Best Online Master’s in Accounting Degree Programs

Founded in 1964 and currently enrolling close to 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Nova Southeastern University offers an online master's in accounting through the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship. The program comprises 33-51 credits, depending on each student's academic background. Students can choose from three concentration areas: public accounting, management accounting, and taxation.

The public accounting and management accounting concentrations prepare graduates to earn their certified public accountant or certified management account credentials. The taxation concentration prepares graduates to take the three-part, comprehensive IRS test on individual and business tax returns.

Applicants should demonstrate a minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA and hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Prospective students who do not meet these requirements must submit scores from a recognized graduate admission test, such as the GRE. NSU holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Rutgers University currently enrolls approximately 13,400 undergraduate and graduate students and ranks among the top public schools in the country. It offers an online master of accountancy in government accounting through the Rutgers College of Business, which holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

The program consists of 30 credits, meets the 150-hour education requirement needed to earn certified public accountant credential, and does not require applicants to submit scores from a standardized graduate admission exam.

Students enroll in 21 credits of required coursework and nine credits of approved elective courses. The master's in accountancy curriculum includes classes in government budgeting systems, ethical issues in public financial management, public sector auditing, and advanced topics in governmental auditing. Online students pay in-state tuition, no matter where they reside. Rutgers holds accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Starting out with an initial enrollment class of 154 students in 1971, Liberty University now enrolls thousands of students and comprises 17 schools and colleges. The School of Business at the university holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and offers a 30-credit master's in accounting online. The program leads to a master of science degree, and most students graduate after just one year of continuous enrollment. Courses follow an eight-week delivery schedule.

Students can pursue a general program in accounting or choose from six areas of specialization: audit and financial reporting, business, forensic accounting, financial services, leadership, and taxation. Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Those who do not meet minimum requirements must hold an undergraduate certificate in accounting.

Liberty holds accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Approximately 27,000 students enroll at UT Dallas, which offers more than 140 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The university grants an online master's accounting degree through its Naveen Jindal School of Management, which holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The program leads to a master of science degree and comprises 30 credit hours.

All students enroll in five core classes: advanced financial reporting, ethics, taxation fundamentals, advanced external audit, and accounting communications. The remainder of credit requirements come from prerequisite courses and electives. The curriculum for the master's in accounting prepares students to earn the certified public accountant (CPA) credential.

Though the program offers several courses for the degree online, the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy requires that at least 15 of the 30 graduate hours required to take the state CPA exam to come from on-campus courses. UT Dallas holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Starting out as a private junior college in 1956, the University of the Southwest attained university status in 2008 and now enrolls more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The university's College of Business Administration offers an online MBA program with 10 concentration options, including one in accounting. The MBA in accounting comprises 36 credits and prepares students to earn their certified public accountant credential. Most students graduate from the program in one year.

Students enroll in 21 core course credits and 15 concentration credits. The accounting concentration includes the following courses: accounting and auditing research, internal audit theory and practice, accounting and professional ethics, small business accounting, and organizational design and strategy (a capstone course).

Courses follow an eight-week delivery schedule. Tuition covers all digital textbooks and includes a personal laptop for each student. The USW holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Bentley University started in 1917 as the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance and achieved university status in 2008. Its McCallum Graduate School of Business offers a partially online master's in accounting program consisting of 36 credit hours. Students who graduate from the program earn a master of science in accounting (MSA) degree.

Bentley's MSA program is the first of its kind in Massachusetts to earn a separate accountancy accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Students work with advisors to craft individualized programs of study supporting their long-term professional objectives. However, the program requires all students to enroll in the following classes: business process and systems assessment, financial statement auditing, federal income taxation, and professional accounting research and policy. It also mandates that applicants submit GMAT or GRE scores.

Bentley ranks among the top universities in the North and holds accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Founded in 1877, Regis University enrolls more than 10,500 students and offers over 130 undergraduate and graduate programs. The university's Anderson College of Business offers a 30-credit master's in accounting online. Courses follow an asynchronous format in eight-week terms. The program maintains six start dates throughout the year in January, March, May, June, August, and October.

Students can select from four optional specialization areas: financial accounting, fraud/forensic auditing, managerial accounting, and IT accounting.

The curriculum prepares students to earn the certified public accountant credential. Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and evidence of undergraduate completion or mastery of the required business foundation courses. The program may require some applicants to submit standardized graduate admission test scores. Regis holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Starting in 1881 as an agricultural school, the University of Connecticut now comprises 14 schools and colleges and offers over 120 undergraduate and graduate programs. The university's School of Business offers an online master's in accounting program that requires 30 credit hours, or 10 courses. The school's graduate accounting programs hold specialized accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and ranks among the top online business programs in the country.

All students begin the program by enrolling in one course: understanding the responsibilities of the accounting professional. To complete the program's foundation requirement, students choose another course from the following options: taxation of business entities, financial reporting and analysis, and managerial accounting issues. After completing their foundation courses, students may enroll in classes supporting their professional objectives.

UConn holds accreditation from the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Founded in 1826 as Hampstead Academy, with facilities for around 200 students, Mississippi College boasts a current student population of 5,000 and offers over 80 undergraduate and 50 graduate programs, plus three doctoral degrees. The School of Business at Mississippi College holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and grants a 30-credit online MBA program with a concentration in accounting.

Students enroll in 15 credits of core graduate business courses, 12 credits of accounting coursework, and a three-credit elective course. Accounting coursework consists of the following: accounting theory, federal tax accounting, auditing concepts and applications, and advanced accounting. Applicants should demonstrate a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Applicants who do not meet these requirements must submit GMAT scores or possess 3-5 years of related professional experience. MC holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The University of Alabama in Birmingham resulted from the 1969 merger of two schools: the Medical College of Alabama and the Birmingham Extension Center of the University of Alabama. Today, the university ranks among the top public schools in the country and offers an online accounting master's degree through its Collat School of Business.

The program comprises 30 credits and covers core accounting concepts such as corporate governance, advanced auditing and attestation, business law for accountants, and governmental and nonprofit accounting.

The school offers a bridge program for students who lack the business and accounting fundamentals for graduate study in the field. The bridge program includes coursework in the principles of accounting, income taxation, cost accounting, and accounting information systems. The master's in accounting program prepares students to sit for professional certification tests, including the certified public accountant exam.

UAB holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Chartered in 1961, Florida Atlantic University enrolled an initial class of 864 students. Today, the university boasts a population of more than 30,000 students and offers over 170 undergraduate and graduate programs, including two online master's degrees in accounting (MAC). FAU's Flexible MAC program follows a hybrid delivery system, while students can complete the Executive MAC entirely online.

Both programs comprise 30 semester hours and include coursework in advanced financial reporting and accounting concepts, accounting information systems, concepts of federal income tax, and advanced auditing theory and practice. The curriculum prepares graduates to sit for professional examinations, including the Certified Public Accountant Exam.

Program admission is competitive, and applicants with a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and a minimum 500 GMAT score or 300 GRE score stand a good chance. FAU holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and its College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Founded in 1925, the University of Miami opened with 646 students and three academic units. Today, it consists of 11 schools and colleges and enrolls approximately 17,000 students. The university offers over 180 programs, including two online master's in accounting programs: a 32-credit master of professional accounting and a 40-credit master of professional accounting certified public accountant (CPA) track.

Courses for both programs follow seven-week delivery schedules, and students enroll in one class at a time. All students enroll in eight courses, covering topics such as intermediate accounting, taxation, auditing and assurance, and advanced cost accounting. Students pursuing the CPA track enroll in two additional classes: fraud and forensic accounting (ethics and the legal environment) and issues in accounting with a focus on international financial reporting standards and governmental/nonprofit entities.

UM holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and its business school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The online business programs at the university rank among the country's best graduate online business programs.

From its 1870 founding, Syracuse University admitted both women and men into all of its programs -- an uncommon policy among higher education institutions at the time. Today, the university enrolls more than 22,000 students and offers more than 400 undergraduate and graduate programs, including a 30-credit master's in accounting online through the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. This department holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Applicants with strong academic foundations in accounting typically complete the program in 12-15 months of continuous enrollment. Applicants who do not meet those criteria follow an individualized program of study, including foundation courses. This may increase program length. Applicants with five years of relevant professional experience do not need to submit standardized graduate admission test scores.

Syracuse holds accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. According to U.S. News & World Report, the school's online graduate business programs ranks 50th.

Starting out in 1898 as St. Vincent's College with a student population of 70, DePaul University now enrolls close to 23,000 students and offers more than 300 undergraduate and graduate programs, including an online master's in accounting. The program consists of 48 quarter credit hours and leads to a master of science in accountancy (MSA) degree. St. Vincent's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

To meet the MSA program's credit requirements, students enroll in 36 quarter credits of accounting coursework, including classes in financial accounting, cost and managerial accounting, auditing, and business law for accountants. The remaining 12 quarter credits comprise business courses.

The MSA curriculum prepares graduates to sit for the certified public accountant exam and does not require applicants to submit standardized graduate admission exam scores. DePaul holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Founded in 1839 as the first public institute of higher learning west of the Mississippi River, the University of Missouri now enrolls over 30,000 students and offers more than 300 bachelor's, master's, doctorate, and professional degrees. The School of Accountancy at the Trulaske College of Business offers a master's in accounting online composed of 30 credit hours. Full-time students can complete the degree in one year of continuous enrollment.

Students begin the program by enrolling in two foundation courses: auditing theory and practice and accounting and business strategic analysis. The remaining credit requirements comprise 15 accounting elective credits and nine business credits. The program requires GMAT or GRE score submissions.

Mizzou holds Higher Learning Commission accreditation and ranks among the top public universities in the country. The Trulaske College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

The University of St. Francis began in 1925 as the Assisi Junior College, a school for members of the Congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate. Today, the university enrolls nearly 4,000 students and ranks among the top universities in the Midwest. The university's School of Business offers an online MBA with a concentration in accounting. It comprises 36 credits, and students can complete the degree in 12-18 months.

Students enroll in the following accounting courses: international accounting and reporting, financial statement analysis, taxation, and fraud examination. Applicants need a minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA and at least two years of relevant work experience in a management position. The program considers an adequate Peregrine Inbound Exam score in lieu of the two-year work experience requirement.

The USF holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. The School of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Founded in 1862, the University of South Dakota represents the state's oldest university. More than 10,000 students attend the university, which offers more than 275 undergraduate and graduate programs, including an online accounting master's degree. The university's Beacom School of Business offers the program, which comprises 30 credit hours and leads to a master of professional accountancy (MPA) degree.

Students can specialize in accounting analytics or pursue the general MPA program. Students must submit GMAT scores, unless the school grants them a waiver based on certain qualifications -- such as a minimum 3.25 undergraduate GPA, a professional degree (such as an MD or JD), or a professional license. The program meets the educational requirement to sit for the Certified Public Accountant Exam.

The University of South Dakota holds Higher Learning Commission accreditation, and the Beacom School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. According to U.S. News & World Report, the University of South Dakota offers one of the country's top online graduate business programs.

Seton Hall University began in 1856 with an initial enrollment of five students. Today, the university's 11 colleges and schools offer a variety of programs to more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The Stillman School of Business holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and offers an online master's in accounting program. The program comprises 30 credits, and full-time students can complete it within 18 months.

The curriculum meets the educational requirements for business administration graduates to take the Certified Public Accountant Exams in New Jersey and New York. Students can focus their program in one of three areas: financial accounting, taxation, or enterprise resource planning systems. Applicants need a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA, and they should submit GRE or GMAT scores.

Seton Hall holds accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and ranks among the top universities in the nation.

With an initial enrollment of 18 students, Emporia State University began in 1863 as a training school for teachers. Today, the university enrolls approximately 5,800 students and offers several undergraduate and graduate programs, including a master's in accounting online through its business school. The program comprises 30 credit hours, and students can complete it in one year. Courses follow an accelerated, seven-week delivery schedule. The curriculum prepares graduates to sit for the Certified Public Accountant Exam.

Students enroll in 15 core accounting credits, covering topics such as information systems and accounting practice, policy setting and financial reporting regulations, taxation, and advanced management accounting issues. The program does not require applicants to have work experience, but those with at least three years of relevant professional experience can request for a GMAT waiver.

ESU holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. The School of Business holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Starting out in 1889 with 32 students, Saint Leo University currently enrolls more than 5,000 students and ranks among the best universities in the South. The university offers a master's in accounting online that prepares graduates to sit for professional exams, including the Certified Public Account Exam and the Certified Management Accounting Exam. The program consists of 30 credit hours.

Students who do not possess an appropriate academic background in accounting, business, or auditing may need to enroll in foundation courses. These courses do not count toward the degree.

Students enroll in classes covering core human resources topics, such as federal taxation for business entities, managerial economics, fraud examination, and fund accounting for government agencies and nonprofit accounting. Applicants need a minimum 3.0 GPA and a minimum 500 GMAT score. Saint Leo holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.