Though few people thought online programs would catch on, the number of students earning accredited online accounting Master degrees keeps rising. These students know that they deserve the right to higher education regardless of where they live. Whether you live in the heart of a big city, on a farm in the middle of nowhere or in the suburbs, you can earn your accounting degree online. These programs are great for those with busy schedules and those who can’t attend traditional classes. Even if you don’t have access to a car, you can earn your Master degree in accounting.
Florida Atlantic University
College of Business
When you enroll in a Master program at Florida Atlantic University, you join the ranks of students who are proud of their school. FAU opened in the 1960s as a way to meet the learning needs of people living in seven different counties of Florida. It didn’t take long before the school went from offering just a few classes in different departments to offering dozens of degree programs in nearly as many departments. Though the school works hard to keep costs down, it encourages those looking to save more to enroll in its online system, which ranks as one of the best in the country.
Master of Accounting with a Concentration in Forensic Accounting
Do you love the idea of investigating and researching different topics? Have you ever wondered how the Internal Revenue Service and other government organizations tracked down criminals? When you enroll in the Master of Accountancy with a Concentration in Forensic Accounting, you can be one of the great men and women stopping cyber and online crimes. Forensic accounting is a specialized field of accounting that looks at crimes committed by people and organizations. The accountants comb through records, look at computer files and investigate documents to find evidence of a crime. Students take six core courses on topics including graduate business communications applications, advanced financial reporting and accounting concepts, concepts of federal income tax and advanced accounting information systems. Students also take one accounting elective course worth three semester hours and three courses worth nine semester hours in forensic accounting and associated topics.
Accreditation
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431
(561) 297-3000
cobgradadvising@fau.edu
Website
Florida Tech
When Florida Tech University first opened its doors, it did so with the belief that students living in the surrounding counties deserved the right to higher education. More than 25,000 students from those counties now take classes on the campus, and thousands of those students major in programs available through its business department and business programs. FAU now owns and operates campuses in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Dana Beach and Davie. Since the introduction of online courses, enrollment at FTU increased even more. All resources and classes through the school are open to online students.
Master of Business Administration with a Specialization in Accounting
Though Florida Tech University doesn’t offer a Master in Accounting, it does offer a Master of Business Administration with a Specialization in Accounting. Those interested in working as certified public accountants must first take the CPA examination in their state. The CPA licensing board requires that test takers have a graduate degree and a certain number of working hours, and the MBA in Accounting degree at FTU meets some of those requirements. Every semester that you complete in the program counts towards 15 of the hours required by that board. Designed for business leaders, this program gives students access to higher paying jobs and positions that require management experience. Before completing the program, you must take six credit hours of foundation courses, 15 credit hours of core courses, 12 credit hours of accounting classes and a capstone class that is worth three credit hours. Your capstone project require a high level of research and investigation into an accounting topic.
Accreditation
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
c/o University Alliance Online
9417 Princess Palm Ave.
Tampa, FL 33619
(855) 300-1469
Website
Franklin University
Franklin University is one of the largest chains of colleges in Ohio. After opening one campus in Columbus, the school decided to expand its campuses into other parts of the state. It now operates campuses in 13 different cities in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio, including Indianapolis, Dublin and Beavercreek. The average student taking classes on one of these campuses or online is 35, but the school welcomes students of all ages. Many of the students attending Franklin University have some college education, and most students worked for several years or longer before deciding to enroll in the university.
M.S. in Accounting Online
Do you need a program that lets you take classes at night when your kids go to sleep, during the day when they go down for a nap or in the afternoon when you have a few hours free from work? The M.S. in Accounting Online program at Franklin University just might be the program you need. This nationally accredited program follows a curriculum that covers six different topics: forensic accounting, management control systems, advanced auditing and data mining, financial accounting and reporting, enterprise resource management and enterprise risk management. After completing the program, students can apply for work as chief financial officers, internal auditors, controllers, account representatives and accountants. Those working for the program follow the accounting profession with a close eye and make changes to the curriculum based on changes in the field. Students can rest assured that they will exit the program with a basic understanding of the accounting field and the most up to date technologies.
Accreditation
International Association of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
Contact
201 S. Grant Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 797-4700
admissions@franklin.edu
Website
Gardner-Webb University
Located in a small town in North Carolina, Gardner-Webb University is a small university with a population of just over 4,000 students. Founded in 1905, the gorgeous campus overlooks the beautiful rolling hills of the state. As an online student, you won’t have access to those views, but you will have access to great classes and professors who care about your future. When U.S. News and World Report looked at colleges in the south, the organization named Gardner-Webb University as the 46th best school, and it also ranked its online program as the 161st best online program in the country.
Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
Gardner-Webb University implemented its Master of Accountancy program for students living outside of the surrounding community. Originally designed for students living in North Carolina, the program is now open to students around the world. The 30 credit hour program requires a combination of courses in accounting and other business topics. Students take five core courses on managerial accounting, federal income tax, advanced auditing, accounting theory and practice and government and not-for-profit accounting. Students then take three courses in a concentration or emphasis area. You can choose the general accounting path, forensic path or tax emphasis. GWU also asks that its students take at least six credit hours of business courses. As an online student, you must follow the same standards and requirements that traditional students follow. If you receive a grade below a B in any required course or your grade point average drops under a 3.0, you risk possible expulsion.
Accreditation
Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Contact
110 South Main Street
P.O. Box 997
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
(704) 406-4000
admissions@gardner-webb.edu
Website
Golden Gate University
School of Accounting
Golden Gate University is a small public university with its headquarters in San Francisco. Though many chain colleges and colleges with multiple campuses are for-profit schools, Golden Gate managed to open several campuses and still remain a non-profit school, which lets it put its students first. Since its early years, the school focused on helping students who worked or had busy schedules. The school originally offered classes at night and on weekends, and while it still offers those convenient courses, it also offers classes through its CyberCampus, and that system won dozens of awards from educational groups and organizations.
Master of Accountancy
With three concentrations and a wide range of classes, Golden Gate University offers courses that led to a Master of Accountancy. After enrolling in your classes, you need to decide on which concentration is right for you. General accountancy, forensic accounting and tax accounting are all available. Those concentrating in general or forensic accounting take three core classes and one to three electives, while tax concentration students take three core classes and two electives. The 12 to 15 units that you earn in your concentration count towards the 60 units required for graduation. The foundation program, which is worth 12 units, covers topics on financial accounting and intermediate accounting, while the required federal taxation class is worth an additional three units. Before leaving the program, you must also take 21 units on issues in modern management accounting, auditing, accounting research and communication and advanced financial accounting. Classes on business and economics are also available.
Accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
536 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 442-7000
Website
Kaplan University
Kaplan University is one of the largest chains of for-profit schools in the country. Originally opening with just one campus, it now has 10 campuses across the Midwest, including in Iowa and Maryland. In addition to those campuses, the school also maintains a large online presence. More than 70,000 students take classes through Kaplan every year, and the majority of those students take most or all of their classes online. Kaplan offers a number of financial aid packages to make college more affordable for students, and students can use government student loans and grants and alternative loans to pay for their schooling.
Master of Science in Accounting
Students completing the Master of Science in Accounting through Kaplan University come from diverse backgrounds. While many students have an undergraduate degree in accounting, others have a degree in business or math or minored in accounting. Kaplan believes in offering more freedom for students, which is why it has a rolling admissions policy. New students can apply at any time, and the accounting programs start two or more times each season. Students choose a specialization in auditing, finance, government accounting or taxation, and they take two courses in that specialization. Graduation from the Kaplan program requires the successful completion of 52 units of coursework. Those 52 units must include 12 units in a specialization, 36 units in core courses and four units of elective work. The program ends after students finish a capstone project that asks students to finish an intensive research paper during their last year in the program.
Accreditation
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Contact
550 West Van Buren Street, 7th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607
(866) 527-5268
infoku@kaplan.edu
Website
Keller Graduate School of Management
The Keller Graduate School of Management operates under the guidance of the DeVry Education Group, which also operates DeVry University the DeVry Institute of Technology. Located in Downers Grove, Illinois, the company owes its success to two small colleges that opened in the area prior to the 20th century. Those two schools later merged into one campus and later spiraled into a chain of schools all across the country and in several foreign territories. The Keller Graduate School of Management became part of the chain of for-profit schools in 1987, and DeVry later opened new campuses in California and other states.
MBA with an Accounting Concentration
The Keller Graduate School of Management operates on a unique schedule of eight week courses. Students can enroll in those courses at any time, and unlike other programs, students can enroll without first taking the GRE or a similar examination for graduate students. The program lets students take as little as one class each session, and those working on this schedule spend 32 months enrolled in the program. Most students two or more courses each session, which lets them complete the program in just 16 months. The average length of time for graduation from the program is around two years. As the MBA with a Concentration in Accounting is an MBA program, students must take 30 units of business courses and six units of electives of their choosing. Completing your concentration in accounting requires that you finish an additional 12 units of accounting courses, including intermediate accounting and external auditing.
Accreditation
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Contact
Highland Landmark V
3005 Highland Parkway
Downers Grove, IL 60515
(888) 653-5537
Website
Liberty University Online
Liberty University started as a small Baptist college in Virginia that operated under the guidance and tutelage of Jerry Falwell. This private college initially offered classes for those living off campus through its Distance Learning Program, but in 2009, it introduced students to Liberty University Online. Though enrollment on campus is just over 12,000 students, the school claims that more than 90,000 students take classes through its online system. Falwell helped bring this new system to life as a way to help adult students who didn’t feel comfortable taking classes on campus, and it now ranks as one of the largest private online programs in the world.
Master of Accounting
Liberty University Online understands that some students cannot afford to take classes on campus or have problems reaching the campus. Its Master of Science in Accounting program ranks as one of the top accredited online accounting programs by the Online Education Database. The main requirement of the program is that students complete 30 credit hours of graduate level courses, and those who attended classes at another online or traditional graduate school can transfer up to six credit hours into this program. Though the school doesn’t offer accounting concentrations, it does let students explore topics of interest to them in their electives. All students take nine credit hours of electives in entrepreneurship, organizational behavior, executive leadership and management, international business and other topics. Core courses required in the program equate to 21 additional credit hours and include advanced cost accounting, accounting information systems and accounting ethics.
Accreditation
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Contact
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
(434) 582-2000
Website
The number one reason why students choose online programs is because of the flexibility that those programs offer, but they also love that they can save money earning their degrees. You don’t have to pay for gas, a room on campus, food throughout the day or anything other fees. Not only are online accounting Master degrees cheaper, but you can work out a schedule that works for you.
For information on earning your accounting degree online, take a look at “The Top 15 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Completion Programs“.
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