For well-qualified professionals, including those with a Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree, accounting is a high-demand, lucrative field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts faster-than-average job growth for accountants and auditors, with a 10 percent increase projected between 2016 and 2026, as of June 2018.
The median pay for these professionals is $69,350 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Beyond CPA, staff accountant and senior accountant roles, the MAcc degree is a highly sought-after academic qualification for several financially rewarding positions, per PayScale, as of June 2018. Annual salaries range from $70,000 to more than six figures for positions including accounting manager, financial controller, corporate controller, tax manager, and chief financial officer.
Job satisfaction is exceptional in this field, as well, with a five out of five rating (extremely satisfied), based on 2,008 PayScale survey votes.
What Makes the MAcc Degree Desirable to Top Employers?
Whereas the MBA with an Accounting concentration offers a broad-based business management education with additional courses in accounting, the Master of Accounting degree provides in-depth focus on the accounting industry and its core disciplines.
The MAcc degree is also a pathway to the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. To be licensed, CPA candidates are required (by almost all states) to complete 150 semester hours of college coursework, which exceeds the requirement for a four-year bachelor’s degree by 30 hours. MAcc programs typically offer the requisite credit hours to prepare and qualify to sit for the CPA exam.
The Emporia State University Master of Accountancy Online Program
The Master of Accountancy online program at Emporia State University (ESU) prepares students for public accounting, leadership roles in internal auditing, forensic accounting, tax accounting, and controllership. This flexible, 100-percent-online program is designed to meet the 150-hour requirement for the CPA exam, and students can complete it in as few as 12 months. Standard MAcc programs take up to 24 months to complete.
Tuition for the program is just $10,500 in total for students in state or out of state. This represents one of the strongest values for any similar program currently offered by a university in Kansas or elsewhere across the United States. The accelerated curriculum and the flexibility of the online format add to the program’s value by enabling professionals to balance work and personal obligations with academics.
The ESU MAcc curriculum offers an extensive study of advanced accounting issues across auditing, management and taxation. Students learn the processes in performing external audits, from the documentation, testing and evaluation of internal controls to the design and implementation of corroborative substantive tests.
Other core coursework includes accounting theory within the context of policy setting and financial reporting regulation, advanced management accounting issues — including cost behavior, activity-based costing, budgeting, pricing, cost management, capital investment, and inventory management.
Nothing of value is sacrificed in making this program affordable — not the academic standards employers demand, nor the qualifications and experience of the faculty. The program is offered by the Emporia State University School of Business, which has earned the prestigious AACSB accreditation since 2002. The faculty consists of esteemed professors with extensive real-world accounting and management experience. ESU strives to offer the best educational value and this program delivers — for working professionals and their employers.
Learn more about Emporia State University’s online Master of Accountancy program.
Sources:
Payscale: Master of Accounting Degree Average Salary
U.S. News & World Report: Online Accounting Master’s Degree
