A top master's in accounting degree designed for any undergraduate major
Add accounting to your skill set and become a business leader in just one year with this top-ranked Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) from Gies College of Business.
This STEM-designated accounting program is designed for students of all academic backgrounds; a bachelor's degree in accounting is not required.
You'll develop skills to excel in a competitive job market, while becoming a more professional version of yourself. The Department of Accountancy features a #3 ranked faculty (according to BYU’s Faculty Research Ranking) focused on providing an outstanding student experience, strengthening your business skills, and developing leading-edge accounting curriculums.
If you wish, we can send you a reminder when applications are open.
Strong career opportunities
We are proud that 100% of the 2022 domestic graduates seeking employment found successful outcomes within three months of graduation, and international graduates reported 91% successful outcomes within six months of graduating in 2022.
As one of the largest suppliers of leaders for the accounting profession, we boast more partners in the Big-Four CPA firms than any other university. Our graduates consistently go on to earn positions with major corporations such as: ADM, Amazon, Deloitte, DuPont, EY, Facebook, GE, Goldman Sachs, Google, JPMorgan Chase, KPMG, Nielsen, PwC, and Tencent.
With the MSA, you to gain a competitive advantage in the job marketplace. Future employers want to hire students who are academically excellent and also possess the important professional business skills. The MSA team works hard, along with the Office of Career and Professional Development, to intentionally create impactful opportunities for students to develop a balance between technical and non-technical skills.
Leading curriculum with a focus on data analytics
Technical excellence is a given. Hiring outstanding faculty, admitting students with exceptional credentials, delivering innovative and market-relevant accounting curriculum, and preparing students to pass the CPA exam are essential ingredients of our leading accounting master’s program. At Gies, we take all of these areas seriously. We teach students to develop and apply an analytics-oriented mindset to a variety of accounting scenarios, including financial accounting, audit and tax, advisory and managerial, and forensics.
Practicing skills is an equally important component of learning. At Gies, we create opportunities for our students to learn by doing through practicing key technical and non-technical business skills. The results are invaluable and help to accelerate personal and professional development.
The MSA core curriculum applies to all of our students. However, for those students who have previously taken accounting courses equivalent to those in our core curriculum, we will work with you to find a suitable course replacement to recognize the sufficiency of your prior accounting education.
An outstanding student experience
The master's in accounting program balances academic education with the development of nontechnical business soft skills though a personalized approach. That’s what makes our program unique. We create experiences to enhance your education, job search, wellness, personal and professional development, and cultural fit.
For international students, we offer a supportive environment. This includes the opportunity to enhance your understanding of American university culture and improve your English speaking proficiency through networking events, conversation partners, and group outings. If you’re looking for a STEM-designated, top-ranked graduate accounting degree that will exceed your expectations, look no further than the MSA at Gies Business.
"One of the most amazing things about the MSA program is that you don’t need an accounting background to be accepted. Because of the renowned faculty and a large supply of useful resources, this program teaches you how to be competitive in the field of accounting, no matter what your background is."
Allan Hay, MSA '23
"Starting the MSA in the summer and utilizing the Gies career development resources helped me land a job offer at Deloitte’s Philadelphia office as an audit assistant in the fall semester. I prepared for the Fall Career Fair and began developing essential skills needed for career success – including job searching and networking skills – three months earlier than other students."
Jiayi Lin, MSA ’23
"The MSA has a very good reputation that contributes to employers placing a high demand on students who graduate from the program. This makes securing a job after graduation stress free, even for international students. I also love that the program prepares me directly for the CPA exams."
Tracy Micah, MSA ’23
"Before taking the MSA program, I worked for 13 years at the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia. The MSA gave me the opportunity to hone my knowledge and skills to become a good accountant. I met a variety of friends from different backgrounds. Besides studying hard, we also do lots of fun activities like movie nights, picnics, lunches, and more."
David Putra, MSA ’23
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a master’s degree in accounting worth it?
A master's degree in accounting can give you the skills and credentials to be a more professional version of yourself. 100% of domestic graduates from the 2021 Gies MSA program found successful outcomes within three months of graduation, and 97% of international graduates from the same program found successful outcomes within six months of graduation. Learn more about Gies MSA career outcomes here.
Is it best to get my master’s in accounting right out of college?
There is no one best route to pursuing a MSA. The Gies MSA is built around a flexible, personalized approach that uses core and elective courses to provide the best fit, even for students without an undergraduate accounting degree. Whether you plan to pursue this degree as a domestic or as an international student, we will assist in crafting a personalized student experience to meet your needs.
What type of new opportunities might I expect with a master’s degree in accounting?
The Gies MSA prepares you for new opportunities in both your current and future career. As one of the largest suppliers of leaders for the accounting profession, we boast more partners in the Big-Four CPA firms than any other university. Our graduates consistently go on to earn positions with major corporations such as: ADM, Amazon, Deloitte, DuPont, EY, Facebook, GE, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, KPMG, Nielsen, PwC, and Tencent.
