Pace University Public Accounting, CPA Prep, MS: 2027 Review

Score

63.7 of 100

Cost (20%)

0.6 of 10

Graduate Earnings (20%)

10.0 of 10

Completion (15%)

6.3 of 10

Flexibility (15%)

6.0 of 10

Credential Alignment (10%)

10.0 of 10

Track Record (10%)

7.9 of 10

Program Reputation (10%)

6.1 of 10

Cost per Credit

$1,625 per credit

Credits

30 to 50

Format

Fully Online, On Campus

Starts

3 starts per year

Time to Finish

24 months

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.

Pace builds Becker's review courses for the certified public accountant (CPA) exam into the degree itself, so you prep for the exam for credit instead of on your own time. The Lubin School also has dual AACSB accreditation in business and accounting. Pace reports 1,900 Lubin alumni at Big Four firms.

The Lubin School of Business at Pace University offers the MS in Public Accounting, CPA Prep. You can take it on the New York City or Westchester campus, or fully online.

• Business graduates aiming for a CPA license: you'll get the credits and the Becker review courses in one plan.
• Career changers with no accounting background: you start with seven foundation courses. You can waive them with a B in related undergraduate work.
• Working professionals who need part-time study: you'll take two courses a semester online.
• Students drawn to New York firms: Meet The Firms and Beta Alpha Psi case competitions put recruiters in front of you.
• Students who want analytics in their accounting: your electives cover fraud detection and data-driven auditing.

In Financial Reporting I and II, you learn how statements are built, from equity to leases. Auditing (ACC 632) teaches you standards and procedures for public practice. In Modeling of Accounting Information Systems (ACC 662), you'll cover data flow diagrams, relational databases and query language. Taxation of Entities for Accountants covers corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts.

Two Becker-based courses, CPA Review Financial Accounting Reporting and CPA Review Auditing and Attestation, follow the exam topics. LAW 610 satisfies the CPA exam law requirement. Your electives include Forensic Accounting, Advanced Auditing and Analytics, and Accounting Analytics for Fraud Detection and Risk Assessment. In the capstone Research Project (ACC 692), you work with data from actual companies.

You can find internships through the New York City and Westchester locations.

The program lists 30 to 50 credits over about two years. Your total depends on the foundation courses you waive. If you study online, you'll go part-time at two courses a semester. On campus, you can go full-time or part-time. Pace starts classes in fall, spring and summer. Both the graduate and fully online options meet the New York State 150-hour requirement to sit for the CPA exam.

Your tuition is $1,625 per credit. The Deloitte Foundation offers full tuition support if you're entering a Pace graduate accounting program.

You can choose New York City, Westchester or online. Online is part-time only, with two courses each semester. You get a decision within one week of a complete application. The next online start listed is January 25, 2027.

Lubin holds AACSB accreditation in business and in accounting. The AACSB list shows Pace University's Lubin School of Business. The curriculum is aligned with the new CPA Core + Disciplines exam and includes Becker CPA Review courses. Lubin was also the first US business school to earn exemptions for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants certification in accounting.

Where this degree can lead: Accounting Degree Jobs.

A 2022 graduate of the online MS quoted on the program page calls the faculty a strong source of academic help and career advice. An accounting major on OnlineU praises the welcoming community and the intelligence of the professors.

A 2022 EDUopinions reviewer in accounting says the accounting professors are informative and engaged. On Niche, reviewers rate Pace's graduate programs 4.44 out of 5 across 96 reviews. A 2024 PayScale list places Pace in the top 7% of colleges for return on investment for business majors.

• Which of my undergraduate courses would waive foundation courses like MBA 804 or TAX 503?
• How do the Becker review courses line up with the CPA Core and Discipline sections?
• Which electives, such as Forensic Accounting, run each term?
• How do Meet The Firms and Executive in Residence events reach online students?

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