Fairfield University Master of Science in Accounting: 2027 Review

Score

67.9 of 100, rank 24 of 50

Cost (20%)

2.2 of 10

Graduate Earnings (20%)

10.0 of 10

Completion (15%)

9.8 of 10

Flexibility (15%)

1.0 of 10

Credential Alignment (10%)

10.0 of 10

Track Record (10%)

8.7 of 10

Program Reputation (10%)

8.6 of 10

Cost per Credit

$1,285 per credit

Credits

30

Tuition

$38,550

Format

On Campus, Hybrid

Starts

2 starts per year

Time to Finish

12 months

Accreditation

AACSB (confirmed on the official list)

See exactly how we score on the methodology page. We checked the school's figures on October 8, 2026.

Fairfield's one-year master's gives you assurance, analytics and tax tracks in one cohort. The schedule also sets aside time for the certified public accountant (CPA) exam and paid internships. The Dolan School of Business reports that nearly all recent graduates landed jobs at Big Four or regional firms.

The Master of Science in Accounting sits in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University in Connecticut. It carries a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) designation and is taught on the Fairfield campus. You move through it with a full-time cohort that starts in January or May.

• Career changers with an accounting bachelor's who want one fast year: the cohort runs 12 months from start to finish.
• Fairfield undergraduates who plan ahead: the 4+1 path lets you begin graduate courses as a senior and finish the master's with one more year.
• Students who like data work: the Business Analytics track builds on a required course in analytics for audit and tax.
• International students aiming at global careers: the school offers the Interstride career platform for them.

You take 10 three-credit courses, seven required and three electives. Issues in Accounting Ethics looks at the ethical problems that come up in current practice. Data Analytics in the Accounting Profession has you use data analysis tools on audit and tax questions.

Entity Taxation shows you federal tax rules and planning for different business entities. Electives include Forensic Accounting, which teaches how to investigate and document fraud, and International Accounting, which centers on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The optional Practicum in Accounting gives three elective credits for applying your learning at a professional site.

Tracks are Assurance, Business Analytics and Taxation.

It's 30 credits, and you finish in 12 months full time. The cohort starts each January and May. The school says the year lets you build the credits to be "150 ready" for public accounting jobs. The 4+1 route lets a Fairfield undergraduate begin graduate coursework early and earn the master's with one added year.

Tuition is $1,285 per credit. The school estimates $38,550 for the 30 credits at the 2026-27 rate, before fees. You don't need a Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) score.

Classes meet on campus in Fairfield, Connecticut. You study full time with the same cohort for a year. Your schedule includes time off to sit the CPA exam and to complete paid internships.

The Dolan School of Business holds AACSB accreditation. It's designed to address the education requirements for CPA certification in Connecticut and most other states.

Where this degree can lead: Accounting Degree Jobs.

A 2024 graduate of Fairfield's accounting major said the Dolan Career Development Center is very helpful in getting accounting majors into Big Four internships and jobs. The school itself reports that in recent years 95 percent of its MS in Accounting graduates secured jobs at Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC or regional firms.

Fairfield reports that QS placed the program among the top graduate programs for value for money in 2026. Accounting Today reported in 2022 that Fairfield accounting graduates are among the most likely to join the Big Four.

• Which of the three tracks fits the firm or role I want after graduation?
• Which undergraduate courses count toward the intermediate, auditing and tax prerequisites?
• How does the cohort calendar fit around the CPA exam windows?
• When do the paid internships happen during the year?
• Can I add the Practicum in Accounting as one of my three electives?

• Best Master's Programs #24 of 50
• Accounting Programs in Connecticut

• University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus #22 of 50
• DePaul University #23 of 50
• Boise State University #25 of 50
• Seton Hall University

Also at Fairfield University: our bachelor's program review