Salaries based on data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The future of business belongs to master’s-prepared accountants
Accounting isn’t just about balancing books. Top managers in every organization consult with accountants and rely on their insights and expertise to help make critical financial decisions.
You can join the next generation of accountants who will help lead the future of business. Whether you have your bachelor’s degree in accounting or you’re looking to start a new career in this exciting field, Maryville University’s online Master of Science in Accounting program can prepare you with advanced accounting skills, business acumen, and financial expertise to maximize your career opportunities and your organization’s success.
Get Curriculum Details
Access coursework 100% online, with no campus visits required
Apply with no GRE or GMAT required
Learn from an updated, redesigned curriculum focused on the CPA Evolution CPA Exam
Choose from three new specializations that correspond with CPA Evolution’s three disciplines
Graduate in as little as 10 months
Consider our bridge program if you have a non-accounting background
Why pursue your master’s in accounting online?
With an online master’s in accounting, you’ll be able to develop your command of accounting practices, setting yourself apart from other job applicants and opening the door to senior roles that may not be available to accountants without master’s degrees.
If you’re looking to become a certified public accountant, a master’s in accounting can help prepare you to take the CPA Exam. Earning your online master’s in accounting at Maryville can help you acquire the 150 credit hours of education that many states require prior to earning a CPA license. Not only that, but we’re one of the first universities in the nation to update our MS in Accounting curriculum to align with the updated CPA Exam that will take effect in 2024 — and to include three CPA-focused specialization options — so you can prepare with confidence for your future in accounting.
What can you do with a master’s in accounting?
A master’s in accounting can help you stand out in a job market where more employers every year are seeking master’s-prepared accounting hires.
Earning your master’s in accounting can put you in position to attain the most rewarding and prestigious jobs in the field, such as accounting manager, audit manager, tax manager, and finance director. With an advanced accounting degree, you’ll have the deep knowledge and valuable credential you need to build a career in any number of accounting settings and specializations.
Online master’s in accounting career paths
Many careers in accounting, including certified public accountant and chief financial officer, require advanced expertise. A master’s in accounting online can help you demonstrate your commitment to academic and professional advancement and prove the value of your abilities to go beyond entry-level positions and take on executive roles.
Our online MS in Accounting can open pathways to a wide variety of roles, including:
- Financial analyst
- Financial manager
- Financial planner
- Forensic accountant
- Revenue agent
Find out more about career opportunities for online master’s in accounting graduates here.
What is the typical master’s degree in accounting graduate salary?
An online master’s in accounting can equip you for careers with salaries such as:
Budget Analyst
Median Salary:
$78,970
Certified Public Accountant
Median Salary:
$73,560
Top Executive
Median Salary:
$107,680
Financial Advisor
Median Salary:
$89,330
Financial Analyst
Median Salary:
$83,660
Financial Manager
Median Salary:
$134,180
Accounting professionals with a master’s in the field earn
13% MORE*
than bachelor’s degree holders on average.
*National Association of Colleges and Employers, “2021 Salary Survey”
Benefits of a master’s in accounting online
When you graduate with a master’s degree in accounting, you graduate with increased earning potential. Compare $66,166, the median salary for master’s in accounting degree holders, with $58,508, the median salary for bachelor’s degree holders (NACE) — a difference of 13% in annual earnings.
For accounting professionals interested in gaining even more advantage, earning additional credentials such as CPA certification can further increase your earning potential. And the benefits of an advanced accounting education don’t end there. While financial jobs are typically some of the most stable in the job market, accounting professionals with additional expertise and experience are likely to be more secure in their roles than those who have only foundational skills.
Additional ways to specialize your master’s in accounting
A master’s in accounting online is a great way to prepare for advanced opportunities in accounting, but it’s not the end of your education. At Maryville, you have the opportunity to specialize your education based on your career goals and interests by choosing one of two tracks: Business Analysis and Reporting or Information Systems and Controls. Each track aligns with one of the three disciplines outlined in the CPA Evolution initiative set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). These changes will take effect in the CPA Exam in 2024.
In addition, many accounting professionals pursue additional credentials, including advanced certifications such as CPA, Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), and Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Earning a certification in a specialized area is a smart way to increase your marketability and advance your career as an accounting and finance professional.
Why choose Maryville for your master’s in accounting online?
At Maryville University, we provide flexible, CPA-focused accounting education designed to prepare you for current and future trends in the field — and the upcoming changes in the CPA Exam. Informed by modern accounting practices and complex business strategies, our 100% online master’s in accounting program offers paths for bachelor’s-prepared accounting professionals and career changers alike to pursue advanced skills and attain professional roles with greater authority, responsibility, and salary potential.
Prepare with CPA experts
Most master’s in accounting degrees can help you qualify to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination. But Maryville University goes a step further. Ours is one of only a few master’s in accounting online programs that incorporate the official Becker exam preparation courses into our curriculum. What does that mean to you? Upon completing our program, you can possess the knowledge and required credit hours to pass the exam.
We’re leaders in future-focused accounting education, which is why we were among the first universities to revamp our curriculum to focus on the upcoming changes to the CPA Exam informed by the newest trends, techniques, laws, and regulations in the field.
No accounting background?
No problem.
At Maryville University, we aim to make the accounting profession accessible to as many people as possible. That’s why our master’s in accounting online offers a bridge program for non-accounting professionals interested in making the switch to this growing field. With additional courses in accounting, finance, economics, business law, and statistics, professionals from different industries can develop the skills they need to pursue new roles in accounting and ensure they have the educational qualifications, knowledge, and confidence to sit for the CPA exam.
We’re distinguished by our dedication to your success.
What does being an ACBSP-accredited program mean?
Maryville’s online Master of Science in Accounting program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). One of the most reputable and sought-after accreditations for business programs in the United States, ACBSP recognizes institutions and programs that focus on teaching excellence, student learning outcomes, and continuous improvement.
Insights from our faculty
We’ve asked Jaime Peters, assistant dean and assistant professor of finance, for her thoughts on the master’s in accounting program. Here are her responses:
Earning a degree in accounting is just the beginning of the journey. As business practices and technology change, so will the skills you need. That is why our master’s in accounting is designed not only to teach you accounting rules but also to spark a love of learning and the ability to ask what’s next and why.
Online master’s in accounting curriculum
At Maryville University, we deliver an online accounting master’s degree designed to prepare you for industry demands, certifications, and changes — such as the updates outlined by the AICPA’s CPA Evolution initiative. With industry-relevant coursework and an online bridge program designed for non-accounting professionals, our online master’s degree in accounting program can help you develop your business foundational knowledge alongside strategic accounting and financial skills.
Bridge into it.
Don’t have a bachelor’s in accounting? No worries. Our newly updated 60-credit bridge program will help prepare you with courses that cover financial and managerial accounting, business law, statistics, micro- and macroeconomics, financial reporting, auditing, and more.
Dive into the core of accounting.
Already have an undergraduate accounting degree? You can move straight into our core accounting courses, where you’ll focus on tax planning, strategic accounting, data analytics, financial statement analysis, financial reporting, and accounting research and communications.
Benefit from Becker CPA-informed courses.
Our master’s in accounting online integrates Becker CPA exam preparation courses directly into the curriculum with a focus on advanced auditing and advanced financial accounting and reporting — making your CPA preparation convenient and more affordable. In fact, you can save up to $600 by completing Becker CPA preparation for-credit courses through the MS in Accounting online program at Maryville.
You can learn more on our curriculum page.
Professional licensure and certification regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Students are encouraged to visit the relevant governing body for the state in which they intend to practice to verify specific licensure (and/ clinical hours) requirements which includes ensuring the program of interest meets the licensure requirements prior to enrolling. Students may visit our Professional Licensure Information page for more information and also reach out to our team of enrollment advisors for guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Completing your master’s in accounting online can help you grow your accounting career and salary potential in settings from business and finance to insurance, government, and more. Popular careers for Maryville online Master of Science in Accounting graduates include:
- Budget analyst
- Certified public accountant
- Top executive
- Financial advisor
- Financial analyst
- Financial manager
Find out more about MS in Accounting careers.