Frequently Asked Questions

A master’s in accounting puts you on the path to higher-paying jobs. Coursework covers advanced topics like auditing, taxation, financial accounting and business, which prepares you for leadership roles like controller, senior accountant, senior auditor, senior financial analyst or finance manager. Many graduate accounting students go on to pursue their CPA certification, which makes you more marketable for director-level or chief financial officer (CFO) positions.

Salary ranges are based on your location and experience. The national median salary is 32% higher for those with a graduate accounting degree versus those who just have an undergraduate accounting degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay in 2021 for accountants and auditors was $77,250. More advanced jobs, such as corporate controller or tax manager, often pay annual salaries over $100,000.

You can work in the accounting profession with a bachelor’s degree. If you’re seeking advanced opportunities or CPA certification, our M.S. in Accounting can be completed in 12–24 months and satisfies the 150 credit hour requirement for CPA certification. Many of our students complete the CPA, CISA or CMA exam while earning their graduate degree. In fact, we are proud of our students’ 80% CPA exam pass rate on their first attempt, which is well above the national average of 54.4%.

Michigan State University is a targeted recruiting school for the Big 4 accounting firms. The Big 4 include Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), EY and KPMG. Combined, these four firms manage the audits of most publicly held U.S. companies.

All students complete the master’s in accounting program in 12–24 months. The vast majority (85%) of our students graduate in 12 months and 15% graduate in 18–24 months.

Admitted students from the 2025 class have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.8.

The total approximate cost of the MSA program is $35,000 for in-state residents and $62,000 for out-of-state residents and international students. This amount includes tuition, taxes and fees, and books.

• January 15: For those wanting to start in the summer and fall semesters, and for those wanting to be considered for scholarships
• March 1: A second round of reviews will occur after this date if space remains for the summer and fall semesters
• October 1: For those applying to start in the spring semester

Our application system is online at explore.msu.edu/apply/ and all documents must be uploaded to the system.

We cannot accept any documents sent directly to the department. Any documentation received will not be considered as part of your application. Please do not send any transcripts to our office. If you are recommended for admission into our program and additional documentation is required, we will notify you of the required documents you need to submit.

Refer to our Admissions page for more information about application requirements.

We cannot predict your eligibility for the MSA program until an application has been submitted and is complete. Please note that we will consider all aspects of your application.

For more information on shared enrollment, please see the MSA Shared Program page.

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 or higher 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.

The school code for the GMAT is QH0-5P-32. The school code for the GRE is 1465.

Yes, the M.S. in Accounting program will accept the GMAT and/or the GRE.

The school code for the TOEFL is 1465.

It is recommended that financial proof be sent once you are accepted into the program.

No, the MSA program does not grant international students “Conditional Admissions.”

We typically offer the scholarship application for students to fill out starting in December. The deadline for submission is around the third week in January. Applications to the MSA program must be completed by January 15 in order to qualify for a scholarship.

Please use our online system to schedule an appointment with an adviser.

For any additional questions, please email msacct@broad.msu.edu.