Forbes ranked the “Peach State” as America’s seventh best state for business with the 10th best growth prospects, so picking from the master’s in accounting degree programs in Georgia can be advantageous.
Roughly 63,200 people migrate to Georgia annually to join the thriving $496 billion economy. Accredited B-schools in Georgia have local connections to place accounting grads in big corporations like SunTrust Bank, Southern Co., Newell Rubbermaid, Synovus Financial Corp., and many more. Georgia also houses 1,760 licensed CPA firms like Bennett Thrasher, Smith & Howard, RSM, Frazier & Deeter, and KPMG. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell Metro employs 27,500 accountants alone with an average annual salary of $79,070.
Get quality, industry-recognized training for CPA certification at these accredited accounting graduate schools in Georgia. (For the first half our list, see: Master’s in Accounting Degree Programs in Georgia (A-G))
Kennesaw State University
Coles College of Business
Upgraded to Carnegie R3 status in 2016, Kennesaw State University is a public, doctoral-level research hub endowed for $36.5 million under President Sam Olens to serve 36,428 Owls from its 581 combined acres in Kennesaw and Marietta, Forbes’ #7 best city for jobs. Named one of eight Diversity Champions by INSIGHT into Diversity, KSU is crowned America’s 115th best big college on Niche. Noted for its Cox Family Enterprise Center, the Coles College of Business was also deemed a “Go-To Business School” in CEO Magazine with an average net price of $16,232 yearly.
Master of Accounting (MAcc) Degree
Chaired by Danielle Lahanas, CPA, the Master of Accounting (MAcc) at Kennesaw State uses an accelerated, 12-month schedule ending in July to immerse early-career cohorts in the language of business for earning trusted credentials like Certified Fraud Examiner fast. Unlike some master’s in accounting degree programs in Georgia, the 30-credit option has specialized tracks for Financial Reporting and Auditing, Taxation, or Advisory Services. Accountants can also intern with PRGX Global, practice in the Internal Audit Center, travel to D.C., and attend the Tetley Distinguished Lecture Series.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Burruss Building 209
1000 Chastain Rd.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
(470) 578-3281
dlahanas@kennesaw.edu
Mercer University
Eugene W. Stetson School of Business & Economics
Named for the first minister of Washington Baptist Church in 1833, Mercer University is the Peach State’s oldest private, nonsectarian liberal arts school in the Atlantic Sun Conference that’s enrolling 4,000 post-grad Bears at its professional education center in Atlanta near Bank of America Plaza. Mercer was recognized for America’s 8th most intramural involvement by The Princeton Review and the South’s 108th top academics on Forbes. Honored among Entrepreneur magazine’s top 15, the Eugene W. Stetson School encourages startups with the Business Model Competition and Elevator Pitch Contest.
Master of Accountancy
Estimated to cost $6,543 per full-time semester, Mercer’s Master of Accountancy admits five times annually for post-grads to take evening, eight-week courses and quickly progress toward the CPA distinction. Ranging from 30-45 credits based on experience, the curriculum specializes electives in Public Accounting or International Accounting. Courses ranging from business law to ethical leadership are designed for adults at an average age of 28. Tuition benefits are available for employees of Stetson Preferred Providers like GEICO, Piedmont Healthcare, and Gulfstream Aerospace.
Dual MBA/MAcc Degree Option
What’s better than finishing one of the master’s in accounting degree programs in Georgia? Earning two concurrently at Mercer through the MBA/MAcc Degree Option that minimizes time by scheduling two eight-week, evening courses per term five times each year. Unlocking a median salary of $110,000, the 48-69 credit degree builds well-rounded business skills with courses like tax research, corporate finance, and marketing concepts for CPA licensing. Led by Susan Perles Gilbert, PhD, the program can include the EDGE workshop, International Trade Conference, and BB&T Speaker Series.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
3001 Mercer University Dr.
Atlanta, GA 30341
(678) 547-6300
business.admissions@mercer.edu
Shorter University
Robert H. Ledbetter College of Business
Originally called the Cherokee Baptist Female College in 1873, Shorter University is a private, Christian NAICU institution that’s now co-educational for 2,197 Hawks to study upon its 155-acre residential campus below the Appalachian Mountains in Rome and online. Ranked the South’s 23rd top college by the USNWR, Shorter is named the 189th best liberal arts and 273rd best Christ-centered university in America on Niche. Led by Dean Heath Hooper, PhD, the Robert H. Ledbetter College offers one of the online master’s in accounting degree programs in Georgia with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio.
Online Master of Accountancy
Priced at $525 per credit via the SREB Electronic Campus, the Online Master of Accountancy suits working professionals seeking a Shorter education in just 12 months to gain CPA credentials and technical skills for financial analysis. Mandating a minimum GMAT score of 450, the 31-credit curriculum builds advanced know-how in auditing, assurance, partnership taxation, managerial accounting, and financial law. Delivered exclusively by Christian educators, the eight-week courses are 100% online with options to join Enactus and the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
232 Shorter Avenue
Campus Box 51
Rome, GA 30165
(706) 292-3906
hhooper@shorter.edu
South University-Savannah
College of Business
Acquired by Education Management Corp. in 2003, South University is a private, for-profit online learning hub split into six colleges to educate 17,881 adults total from 50 states with the unique Plus+ program and at 15 campuses from Savannah to Round Rock. Featured in the 2016 Military Times “Best for Vets Colleges,” South-Savannah is named America’s 363rd best small university on Niche but with some consumer complaints. The College of Business builds on its 118-year legacy to provide two master’s in accounting degree programs in Georgia that have 52 percent acceptance.
Online Accounting MS
Structured for completion in 15 months full-time, the Online Accounting MS costs Georgians $27,101 total to develop the thorough understanding of accounting principles to articulate effective solutions to business challenges as a licensed CPA. Accessible 24/7 on the Campus Common with support from the Graduation Teams, the 48-credit South degree meets ACBSP standards for courses from fraud auditing to not-for-profit accounting. Beyond textbooks, online students will complete a capstone real-world project with help from partners like Grainger and Procter & Gamble.
Dual BS/MS Accounting Degree
Although it’s not offered in 19 states, South’s Dual BS/MS Accounting is one of the master’s in accounting degree programs in Georgia for undergrads to speed up the 150-hour CPA process to assume higher responsibilities in making strategic monetary business moves. Expected to take 50 months of rigorous, full-time study, the $108,317 program includes courses like cost management, controllership, and intermediate accounting with business stimulations. Dual admission relies on students presenting a minimum 2.0 GPA, 900 SAT score, and 19 ACT score.
Accreditation
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
709 Mall Boulevard
Savannah, GA 31406
(866) 629-2901
materialsreview@southuniversity.edu
The University of Georgia
J.M. Tull School of Accounting
Generating $234 million for research annually, the University of Georgia is a flagship public, sea-grant R1 doctoral institution welcoming 8,583 post-grad Bulldogs onto its combined 41,539 acres in Athens-Clarke County. Georgia is named the 56th top national value by Forbes and 200th best global university by ARWU. Founded in 1977 as one of the United States’ first separate accountancy divisions, the J.M. Tull School of Accounting has attracted three faculty with AICPA Gold Medals, ranked fourth for faculty research productivity in The Accounting Review, and reached the top CPA pass rate countrywide.
Master of Accountancy
Known for educating CFOs at Coca-Cola, Lionsgate, Cox Enterprises, Viacom, and others, UGA’s Master of Accountancy was placed ninth nationally by the Public Accounting Report as the most successful of master’s in accounting degree programs in Georgia. Coordinated by Christie L. Tarpley, the 30-credit curriculum grants specializations for Audit or Taxation with an optional JD/MAcc track. Offering graduate assistantships worth $6,600, the program admits students with an average GMAT score of 620 to take rigorous courses like business process management and international financial reporting.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Brooks Hall 246A
310 Herty Drive
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 542-3600
ctarpley@uga.edu
University of West Georgia
Richards College of Business
Coordinating 160+ student organizations like Beta Gamma Sigma, the University of West Georgia enrolls 13,308 Wolves as a public, co-educational doctoral research institution in the Gulf Coast Conference that’s endowed for $27.91 million under President Kyle Marrero with 644 acres in Carrollton. Declared America’s 441st top public university on Niche, UWG is ranked the 141st coolest school for environmental sustainability in Sierra Magazine. Also placed 12th globally by CEO Magazine, the Richards College of Business awards one of the master’s in accounting degree programs in Georgia with the Becker CPA Review embedded.
Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc)
Delivered face-to-face with three online electives, UWG’s Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc) meets the 150-hour licensing mark for graduates to control businesses’ financial activities according to strict securities regulation, tax legislation, and GAAP standards. Open for applications until July 15th, November 15th, and May 15th yearly, the program is directed by Dr. Hope Udombon with courses from assurance service to accounting information systems. Post-grads can also network with Executive-in-Residence Lofton Spencer, join Accounting Club activities, intern with Deloitte, and study globally in Budapest.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Adamson Hall 202A
1601 Maple St.
Carrollton, GA 30118
(678) 839-6469
rcolley@westga.edu
Valdosta State University
Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration
Attracting 11,563 Blazers from 157 Georgia counties, Valdosta State University is a public, co-educational teaching institution endowed for $20.86 million in the Gulf South Conference with 168 acres in “Azalea City” and courses at Moody Air Force Base. VSU is crowned the 439rd best master’s-level university and 194th best Southeastern value in Washington Monthly. Offering another of the master’s in accounting degree programs in Georgia, the Harley Langdale, Jr. College is ranked America’s 589th best college for business on Niche with the #1 most affordable post-grad business courses according to SR Education Group.
Master of Accountancy Degree
Currently costing $249 for Georgians and $897 for non-residents per credit, Valdosta’s Master of Accountancy Degree is organized by Chair Ronald Stunda, PhD, to support Langdale students focusing their business skills for public, industry, government, or non-profit financial services. Preparing for NASBA exam content, the 30-credit, one-year curriculum injects courses like estate tax, internal auditing, global finance, and advanced accounting. Graduates may also attend the Meet the Firms fair each Fall, pledge Beta Alpha Psi, study in Spain, and earn the Henderson & Godbee Scholarship.
Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
BSBA Building 3017C
1500 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta, GA 31698
(229) 253-4228
rastunda@valdosta.edu
Georgia’s workforce of 36,360 accountants is poised to continue expanding with 11 percent job growth through 2024. According to the Robert Half Salary Guide, master’s graduates in the “Empire State of the South” will qualify for in-demand jobs like payroll manager, compliance officer, controller, senior accountant, tax director, and SEC financial reporting manager. Attending one of these master’s in accounting degree programs in Georgia will train you to handle any money matters with precision and professionalism.
