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 either practitioners or accomplished scholars
- Study from a curriculum that is guided by the cutting-edge industry practices identified by our Young Alumni Advisory Board
- Take courses that integrate Becker's CPA Exam Review Course, giving you supplemental material to help you ace your classes while also preparing you for success on the CPA exam.
- Specialize in areas like forensic accounting, business intelligence, governmental & not-for-profit accounting, taxation, 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.
Why Get a CPA?
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.
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 supplemental 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.
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) in as few as 9 months, or your MSA/MSF or MSBA/MSA in as few as 16 months. Learn more about our 4+1 programs.
MSA Concentrations
Develop your analytical skills further and gain the professional expertise that top firms demand by choosing one of the five 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.
Learn to design databases, retrieve data from business processes, visualize and analyze results, and communicate solutions.
Gain an understanding of the motivations, opportunities, and rationalizations that facilitate fraudulent behavior. Learn how to detect, investigate, and prevent financial-related fraud.
Learn how to interpret the world around you through numbers and be prepared for careers that influence corporations’ internal operations.
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.
Focus your study on the rules, regulations, practices, and strategies employed in the field of taxation, as well as taxation’s impact on financial reporting.
Concentration available starting in the fall of 2022. Available in on-campus program only.
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: July 15 (International Applicants), August 15 (Domestic Applicants), then rolling
- Spring Semester: December 1 (International Applicants), January 4 (Domestic Applicants), then rolling
Learn about the advantages of priority applications.
Application Materials
- Completed application
- $50 Application Fee (waived for students who visit campus)
- Resume
- Unofficial transcripts of all post-secondary work. Admitted students enrolling in the program will need to have official transcripts, including proof of degree conferral, on file prior to their first class
- Goal Statement (essay)
- Letter of Recommendation (learn more)
- Official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE-Academic Scores (international students only)
MSA (2022-2023)
Full time per semester: $24,570
Per credit: $1,638
Financial Aid for Graduate Study
Suffolk University is pleased to offer both merit- and need-based financial aid to graduate students—these awards can be up to $23,000 per academic year. Merit-based aid is awarded based on the applicant's academic credentials presented on the admission application. No separate application is required for merit consideration.
