Twelve accredited B-schools meet high industry standards for training qualified CPAs with Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan. Ranked 10th for quality of life on Forbes, the Michigan economy generates $467 billion with a civilian workforce of 4.21 million Wolverines. Accountants in the “Mitten State” can get their fingers on Fortune 500 jobs at Michigan companies like Whirpool, DTE Energy, Borg Warner, Ally Financial, and Dow Chemical. Michigan also hosts 1,547 licensed CPA firms, including Warmels Cornstock, Grant Thornton, Plante Moran, UHY, Doeren Mayhew, and Virchow Krause. The BLS reports that Michigan pays its 30,510 accountants an average yearly wage of $74,360. Open lucrative career doors managing organizations’ money trails at these respected accounting graduate schools in Michigan.
Adrian College
Graduate School
Affiliated with business alums like Deena Katz and Virgil Bernero, Adrian College is a private, nonprofit semester-based institution originally opened by Wesleyan Methodists in Leoni in 1845 that’s now attracting 1,654 Bulldogs to its 100-acre suburban campus in Lenawee County surrounding Herrick Tower. Adrian is ranked America’s 285th best Greek life college on Niche and the Midwest’s 20th top university by the USNWR. Graded “A-“ for diversity, the Adrian Graduate School houses one of the Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan with a median mid-career salary of $75,900 on PayScale.
Master of Science in Accounting
Admitting post-business majors each Fall, Adrian’s Master of Science in Accounting involves taking 15 credits full-time to master the methodologies for applying advanced financial analysis skills with CPA and/or CMA licensing. Offering the Michigan Accountancy Fifth-Year Scholarship, the 30-credit degree charges approximately $50,706 total for courses like internal auditing and nonprofit entity taxation. Chaired by Dr. David Coy, the program can arrange internships at Greenstone Farm Credit Service, Deloitte, Yeo & Yeo, and more.
Accreditation:
• International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Jones Hall 204C
110 S. Madison St.
Adrian, MI 49221
(517) 264-3940
dcoy@adrian.edu
Baker College
Center for Graduate Studies
Granted ACF Exemplary Status, Baker College is a private, nonprofit Lower Peninsula system named for Eldon E. Baker in 1911 that’s maintaining a right-to-try admission policy for 150+ career-oriented programs under President Dr. Bart Daig from its 53-acre campus headquarters in Flint Township. Baker is ranked America’s 274th safest college on Niche, 77th best online school by OnlineDegreeReviews.org, and 16th most affordable online university on College Choice. The Center for Graduate Studies confers one of the Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan online with an engaging 13:1 student-faculty ratio.
Accounting (MBA)
Taught online for $695 per credit currently, Baker’s Accounting (MBA) emphasizes the higher-level skills accountants need to climb the ladder into public or private managerial careers with a median yearly income of $68,150. Mandating nine credits of accounting prerequisites, the 30-credit curriculum makes a winning equation with Web-based courses from human behavior management to global accounting. Baker post-grads may also receive free tutoring in Auburn Hills or Flint, access OneStop services, and earn funding like the George W. Hoddy Scholarship.
Accreditation:
• International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1050 W. Bristol Rd.
Flint, MI 48507
(855) 487-7888
GetEnrolled@baker.edu
Eastern Michigan University
College of Business
Dedicated to “Equity, Exemplar, Excellence,” Eastern Michigan University is a public, coeducational teaching institution governed by the eight-member Michigan Board of Regents to instruct 23,419 Eagles from a main 800-acre Washtenaw County campus. EMU is ranked America’s 264th most liberal college on Niche and 602nd best master’s university overall with an average annual cost of $31,384 on Forbes. Boasting the first Ethos Week nationwide, the College of Business has been included in Entrepreneur Magazine’s top 10 and recognized by the U.S. News for the 66th best online graduate business teaching.
Master of Science in Accounting (MSA)
Open for admission until February 1st or September 1st yearly, EMU’s Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) brings together the theoretical courses and applied electives needed to meet the American Institute of CPAs’ mark for licensing. Headed by Dr. Philip Lewis, the 30-credit curriculum has concentrated tracks for Internal Auditing, Tax and Financial Planning, Accounting Information Systems, or Financial Services. Majors might also add the E-Business Certificate, study abroad in Japan, secure Big Four internships, and pursue the BBA+MS accelerated option.
Master of Science in Taxation (MST)
Chaired by Dr. Zafar Khan, the Master of Science in Taxation (MST) is another of the Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan where EMU post-grads with a minimum GMAT score of 500 or GRE score of 306 can pursue CPA certification with a tax emphasis. Structured for legal IRS compliance, the 30-credit program in Ypsilanti injects courses from electronic tax prep to professional accounting. Alums have excelled with Thomson Reuters, Fiat, Quicken Loans, JP Morgan, General Motors, and others.
MBA Specialization in Internal Auditing
Scheduled during evenings in Ypsilanti, Saturdays in Livonia, or online, the MBA Specialization in Internal Auditing is one of the unique, adult-friendly Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan where CIA certification is achieved for managerial jobs in financial examination. With a 43 percent admission rate, the 54-credit MBA includes cross-functional courses from business innovation to strategic cost management. Post-grads could also attend COB webinars, obtain the Devine Memorial Scholarship, join the Accounting Club, and participate in the Annual Golf Scramble.
Accreditation:
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Gary M. Owen Building 406
300 W. Michigan Ave.
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 487-4444
cob.graduate@emich.edu
Grand Valley State University
L. William Seidman College of Business
Enrolling 25,460 Lakers from all 83 Michigan counties, Grand Valley State University is a selective, diverse public institution organized by President Thomas J. Haas on a $104 million endowment with eight degree-granting colleges based on a 1,322-acre Allendale campus and 69-acre Grand Rapids location. GVSU is ranked the Midwest’s 29th best college by the U.S. News and America’s 99th best big university on Niche. Reporting 94 percent job placement, the L. William Seidman College of Business has also been crowned among Princeton Review’s “296 Business Schools.”
Master of Science in Accounting (M.S.A.)
Coordinated by Assistant Dean Koleta Moore, the Master of Science in Accounting (M.S.A.) at Grand Valley partners with West Michigan firms to get full- and part-time graduate students recruited after in-depth skill development in the financial services sector. With a 17:1 student-faculty ratio, the 33-credit Seidman degree takes place in downtown Grand Rapids with two emphases: Finance or Taxation. Other opportunities include interning at Delong & Brower, studying at the Washington Campus, joining the Graduate Student Association, and attending the World Trade Week Conference.
Master of Science in Taxation (M.S.T.)
Expecting a minimum scholastic index of 1100, GVSU’s Master of Science in Taxation (M.S.T.) is another of the specialized Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan presently priced at $686 per credit for transforming post-grads into tax specialists with CPA credentialing. The 33-credit curriculum offers courses from estate planning to government auditing face-to-face at the Robert C. Pew Campus in Grand Rapids. Students may also study abroad in Rome, apply for 300+ department scholarships, earn graduate assistantships, and intern at KPMG.
Accreditation:
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
50 Front Ave. SW, Suite 1031
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 331-7386
moorekol@gvsu.edu
Michigan State University
Eli Broad Graduate School of Management
Boasting 552,000 living alumni globally, including Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert, Michigan State University is the Wolverine State’s largest public, land-grant research hub of the AAU that’s pioneering the Global Leadership Initiative under President Lou Anna Simon with a massive 5,200-acre East Lansing campus. MSU is ranked America’s 81st best university by the U.S. News, 30th best value in Money Magazine, and 94th top employer on Forbes. The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management has selective 66 percent admission as the 45th best accounting college nationally on Niche.
Accounting M.S.
Estimated to cost $726 in-state and $1,427 out-of-state per credit, the MSU Accounting M.S. is among the top-ranked Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan where scholars with a minimum 3.0 undergrad GPA can mold courses to their professional needs. With emphases in Taxation, Information Systems, or Public and Corporate Accounting, the 30-credit degree is delivered by industry practitioners and cutting-edge researchers. Majors might also refine skills in the Ernst & Young Communication Center, intern at Robert Bosch, join NAHBS, and travel to Munich.
Accreditation:
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
North Business Complex 270
632 Bogue St.
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 355-7486
acct@broad.msu.edu
Michigan Technological University
School of Business and Economics
Holding the Guinness World Record for largest snowball fight, Michigan Technological University is a public, STEM-based research center led by President Glenn D. Mroz with a $96.2 million endowment to serve 7,270 Huskies from its 925-acre campus in Houghton upon the Keweenaw Peninsula. MTU is ranked America’s 79th best public college in Forbes, 11th best free application school on Niche, and 184th top U.S. university by Times Higher Education. The School of Business and Economics teaches one of the Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan with a 20-year net ROI of $625,000 on PayScale.
Accounting (MS)
Chaired by Dr. Dan Eshleman, Michigan Tech’s Accounting (MS) has a traditional 30-credit track or accelerated 4+1 option for Bachelor of Business Administration students to develop the leadership traits for organizing financial resources efficiently in today’s global market. Redesigned for Fall 2017, the post-grad curriculum spans courses from advanced tax to managerial accounting and accounting information systems. Students may also intern at Bank of America, study abroad in Valencia, earn the School of Business Impact Scholarship, and pledge Beta Gamma Sigma.
Accreditation:
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Academic Office G010A
1400 Townsend Dr.
Houghton, MI 49931
(906) 487-3605
jdeshlem@mtu
Oakland University
School of Business Administration
Led by President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, MD, Oakland University is a public, state-funded Metro Detroit college endowed for $86 million that’s grown since 1957 to serve 20,012 Golden Grizzlies from its 1,443 combined acres in Auburn Hills and Rochester. Oakland is ranked America’s 216th best public college on Forbes, 228th top high school counselor pick by the U.S. News, and 388th best business school on Niche. The School of Business Administration offers action-focused experiences like joining Beta Alpha Psi, brainstorming with Ideas 2 Business, interning at Ford, and mentoring for the Business Essentials Camp.
Master of Accounting
Accepting $45 applications until July 15th, November 15th, or March 1st yearly, Oakland’s Master of Accounting lets GMAT passers finish their fifth year of analytical, decision-making, and leadership skill development to take the Uniform CPA exam. Customized with the Taxation or Assurance concentrations, the 12-month degree spans 33 credits from quantitative managerial methods to auditing analysis. With a 97 percent placement rate, the program has alums at Plante Moran, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, The Rehmann Group, Yeo & Yeo, and others.
Master of Business Administration, Accounting Concentration
Named among CEO Magazine’s Tier One programs, the Oakland Master of Business Administration becomes another of the Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan when post-grads select the Accounting Concentration for CPA credentialing. Coordinated by Dr. Paul Trumbull, the 36-48 credit curriculum will include case-based courses like enterprise information systems and international accounting in a 15-week format. Priced at $706 in-state and $1,027 out-of-state per credit, the year-round program integrates weeknight sessions from Monday to Thursday before a capstone consulting project.
Accreditation:
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Elliott Hall 427
275 Varner Dr.
Rochester, MI 48309
(248) 370-3287
OUGradBusiness@oakland.edu
University of Michigan-Dearborn
College of Business
Offering over 125 clubs like Beta Alpha Psi, the University of Michigan-Dearborn is located along the Rouge River with 270 Metro Detroit acres as a public, coeducational research institution that’s endowed for $30.29 million to instruct 9,193 Wolverines and employ 511 faculty. UM-Dearborn is ranked the sixth best Midwestern value and 139th top master’s university overall by Washington Monthly. Enrolling post-grads with a median GMAT score of 549, the College of Business is declared the 317th best business school nationally on Niche with one of the Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan.
Master of Science in Accounting
Granting a reimbursable CPAExcel Gold Review course, UM-Dearborn’s Master of Science in Accounting takes 12 months full-time for $392 in-state and $764 out-of-state per credit to accelerate into specialized upper-level careers of controllership over financial services. Starting each September and January, the 30-credit degree has wide-ranging electives like commercial transactions and forensic examinations. Students could also pursue the MS-Accounting/Finance Dual Degree, take certain courses online, select the 4+1 Accounting option, intern with KPMG, and earn the Graduate Admission Scholarship.
Accreditation:
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Fairlane Center South
19000 Hubbard Dr.
Dearborn, MI 48126
(313) 593-5460
umd-gradbusiness@umich.edu
University of Michigan-Flint
School of Management
Known for noteworthy alums like Michael Moore, Christopher Paul Curtis, and Don Riegle, the University of Michigan-Flint is another of the public, coeducational regional branches endowed for $96 million under President Mark S. Schlissel to educate 8,289 Wolverines on its 42-acre “Vehicle City” campus near Longway Planetarium. UM-Flint is recognized for America’s 453rd best professors on Niche and the Midwest’s 26th top public education by the U.S. News. Reporting an annual ROI of 6.2 percent on PayScale, the School of Management is also applauded for the 103rd best part-time MBA nationwide.
Accounting (MSA)
Taught by CPAs, the UM-Flint Accounting (MSA) is another of the Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan using a hybrid NetPlus! format with online courses and campus learning labs for two weekends each semester. Each student is entered to win the $2,000 Go Blue Scholarship when starting the 30-credit, 20-month curriculum and studying topics from financial reporting to audit control. Post-grads with accredited baccalaureates and satisfactory GMAT scores could save time with the MSA/MBA Dual Advanced Degree too.
Business Administration (MBA) with Accounting Concentration
Estimated to cost $5,586 for Michiganders and $6,930 for non-residents per term, the Business Administration (MBA) at UM-Flint is coordinated by Professor Craig Gomolka to develop managerial acumen with in-depth competencies in eight concentrations, including Accounting. Featuring a 15:1 student-faculty ratio, the 33-45 credit curriculum is offered with traditional evening classes in Flint or NetPlus! hybrid sessions online. Following the motto “Lead, Innovate, Inspire,” the respected program includes hands-on training with Morningstar and Bloomberg software in the state-of-the-art Financial Lab.
Accreditation:
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Riverfront Hall 2223
303 E. Kearsley St.
Flint, MI 48502
(810) 237-6676
cgomolka@umflint.edu
Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration
Accounting Department
Given LEED Gold Level certification, the Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration is a Platinum Marcom Award-winning private, nonprofit B-school accredited by the ACBSP that’s grown since its 1922 founding by Meryn B. Walsh to enroll 4,038 in Troy, Novi, and online. Walsh is ranked the 497th best U.S. college by MONEY Magazine and given a 91 percent recommendation rate on GraduatePrograms.com. Renowned for inventing the Pace Accounting Method, the Accounting Department has 11-week semesters and an average class size of 21 to provide two master’s degrees with a median mid-career alum salary of $82,200.
Master of Science in Accountancy
Chaired by CPA John M. Black, a TRW CFO Award winner, Walsh’s Master of Science in Accountancy blends pragmatic and practical learning for post-grads to obtain professional certifications that are marketable in public or private financial services sectors. Offering an optional Global Project Management Certificate, the 36-45 credit curriculum is tailored for accounting and business or liberal arts majors. Students could also attend the Arthur E. Strunk series, get recruited by Oracle, join the Accounting & Taxation Student Organization, and travel to London.
Master of Science in Taxation (MST)
Drawing on 90+ years of experience, the Master of Science in Taxation (MST) at Walsh is one of the specialized Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan that’s currently charging $770 per credit for teaching relevant, updated tax laws for mid- and upper-level application. Placed fifth nationally by Tax Talent, the 36-39 credit curriculum bypasses the GMAT for courses like LLC taxation, property exchanges, and trust planning. Graduates have excelled with Lear Corporation, the Buffalo Bills, Deloitte, Ralph Wilson Enterprises, and more.
Accreditation:
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
3838 Livernois Rd.
Troy, MI 48083
(248) 823-1635
jblack@walshcollege.edu
Wayne State University
Mike Ilitch School of Business
Classified with Carnegie’s RU/VH status, Wayne State University is a public, science-based research center divided into 13 schools and endowed for $313 million to instruct 27,298 Warriors under President M. Roy Wilson with a 203-acre landscaped campus in Detroit along the Cass Corridor. WSU is ranked America’s 206th best university in Washington Monthly and 235th top public college by Forbes. Congratulated for the 166th top flexible MBA on the U.S. News survey, the Mike Ilitch School of Business currently charges $10,752 in-state and $21,763 out-of-state annually with 68 percent acceptance.
Master of Science in Accounting
Grown by 30 percent since 2012, WSU’s Master of Science in Accounting has expanded its stature in the Ilitch School with flexible courses in Midtown Detroit, Macomb, Oakland, and online to produce highly skilled CPAs who ethically control monetary movement in business. Chaired by Myles Stern, PhD, the advanced 30-credit degree will award three concentrations: Professional Accounting, Financial Reporting and Auditing, or Tax. Students can also get published in The Journal of Banking and Finance, join the Warriors Business Community, and study abroad in Brazil.
MBA Accounting Systems Concentration
Accepting AGRADE credits from Bachelor of Arts students, the MBA Accounting Systems Concentration at Wayne State is another of the Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan is organized by Dr. Marina Houghton to build the sound financial judgment for advancement. Boasting 34,000 productive alums, the 36-54 credit curriculum offers 11-week courses like accounting data analytics in Detroit or online via Blackboard. Post-grads could also earn the GMAT Waiver, intern with Goldman Sachs, join the ALPFA Chapter, and attend the Corporate Mentor Program.
Accreditation:
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Prentis Building 103
5201 Cass Ave.
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 577-3062
ac8360@wayne.edu
Western Michigan University
Haworth College of Business
Founded in 1903 by educator Dwight Bryant Waldo, Western Michigan University is a public, land-grant research school of the Mid-American Conference that’s endowed for $330 million to educate 23,914 Broncos and employ 925 professors from its 150-building campus in Kalamazoo. WMU is named America’s 207th top university by the U.S. News and 92nd best institution for civic engagement in Washington Monthly. Housing the last of the Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan, the Haworth College of Business is ranked the 349th best B-school nationally on Niche and 68th best college by the Journal of Education for Business.
Master of Science in Accountancy
Operating rolling admission until July 15th yearly, WMU’s Master of Science in Accountancy accepts Haworth College post-grads with an average 3.3 GPA under Chair Dr. Ola Smith to foster the technical expertise expected of Certified Public Accountants. Scheduled during weekday evenings, the 30-credit degree injects topics like corporate social responsibility, customer-driven marketing, and business tax planning. Students might also attend the Mercantile Bank of Michigan Speaker Series, intern at AGCO, secure graduate research assistantships, and obtain the BDO Seidman Scholarship.
Accreditation:
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Schneider Hall 3190
1903 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 387-5209
ola.smith@wmich.edu
According to the AICPA, Certified Public Accountants who meet Michigan’s 150-hour benchmark will benefit from 18 percent job growth and average pay increases of 15 percent. Master’s grads more easily progress from entry-level jobs like internal auditor to titles like senior tax accountant, financial reporting manager, controller, managerial accountant, and treasurer. Whether you’re aiming to work on Wall Street or Motown, Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Michigan are abundant to practice valuable skills in asset management.
See also: Top 35 Master of Accounting Online Degree Programs
