Master’s Degrees in Accounting
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Education Levels of Accounting Majors
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 20,770 students earned their master's degree in accounting. This earns it the #2 spot on the list of the most popular master's degree programs in the nation.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in accounting at each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 53,997 |
Master’s Degree | 20,770 |
Associate’s Degree | 12,300 |
Basic Certificate | 12,037 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 4,885 |
Graduate Certificate | 1,089 |
Doctor’s Degree | 45 |
Earnings of Accounting Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in accounting is $56,600. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have.
A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $53,350 and the high is $60,325.

Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a master's degree in accounting is $27,303. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit.
The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $39,350 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $20,500.

Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $318.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in accounting. About 55.1% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 9,322 |
Women | 11,448 |

The racial-ethnic distribution of accounting master’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 1,764 |
Black or African American | 1,364 |
Hispanic or Latino | 2,049 |
White | 11,143 |
International Students | 3,083 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 1,367 |

Most Popular Accounting Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 579 colleges that offer a master’s degree in accounting. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
The most popular school in the United States for accounting students seekinga master's degree is Southern New Hampshire University. Each year, around 104,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $30,756 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,810 per year.
The accounting program at Southern New Hampshire University awarded 404 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 65% were women and 24% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The University of Texas at Dallas comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in accounting. Each year, around 28,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,442 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,874 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 326 people received their master's degree in accounting from UT Dallas. Around 27% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 61% were women.
The 3rd most popular school in the country for accounting majors who are seeking their master's degree is DeVry University - Illinois. Roughly 17,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,663 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,072 per year.
The accounting program at DeVry University - Illinois awarded 292 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 67% were women and 40% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 4th most popular school in the country for accounting majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Phoenix - Arizona. Roughly 95,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,552 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,752 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 288 people received their master's degree in accounting from UOPX - Arizona. Around 41% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 75% were women.
The 5th most popular school in the country for accounting majors who are seeking their master's degree is The University of Texas at Austin. Each year, around 51,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,824 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,998 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 285 master's degrees were handed out to accounting majors at UT Austin. Of these students, 53% were women and 41% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in accounting. Roughly 18,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,090 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 268 master's degrees were handed out to accounting majors at Baruch. About 58% of this group were women, and 46% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Texas A&M University - College Station is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in accounting. Roughly 68,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,941 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,677 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 249 people received their master's degree in accounting from Texas A&M. Of these students, 48% were women and 26% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in accounting. Each year, around 30,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,019 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,552 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 235 people received their master's degree in accounting from UNC Chapel Hill. About 49% of this group were women, and 27% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of Houston is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in accounting. Each year, around 46,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,219 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,370 per year.
The accounting program at University of Houston awarded 192 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 64% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 61% were women.
The 9th most popular school in the country for accounting majors who are seeking their master's degree is Western Governors University. Roughly 121,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,380 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,500 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 192 people received their master's degree in accounting from WGU. Around 24% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 61% were women.
The 11th most popular school in the country for accounting majors who are seeking their master's degree is Liberty University. Roughly 79,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,417 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,980 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 190 people received their master's degree in accounting from Liberty University. About 62% of this group were women, and 16% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Florida Atlantic University is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in accounting. Each year, around 29,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $2,522 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,467 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 189 people received their master's degree in accounting from FAU. Of these students, 52% were women and 47% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
DePaul University comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in accounting. Roughly 22,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $40,551 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,584 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 177 people received their master's degree in accounting from DePaul. About 59% of this group were women, and 25% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 14th most popular school in the country for accounting majors who are seeking their master's degree is Brigham Young University - Provo. Roughly 34,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,790 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,290 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 168 master's degrees were handed out to accounting majors at BYU. Of these students, 27% were women and 12% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Missouri - Columbia comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in accounting. Each year, around 29,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,120 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,264 per year.
The accounting program at University of Missouri - Columbia awarded 161 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 41% were women and 8% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 16th most popular school in the country for accounting majors who are seeking their master's degree is Pennsylvania State University - University Park. Each year, around 46,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $17,416 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $21,960 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 159 master's degrees were handed out to accounting majors at Penn State University Park. Of these students, 38% were women and 21% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Rutgers University - Newark comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in accounting. Each year, around 13,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,230 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,736 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 156 people received their master's degree in accounting from Rutgers Newark. About 53% of this group were women, and 42% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Binghamton University comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in accounting. Each year, around 17,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,070 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,310 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 150 master's degrees were handed out to accounting majors at Binghamton University. Of these students, 51% were women and 26% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Colorado State University - Global Campus is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in accounting. Each year, around 12,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,400 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,000 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 148 people received their master's degree in accounting from Colorado State University - Global Campus. Around 24% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 59% were women.
The 20th most popular school in the country for accounting majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Georgia. Each year, around 38,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,790 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,878 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 142 people received their master's degree in accounting from UGA. Around 10% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 50% were women.
Accounting Focus Areas
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
General Accounting | 19,244 |
Accounting & Finance | 779 |
Accounting Management | 447 |
Other Accounting | 186 |
Auditing | 114 |
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to accounting that offer master’s degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Business Administration & Management | 128,188 |
Management Sciences & Methods | 12,583 |
Business & Commerce | 9,486 |
Human Resource Management | 8,943 |
Finance & Financial Management | 5,579 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By Pixabay under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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