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.

Approximately 180 applicants apply each year to the Broad College of Business master’s in accounting program. Of those, around 140 are admitted and 110 enroll in the program.

Admitted students from the 2022 class have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.7. In addition, our international students have an average TOEFL score of 101 or an average IELTS score of 7.0.

Approximately 70% of current students attended MSU as an undergraduate. The remaining 30% are from other universities, including international students.

The total approximate cost of the MSA program is $32,000 for in-state residents and $57,000 for out-of-state residents. 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

An application for admission is good for one year beyond the initial application date.

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 dual enrollment, please see the M.S. in Accounting Dual Enrollment Policy.

We admit applicants with a minimum GMAT score of 550 and/or a strong GRE score. Receiving this score does not guarantee admission. In some cases, we do provide GMAT/GRE waivers for applicants. To request the GMAT/GRE waiver, you must submit a completed application and email msacct@broad.msu.edu for the waiver.

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.

In order to waive the GMAT/GRE for the regular application, an MSU student must have a grade-point average of at least 3.0 in the following areas:

• Overall GPA
• An average of 300/400-level accounting courses

If you are applying to the M.S. in Accounting Linked program:

• You must have a 3.0 overall GPA
• You must have taken Intermediate Financial Accounting (ACC 300)

The MSA program requires applicants to provide a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score or a Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE A) score. The admissions committee will consider a candidate’s highest total score (and the sections associated with the highest score total).

Minimum acceptable scores:

• 250 on the computer version of the TOEFL exam
• 100 on the iBT (Internet-Based Test) TOEFL exam — we do not accept the TOEFL MyBest superscore
• 7 on the IELTS exam
• 70 on the PTE
• 110 on the Duolingo English Test

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.