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1. University of Texas–Dallas

Richardson, TX
Courtesy of University of Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas–Dallas doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program. The program takes two years to complete and costs $37,696 for in-state students and $69,596 for out-of-state students. International students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 80 to be considered for admission. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation to be considered for admission.
Courtesy of University of Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas–Dallas doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program...
  • TUITION
  • $69,596
  • ACCEPTANCE RATE
  • 35%
  • CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
  • 36

  1. 2. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill

    Chapel Hill, NC
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    The University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program. Students need to complete between 36 and 48 credits in order to graduate. The total tuition for all students ranges from $52,069 to $69,425. If English is not your first language, you are required to submit a TOEFL score with an application. Admitted students have an undergraduate GPA of 3.4, on average.
    Getty Images
    The University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program...
    • TUITION
    • $52,069–$69,425
    • ACCEPTANCE RATE
    • 58%
    • CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
    • 36–48

  2. 3. University of Massachusetts–Amherst

    Amherst, MA
    Blake Nissen—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
    The University of Massachusetts–Amherst requires prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program. Admitted students, on average, have a 620 GMAT score and 3.5 undergraduate GPA. The 1.5-year program costs $25,500 to complete. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation, and international students are required to submit a TOEFL score of at least 100 to be considered for admission.
    Blake Nissen—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
    The University of Massachusetts–Amherst requires prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program...
    • TUITION
    • $25,500
    • ACCEPTANCE RATE
    • 93%
    • CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
    • 30

  4. 4. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

    Utica, NY
    SUNY Polytechnic Institute
    Courtesy of SUNY Polytechnic Institute
    SUNY Polytechnic Institute requires prospective students to submit a GMAT or GRE score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program, but waivers are available. The program takes one year to complete if done full-time. Admitted students, on average, have an undergraduate GPA of 3.43. Tuition for in-state students is about $15,000, while out-of-students pay about $18,000 for the program. One letter of recommendation is required to apply.
    SUNY Polytechnic Institute
    Courtesy of SUNY Polytechnic Institute
    SUNY Polytechnic Institute requires prospective students to submit a GMAT or GRE score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program, but waivers are available...
    • TUITION
    • $18,645
    • ACCEPTANCE RATE
    • 61%
    • CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
    • 33

  5. 5. Northern Illinois University

    DeKalb, IL
    Northern Illinois University doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program. Tuition for all students is $27,390. The two-year program requires applicants to submit two letters of recommendation when applying. Accepted students, on average, have an undergraduate GPA of 3.4. The school graduated a class of 17 students last year in its online master’s degree program.
    Northern Illinois University doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program...
    • TUITION
    • $27,390
    • ACCEPTANCE RATE
    • 100%
    • CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
    • 33

  6. 6. North Carolina State University

    Raleigh, NC
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    North Carolina State University requires prospective students to submit a GMAT or GRE score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program, but waivers are available. Students need to submit three letters of recommendation with an application to the one-year program. The program can also be completed in two years if done part-time. TOEFL scores are necessary from international students, but waivers are available. Admitted students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.38.
    Getty Images
    North Carolina State University requires prospective students to submit a GMAT or GRE score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program, but waivers are available...
    • TUITION
    • $43,906
    • ACCEPTANCE RATE
    • 79%
    • CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
    • 30–31

  7. 7. Syracuse University

    Syracuse, NY
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    Syracuse University doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program. The program can be completed in 12 to 15 months. International students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 100 to be considered for admission. Accepted students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.25. Two recommendation letters are required when submitting an application.
    Getty Images
    Syracuse University doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program...
    • TUITION
    • $54,060
    • ACCEPTANCE RATE
    • 88%
    • CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
    • 30

  8. 8. Keiser University

    Fort Lauderdale, FL
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    Keiser University doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program. The program can be completed in one or two years depending on full-time or part-time status. Prospective students must submit two letters of recommendation with an application, and tuition is $14,320 per semester. Last year, 14 students graduated from the program.
    Getty Images
    Keiser University doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program...
    • TUITION
    • DNP
    • ACCEPTANCE RATE
    • DNP
    • CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
    • 36

  10. 9. University of Scranton

    Scranton, PA
    The University of Scranton doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program. The program takes 12 to 18 months to complete and has a total tuition cost of $26,850. International students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 80 to be considered for admission. Three letters of recommendation are required to apply. Accepted students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.26.
    The University of Scranton doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program...
    • TUITION
    • $26,850
    • ACCEPTANCE RATE
    • 79%
    • CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
    • 30

  11. 10. Ohio University

    Athens, OH
    Ohio University
    Courtesy of Ohio University
    Ohio University doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying for its online master’s of accounting program. The program takes five semesters to complete, and the total cost of tuition is $28,620. Two letters of recommendation are required to apply. Accepted applicants have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.15. Last year, the school graduated 27 students in its online master’s degree program.
    Ohio University
    Courtesy of Ohio University
    Ohio University doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying for its online master’s of accounting program...
    • TUITION
    • $29,290
    • ACCEPTANCE RATE
    • 68%
    • CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
    • 30

  12. 11. Colorado State University–Global Campus

    Aurora, CO
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    Colorado State University–Global Campus doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program. The program takes 20 months to complete, and the cost of tuition is $15,000. Accepted students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.21. Last year, 142 students graduated from the program. Recommendation letters aren’t required to apply.
    Getty Images
    Colorado State University–Global Campus doesn’t require prospective students to submit a GMAT score when applying to its online master’s of accounting program...
    • TUITION
    • $15,000
    • ACCEPTANCE RATE
    • 97%
    • CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
    • 30

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to complete an online master’s in accounting?

How long it takes to complete an online master’s in accounting (MAcc) degree will depend on your flexibility and scheduling. Part-time programs will require more time for completion, whereas full-time options may allow students to finish the program in as little as a year. Purdue University’s online program can be completed in 1.5 years at full-time status and Auburn University’s program can be finished in as few as three semesters. Most MAcc programs require at least 30 credit hours to fulfill the required 150 hours needed to sit for the CPA exam, which can take between 12 to 24 months to complete. 

How much does an online master’s in accounting cost? 

Online master’s in accounting programs can vary in cost depending on the school, the total number of required credit hours, and a student’s residency status as in-state or out-of-state. For example, the MAcc program at Ohio University is $973 per credit, with a total estimated tuition cost of $29,190. Meanwhile, SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s cost per credit is $565. Among the schools on Fortune’s ranking, tuitions range from as low as $15,000 to as high as nearly $70,000.

What are the highest-paying jobs for someone with a master’s in accounting?

The average annual salary for accountants and auditors is $77,250, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A MAcc degree, often utilized to help obtain a CPA licensure, can expand job prospects and increase potential salaries. Those people who hold a MAcc degree are more likely to be promoted to senior manager and partner positions. People who hold a CPA, and who may have completed a master’s degree in accounting, are often able to enter C-suite roles, where salaries are well into the six figures.  

Is a master’s degree in accounting worth it?

There are many factors to consider when deciding whether a master’s degree in accounting is worthwhile. Completing a MAcc degree can open to the door to more job opportunities at higher salaries, especially when coupled with a CPA licensure. Some individuals choose to pursue a master’s degree in accounting in order to complete the necessary CPA exam hour requirements, while others are looking to build out their skillset in both accounting and other business related capacities. 

Which is better, a CPA or a master’s in accounting?

The certified public accountant (CPA) licensure and a master’s degree in accounting are different—though often closely related. Master’s in accounting programs are often a means for graduates to obtain the necessary hours required to sit for the CPA exam.  CPA hours can still be obtained without a degree program, and it is possible to obtain a CPA license without a master’s degree in accounting, though many individuals with a CPA also have a MAcc. However, MAcc programs can provide helpful insight, skills, and knowledge that may benefit a CPA test taker, and programs often have much higher CPA exam pass rates. Individuals with a CPA or MAcc (or both) are more likely to obtain higher paying jobs an advanced to senior management or partner positions than those without either qualification. One is not necessarily “better” than the other, as they both can boost salaries and opportunities, and they are closely tied.