Accounting refers to recording, analyzing, interpreting and optimizing financial transactions with the ultimate goal of guiding an organization to meet its financial goals.
An accounting degree can lead to a lucrative career and has job prospects in finance and insurance companies, consultancies, management industries, private and government companies, the academic sector and beyond.
As a result, mastering accounting is a hot topic all over the world, especially in countries with rich economies like the USA.
Master of Accounting in the USA is a 1-2 year program which is available as:
- Master of Accounting (MAcc)
- Master of Science in Accounting
- Master of Business Administration- with Accounting concentration (MBA- Accounting)
- Master of Professional Accounting (MPA)
Accounting graduates qualify for fine career options such as CPAs, accountants and financial managers after their master's. To apply for a master of accounting in the USA, students need to be ideally from a business, accountancy and finance academic background.
However, if students have 2+ years of experience in the accounting field, they can also apply for a master of accounting.
Why study Master of Accounting in the USA?
- As you can see in the table below, 10 of the top 100 universities for masters of accounting are located in the USA.
- This program is offered in different forms in the USA as a master of accounting, MBA-Accounting, MS in Accounting and MPA.
- The Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) has stated that there will be 4% job growth at entry and senior-level accounting positions from 2019 to 2029.
- The median salary for accountants and auditors is above USD 71,000.
- There are many specializations and concentrations that students can pick from while studying for a Master of Accounting in the USA.
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Top Universities for Master of Accounting in the USA
According to the QS ranking of world universities according to subjects, these are the top universities in the USA for master of accounting.
University |
QS Ranking |
Accounting Program |
University of Pennsylvania |
8 |
MBA Accounting |
New York University (NYU) |
10 |
Master of Science in Accounting |
Columbia University |
11 |
Master of Science in Accounting and Fundamental Analysis |
University of Michigan |
26 |
Master of Accounting |
Northwestern University |
=29 |
MBA with Accounting Major |
Cornell University |
=27 |
Master of Professional Studies in Management (Accounting Specialization) |
University of Texas |
=32 |
Master of Professional Accounting |
Boston College |
=74 |
MS in Accounting |
Michigan State University |
101-150 |
Master of Science in Accounting |
Ohio State University |
=67 |
Master of Accounting |
You can also read Bachelor of Accounting in the USA
Tuition fees for Master of Accounting in the USA
So, how much does a Master’s in Accounting cost? Well, there are multiple factors affecting the price of a master's degree in accounting like the university’s reputation, public or private status, on-campus or off-campus program, type of accounting program and so on.
In a nutshell, the fees range between USD 15,000 to USD 80,000.
University |
Average Annual Tuition fees in USD |
The University of Texas at Austin |
24,516 |
University of Florida |
30,134 |
University of California Davis |
49,824 |
University of Washington |
27,300 |
University of Wisconsin- Madison |
42,703 |
Ohio State University |
57,599 |
The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign |
39,100 |
University of Georgia |
28,016 |
University of South Florida |
15,864 |
Stony Brook University |
28,890 |
Entry Requirements for Master of Accounting in the USA
The documents checklist while applying for a Master of Accounting in the USA are:
- Official academic transcripts of intermediate level and bachelor
- Passport
- Experience letter if the gap
- Application fees
- Letter of Recommendations
- Statement of Purpose
- Essays
- GRE/GMAT Scores
- Resume
University Academic and Other Requirements
Note that for almost every university listed below, the cut-off IELTS score is in the range of 6.0 to 7.0 and the TOEFL Score is 72-100.
The University of Texas at Austin
- Course name: Masters in Professional Accounting (MPA)
- Course Duration: 1 year
- English Test Scores:
- Academic Requirements:
- Other Admission Requirements:
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- Resume
- 2 Essays
- Official Transcripts
- GMAT or GRE Scores
University of Florida
- Course name: Masters of Accounting
- Course Duration: 1 year
- English Test Scores:
- Academic Requirements: A minimum of 3.0 GPA in bachelor's degree with a major in accounting from a recognized institute.
- Other Admission Requirements:
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Resume
- Personal Statement
- Official Transcripts
- GMAT or GRE Scores
University of California, Davis
- Course name: Masters of Professional Accountancy
- Course Duration: 1 year
- English Test Scores:
- Academic Requirements: A minimum of 3.0 GPA in bachelor's degree with a major in accounting from a recognized institute.
- Other Admission Requirements:
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- Resume
- Essay
- Personal Statement
- Virtual Interview
- Official Transcripts
- GMAT or GRE Scores if the GPA is less than 3.2.
- Application fees: USD 125
University of Washington
- Course name: Masters of Professional Accounting
- Course Duration: 1 year
- Academic Requirements: A minimum of 3.0 GPA in bachelor's degree with a major in accounting from a recognized institute.
- Other Admission Requirements:
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- CV
- 3 min video Essay
- Official Transcripts
- GMAT Scores
- Application fees: USD 85
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Course name: Masters of Science in Accountancy
- Course Duration: 1 year
- Academic Requirements: A minimum of 3.0 GPA in the last 2 years of a bachelor's degree with a major in accounting from a recognized institute.
- Other Admission Requirements:
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- CV
- SOP
- Official Transcripts
- GRE/ GMAT Scores
- Application fees: USD 90
California State University, Long Beach
- Course name: MS in Accountancy
- Course Duration: 1 year
- Academic Requirements: A minimum of 2.75 GPA in bachelor's degree with a major in accounting from a recognized institute.
- Other Admission Requirements:
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- CV
- Video essay addressing personal goals
- Short answer essay
- Official Transcripts
- GRE/ GMAT Scores
- Application fees: USD 70
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Course name: Masters of Accounting
- Course Duration: 1 year
- Academic Requirements: A minimum of 2.75 GPA from a recognized institution in Bachelor's.
- Other Admission Requirements:
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- CV
- SOP
- Official Transcripts
- GRE/ GMAT Scores
- Application fees: USD 95
University of South Florida
- Course name: Master of Accountancy
- Course Duration: 1 year
- Academic Requirements: A minimum of 3.0 GPA in bachelor's degree with a major in accounting from a recognized institute.
- Other Admission Requirements:
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- CV
- SOP
- Official Transcripts
- GRE/ GMAT Scores
- Application fees: USD 30
Stony Brook University
- Course name: Masters of Science in Accounting
- Course Duration: 1 year
- Academic Requirements: A minimum of 3.0 GPA in the last 2 years of a bachelor's degree with a major in accounting from a recognized institute.
- Other Admission Requirements:
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Resume
- SOP
- Official Transcripts
- GRE/ GMAT Scores
- Application fees: USD 90
Ohio State University
- Course name: Master of Accounting
- Course Duration: 1 year
- English Test Scores:
- IELTS: 7.0
- TOEFL: 80
- Academic Requirements: A minimum of 3.0 GPA in the last 2 years of a bachelor's degree with a major in accounting from a recognized institute.
- Other Admission Requirements:
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- Resume
- SOP
- Official Transcripts
- Recorded Video Interview
- GRE/ GMAT Scores
- Application fees: USD 60
Scholarships
- Master of Science in Accounting Scholarship
- Full Bright Scholarship
- Merit-Based Scholarship
- MPA Merit Scholarship and Tuition waiver
- Accounting Scholarship/ Fellowship
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Scope and Career Opportunities
A Master's degree in Accounting can lead you to lucrative and revered senior positions in accounting and finance departments.
After the completion of a master's in accounting from the US, graduates can pursue CPA certification or make a career as financial heads, tax examiners and beyond.
Even if entry-level jobs in accounting could only ask for a bachelor's degree, a master's degree is the ultimate key if you want to advance to senior positions.
Financial managers and accountants help any organization regardless of sector- meet its financial goals so, this degree has scope and job opportunities in the kaleidoscope of industries.
Job Roles |
Annual Median Salary (USD) |
Senior Financial Examiner |
82,090 |
Loan Officer |
63,040 |
Cost Estimator |
64,040 |
Accountant/ Auditor |
71,550 |
Purchasing Manager |
67,600 |
Insurance Underwriter |
69,060 |
Accountants and auditors |
70,000 |
Budget Analysts |
76,220 |
Financial Examiner |
80,180 |
Financial Analyst |
85,660 |
Personal Financial Advisor |
88,890 |
Financial Manager |
124,250 |