Consider where you could be 12 months from now: working a successful job in accounting, potentially earning a salary nearly 28% higher than your peers, per the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accounting jobs will grow 5% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than average for all occupations and offering more career opportunities.
But two critical questions remain: how long will earning a Master of Accountancy take and can you realistically fit it into your packed schedule? The AACSB-accredited accelerated Master of Accountancy (MAcc) Online program from Emporia State University proves ambitious professionals do not have to wait years or give up their current job to transform their careers.
Standard Timelines: What to Expect from an Online MAcc
Most online MAcc programs require 30 credit hours. Traditional full-time students finish within 12-18 months, while part-time students balancing careers often extend this to 18-24 months, taking one or two courses per semester.
ESU delivers its 30 credit hours through accelerated 7-week courses rather than traditional semester-long formats. This condensed structure allows students to focus intensively on fewer subjects at once, building momentum without the fatigue of juggling multiple accounting topics simultaneously. Key timeline factors to consider:
- Full-time accelerated pace: 12 months possible
- Part-time while working: 18-24 months typical
- Flexibility: Six start dates annually
The 12-Month Fast Track at Emporia State
ESU’s accelerated 7-week format enables students to complete the 30-credit hour program (10 courses) in as few as 12 months. Taking 2 courses per 7-week session, full-time students can progress through the required 15 credit hours of core accounting courses—covering advanced taxation, external auditing, and management accounting—plus 15 credit hours of electives, allowing immediate application of new knowledge before moving forward.
Six annual start dates eliminate waiting. Whether your firm’s busy season ends in April or you wrap up a major project in July, you can begin within weeks.
Who thrives in this accelerated environment? Professionals with recent accounting backgrounds often find the intensive pace energizing. Those already working in accounting benefit from connecting classroom theory to daily practice in real-time.
However, students returning after several years away or those juggling significant family responsibilities might prefer stretching the program across 18 to 20 months. The 100% online delivery eliminates both geographic barriers and commute time, allowing students to redirect time spent driving to campus directly into coursework completion.
Flexibility for Working Professionals
The asynchronous format means accountants working irregular hours during tax season can access lectures and complete assignments when their schedules permit. The program requires no work experience for admission, welcoming both recent graduates and established professionals.
When you study advanced management accounting issues like activity-based costing while simultaneously managing actual budgets at your employer, concepts crystallize immediately. Tax courses exploring corporations and partnership structures become more than theoretical when you encounter these entities weekly. The 15 hours of required accounting courses and 15 hours of electives connect directly to roles in internal auditing, forensic accounting, controllership and tax accounting.
The CPA Timeline: From Enrollment to Licensure
For many students, the ESU MAcc serves primarily as the vehicle to reach the 150 credit hours required to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination. Most bachelor programs provide only 120 to 126 hours, so the 30-credit online MAcc bridges this gap precisely. The updated CPA Evolution Exam includes three core sections plus one discipline section candidates choose based on career interests:
- Auditing and Attestation
- Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Taxation and Regulation
Students will also choose one discipline from the following: Business Analysis and Reporting, Information Systems and Controls or Tax Compliance and Planning. From MAcc enrollment to CPA licensure, expect roughly 18-24 months total — including 12 months for degree completion, exam preparation, and time to pass all four sections.
The ROI Question: Career Outcomes After Your MAcc
The NACE First Destinations for the College Class of 2023 report reveals the average starting salary for master’s degree graduates reached $81,308, a 28% premium over the $63,721 average for bachelor’s degree holders. Within six months of graduation, 80% of master’s recipients secured employment compared to 62% of bachelor’s graduates.
When adjusted for 2023’s 3.3% inflation, master’s degree salaries gained 1.4% in real value while bachelor’s degree salaries lost 0.3%. The advanced degree provided not just higher pay but better inflation protection. With the BLS reporting median wages of $81,680 for accountants and approximately 124,200 job openings projected annually over the decade, credential differentiation matters.
The 12-24 months invested in the Emporia State University MAcc Online translates into decades of enhanced earning potential and expanded career opportunities. Graduates from this program will be equipped with fraud detection and mitigation, communication and leadership skills for success in whatever career path they choose to follow.
Learn more about the ESU MAcc Online program.
