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Online Master’s in Accounting MS Degree Aligned with the 2024 CPA Exam

Blake Venable, who earned his degree from SNHU, wearing a blue shirt and sitting at a dining room table typing on a laptop

Cost per credit $637

Learning style 100% Online

Term length 10 weeks

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Program Overview Why get an accounting degree?

Designed for corporate accountants, auditors, fraud examiners and financial analysts, Southern New Hampshire University's Master of Science (MS) in Accounting program can help prepare you for high-level positions in banking, taxation, insurance or any company with a financial division.

Looking to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)? Our MS Accounting degree was designed with the 2024 CPA in mind, in fact, our 30 credit MS program supports educational eligibility to sit for the exam in most jurisdictions. Regulations vary based on your jurisdiction, prior to enrolling be sure to visit SNHU’s Licensure and Certification Disclosures page for more information about program eligibility in each U.S. state and territory.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Communication methods to provide solutions
  • Technologies to offer business operation insights
  • Analysis skills to identify solutions and implications
  • Regulations to prepare financial documentation
  • Strategies to solve complex problems and advance goals
Tanzania Fair, who earned her MS in Accounting in 2020, wearing a light colored pants suit, sitting at a desk in an office working on her computer.

Courses & Curriculum Online accounting courses to help grow your skills

Companies of all sizes rely on professionals with financial expertise to influence their decisions and strategies. Aligned with the CPA Exam, the online master's in accounting program at SNHU will help enhance your analytical skills, deepen your knowledge of accounting principles and help you continue your path to career success.

Degree Courses

Online accounting degree courses

As a student of this program, you'll explore the role of ethics and global awareness in relation to responsible business and accounting practices. You'll develop marketable skills in data analysis, communication, research and strategic thinking, using industry-relevant tools and technologies to gain experience.

Courses may include:

Course ID: ACC 550
This course will provide a comprehensive study of the concepts, procedures, and practices of accounting systems that record, classify, and report cost data. These systems are designed to aid in the cost-effective operation of organizations. This course will focus on budgeting, cost data analysis, and accounting tools for planning and control. Additional focus will be placed on relevant cost data analysis for strategic decision making at the executive level of an organization.
Course ID: ACC 640
In this course, students will explore the various aspects of completing an engagement for an audit. Students will apply industry frameworks and governing standards to the audit planning process. Students will apply audit strategies considering risk assessments and internal controls. Students will prepare standard audit reports based on substantive testing, fieldwork, and evidence that meets regulatory compliance standards.
Course ID: ACC 645
In this course, students will advance their knowledge of auditing topics. Students will apply Standards for Accounting and Review Services to specialized engagements. Students will analyze various attestation reports for compliance with Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements. Students will describe the ethical and behavioral considerations that apply to auditors.
Course ID: ACC 690
In this course, students will explore advanced financial reporting topics in accounting for investments, foreign currency transactions, and state and local governmental accounting. Students will analyze the impact of investments and goodwill impairment testing on an organization's financial statements. Students will evaluate foreign currency transactions and their impact on financial statements and apply Governmental Accounting Standards to state and local governments.
Course ID: TAX 655
In this course, students will explore taxation regulations, legislature, and procedures specific to corporations and partnerships. Students will analyze the fiscal impact tax laws and incentives have on organizations. Students will prepare income tax returns for business entities that adhere to tax laws and codes. Students will recommend optimal tax planning strategies that improve the future tax consequences of corporations and partnerships.
Course ID: QSO 511
This course will provide you with the fundamental concepts and tools needed to understand the emerging role of business analytics in organizations. You will learn how to apply basic business analytics tools in a spreadsheet environment, and how to communicate with analytics professionals to effectively use and interpret analytic models and results for making better business decisions.

Visit the course catalog to view the full MS in Accounting curriculum.

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Upcoming term starts: March 24, 2025 | June 9, 2025

Next term starts:
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Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

10-week terms

Learn around your schedule

24/7 online support

Online Classroom

What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU
5 ways SNHU makes the admission process "easy-peasy" #shorts

Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

No application fee. No test scores. And no college essay. Just a simple form with basic information. It’s another way SNHU helps you reach your goals sooner.

All it takes is 3 simple steps

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Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll fill out a form to verify your previous education experience. As part of our admissions process, we'll help you request transcripts from your previous school(s) to see if you can transfer any credits into your SNHU program! (Also for free!)

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

This program and its concentrations are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on the ACBSP accreditation page.

NECHE Logo ACBSP Global Business Acreditation Logo

Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online graduate tuition

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 30-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$637
$1,911
$19,110
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$470
$1,410
$14,100

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$1,274 $2,548 $3,822
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 2 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $17,836

If 4 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $16,562

If 6 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $15,288

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a master's degree. Most master's degrees require 30 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 6 credits, requiring a minimum of 24 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with an online accounting degree?

Our master's in accounting online degree program will put you in a great position to pursue a career in any number of fields.

Though, thanks to technological advancement, some routine accounting tasks may potentially become automated in the future, the change is not expected to reduce overall demand.1 In fact, the automation of routine tasks (like data entry) will make accountants' advisory and analytical duties more prominent.1

Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that globalization, a growing economy and complex financial regulations are expected to continue leading the strong demand for accounting professionals, making it a very promising area of study.1

Industries

The online MS in Accounting is designed to meet the needs of today’s workforce. With advanced knowledge in data analysis, communication, research and strategic thinking, along with experience using industry relevant tools and technologies, you'll be prepared to work in a number of settings, including:

Maintain accounts, track banking activities and perform audits to ensure accounts are accurate — making corrections as needed.

Examine, analyze and interpret accounting records in order to prepare/evaluate tax statements and make recommendations to clients.

Review business documents and financial records of companies to ensure they are paying the proper amount of insurance premiums.

Review the records of government agencies and audit private businesses/individuals whose activities are subject to government regulations or taxation.

Combine accounting and financial information to guide business decision-making and understand how to integrate financial/non-financial data.

Examine financial statements of private businesses and individuals to ensure they are accurate and comply with laws and regulations.

4%

Increase in accountants and auditors positions through 2032, projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1

$79,880

Median annual pay for accountants and auditors as of May 2023, according to the BLS.1

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Lisa Kpotie '16
Throughout my program, my academic advisor was so supportive. Even when life was crazy, she always let me know that I wasn't alone.
Lisa Kpotie '16

Frequently Asked Questions

The 2024 CPA Exam update is the result of a complete reimagining. The core exam sheds new light on core accounting fundamentals, like auditing and taxation, and includes an increased emphasis on technology throughout.

For the first time, the exam will also allow candidates to choose 1 of 3 discipline areas in which to demonstrate greater knowledge and specialize:

  • Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR)
  • Information Systems and Controls (ISC)
  • Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)

The new exam could reshape the field as it requires students to demonstrate their understanding of data analysis and research — a shift in the traditional narrative of the accounting role. SNHU's redeveloped MS in Accounting program takes into account these changes in the industry to prepare students for these new expectations.

Quite a lot, actually. Like many professions, accounting has become much more diverse, and while Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is one avenue, there are also many others.

Transparency in financial reporting has taken on far greater importance in the corporate world than it once had – and with it, the need for accounting professionals to help maintain that transparency.

Intrigued? You might consider specializing in auditing. Along with improving financial reporting, many auditors serve the critical function of helping companies develop growth strategies based on long-term goals.

As businesses strive to compete in a global marketplace, accounting plays a broader strategic role in general. Master’s degree candidates who specialize in management accounting improve their odds of becoming the kind of strategic partner who can help guide the management of internal resources at every level, help executives make decisions and improve overall business performance.

And then there are accountants whose passion for numbers is rivaled only by their passion for digging into them. With a concentration in forensic accounting, you’ll apply those innate critical thinking skills to complex financial transactions like mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcies and contract disputes. Is criminology your thing? You’ll learn to investigate corporate fraud too.

In addition to these career directions, a few equally good alternatives include financial examiner, financial analyst, finance manager, comptroller, CFO, budget analyst or business and financial consultant.

While both enhance your skills and advancement potential, one focuses on depth of knowledge, the other on breadth. The MS in Accounting deepens your accounting expertise. The MBA in Accounting broadens your business acumen.

An on-campus or online MBA program is for students "who want to move into higher levels of management that require more overall business skills and fewer accounting skills,” according to Mona Stephens, an accounting faculty lead at SNHU – but that's not the program's only audience, she said. As professionals advance their careers, it's vital to develop a better understanding of skills like accounting: By undertaking a more holistic approach to business, you can build better organizational strategies and make financially sound decisions.

Courses in the master’s in accounting dig into more complex accounting topics and foster critical thinking of accounting theory and practice. Stephens says this degree makes sense “for accountants who want to expand their accounting knowledge and perhaps specialize in a certain type of accounting, like management accounting or taxation.”

The MS in Accounting program is an ideal stepping stone for anyone who wants to teach accounting. It's also well suited to those who would like to take either the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Exam.

Because the CPA Exam requires 150 hours of education for eligibility in most states, an MS in Accounting is often the best path. Even better? SNHU offers graduate certificates that align with the exam's three new discipline areas, so you can be even better prepared.

Similarly, SNHU offers a Management Accounting Graduate Certificate for those who want to specialize their skill set before taking the CMA Exam.

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is an accounting professional who has passed the CPA Exam. They’ve also fulfilled all the education and work experience requirements to become a licensed CPA within the state where they intend to work.

You can work as an accountant without becoming a CPA, but it's widely considered the industry-standard designation of quality and trust. For non-CPA candidates with an accounting degree, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recommends these positions1:

  • Management accountant
  • Government accountant
  • Internal auditor
  • External auditor
  • IT auditor

The CPA credential gives you the experience and expertise to perform functions a non-certified accountant can’t do, such as audits, reviews and taxation services.

Non-certified accountants are not allowed to audit public companies, issue audit reports or opinion letters or review public company financial statements for the SEC. And only a CPA can sign a client’s tax return as a paid preparer and represent the client in front of the IRS.

Yes, you can. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are accountants who have passed the official CPA Exam, which requires them to have minimum education and work experience.

You can work as an accountant without becoming a CPA. For non-CPA candidates with an accounting degree, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recommends these positions1:

  • Management accountant
  • Government accountant
  • Internal auditor
  • External auditor
  • IT auditor

No — a master's in accounting is not equivalent to a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.

Put simply, they are different credentials. An MS in Accounting is a degree granted by an accredited university once you successfully graduate. A CPA license, on the other hand, is a certification administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) once you meet specific education, experience and exam requirements.

Which credential you choose to earn depends greatly on the career you want to pursue. If you want to advance in public accounting, a CPA license is key. If you want to become an industry accountant, a CPA license may not be necessary.

That being said, many accountants choose to pursue both an MS in Accounting and a CPA license, since they are complementary credentials and can help you stand out in a competitive job market.

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Sources & Citations

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm (viewed April 23, 2024). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.