Earn your Accounting Master’s Degree (MAC Program) in 1 year at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. When you pursue a Master of Accounting degree at UNC Kenan-Flagler, you’ll acquire outstanding technical expertise, strong analytical skills, and detailed knowledge in numerous facets of the accounting field. With a Master of Accounting degree from UNC Kenan-Flagler, you are assured that the return on your investment from this degree will pay dividends for years to come. There are a variety of ways to measure these dividends, including salary, security, and speed to market, recruitment potential, growth opportunities, and overall job satisfaction.
Founded In: 1919
Ranking: 11th
Tuition Approximately: $44,688 per year (in-state) & $64,694 per year (out-of-state)
Admission Office Contact: 919-962-3209, mac_info@unc.edu
Website: https://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/programs/master-of-accounting
