Online Masters in Accounting Degree

MBA Accounting Online Graduate Degree Programs

Earning an online masters in accounting degree offers opportunity to advance your career in a variety of finance and accounting related fields.

A masters degree in accounting is a concentration in the masters degree in business administration (MBA) field, and if you've got a background in accounting or business and finance and want to move up within your company or transition into a new role, an online graduate degree in accounting can help you achieve your goals.

Who Should Earn a Masters Degree in Accounting?

Most masters in accounting degree programs require you to have an either a bachelor degree in accounting or a related degree program. You are also a good candidate for an online graduate degree in accounting if you've been working in an accounting-related profession and want to advance your career. Unlike other masters degree programs, you need the general background in accounting upon which to build the more advanced knowledge or specialization in accounting.

Professionals who are considering a masters degree in accounting program should be problem solvers and have analytical minds. The ability to understand and evaluate financial data is key to most careers in this field. Because accounting MBA degrees typically lead to management-level roles, candidates should be good communicators.

Online Colleges offering Masters in Accounting Degrees

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI). With over 100 campuses nationwide, UOP has applied their knowledge of traditional classroom learning to online programs designed for working professionals. UOP offers the following online master degree in accounting programs:

• MBA in Accounting
• Master of Science in Accountancy

Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and offers the following online master degree in accounting programs:

• Masters of Science in Accounting
• Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting

Strayer University is an accredited distance learning college that offers the following masters in accounting online degrees:

• MBA in Accounting
• Masters in Accounting - Accounting Information Systems
• Masters in Accounting - Controllership
• Masters in Accounting - Public Accounting / CPA Preparation
• Masters in Accounting - Taxation

Capella University - offers the following online master degree in accounting program:

• MBA - Accounting

Kaplan University an accredited university that was ranked #1 in 2006, for quality and value, in an independent survey of students and graduates of for-profit schools. Kaplan University offers the following accounting masters online degree programs:

• MS in Accounting
• MS in Accounting- Tax
• MS in Accounting - Audit
• MS in Accounting - Finance
• MS in Accounting - Government

University of Liverpool - offers the following masters degree in accounting online program:

• Master of Business Administration (Finance and Accounting)
• MSc in International Accounting and Finance
• MSc in International Finance & Accounting (Emerging Markets)
• MSc in International Finance & Accounting (Intl Financial Reporting)
• MSc in International Finance & Accounting (Strategic Finance Practice)

Liberty University - offers the following accounting masters online degree program:

• MBA in Accounting

American InterContinental University (AIU) Online - offers the following masters in accounting degree graduate online programs:

• MBA - Accounting
• MBA - Accounting (Part time option)

DeVry University - offers the following masters degree in accounting by distance learning:

• Master's Degree in Accounting and Financial Management

Walden University - offers the following online graduate degree programs in accounting:

• M.S. in Accounting & Management
• M.S. in Accounting - Self-Designed
• M.S. in Accounting & Management - Self-Designed
• M.S. in Accounting - Accounting for the Professional
• M.S. in Accounting - Accounting with CPA Emphasis
• M.S. in Accounting & Management - Accountants as Strategic Managers

Choosing an Online Master Degree in Accounting

Different online colleges and universities offer different concentrations and program focuses in accounting; masters degree in accounting and finance, accounting and financial management, professional accounting, government accounting masters degrees and other accounting-related specializations.

Professional accounting MBA degree programs, for example, may cover courses in management and cost accounting, corporate taxation and business law. Government accounting, on the other hand, includes courses in public sector auditing, capital budgeting and principals of local government law. When selecting an online master degree in accounting program, ensure the coursework and material covered aligns with your career goals.

Licensing and Certification for Accounting Careers

Accounting professionals who earn a masters degree in accounting and want to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) must become licensed with the state. In most states, practicing accountants who meet specific criteria relative to experience and education apply for certification with the state Board of Accountancy. This is in addition to undergoing continuing education and periodically renewing your license to practice as a CPA.

You may choose to become a Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Management Accountant or other officially recognized accounting professional. Each of these professional accounting designations has its own licensing or certification procedure. Know your career goals before you select a masters in accounting program to ensure that the program covers the skills and knowledge you need for any professional licensure or certification.

Career Options with a Graduate Degrees in Accounting

A masters in accounting degree opens the door to mid-level and senior-level management and accounting positions. You can choose to work within the public or private sector, for a profit or non-profit organization or for the government. Depending on the degree focus, you can advance your career or start a career as an accountant, auditor, tax examiner, financial analyst, accounting supervisor, or vice president of accounting.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of 2008, median wages for these careers ranged from $59,430 to $73,150, depending on the career you choose and the bonus and salary structure. Professionals in the bottom 10 percent earned less than $36,720, while the to 10 percent earned more than $141,070. Some of these careers have salary structures that include bonuses, stock options, expense accounts and other non-traditional compensation.

Return to the top of Accredited Online Masters in Accounting Degree Programs