Michigan State University Bachelor of Science in Accounting: 2027 Review

Score

64.6 of 100

Cost (20%)

1.6 of 10

Graduate Earnings (20%)

8.9 of 10

Completion (15%)

9.4 of 10

Flexibility (15%)

0.0 of 10

Credential Alignment (10%)

10.0 of 10

Track Record (10%)

10.0 of 10

Program Reputation (10%)

9.7 of 10

Credits

120

Format

On Campus

Accreditation

AACSB (confirmed on the official list)

AACSB Accounting

Accounting accreditation listed by AACSB

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

Michigan State's Bachelor of Science in Accounting comes from the AACSB-accredited Broad College of Business, a target recruiting school for each of the Big Four firms. With the government and not-for-profit course, it meets Michigan's education requirements for the certified public accountant (CPA) exam.

Michigan State University in East Lansing is a public university, and this Bachelor of Science in Accounting is taught on campus through the Department of Accounting and Information Systems. You'll need 120 credits. The program is Michigan's largest educator of certified public accountants and is endorsed by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).

• You're planning to sit for the CPA exam in Michigan, since the program plus the government and not-for-profit accounting course meets the state's education requirements.
• You want firm recruiting close by, because Broad College is a target recruiting school for each Big Four public accounting firm and for national and regional firms.
• You're a high school senior, since direct admission from high school is one route in.
• You're already at MSU, where standard admission is open to current students.

The major has seven required accounting courses worth 19 credits. You start with Preparing for an Accounting Career, a one-credit course. Intermediate Financial Accounting I and II cover financial accounting theory and practice. Accounting Information Systems and Accounting for Management Decision Making cover systems and cost analysis.

The income tax course, ACC 331, covers individual and corporate taxation, and Auditing covers audit concepts and issues. Intermediate II and the income tax course also meet the university writing requirement for the major. The catalog says you also get exposure to business analytics and communication training.

The Bachelor of Science needs 120 credits, including general elective credits. You need a 2.00 average in each required accounting course. If you plan to sit for the CPA exam in Michigan, you also take Accounting 308 or an equivalent. The department offers a master's in accounting that is 30 credits, with starts in fall, spring or summer.

Based on the annual out-of-state tuition the school reports, the cost is about $1,484 per credit. You'll need 120 credits for the degree.

This is an on-campus program in East Lansing. You take your accounting courses at MSU and get to know the firms that recruit from Broad College.

AACSB lists Michigan State University and its Eli Broad College of Business as accredited, including accounting accreditation. The IMA endorses the program, and it prepares you for the Michigan CPA exam.

Where this degree can lead: Accounting Degree Jobs.

A Broad College student told MSUToday in 2026 that classmates want to see each other succeed. Another said the professional-development experiences give them material to bring up in internship interviews. The Broad College class of 2025 reported a 99% placement rate, and 87% of those graduates took part in an internship. MSUToday also reported that U.S. News 2026 placed MSU undergraduate accounting 22nd overall and 13th among public institutions.

• Which government and not-for-profit accounting course should I take for the CPA exam?
• How does Broad College admission work for my situation?
• Which firms recruit accounting students at Broad College each year?
• What does the IMA endorsement mean for my coursework?

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