Master of Science in Accounting (MSA)

FULL-TIME   |   PART-TIME   |   ONLINE

While earning your MSA at Suffolk, you’ll:

• Earn your degree in as few as 9 months (full-time) or 21 months (part-time)
• Learn from industry experts who are each a mix of practitioners and accomplished scholars
• Study from a curriculum that is guided by the cutting-edge industry practices identified by our Young Alumni Advisory Board 
• Have access to a top-rated CPA review system, that is integrated into your courses and allows you to tailor your CPA prep to better suit your needs
• Specialize in areas like forensic accounting, business intelligence, governmental & not-for-profit accounting, or corporate accounting & finance

Suffolk’s MSA is designed for those who have a background in accounting as well as those who don't, so the length of the program depends on your level of experience. Take courses based on your schedule. You also have the option to take classes back-to-back in one evening or online on a space-available basis for added flexibility.

MSA Program Overview

Suffolk's Master's in Accounting

For more than 25 years, our graduate accounting programs have been preparing students for the CPA and CMA exams. Accountants who hold their CPA license earn 10%-15% more annually than those without the licensure. In fact, the average salary of a US-based CPA is $119,000 per year, excluding bonuses, according to the Journal of Accountancy.

If passing the CPA exam isn’t your goal, our electives give you an opportunity to customize your degree and build expertise in areas including taxation, big data, finance, entrepreneurship, and international business to prepare you for advancement in other careers.

In as few as 9 months (full-time) or 21 months (part-time), our MSA graduates go on to pursue rewarding and successful careers as auditors at public accounting firms, tax specialists at global corporations, special agents at government agencies, and key influencers at nonprofits and municipalities.

MSA Concentrations

Develop your analytical skills further and gain the professional expertise that top firms demand by choosing one of the four concentrations within the Suffolk MSA program. Each of these help you gain the skills and knowledge to distinguish you from the pack with a future-focused skill set.

Business Intelligence

Learn to design databases, retrieve data from business processes, visualize and analyze results, and communicate solutions.

Forensic Accounting

Gain an understanding of the motivations, opportunities, and rationalizations that facilitate fraudulent behavior. Learn how to detect, investigate, and prevent financial-related fraud.

Corporate Accounting & Finance

Learn how to interpret the world around you through numbers and be prepared for careers that influence corporations’ internal operations.

Governmental & Not-for-Profit Accounting

Acquire knowledge in the unique accounting principles, financial reporting structures, budget controls, program planning, and management controls in not-for-profit organizations and governmental units.

4+1 Program

If you’re a senior working towards an undergraduate business degree or a recent graduate, you may qualify to earn your Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) or in Taxation (MST) in as few as 9 months, or your MSA/MST, MSA/MSF, or MSBA/MSA in as few as 16 months. Learn more about our 4+1 programs.

Continuing Excellence

Our program has received Level-1 status from the MA Board of Public Accountancy, and is 1 of only 182 institutions worldwide to have an international supplemental accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

As the only Accounting program in Boston with this unique dual-accreditation, our students are automatically eligible to sit for the CPA exam without having to submit their transcripts for verification and are not subject to a waiting period.

MSA Outcomes 

*Class of 2017-2018 Graduates

Advising & Other Resources

Suffolk University offers graduate students—incoming, current, and alumni—help with navigating financial aid and payments, searching for career opportunities, and building a strong professional network. Our Graduate Student Services team supports you every step of the way with various services including application advising, financial aid counseling, international student resources, and other resources such as the Career Development Center or the Center for Learning and Academic Success. We also offer you value-added professional development workshops to bolster your experiential education and other professional skills while studying at Suffolk University. 

Applying to Suffolk's MSA Program 

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester: March 15 (priority), then rolling
Spring Semester: October 15 (priority), then rolling
Learn about the advantages of priority applications.

Application Materials

• Completed online application
• $50 application fee (waived for students who visit campus)
• Official transcripts for all post-secondary education
• Resume
• Goal statement (essay)
• Letter of recommendation (Learn more)
• The GMAT/GRE is not required for the MSA but may be required for the MBA/MSA, MSBA/MSA, or MSA/MSF dual-degree programs
• Official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE-Academic scores (international students only)

Cost of Graduate School at Suffolk