Master’s in Accounting Degree Programs in North Carolina

Earning a degree in one of the Master’s in Accounting degree programs in North Carolina is an excellent way to become a CPA, advance one’s career, or enjoy greater access to employment in North Carolina. The state has some of the oldest universities in the United States, and many of the schools are also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) or the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). From work as an auditor to employment with the Internal Revenue Service, graduates of accounting degree programs have the opportunity to work in many different areas in business.

See our ranking of the Top 15 Online Master’s in Forensic Accounting 2018.

Appalachian State University

Walker College of Business

Located in Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State University was founded in 1899. The school is a public institution that was founded by a pair of brothers named D.D. and B.B. Dougherty as a college to offer future teachers an education. The school has almost 19,000 students attending its rural 1,300-acre campus. The school’s official colors are black and gold, and the sports teams are nicknamed the Mountaineers. The university has been ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for the quality of its master’s degree programs. The school gained regional accreditation to offer college degrees in 1942, and the graduate school was founded in 1948.

Accounting: Master of Science (MS)

This Master’s in Accounting degree program in North Carolina is designed to help students expand their career options in the industry of accounting. The graduate degree helps students prepare to take the Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam. The program requires that students complete at least 30 credits including classes like Contemporary Issues in Accounting, Advanced Managerial Accounting, and Auditing Theory Seminar. Students can also complete a thesis for a total of six credits or a series of graduate-level electives requiring 12 credits. Graduates have gone on to work at firms like Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, and Ernst & Young.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International

Contact

Appalachian State University

287 Rivers St.

Boone, NC 28608

1-828-262-6206

pollardwb@appstate.edu

Website

East Carolina University

College of Business

East Carolina University of Greenville, North Carolina is a public university in Greenville. The school was founded in 1907 as a college for teacher training. The university is made up of nine undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, and professional schools for degrees in areas like dentistry and medicine. There are approximately 29,000 students attending the college which sits in an urban area of Greenville on a campus of 530 acres. The Health Sciences Campus and West Research Campus bring the total acreage for the university up to 1,386 acres. The school’s official colors are purple and gold, and the sports teams at the school are nicknamed the Pirates.

Accounting MSA

Anyone interested in furthering their accounting career or working in related fields will want to consider the benefits of a Master of Science in Accounting from East Carolina University. The degree program is accessible by students who have non-business and business-related degrees and requires no prerequisite experience in business. The school customizes the program for each student who applies to offer him or her the best opportunity to advance his or her career in accounting. Students will take the CPA exam before they actually graduate from the program, and this early test means they may gain a competitive advantage over other job seekers.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International

Contact

East Carolina University

East Fifth Street

Greenville, NC 27858

1-252-328-6131

admissions@ecu.edu

Website

Gardner-Webb University

The Broyhill School of Management

Gardner-Webb University is a Christian school in Boiling Springs that opened in 1905. The school was opened as a Baptist School and is currently affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Around 5,000 students take classes at Gardner-Webb University in five different professional schools and two academic schools. The school was created to offer students an education in the Christian tradition and was originally a high school. The school would become a junior college in the late 1920s and was elevated to a senior college in 1971. The school’s official colors are scarlet and black, and the sports teams play as the Bulldogs.

Master of Accountancy

Students in this graduate accounting degree program in North Carolina will take classes on advanced accounting topics and how the industry influences the areas of management, finance, and economics. Other subjects studied in the program include operations, statistics, information systems, and marketing. Students must complete 30 semester credit hours to graduate which includes 15 hours of core courses and nine electives in accounting. The program also requires six graduate electives in business. Employment for graduates of the program is available in a variety of areas like taxes, research, budget analysis, financial management, financial planning, auditing, and record keeping, as well as with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the federal government.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Contact

Gardner-Webb University

110 S. Main St.

P.O. Box 997

Boiling Springs, NC 28017

1-704-406-4000

admissions@gardner-webb.edu

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Pool College of Management

NCSU is a public college in Raleigh that was founded in 1887 as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The school has more than 34,000 students attending its 2,110-acre campus in urban Raleigh. The official colors of the school are red and white, and the school’s sports teams are nicknamed the Wolfpack. Students participate in NCAA Division I games. Popular programs at the school include engineering, agriculture, textiles, life sciences, and statistics. Not only is the school a public university, but it’s also the flagship of the state university system, as well as a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant institution.

Master of Accounting (MAC) Program

The graduate accounting program at NCSU shares that 96 percent of its students find work by the time they graduate. The curriculum is designed to offer students a broad introduction to advanced business practices and accounting topics. The one-year program features several core accounting courses, as well as the choice of three classes tied to the student’s choice of concentrations. Those concentrations, which are optional, include information technology, enterprise risk management, and tax strategy. The program features one-on-one advisors for students and many award-winning faculty members who have several years of professional experience. Classes in the program include Applied Financial Management, Advanced Income Tax, and Managerial & Career Effectiveness.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

Poole College of Management

Nelson Hall

2801 Founders Drive

Raleigh, NC 27695

1-919-513-7100

mkgraham@ncsu.edu

Website

Strayer University

Business and Finance

Founded in 1892 as the Strayer Business College, Strayer University is a for-profit institution that was granted university status in 1998. The school has around 36,000 students attending its online programs, as well as at its different campuses around the country. Some of the most well-known programs at the school include criminal justice, accounting, health services administration, public administration, and information technology. The school was originally designed as a college for farm workers interested in getting into business careers, and the school’s mission has run along that same line since it was transformed into a for-profit university in the late 1990s.

Online Master of Science in Accounting

Available concentrations in this online graduate degree in accounting in North Carolina include corporate accounting, forensic accounting, taxation, and public accounting. The program allows students the opportunity of working at their own pace, receiving assistance with 24-hour online tech support, and advice on financial aid options. Classes in the program include Managerial Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, and Managerial Economics & Globalization. Skills the program is designed to offer students include professional competence, critical thinking, information literacy, ethical behavior, analytical reasoning, and communication skills. Students are eligible for a variety of financial assistance types including state grants, tuition assistance programs, and federal financial aid programs.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

Strayer University

4900 Kroger Blvd. #400

Greensboro, NC 27407

1-877-445-7180

EMAIL

Website

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kenan-Flagler Business School

The University of North Carolina was officially established in 1789 and is one of 17 schools in the state’s university system. It is one of three colleges in the country that claims to be the oldest university in the United States. There are nearly 30,000 students attending school at the UNC campus in Chapel Hill, which also features the Morehead Planetarium. The campus covers 729 acres, and the school’s official colors are Carolina Blue and white. Sports teams participate in NCAA Division I games as the Tar Heels, and the school’s mascot is Rameses. The school’s official motto is “Light and Liberty.”

Master of Accounting (MAC)

This Master’s in Accounting degree program in North Carolina takes one year to complete and offers students the choice of online or on-campus learning formats. The school suggests it’s possible to make $50,000 a year upon graduating and increase that income to $100,000 within five years. Students of all backgrounds are invited to apply to the program as long as they have an undergraduate degree or some professional work experience. Classes in the program include Financial Reporting, Managerial and Cost Accounting, Federal Income Tax, and Auditing and Assurance Services. Students may also choose to complete a concentration in Taxation or Auditing.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

Kenan-Flagler Business School

300 Center Dr.

Chapel Hill, NC 27599

1-919-962-8201

admissions@unc.edu

Website

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Belk College of Business

UNC Charlotte is a public university in the state’s university system. Around 29,000 people attend classes at the university, which offers 140 bachelor’s degrees, 64 master’s degrees, and 23 doctoral degrees. The main campus is located in University City, but the school also has a Center City campus and the Charlotte Research Institute campus. The school’s main campus is around 1,000 acres and is located in a suburban area of town. The official colors of the school are green and white, and the school’s sports teams are nicknamed the 49ers. The school has expanded rapidly in the last decade with more than 33 percent growth since 2009.

Accountancy (MAcc)

This Master of Accountancy program in North Carolina features a 91 percent pass rate for students who choose to take the CPA exam. Classes in the curriculum include Tax Strategy and Policy, Advanced Accounting Information Systems, Financial Statement Auditing, and Business Environment, Governance, & Accountability. The program requires students to complete 30 semester hours of coursework, which translates to ten graduate classes. The program offers students the choice of four tracks including Professional Accounting, Tax, Financial Accounting or Auditing, and a personalized concentration chosen by the student. Students can attend full-time and finish in a year to 16 months or attend part-time and take around two years to complete the program.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

UNC Charlotte

Graduate Admissions

Cato Hall, 9201 University City Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28223

1-704-687-7690

jmcathey@uncc.edu

Website

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Bryan School of Business and Economics

UNC Greensboro is a public university in Greensboro and is part of the state’s university system. There are more than 100 undergraduate programs and 61 graduate programs available for students at the university, which has more than 20,000 students enrolled. The university has been granted “high research activity” and “high community engagement” by the Carnegie Foundation. The school houses the Weatherspoon Art Museum, which has a large collection of modern American art. The official colors of the school are gold, white, and navy, and the school’s sports teams play as the Spartans in NCAA Division I games. The university was founded in 1891 as State Normal and Industrial School.

MS in Accounting, Master of Science Degree

The graduate degree in accounting from UNC Greensboro is available to students of different academic and professional backgrounds and is ideal for anyone interested in switching careers to accounting. The mission of this graduate degree in accounting program in North Carolina is to help students pursue advanced accounting study through a rigorous curriculum and an internship program. To gain admission to the program, students must submit a variety of materials like a resume, personal statement, three letters of recommendation, a GRE or GMAT score, official transcripts, and the program application. The school also offers a prep course for the GMAT free of charge.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Contact

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

1400 Spring Garden St.

Greensboro, NC 27412

1-336-256-1432

mlpegg2@uncg.edu

Website

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Cameron School of Business

UNC Wilmington was founded in 1947 and is part of the state’s university system. The public university has nearly 17,000 students enrolled at its suburban campus of 661 acres. The school’s official colors are teal, navy, and gold, and the sports teams at the school are nicknamed the Seahawks. Students play in NCAA Division I games, and the school’s mascot is named Sammy C. Hawk. When the school first opened, it was a community college offering freshman-level courses to about 235 students. Many of the students attending the school were veterans of World War II. The school began offering degrees a senior college in 1963.

Master of Science in Accountancy

The graduate degree in accounting at UNC Wilmington offers students an affordable option for earning a graduate degree and boasts a 95 percent placement rate at graduation. The program helps fulfill the 150 hours required to take the CPA exam and also offers generous financial support through assistantships and scholarships. The program features two different concentrations including Tax Services or Assurance/Systems Advisory. Concentration classes for Tax Services include Federal Tax Research, Advanced Topics in Taxation, and an Accounting Practicum in tax. The Assurance/Systems Advisory concentration requires Information Systems Analysis & Design, Business Database Systems, and an accounting practicum in auditing and information systems.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

UNC Wilmington

601 S. College Rd.

Wilmington, NC 28403

1-910-962-7632

kerlerw@uncw.edu

Website

Wake Forest University

School of Business

Established in 1834, Wake Forest University was once called Wake Forest Manual Labor Institute until it became a college in 1839. The school’s name came from its first location in Wake Forest, which is just north of the state’s capital of Raleigh. There are around 8,000 students at the school, which is located in Winston-Salem and has been since 1956. The school is known for its teaching program as “U.S. News & World Report” ranked it fifth nationwide. The suburban campus in Winston-Salem covers 340 acres, and the school’s official colors are Old Gold and black. The sports teams are nicknamed the Demon Deacons, and they participate in NCAA Division I games.

Masters in Accounting

Wake Forest University has the distinction as having the number one pass rate for the CPA exam of any school in the country and has maintained this performance level for virtually every one of the last 18 years. Career tracks in the program include Assurance Services, Tax Consulting, and Financial Transaction Services. The program also helps students prepare for the CPA exam through the Becker CPA Exam Review, which is administered by the school’s faculty. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a paid internship that lasts nine weeks and offers real-world experience to each student. Classes in the program include Principles of Finance, Intermediate Accounting, Introductory Tax, Principles of and Financial Accounting.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

Wake Forest University

1834 Wake Forest Rd.

Winston-Salem, NC 27109

1-336-758-5000

admissions@wfu.edu

Website

Western Carolina University

College of Business

WCU is a public university in Cullowhee that is a constituent campus of the state’s university system. The school has around 11,000 students attending its rural campus of 589 acres. The official colors of the school are purple and gold, and the nickname of the school’s sports teams are the Catamounts. Students at the school come from 48 states and more than 30 countries. Located on the far western side of North Carolina, the university also has learning centers in nearby Cherokee and Asheville. The school was founded in 1889 by members of the local community who wanted to improve educational opportunities for locals.

Accountancy M.A.c.

The WCU accountancy program suggests graduates of this program can go on to work in a variety of areas like bookkeeping, banking, management, auditing, purchasing, and many more areas of business. The program requires students to complete 30 semester hours to receive their degree. Topics covered in this master’s in accounting degree programs in North Carolina include accounting theory, concepts of taxation, accounting information systems, business law, and tax research. Students who want to become a CPA will also reach the 150-hour requirement for state licensure. Classes students will take in the program include Advanced Accounting Theory and Applications, Income Tax Theory and Applications, and Auditing.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

Western Carolina University

1 University Way

Cullowhee, NC 28723

1-828-227-7211

admiss@email.wcu.edu

Website

Wingate University

School of Business

Established in 1896, Wingate University is associated with the Baptist faith and has a main campus in Wingate and two more campuses in Hendersonville and Charlotte. The school offers 35 majors for undergraduate programs, as well as several career and pre-professional programs. There are about 3,600 students attending classes at the university, which has been ranked highly in a list of regional universities by “U.S. News & World Report.” Most students who attend classes at the university live on campus for all four years that they attend. The school’s official colors are blue and gold, and students are nicknamed the Bulldogs on the school’s NCAA Division II teams.

Master of Accounting Program

Wingate University’s Master’s in Accounting degree in North Carolina takes place on campus in Wingate and offers students a curriculum on a full-time or part-time basis. Students may choose to enter a program that combines an undergraduate accounting degree and a master’s degree into one, five-year program, or they may enter just the graduate program. Classes in the curriculum include Advanced Accounting, Modeling of Advanced Tax Issues, and Financial Accounting Concepts, Analysis, and Valuation. For students interested in becoming Certified Public Accountants, completing this 30-credit graduate degree will help satisfy the 150-hour requirement for licensure in North Carolina. The program is available in a one-year or two-year format.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

Wingate University

220 N. Camden St.

Wingate, NC 28174

1-704-233-8200

info@wingate.edu

Website

Accounting is often referred to as the “language of business,” and earning a graduate degree can certainly help a student become well-educated in the advanced accounting topics commonly used in business and high-paying accounting environments. Many graduate degree programs in accounting only take a year to complete when a student attends on a full-time basis, so the time commitment is rather brief for what the degree eventually offers in the way of career advancement. There are many well-established and respected master’s in accounting degree programs in North Carolina that can help future CPAs, accounting executives, and business owners get the education they need to succeed.