Many current and future accountants head to the West Coast to study accounting because California has the #1 highest employment level of accountants making an average annual salary of $78,090. In our previous article, we began highlighting those California-based master’s degrees in accounting programs beginning with the letters A through C. Let’s finish exploring the master’s in accounting degree programs in California now by focusing on those beginning with D through Z. We hope this list can be a valuable resource for finding the ideal college match for satisfying the 150-hour CPA requirement. Keep scrolling for the continuation of our list of accredited graduate accounting schools in California.
Loyola Marymount University
Master of Science in Accounting
With roots that extend back to 1865, Loyola Marymount University is one of the West Coast’s largest Jesuit universities. Nearly 10,000 students call themselves Loyola Lions, including about 3,100 graduate students. No stranger to college rankings, Loyola Marymount University is currently ranked by U.S. News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal as the 64th and 90th best university in the nation, respectively.
Loyola Marymount University’s Master of Science in Accounting is an AACSB-accredited degree program designed for those looking to obtain a CPA license. The 30-unit program delves into such topics as:
- financial reporting
- accounting ethics
- data analysis
- fraud examination
Students are also given opportunities to intern with Green Hasson Janks, participate in the Internal Audit Case Competition, study in Germany, and join the Accounting Society. The M.S. in Accounting from Loyola Marymount University can be completed in as few as two semesters, and costs approximately $33,000.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
National University
Master of Accountancy
Noted for alumni like former California state senator Isadore Hall III, former Taiwan governor Lin Junq-tzer, and pro U.S. soccer player Waad Hirmez, National University is a private research university with campuses throughout the state of California. Online degree programs are also available. National University has been nationally recognized by publications such as Niche, which ranks the school as having the 28th “best online college.”
The Master of Accountancy at National University is one of the only master’s in accounting degree programs that integrates CPA prep for students with baccalaureate education in any field. The 63-unit curriculum consists of four-week classes, and students are invited to begin their education at any time, year round. Graduates have excelled with the Franchise Tax Board, IRS, Deloitte, and more. The IACBE-accredited MBA also allows a self-designed concentration for management accounting.
Accreditation
• International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Northcentral University
Master of Science in Accounting
Northcentral University was founded in 1996 as a private online university headquartered in San Diego. The university’s more than 10,000 students can pursue bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees in:
- business and technology
- education
- psychology
- marriage and family therapy.
Northcentral’s Master of Science in Accounting is designed for those who are looking to advance their current career in accounting or finance, and/or who are pursuing CPA certification. Consisting of 30 credits, the degree program includes courses on:
- forensic accounting
- external auditing
- strategic budgeting
The program can take as few as 16 months to complete, and new programs begin each Monday.
Accreditation
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Saint Mary’s College of California
Master of Science in Accounting
Established in 1863, Saint Mary’s College of California is a private, co-educational Catholic school located in Moraga in the San Francisco Bay Area. Niche has ranked Saint Mary’s the 45th “safest college” in the U.S., while U.S. News & World Report has declared it the 9th best college in the West and the 18th best value college in the country.
Saint Mary’s M.S. in Accounting is one of the most flexible AACSB-approved master’s in accounting degree programs in California. The 12-month, full-time track meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in Moraga for courses ranging from nonprofit accounting to business valuation. Students in the 15-month, part-time track engage in online sessions for two evenings each week, and meet on-site every other Saturday. The program has five convenient starting dates each year.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
San Diego State University
Master of Science in Accountancy
San Diego State University is a public college, and a member of the California State University system. Ranked by Forbes as the 67th best public university, and 98th best value university, in the nation, SDSU has also been crowned America’s 81st “Best Big College” by Niche. The Fowler College of Business is also applauded for being the 95th best part-time MBA on U.S. News & World Report‘s survey of California’s second-highest CPA pass rate.
The Master of Science in Accountancy at San Diego State University aligns with AACSB standards to prepare post-graduates for the demanding challenges of managing cash flow for public or private businesses. The 30-credit curriculum is completed in 12-18 months, with evening classes starting after 4pm. Students specialize their CPA prep coursework for:
- Taxation
- Financial Reporting
- or Accounting Information Systems
Alumni are actively recruited by BDO, Moss Adams LLP, McGladrey, Lindsay & Brownell LLP, and more. A Master of Business Administration with a specialization in accounting is also available.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
San Francisco State University
Master of Science in Accountancy
As a member of the California State University system, San Francisco State University offers more than 90 master’s degree programs, including a Master of Science in Accountancy. The university, which is located on 141 urban acres, has been named by PayScale and CollegeNET’s Social Mobility Index university rankings as the 12th best university in the country.
San Francisco State’s Master of Science in Accountancy degree program offers specialization in:
- financial accounting
- auditing
- tax
- accounting information systems
- managerial accounting
The program consists of 30 units, and begins in either the fall or the spring.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
San José State University
Master of Science in Accountancy
Founded in 1857, San José State University (SJSU) is the oldest public university on the West Coast. Deemed by Niche to be America’s 144th “Most Diverse College,” SJSU is ranked #1 among master’s-level universities for foreign study by the Institute for International Education. Boasting a 20-year net ROI of $576,000 on PayScale, the Lucas Graduate School of Business was also featured in The Princeton Review’s Best 294 Business Schools.
As the Silicon Valley’s longest-running CPA producer, the M.S. Accountancy program at SJSU customizes AACSB-accredited education to suit graduates with business or non-business majors who show interest in managing corporations’ money strategies. The 30-unit curriculum includes courses like
- internal controls
- auditing concepts
- accounting ethics
Alumni hold top positions with companies like:
- PayPal
- Ernst & Young
- Chevron Texaco
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
There’s also a four-course Certificate in Advanced Accounting offered, as well as a Master of Science in Taxation.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
University of California, Davis
Master of Professional Accountancy
Located near Sacramento, U.C. Davis is a highly regarded public research university. With nearly 8,500 graduate students, Davis boasts the third largest enrollment in the University of California system. Davis is currently ranked by Washington Monthly as the 11th best university in the nation, and by Times as the 55th best in the world.
There is no doubt that the Master of Professional Accountancy degree program at Davis is one of the best grad-level accounting programs in the state. Beginning every September, the 48-unit curriculum takes nine months, or one academic year, to complete. More than 20 firms show up to the Meet the Firms recruitment event held each year, and an impressive 90% of Davis grads receive job offers within the first three months after graduation.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
University of California, Irvine
Master of Professional Accountancy
U.C. Irvine is a member of the University of California consortium, and a large public research university located in Southern California. Irvine has been declared a “Public Ivy,” meaning it is considered a publicly funded university which offers the same quality education as that of the Ivy League. Indeed, U.C. Irvine has been ranked by Washington Monthly as the 18th best university in the nation, while U.S. News & World Report has ranked it the 78th best in the world.
Irvine’s Master of Professional Accountancy degree program attracts recruiters from top firms like Grant Thornton LLP and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. The intensive, 44-unit curriculum takes one year to complete (though a part-time, two-year program is also available). Courses include such electives as:
- taxation
- forensic accounting
- international accounting
Career consultation workshops also help grads to an average placement rate of 96 percent.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
University of California, Riverside
Master of Professional Accountancy
University of California, Riverside is a large public research university located in Southern California. Niche named Riverside #82 on its list of the universities with the best professors, while Washington Monthly has named it the 27th best university in the country.
U.C. Riverside’s School of Business offers a Master of Professional Accountancy based on advanced education in:
- audits and assurance
- taxation
- accounting information systems
- ethics
Two program tracks are offered:
- a nine-month track designed for those who already have a degree in accounting
- a 15-month track for those without a background in accounting.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
University of San Diego
Master of Science in Accountancy
University of San Diego is a beautiful hilltop private university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. Founded in 1949, the university is home to just under 2,000 graduate students. U.S. News & World Report currently ranks University of San Diego as the 91st best university in the U.S., while QS Global 200 Business Schools Report ranks it #59 in the country specifically for business.
The School of Business at University of San Diego offers a Master of Science in Accountancy that’s designed for the student who seeks a career as an upper-level accountant or licensed CPA. The approximately 30-unit curriculum includes courses on:
- fraud examination
- state and local taxation
- forensic accounting, among others
University of San Diego grads are actively recruited by more than 30 top employers, including Fortune 500 and Big 4 companies. A Master of Science in Taxation is also available.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
University of Southern California
Master of Accounting
University of Southern California, or USC, is the oldest private research university in the state of California. Home to nearly 50,000 students, 27,000 of whom are postgraduates, USC is almost always included on lists of the best universities, both nationally and internationally. Indeed, The Wall Street Journal has ranked USC as the 18th best university in the country, while Forbes and U.S. News & World Report have ranked it #30 and #22, respectively.
Receiving 850+ applications yearly, USC’s Master of Accounting is a popular, AACSB-accredited program. The 30-unit, 12-month program focuses on developing the problem-solving skills and ethical principles for advanced CPA practice. Post-grads could also become Leventhal Ambassadors, join Data Analytics Club, consult for Gursey Schneider & Co., add the Certificate in Financial Analysis and Valuation, and research in the Center for Investment Studies. A Master of Business Taxation and a Master of Business Taxation for Working Professionals are also available.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
University of the Pacific
Master of Accounting
University of the Pacific — known also as UOP or just Pacific — is a private Methodist university. It has campuses in Sacramento, Stockton, and San Francisco. UOP currently enrolls about 1,200 graduate students. Chosen as America’s 157th “Best College that Accepts the Common App” on Niche, UOP is ranked the 111th best national university and 39th top value by the U.S. News & World Report. The Eberhardt School of Business is included in The Princeton Review’s Best 294 Business Schools.
UOP’s accredited Master of Accounting degree program is designed for early-career professionals seeking their CPA license. Full-time students can complete the degree in nine months, or one academic year. The 30-unit curriculum includes classes on:
- auditing
- quality assurance
- income taxation
Portfolio management experience is also gained via the Student Investment Fund.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Woodbury University
MBA Accounting-Finance Concentration
Woodbury University is a private school sitting upon 22 suburban acres in Los Angeles County’s Burbank neighborhood, near Hollywood. Declared by Niche to be America’s 295th “Best Small College,” Woodbury has also been ranked the 58th best Western school, 31st most veteran-friendly university, and 19th top value by U.S. News & World Report. The Economist named Woodbury’s School of Business the 34th best institution for specialized classes.
Woodbury offers a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. The 16-course program offers a unique mix of courses, including a special focus on business ethics. It takes about a year and a half to complete the degree, and alumni have excelled with Honda, Ernst & Young, Bank of America, Crowe Horwath, and more. Evening and weekend courses accommodate working professionals without a GMAT/GRE requirement.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
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