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Accounting – M.S.

MASTER OF SCIENCE Online Master of Accounting Degree

The numbers don't lie. Highly skilled accountants are needed in organizations everywhere. Optimize your career opportunities with a master's in accounting. Enhance your credentials and optimize your opportunities.

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WGU's College of Business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

An accounting master's degree that prepares you to stand out from the competition.

Finance laws. Government regulations. Tax structure. A global economy. These are just a few of the financial areas that can determine success or failure for any organization. That's why top-notch accounting professionals are always in demand. Accounting is a field where possessing up-to-date knowledge, specialized skills, and professional credentials can make a big difference.

WGU’s online master's of accounting will help you complete the necessary steps to become a more seasoned accountant—better qualified to pursue a greater variety of public and private accounting positions. You'll be prepared to move up in a lucrative and exciting field, ready to specialize in whatever area of accounting you're passionate about. A master's degree helps you boost your résumé and add the credentials you need to further your career.

This Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree program is also designed to prepare you for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and meets the 150 semester hours required to sit for the CPA exam in most states. View the requirements for CPA licensure by state.

In fact, WGU MAcc graduates perform well on the CPA exam, with a pass rate that significantly exceeds the national average. WGU also offers Wiley CPA Review at no extra charge for our accounting master's graduates.

*This master's degree program will also help prepare you for other professional exams such as the Certified Management Accounting (CMA) exam.

70% of graduates finish in

23 months

WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.
See how it works

Tuition per 6-month term is

$4,530

Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps you control the ultimate cost of your degree. Finish faster, pay less!
See how time is money

Average salary increase

$18,700

M.S. Accounting graduates report an average salary increase of $18,700 after completing their WGU degree.
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Tuition as of August 1, 2021.

Add on your accounting experience to enhance your career.

Every organization needs financial professionals to guide their regulation, taxes, audits, and budgets. If you want to stand out from the competition, you'll need a résumé that boasts the right educational and professional credentials. That's why WGU's M.S. Accounting degree program is designed to prepare you to sit for the CPA or CMA exam—two of the most important qualifications you can add to your accountant résumé. Add to your existing knowledge and propel yourself forward in an exciting and lucrative field with the help of a master's degree.

Learn about our grads' careers
Expand your knowledge and skills for a successful career in public and private accounting.

WGU designed this master's degree in accounting for experienced accounting professionals ready to take a step up in their careers. Boost your résumé, get in line for a pay raise or promotion, and enhance your offering with a degree. Our highly regarded online curriculum focuses on the academic preparation you'll need to sit for the CPA or CMA exam—industry credentials sought by today's employers of accountants and auditors.

Download Program Guide

To ensure WGU graduates acquire the knowledge and skills that will help them achieve their career goals, our Master of Accounting degree program—like all WGU College of Business Programs—was developed with significant input from experts and business leaders who serve on our College of Business Program Council.
Key Subject Areas

Your program is composed of courses focused on business and accounting excellence, including:

Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting

Fraud and Forensic Accounting

Advanced Managerial Accounting

Advanced Financial Accounting

Advanced Tax Concepts

Advanced Auditing

Accounting Research and Critical Thinking

Financial Management

Strategic Management

Management Communication

See all courses
Why WGU?

An accounting degree designed for you.

Earning potential. After graduation, WGU accounting master's degree graduates report earning $18,700 more per year. Are you ready to make more money?

Entirely online. The Master of Accounting degree at WGU is 100% online, which means it works wherever you are. You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're traveling the world or on vacation—it's entirely up to you.

Top accreditation. The online accounting master's degree at WGU is ACBSP accredited, a top recognition that shows the value of your education and diploma. Increase your salary and credentials with the help of an accredited and recognized accounting degree.

Impact communities. This master's of accounting degree program is focused on giving you the skills you need to make a positive impact. You will learn communication and leadership strategies that ensure you can drive impactful change at a high level.

See how we do it
CPA Ready

See how WGU prepares you for the CPA exam

Qualified to sit for the CPA exam. A master's degree from WGU allows students in most states to get the qualifications they need to sit for the CPA exam. In most states you will need 150 credit hours of school work, with a certain amount of accounting courses, in order to sit for the CPA. WGU degrees can help you reach that goal.

58% CPA pass rate. WGU boasts a 58% CPA pass rate for graduates. With the national CPA pass rate sitting at approximately 50%, we are thrilled that our graduates are more prepared on average to pass the CPA exam and become licensed.

Free Wiley test preparation. MAcc graduates are able to access free Wiley CPA test preparation materials, an $1,800 value, to help them be prepared to study for and pass the CPA exam.

Learn about the CPA
A supported, personalized experience.

WGU is different from other online universities—in the best possible ways! Take a look at what we mean:

Faculty Learning Assessment Capstone Alumni Support

Faculty

SUPPORTING YOU:

An entire team of faculty members has one goal in mind: your success. Your Program Mentor is your individually assigned faculty member, providing regular program guidance and instruction from the day you start, to the day you graduate. In addition, Course Instructors provide regular, subject-matter instruction and support, typically one-on-one, throughout each course you take.

Learning

Establish YOUR ROADMAP: A personalized learning plan.

Your program is made up of a series of courses, each a personalized journey toward subject mastery. A preassessment provides insight into what you already know. You’ll then learn what you still need to learn, using online learning resources—available 24/7—along with one-on-one or cohort-based faculty instruction.

Assessment

Learn it, PROVE IT: Show you know your stuff.

WGU measures learning, not time, so each course in your program culminates in an assessment—a test, paper, project, or presentation that allows you to prove what you know. As soon as you’re ready, you take the assessment. Take proctored exams from the comfort of your own home—via webcam, any time of day!

Capstone

Apply it to the REAL WORLD: You’ll solve a problem.

Throughout your program you will focus on acquiring and demonstrating specific competencies. Your program’s capstone experience gives you the opportunity to apply foundational business skills and specific skills from your major in real world scenarios. Your capstone might include a simulation, case studies, or a project that addresses a relevant issue in your industry.

Alumni Support

Once you're a WGU Night Owl, you're ALWAYS a Night Owl.

Continued support after you graduate includes many opportunities for professional development and enrichment, career support, and networking. WGU Night Owls may be independent learners, but they also become highly engaged in our active alumni community through apps, groups, and in-person events.

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The accreditation you need, plus industry respect and recognition.

One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.

Accredited

In addition to WGU's regional accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, WGU's College of Business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Respected

The Global Business School Network is a nonprofit organization that partners with business schools, industry, foundations and aid agencies to improve access to quality, locally relevant management and entrepreneurship education for the developing world. With a growing network of over 90 leading business schools on 6 continents, it fosters cross-border networking, knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Recognized

Every student in WGU's HR program is eligible to join our online SHRM virtual student chapter. This organization helps students continue their education and networking with the HR field through events, presentations, and other resources.

Accredited

Respected

Recognized

Our programs check all the boxes. If this degree is your goal, get started toward becoming a student today—programs start the first of each month.

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A business school that's affordable.

$4,530

Tuition per 6-month term

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+$145

Flat fee for e-books and learning resources, saving you hundreds per term

=

=$4,675

TOTAL PER TERM

+$65

One-time application fee

Apply FREE this week

Effective August 1, 2021.
Control the cost of your master's program: Our tuition links cost to time.

By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees.
Flat-rate tuition of $4,675 per term links cost to time.

By charging per 6-month term rather than per credit hour—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or can learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees.

Adjust the time and see your costs change

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There's help if you need it.

Financial aid is available.

WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.

View more about financial aid.

WGU students borrow less than half the national average.*

Our goal: You graduate with little or no debt.

The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2019 (among those who borrowed) was less than half the national average. WGU’s three-pronged approach to keeping your debt low and your return on investment quick: One, provide useful information and advice on responsible borrowing before enrollment. Two, keep tuition low while you're enrolled. And three, offer degree programs that lead to better-paying jobs after graduation.

Read about our Responsible Borrowing Initiative.

*WGU data: 2019 Annual Report. National data: The Institute for College Access & Success and Student Loan Hero.

Degree Cost Comparison

For-profit online university

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WGU

Earn your M.S. Accounting degree for about half what you’d pay elsewhere.

Low tuition and the ability to accelerate your studies make WGU a more affordable option to earn your degree. Our MAcc program offers a rigorous curriculum with competitive post-graduation results, but at as little as half the cost—or even less—of most online or traditional schools.

*WGU average annual bachelor’s tuition rates are 57% the national average, compared to national rates reported by IPEDS. WGU average rate does not include rates for WGU B.S. Nursing Prelicensure program. Learn more about WGU's tuition and how it compares.

Transparent fees and no hidden costs.

The cost of attending college often includes much more than tuition and fees. WGU is designed to be different, and that translates to cost savings everywhere from books to babysitting.

Other universities bury you in unexpected costs. Not WGU.

Click to explore the extra costs:

Tuition Books

Parking Gas

Library / resource fees Babysitter every week for
nighttime classes

WGU

Other online college

Traditional
4 year school

This demonstration shows how various costs—including official fees and incidental costs of attending school—can add up in different learning environments. It's meant as an illustration only.

Scholarships can make already-low master's tuition even more affordable.

Many scholarship opportunities are available. Here are just a few you may be eligible to apply for:

$2,500

Master Your Future Scholarship

$3,000

Continuing Business Graduate Scholarship

$5,000

Leadership Scholarship

The affordable, flexible programs offered at WGU put high-quality education within your reach. Start working toward your future.

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A career-focused business curriculum that ensures you’ve mastered the things employers want you to know.

Program consists of:
10 Courses
Total courses in program

An unofficial estimated 0 courses are fulfilled by your associate degree leaving 10 courses.
I have an associate degree Download Program Guide

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to ensure your degree is proof you really know your stuff.

Every course focuses on a set of clearly defined competencies that you must prove you’ve learned—through tests, papers, projects, or other assessments. Demonstrating mastery is how you pass a course, so learning what it takes to be outstanding in your career is at the heart of WGU’s programs.

That means what you learn is often directly applicable the next day at work—and it means what you’re doing at work frequently informs the work you’re doing in your courses. It’s all about real-world applicability so every moment spent studying is time well spent.

Courses in this program.

This program comprises the following courses. You will typically complete them one at a time as you make your way through your program, working with your Program Mentor each term to build your personalized Degree Plan. You’ll work through each course as quickly as you can study and learn the material. As soon as you’re ready, you’ll pass the assessment, complete the course, and move on. This means you can finish as many courses as you're able in a term at no additional cost.

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Accounting

Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting

Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting provides learners with the skills and knowledge required to practice accounting for governmental and nonprofit entities: analyzing and recording transactions, financial statement preparation in accordance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards, and communication.

Fraud and Forensic Accounting

This course provides a framework for detecting and preventing financial statement fraud. Topics include the profession’s focus and legislation of fraud, revenue- and inventory-related fraud, and liability, asset, and inadequate disclosure fraud.

Advanced Managerial Accounting

This course introduces the complexity and functionality of managerial accounting systems within an organization. It covers the topics of product costing (including activity-based costing), decision-making (including capital budgeting), profitability analysis, budgeting, performance evaluation, and reporting related to managerial decision-making. This course provides the opportunity for a detailed study of how managerial accounting information supports the operational and strategic needs of an organization and how managers use accounting information for decision-making, planning, and controlling activities within organizations.

Advanced Financial Accounting

This course builds upon your accounting knowledge by focusing on advanced financial accounting topics such as consolidations, partnership accounting, and international accounting.

Advanced Tax Concepts

This course is designed to enhance awareness of the complexities and sources of tax law and to measure and analyze the effect of various tax options. This course provides an overview of income taxes on individuals, corporations, associations, reorganizations, and corporate distributions, while emphasizing the role of taxes in business decisions and business strategy. Also examined will be federal tax laws applicable to individuals and corporations (and shareholders), including tax research, tax compliance, and tax planning.

Advanced Auditing

Advanced Auditing reviews basic auditing concepts, including (1) planning the audit: identifying, assessing, and responding to the risk of material misstatement; (2) specialized audit tools: attributes sampling, monetary unit sampling, and data analytic tools; (3) completing a quality audit; and (4) reporting on financial statement audits. The second part of the course dives into an application of auditing through (1) understanding how to audit an acquisition and payment cycle and (2) applying the knowledge learned through the acquisition and payment cycle to the revenue cycle in a performance assessment.

Accounting Research and Critical Thinking

Accounting Research and Critical Thinking provides learners the skills and knowledge to research and add validity to accounting reports, resolution of issues, and procedural arguments: critical thinking, communication, research strategies, and database resources.

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Finance

Financial Management

This course covers practical approaches to analysis and decision-making in the administration of corporate funds, including capital budgeting, working capital management, and cost of capital. Topics include financial planning, management of working capital, analysis of investment opportunities, sources of long-term financing, government regulations, and global influences. This course will improve students’ ability to interpret financial statements and manage corporate finances.

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Strategy

Strategic Management

This course focuses on models and practices of strategic management including developing and implementing both short- and long-term strategy and evaluating performance to achieve strategic goals and objectives.

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Management

Management Communication

This course prepares students for the communication challenges in organizations. Topics examined include theories and strategies of communication, persuasion, conflict management, and ethics that enhance communication to various audiences.

Plan to work hard: Program requirements and expectations.

The M.S. Accounting program is an all-online program that you will complete by studying and working independently with individualized instruction and support from WGU's College of Business faculty. You will be expected to complete at least 8 competency units (WGU's equivalent of the credit hour) each 6-month term. (Each course is typically 3 or 4 units).

The first person you speak with at WGU will be your Enrollment Counselor, who can explain requirements and expectations in more detail. You can also read more about each course in the Program Guide.

Request info from an Enrollment Counselor.

Download the Program Guide.

Special requirements for this program:

This program will help prepare you to sit for the Certified Public Accountant, or CPA, exam and will allow you to meet the 150 semester hours required to sit for the exam. If you intend to sit for the CPA exam, please review the CPA licensure requirements for your state.

We offer degrees for in-demand careers that provide the knowledge and skills you need to succeed. Give your résumé the boost it needs!

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A results-focused master's in accounting curriculum focused on real-world skills.

To ensure our degree programs are consistent with the demands of today’s workplace, we develop our courses and programs with input from councils composed of nationally recognized experts in their respective fields. College of Business Program Council members offer guidance on what knowledge and skills successful WGU graduates should master.
A flexible, competency-based accounting master’s program for busy working adults.

Professional responsibilities. Family obligations. Personal commitments. At WGU, we understand schedules are tight and often unpredictable for busy professionals. That’s why our programs offer a flexible, personalized approach to how college education should be. No interruptions to your work or family obligations. No rigid class schedules. No barriers to earning your degree on your own terms. Just a solid, career-focused, online master's in accounting that meshes seamlessly with your current lifestyle and focuses on the skills you'll need to achieve your career goals.

Designed for working adults.

At WGU, you’re not committed to attend class at a certain time, complete homework on a given schedule, or log “attendance” hours. You’ll earn your master's in accounting by proving what you’ve learned—either from your studies or what you already know through your work and life experience. How quickly you progress is largely up to you.

Once you’ve mastered the concepts in your coursework, you’ll prove your competency through tests, papers, projects, or other assessments. You’ll build solid professional credentials specifically designed to help you prepare for the CPA or CMA exam. Then, you'll be ready for your career to take off as a professional accountant in public accounting, industry, government, and non-profit organizations.

Competency-Based Education (CBE)

How it helps you

Efficient

Save time and money by focusing your efforts where they matter the most.

How much do you already know? How fast can you learn? Today’s adult students come from different professional backgrounds with varying levels of knowledge and experience. Competency-based education empowers you to take the most efficient path to complete your studies.

Flexible

Learn on your own terms.

What works best for you? No two students—or their schedules—are the same. Whether you’re at your best in the early morning or more energized when you get home from work, your study schedule can be personalized to accommodate your lifestyle and responsibilities. While you will be required to maintain a base level of consistent progress through your program, WGU is designed to empower you to maximize your personal schedule by allowing you to build a study plan that fits into your life—not one that requires you to rearrange it.

Results

Know you’re learning real-world skills.

Will your credentials be recognized? Today's employers look for accounting professionals who have the knowledge, skills and experience to assess complex transactions and determine the proper treatment of those transactions in conformance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). WGU’s online master's in accounting program consists of balanced areas of study relevant to the needs and demands of a competitive marketplace and competency-based assessments that prove you're ready to advance your career to the next level.

Finish courses by proving what you know, when you’re ready.

With competency-based education at WGU, success is measured by actual learning, not class time. You advance by demonstrating that you've mastered the course subject matter—whether you learned it through your study at WGU or picked up that knowledge through years of work experience.

Your progress through a course is driven by you.

How quickly you learn

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The time you devote to studying

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How much previous knowledge you bring

Your experience pays at WGU.

Why start from square one when you could already be well on your way to a degree?

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A respected accounting master's degree from WGU can help you stand out in a competitive job market.

Highly skilled accountants are needed in public accounting, industry, government, and non-profit organizations. If you're ready to prepare for the CPA or CMA exam and take your accounting career to the next level, WGU's online M.S. Accounting will help you gain the necessary analytical skills to address complex financial information and make appropriate recommendations to management.

Employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 4% from 2019 to 2029.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
WGU Master’s of Accounting grads have impressive careers.

Our 175-plus MAcc alumni have great jobs and satisfying careers:
Job Titles

Accounting manager

Internal audit manager

Senior accountant

Accountant

Bookkeeper
Diverse Industries

Accounting firms

Private companies

Nonprofit organizations

Government

Colleges and universities
Major Employers

Pricewaterhouse Coopers

Fanzz

Benihana National Corporation

HGST

Helix Education
Career data for senior accounting jobs.

See data on salary, job outlook, and work environment description.

More about careers
WGU is a university committed to producing successful grads.

The ultimate test of your degree's value is whether it helps you become an outstanding employee and advance your career. Our happy grads—and their happy employers—confirm that WGU is the path to that kind of degree.
Happy employers

Happy grads

They're Prepared.

Employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.

They Perform.

Employers rated WGU graduates' job performance as very good or excellent.

They Wow.

Employers said their WGU graduates have exceeded their expectations.

They're Confident.

Graduates said the majority of their coursework was related to their jobs.

They're Working.

Graduates are working full-time.

They're Satisfied.

Graduates said their degrees were worth the cost of their education.

Source: 2018 Harris Poll survey of 300 employers; 2018 Harris Poll Online survey of 1,374 new college graduates nationwide compared with survey of 1,147 WGU graduates; Gallup-Purdue Index 2018
Close the gap between you and your dreams.

Online degree programs start every month.

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Your master's degree is attainable—start by applying for admission today.

Next Possible Start

Start dates are the 1st of every month. Meet requirements by the 15th to start next month. Discuss steps and deadlines with your Enrollment Counselor.
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Get your Enrollment Checklist

Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
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Get your questions answered and take the next step: Talk to an Enrollment Counselor.

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Your Enrollment Counselor is there to help you make an informed decision.
The first step toward change can be the hardest—we get it. Your "welcoming committee" at WGU is made up of Enrollment Counselors, Admissions Specialists, and faculty members. Your initial interactions at WGU will be guided by an Enrollment Counselor who specializes in the programs you're interested in.

Your Enrollment Counselor is ready with as much help as you may need:

Get your cost and admissions criteria questions answered.

Assess WGU's fit with your career goals.

Get started toward enrollment!

Contact an Enrollment Counselor.
Admission requirements unique to this degree.
To be considered for this program, you must:

Submit a transcript verifying receipt of your bachelor’s degree from a recognized, accredited college or university.

Demonstrate accounting experience through at least one of the following methods:

A bachelor's degree in accounting

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license

NOTE: You do not need to take the GRE or GMAT to be admitted to this program. Learn why we don't require these tests.

View general admission requirements
Making an informed admission decision.

WGU seeks to admit individuals who have the capacity and determination to complete a rigorous WGU degree program … and graduate. The admission process is designed to help you and the university reach an informed decision about your likelihood of success.

At WGU we want you to graduate, not just enroll. Consequently, not every applicant is admitted because not every individual has the capacity and determination to complete a rigorous WGU degree program.
M.S. Accounting FAQs
How do you become a master in accounting?

If you want to become a master in accounting, you'll need a master's degree! Commonly called a MAcc, this degree program will give you additional knowledge and training in specific accounting skills like auditing, taxes, financial reporting, regulation, and more. And a master's degree in accounting usually enables students to be prepared for the CPA examination.

Do you need a master's degree in accounting?

For those who want to pursue a career in accounting, a master's degree is an important credential to have. Most states will require 150 credit hours and a certain amount of accounting coursework in order to take the CPA exam. A master's degree can help you meet those requirements and be prepared for the exam. For many accounting careers, having a CPA and master's degree is key in demonstrating you are skilled and trained in the rigorous work you'll need to do.

Is a master's degree in accounting worth it?

Absolutely. A master's degree in accounting can help you get the qualifications you need to sit for the CPA exam, and can translate to higher pay and better positions in the field. For example, WGU graduates from the master's of accounting program see an average of $18,700 salary raise after graduation.

Is a Masters of Accounting worth it?

Most accounting master's degree students will tell you that earning a degree is 100% worth it. A master's degree opens the door for many to take the CPA exam, be eligible for raises, provides chances for promotion and job growth, and helps them stand out from the competition.

What is the best masters degree for accountants?

If you're interested in pursuing a career in accounting, whether doing taxes, performing audits, or other financial services, a master's degree in accounting is an ideal fit. This degree will help you learn specific skills needed for accounting responsibilities, as well as qualify you in many states to take the CPA examination, which is key to boosting your résumé.
What can you do with a master's degree in accounting?

There are many job possibilities for those who pursue a master's degree in accounting, both in public and private accounting. Some of those jobs include:

Tax accountant

Auditor

Finance manager

Banker

CFO
Programs begin the 1st of any month.

New students can begin their first term at the beginning of any month. So you can start when you’re ready, rather than rushing (or waiting) for fall or spring enrollment. There's no need to wait!

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“It was an easy process. My enrollment counselor was very informative, very helpful, answered all of my questions.” Kate Leger,
B.S. Accounting

WGU is school on your terms.

School can fit into your life—start working toward your better future now.

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