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Advance Your Career With a Master of Science in Accounting From MSU
Accountants have a long history of helping businesses and organizations make effective plans and decisions. But as technology evolves, accounting professionals must be ready to keep up and take advantage of new tools and approaches.
Whether you’re interested in growing your accounting skills, you’d like to advance in your career, or anything in between, a Master of Science in Accounting from Michigan State University can help you meet your professional goals while allowing you to tailor your degree to your interests.
30 Credits
12 Months
An Accounting Graduate Program Designed for Professionals Like You
Learn to address real-world challenges — and deliver actionable solutions. Expand your career possibilities. Add valuable credentials to your resume. Hone crucial skills for accounting and develop new ones, too. Do all this — and more — through MSU’s Master of Science in Accounting program.
Our MSA degree program graduates are advanced accounting professionals, business and data analysts, collaborative communicators, critical thinkers and strategic problem-solvers.
When you complete our accounting graduate program, you’ll join the ranks of our successful alumni who work around the world for organizations of all types and sizes as consultants, partners, executives, entrepreneurs, educators and more.
Why Earn Your Accounting Master’s Degree at MSU?
When you pursue your accounting master’s degree at MSU, you’re joining a nationally accredited, STEM-designated program. This STEM certification provides you with an Optional Practical Training Extension of an additional 24 months beyond the standard 12 months, for a total of 36 months of work authorization.
Our MSA degree program also satisfies the 150 credit hour requirement for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification — and many of our students complete the CPA and other certifications while earning their graduate degree, should you wish to do the same.
Modern skills for the future
Enhance your technical knowledge as you hone skills for critical thinking, problem-solving, data analytics and collaborative communication through our MSA degree program.
As an accounting master’s degree candidate at MSU, you’ll also develop career-relevant skills in data mining, modeling, forecasting, statistics, analysis and others — and learn how to apply what you’ve learned to create real-world solutions.
Throughout our accounting graduate program, you’ll also find several options to practice what you learn through unique experiential learning opportunities, including data visualization workshops, team case studies, advanced Excel workshops, improvisational speaking training and more.
Study what interests you most
Are you looking for an MSA degree that allows you to focus your studies on a specific specialty area? Look no further than MSU. When you join our Master of Science in Accounting program, you can learn to lead in one or more specialty areas, including information systems, public and corporate accounting, taxation, or transaction services (mergers and acquisitions).
World-class instructors
No matter which specialty option you choose to pursue, as an accounting master’s degree candidate at MSU, you’ll take courses with top minds in the field. Our award-winning, nationally recognized faculty bring their expertise, enthusiasm and firsthand experience to the classroom to help you connect the dots between what you learn and how to apply it.
Throughout our accounting graduate program, you’ll also learn from our respected alumni and other established industry leaders who’ll discuss emerging trends, how to apply best practices in the field and more.
Dive Deeper
Please email msacct@broad.msu.edu or schedule an appointment with the program director to discuss any questions.
At MSU, we seek top scholars from the United States and around the world to pursue our programs — our accounting master’s degree program included. If you are a student who has demonstrated scholarship, leadership abilities, community involvement and solid communication skills, we encourage you to apply to our accounting graduate program.
Learn MoreAt MSU, our advanced accounting courses and others prepare students like you for what’s next in the accounting industry. For more information on required courses, please review our curriculum.
Learn MoreAt MSU, we have a variety of resources to help you as you explore financing your Master of Science in Accounting.
Learn MoreThe Ernst & Young Communication Center is an exclusive and valuable resource designed to help MSA degree candidates like you develop and refine skills for interviewing, public speaking and writing.
Learn MoreUpcoming Information Sessions
Let’s get started.
For additional details about the Master of Science in Accounting program at MSU, please complete our brief request form. We look forward to connecting with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a Master’s in Accounting worth it?
Yes, a Master’s in Accounting is absolutely worth it. Michigan State University’s graduates see a strong return on investment, with average salaries significantly higher than those with only a bachelor’s degree, and many exceeding six figures in senior roles. The program also offers CPA preparation, advanced analytics training, and a proven track record of job placement within six months of graduation.
- How long does it take to get a Master’s in Accounting?
MSU’s MSA program typically takes one year of full-time study to complete. Some students may extend to 18 months depending on their course load or if they pursue the degree part-time. The flexible schedule allows students to meet their CPA credit requirements while advancing their careers quickly.
- Can a Master’s in Accounting help you become a CPA?
Yes, Michigan State’s M.S. in Accounting program is designed to provide rigorous preparation in exam-relevant topics like auditing, taxation, and financial reporting. With a ~75% first-time CPA exam pass rate, MSU graduates are well-positioned for success. The program also allows for you to sit for the CPA Exam during the M.S. year and be done with the CPA Exam before you start work fulltime.
- Does the Master's in Accounting require a GMAT or GRE?
No, the Michigan State University Master’s in Accounting does not require the GMAT or GRE for applicants who meet certain academic qualifications such as 3.0 on a 4.0 grade scale. High-performing undergraduates, especially those with accounting backgrounds, may be admitted without test scores. However, submitting scores is optional and can strengthen applications in some cases.
- What jobs can you get with a Master’s in Accounting?
Graduates of MSU’s MSA program secure positions such as tax associate, audit associate, forensic accountant, financial analyst, and controller. Many go on to work at Big Four firms, large corporations like Amazon, or government agencies. The program’s focus on analytics and strategy opens doors to leadership roles in finance and compliance as well.
- What is the CPA exam pass rate for the Master's in Accounting program?
The CPA exam pass rate for the Michigan State University Master’s in Accounting program 75%.
- Is the Master's in Accounting program good for Big Four recruitment?
Yes, MSU’s M.S. in Accounting program is highly regarded by Big Four accounting firms. Graduates are frequently recruited by Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG thanks to the program’s strong reputation and alumni network. The program’s combination of technical knowledge, CPA prep, and career services makes it a top pipeline for public accounting roles.
Contact Information
- M.S. in Accounting Program
- Department of Accounting and Information Systems
- Business College Complex
- 632 Bogue St Rm N270
- East Lansing, MI 48824
- msacct@broad.msu.edu
- Phone: (517) 432-0951
- @MSUMSAccounting