We rank the top online MBA in accounting degree programs.
See our complete guide to MBAs for more information.
An online MBA in accounting is a great degree for those with an interest in managerial accounting, financial management, and business strategy. The online MBA program is not required to become a certified public accountant (CPA).
Accounting students with a bachelor’s degree will qualify to sit for the CPA exam. However, the accounting MBA is a great option for those who wish to pursue leadership roles such as financial manager, financial analyst, or even chief financial officer.
The accounting MBA program is a graduate degree for people who may already be accounting or business professionals with a chance for career advancement. Advanced accounting classes may also be valuable to those who conduct financial analysis, perform income tax preparation, or must engage in advanced financial reporting as part of their job responsibilities.
Online MBA accounting programs can also be valuable to those who are looking to gain holistic business skills like financial accounting and preparation of financial statements.
Most students who earn an online MBA in accounting will work as finance managers. However, there are numerous related career paths where you could apply your accounting expertise including tax planning, business management, and financial analysis.
See all of your options are with a look at our full Online Program Ranking List. Otherwise, read on.
Graduate students in online MBA programs will learn how to create financial reports, conduct accounting research, and adhere to accounting regulations.
These skills can easily be transferred to careers in other business contexts including investment banking, business planning, and real estate development.
In most cases, however, this master’s degree is designed to prepare you for a career in business finance.
This advanced degree can lead to well-paying opportunities in the field. For instance, financial managers earn a median salary of $131,710 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Business schools that offer online MBA programs in accounting have different admission requirements.
These are the admission requirements common to online accounting MBA programs:
Key Point: Some programs might also require an interview process.
Learn more about online MBA admission requirements.
Graduate programs offering online MBA in accounting degrees have different courses, although there are similarities in programs. There are typically core online MBA in accounting courses, individualized research projects, and practicum, laboratory, or residency requirements.
The typical courses offered by online accounting MBAs include:
Key Point: The online MBA in accounting prepares graduates for job responsibilities like financial planning, fraud examination, and tax preparation.
Graduates with the online MBA in accounting have the credentials to qualify for several careers, including:
Key Points:According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for financial managers are projected to grow by 17% from 2021 to 2031.
The picture is nearly as bright for those who use their graduate degree to pursue careers as personal financial advisors. Jobs for these positions are expected to grow by 15% from 2021 to 2031.
Accounting students in graduate school for business administration must be prepared to tackle the challenges of an accredited online MBA in accounting program.
Choosing a top-notch online degree program will help to make your professional journey easier by allowing you to balance your pursuit of an advanced degree with any existing professional demands.
Furthermore, an online degree program in a reputable college or university should have the integrity, reputation, and track record to convince employers that their graduates deserve a place in the employer’s organization.
Here are the factors that you need to consider when choosing a school that offers the online MBA in accounting degree:
In addition to institutional accreditation, be sure your degree in online MBA in accounting is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This national board provides programmatic accreditation, which is an important mark of credibility for the master’s of business administration degree.
The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Accountants and Auditors in the U.S.
Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
59%
Graduation
82%
Student body
22K
Syracuse University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Syracuse University was formed in 1870 as an affiliate of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Becoming a secular institution in 1920, this private research university is noted today for nationally renowned programs in areas like business administration, architecture, and public administration.
Syracuse University serves more than 21,000 students. Syracuse also boasts a strong roster of alumni, including 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden.
Are seeking advanced degrees. Syracuse is noted as an R1 university for its high level of research activity.
Don’t prefer an urban educational experience. Syracuse University is primarily concentrated in downtown Syracuse.
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
56%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/23
Wayne State University was founded in 1868 by five returning Civil War veterans. Initially chartered as the Detroit Medical College, today the public university is the third largest in the state of Michigan.
Wayne State University serves roughly 25,000 students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels online, at its flagship Detroit campus and across form satellite campuses.
Are still choosing their major. Wayne State has more than 350 degree programs to choose from.
Prefer a traditional campus experience. Some students describe Wayne State as a “commuter school.”
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
45%
Student body
94K
Grand Canyon University serves more than 90,000 students, which makes it the largest Christian university in the world.
Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit university that was initially established in 1949 as Grand Canyon College. Today, the Southern Baptist institution served more than 70,000 students online. Interesting, Grand Canyon is the only for-profit school that competes in NCAA Division I athletics.
Are interested in doctoral studies, nursing and health care professions, and theology.
Require a degree with regional accreditation.
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
39%
Student body
102K
Southern New Hampshire University is a private university located neared Manchester, New Hampshire. SNHU is unique for its predominant emphasis on distance learning. While the main campus is home to 3000 students, another 135,000 SNHU students are currently earning online degrees.
Southern New Hampshire University is one of the fastest growing universities in the U.S.
Adult learners as well as those pursuing professional certifications.
Students seeking a traditional on-campus experience.
Tuition + fees
$51K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
63%
Student body
4K
Stetson University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Stetson University was formed in 1883 as DeLand Academy. The private university’s primary campus remains in DeLand, Florida, with an additional three campuses in Celebration, Tampa, and Gulfport. The university took its present name in 1889 to honor the famous hat-maker John B. Stetson for his generous donations.
Today, Stetson serves more than 4000 students with noteworthy programs in areas like business administration, music, and liberal arts.
Enjoy intimate class sizes. Stetson boasts an excellent 12:1 student-faculty ratio.
Are looking to keep college costs low. Students describe the cost of attendance and living expenses as comparatively high.
Tuition + fees
$47K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
72%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1230/27
Seton Hall University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Seton Hall University was founded in 1856 by a Catholic bishop named James Roosevelt Bayley. This makes the private South Orange, New Jersey university the oldest diocesan university in the nation.
Seton Hall University enrolled 6o students in its first year. Today, Seton Hall serves nearly 10,000 students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Are pursuing careers in business. The Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall is highly ranked, as is its University School of Law.
Do not wish to attend college in an urban setting.
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
57%
Student body
10K
University of Maine’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
University of Maine was formed in 1865 as Maine State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. The Orono, Maine-based university is the flagship institution of the state’s public university system.
Noted for its high level or research activity, the University of Maine is actually home to the nation’s oldest honors program. Today, the University of Maine serves more than 11,000 students, which makes it the largest institution in the state.
Are pursuing careers in business. The University is home to the largest school of business in the state of Maine.
Can’t handle the cold weather. Locals and students alike describe Maine winters as pretty extreme.
Tuition + fees
$11K
Student body
2K
Golden Gate University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Golden Gate University was formed in 1901 as the YMCA Evening College. Based in San Francisco, the private university is noted today for its excellence in law, business, and accounting.
Golden Gate University was formed, like a number of other private learning institutions, as a reading and adult-education program through the local YMCA. In its first year as a college, Golden Gate offered only a law school degree program. Today, Golden Gate University serves more than 5000 students.
Are adult learners or non-traditional students balancing education and work responsibilities.
Have recently graduated from high school and are seeking a traditional campus experience.
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
40%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1015/22
Roosevelt University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Roosevelt University was formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1945 and named to honor the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Purchasing its Auditorium Building 1947 for just $1, Roosevelt began its history with an advisory board of incredible luminaries like Marian Anderson, Albert Einstein, and Pearl S. Buck.
Today, Roosevelt University serves more than 6000 students, many in its 32-story “vertical campus”. The Wabash Building is the second tallest university structure in the U.S.
Are pursuing careers in business, education, and the performing arts. Roosevelt offers noteworthy programs in each of these fields.
Do not wish for an urban college experience. The main campus is concentrated in downtown Chicago.
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
54%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1090/23
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth was formed in 1895 as the New Bedford Textile School in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Relocating to Dartmouth in 1964 and expanding into Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1969, the public research university would ultimately join the broader UMass state university system in 1991.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is especially noted for top ranking nursing, health sciences and business programs at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Today, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth serves more than 8,000 students.
Are seeking an intimate college with a welcoming atmosphere. Students describe the student body as diverse and professors as highly accessible.
Are seeking a large campus experience.
Save money on your way to an MBA by checking out some free MBA courses at some of the best business schools in the world.
Or find other top schools with a look at our College Rankings Guide.