M.S. in Accounting (Online)

Grow Your Career and Earn up to $208,000 Annually

As a graduate of Utica University’s online MS in accounting program, you’ll be prepared to apply what you learn in the public, private, or government sector. With comprehensive financial knowledge and accounting skills, you’ll be equipped to fill in-demand roles like Accountant, Financial Analyst, Controller and Financial Manager – as well as earn up to $208,000 a year.²

Graduate with in-demand skills – like the ability to prepare and interpret financial statements and tax returns, conduct financial audits, and create budgets – that you can apply in a variety of industries and sectors, including public accounting firms, corporate accounting and finance departments, government agencies, and more.

► $128,970 Earned Annually
Top 10% of accountants earn more than $128,970 annually³

► 4% Increase
Employment opportunities are projected to increase by 4% between 2022 and 2032³

Examples of Career Opportunities with a master’s degree in accounting

Financial Controller

$89,081/year

As a Financial Controller⁴, you would manage the financial departments of organizations to ensure compliance and profitability. You’d prepare and review reports ranging from profit and loss statements to balance sheets and beyond, helping to predict the financial performance of the organization into the future.

Financial Manager

$97,777/year

As a Financial Manager⁵, you’d be responsible for creating and monitoring budgets across departments to ensure organizations operate within their means. People in this position establish financial forecasts and follow up on blown budgets while managing additional projects and staff.

Financial Analyst

$66,829/year

As a Financial Analyst⁶, you’d be tasked with forecasting, auditing, and analyzing financial data to create reports. These reports are used to understand the financial implications of strategic business decisions, past campaigns, and more.

Additional roles for graduates of the master's in accounting program:

Chief Financial Officer
Treasurer
Internal Auditor
External Auditor
Government Accountant
Tax Accountant
Management Accountant

Sources:

1. M.S. in Forensic Accounting state licensing grid
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Financial Managers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on April 21, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accountants and Auditors. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on January 30, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm.
4. Payscale (n.d.). Financial Controller Salary. Retrieved on January 30, 2023, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Financial_Controller/Salary.
5. Payscale (n.d.). Financial Manager Salary. Retrieved on January 30, 2023, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Finance_Manager/Salary.
6. Payscale (n.d.). Financial Analyst Salary. Retrieved on January 30, 2023, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Finance_Analyst/Salary.

Online M.S. in Accounting Faculty Spotlights

Get to know our faculty of accounting professionals with decades of experience working in a variety of positions within the financial sector as they share their perspective and expertise. Their industry-tested insights can help you succeed as you enter the field.

You’ll also have the backing of your individualized CARE Team – Academic Advisor, Student Success Coach, Career Services, and more – to help you complete your degree and make the most of your achievements.

Glen Hansen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Accounting

Glen Hansen, Ph.D., MBA, is program director for the online MS in Forensic Accounting program at Utica University. He has taught finance, accounting, and statistics at Brigham Young University, the University of Rochester, Penn State University, Baruch College, and Hunter College.

Dr. Hansen has worked in the financial industry designing accounting-based investment strategies for Ziff Brothers Investments, Battenkill Asset Management, and Morgan Stanley. He is currently a member of Utica University’s Retention and Completion Task Force and of the Business Department Business Leadership team.

Hansen has published finance and accounting articles in several international journals and a book chapter in the Handbook of Security Analyst Forecasting and Asset Allocation. His current research focuses on how managers use their discretion to influence accounting earnings and other financial statement accounts. Hansen has applied this research primarily in the banking industry.

Honors and Distinctions

Ph.D. in Business Administration and M.S. in Applied Economics, University of Rochester
MBA, Brigham Young University
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University

Selected Publications

Hansen, G. (2015). Predicting loan loss provisions by including loan type characteristics, The International Journal of Business and Finance Research, Volume 9(2), p. 53-67.
Hansen, G. (2015). Managerial discretion over loan loss reserves during the global financial crisis, The International Journal of Business and Finance Research, Volume 9(1), p. 51-61.

Atasi Basu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Accounting

Atasi Basu, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Accounting who joined the Utica University faculty in 2005. With more than 10 years of college teaching experience, Basu has taught at Syracuse University, Le Moyne College, Purdue University, and the Indian Institute of Technology.

Basu’s primary research interests include financial meltdown effects on the consumer discretionary sector, allocation of service department costs, retail competition on the Salop Circle, and the effects on budgets as demands fluctuate.

Honors and Distinctions

Ph.D. in accounting from Syracuse University
Ph.D. in statistics from Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India
M.S. in statistics from Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India
Presented her published paper “Impact of Financial Meltdown on Consumer Discretionary Sector” at the Business Research Consortium in April 2016
Presented parts of a paper she wrote jointly with C.A. Ingene, “Retail Competition on Salop Circle Under Linear Demand,” at several thought-leadership conferences around the world:
- April 2016 BBCRST (Buffalo, Binghamton, Cornell, Rochester, Syracuse, and Toronto) Conference at Rochester University
- June 2016 Informs Marketing Science Conference in Shanghai, China
- November 2016 North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International in Minneapolis
- June 2017 Informs Marketing Science Conference in Los Angeles

Selected Publications

Basu, A.K. and Heian, J.B. (2012). A Study of Environmental Capital Expenditures and TRI in Petroleum Refining Industry. International Research Journal of Global Business Development, Vol. 1, No. 1, 35–40
Basu, A.K., Elder, R., and Onsi, M. (2011). Reported Earnings, Auditor’s Opinion, and Compensation: Theory and Evidence. Accounting and Business Research, Vol. 42, Issue 1, 29–48
Basu, A.K. (2010). A Study of Environmental Capital Expenditures and TRI. International Journal of Global Business and Economics, Vol. 3, No. 1, 136–143, 2010
Basu, A.K. (2009). Corporate Environmental Performance: A Proposal for Standards. Journal of Global Business Development, Vol. 2, No. 1, 155–162

Frequently Asked Questions

Advancing your life and career with an online degree comes with lots of questions, and we want to ensure your search for answers is effortless.

To learn more, speak with an enrollment counselor by calling 1-315-792-3333.

The online program is designed for professionals who work full-time and is offered part-time, which allows you to achieve a realistic balance between work, school, and personal responsibilities and gives you the opportunity to fully absorb the information in your coursework. View the M.S.A. courses to see the curriculum.

The first step is to start your online application. Then, you’ll need to gather official transcripts, one letter of recommendation, a personal statement, and a résumé. Read more about admission to the M.S. in Accounting.

No, work experience is not required for admission to the M.S. in Accounting. Read more about admission to the M.S. in Accounting.

You’ll complete 8 major-related course requirements for the M.S. in Accounting, and then choose two of your own elective courses to finish the remaining credit requirements. Read more about the curriculum here.

While the M.S. in Accounting does not offer specializations, you have the opportunity to choose two elective courses that pertain to your ideal career and interests. Read more about the curriculum here.

As you work through the M.S. in Accounting program, you’ll be preparing to sit for the CPA exam and completing the 30 hours of coursework required for CPA licensure* in most states. You should check the CPA licensure requirements of your state. Learn more about this program’s curriculum.

*View our state licensing grid to verify the licensure requirements in the state in which you plan to practice.

Gain Expert Accounting Skills

Utica’s online master’s in accounting program consists of 10 courses and 30 credits that can be completed in two years.

Gain essential accounting skills as you explore financial models, quantitative analysis, corporate tax issues, and more. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to conduct financial and compliance audits, and interpret and prepare financial statements, reports, budgets, analyses, and forecasts. Coursework also prepares you to take the CPA exam.

Explore Courses

Online M.S. in Accounting Admission Requirements

To apply for the online master’s in accounting program at Utica, you’ll need the following:

Completed application
2.70 GPA on a 4.0 scale
B.S. in Accounting*
Official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended
Personal statement - A brief essay that outlines your qualifications, skills, work experience, and reasons for pursuing this profession
Résumé - A detailed work history that highlights any experience that may be relevant to this program

* A non-accounting bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is acceptable as long as the following course prerequisites are met:

At least 30 credit hours in business courses, including microeconomics, statistics, and finance
At least 18 credit hours in accounting courses, including intermediate accounting I and II, a tax accounting course, and auditing

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Tuition and Financial Aid

This 30-credit M.S. in Accounting program costs $775 per credit hour. Utica University is dedicated to making an advanced education accessible and affordable. Learn more about financial aid, including grants, student loans, and other options, on the Financial Aid tab of our Graduate Admissions page.

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