Rutgers University-Newark Master of Accountancy in Governmental Accounting: 2027 Review

Score

69.9 of 100, rank 15 of 50

Cost (20%)

2.8 of 10

Graduate Earnings (20%)

8.4 of 10

Completion (15%)

8.5 of 10

Flexibility (15%)

5.0 of 10

Credential Alignment (10%)

10.0 of 10

Track Record (10%)

10.0 of 10

Program Reputation (10%)

7.4 of 10

Cost per Credit

$1,175 per credit

Credits

30

Tuition

$35,250

Format

Fully Online

Starts

2 starts per year

Time to Finish

As little as a year

Accreditation

AACSB (confirmed on the official list)

See exactly how we score on the methodology page. We checked the school's figures on October 7, 2026.

This master's focuses entirely on government accounting. You study fund accounting, Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards, public budgets and public-sector audits. A program advisory board that includes the chairs of GASB and the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) sets it apart from general accounting degrees.

Rutgers Business School at Rutgers University-Newark offers the Master of Accountancy in Governmental Accounting. All required courses and suggested electives are online, and the degree runs part-time. You'll learn from public-sector practitioners alongside Rutgers faculty.

• You work in city or state finance and want to move into finance leadership. Your courses cover fund accounting, budgeting and public finance.
• You're among the prospective certified public accountants (CPAs) in New Jersey. The 30 credits supply the extra credits you need to sit for the state exam.
• You work in government outside New Jersey. Rutgers gives you in-state tuition.
• You study public administration. The dual degree with the Master of Public Administration (MPA) cuts that degree from 42 to 30 credits.
• You're testing the waters. A four-course certificate can later count toward your master's.

You take 10 courses: seven required and three electives. In Governmental Accounting and Auditing, you learn fund accounting and GASB pronouncements. Government Budgeting Systems uses case studies on public-sector budget management. Public Sector Auditing covers the audit types found in government. Ethical Issues in Public Financial Management prepares you for the dilemmas of a government financial manager.

Advanced Topics in Governmental Accounting ends in a project or research memo. Your electives include Public Sector Forensic Accounting and Governmental Financial Analysis, where you do ratio work on audited government reports. One elective option is an independent study that ends in a paper and an oral defense.

You'll work through case studies, virtual team projects and standard-setting research.

The degree is 30 credits. The school says you can finish in as little as a year while employed. If you're a Rutgers undergraduate accounting major in the Gateway option, you may substitute up to 12 undergraduate credits with graduate credits.

The school suggests applying three semesters before you graduate. If you do the dual MPA, you complete 60 credits in total, with 30 from each school. Not every course runs each semester, so check the posted schedule.

Your tuition is $1,175 per credit for 2026-2027. New Jersey's in-state rate applies to out-of-state students too. If you work in government, check Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility.

You take classes online with no on-site requirement. The program starts twice a year. Students describe flexible pacing alongside active professor contact and team projects. You can join the annual Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update Conference, a virtual event the school describes as the largest gathering of governmental accountants and auditors in New Jersey.

Rutgers Business School holds AACSB accreditation. The program prepares you for the Certified Government Financial Manager exam through the optional Government Financial Management certificate. You may also pursue the Chartered Public Finance Accountant credential through an agreement with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

Where this degree can lead: Accounting Degree Jobs.

Alumni quoted in school news stories describe coursework built on real government financial reports. One graduate credits the degree with a promotion to budget and payroll accountant. An alumna calls the degree a catalyst in her move from team member to team leader. Students and graduates also say instructors were easy to reach despite the online format. Classmates from across the country added useful views.

• Which electives run in my first two semesters, since not every course runs each term?
• Do my certificate credits transfer fully into the master's?
• Can I count this degree toward the 150 hours my state requires for the CPA exam?
• How does the dual MPA degree handle scheduling and the two separate applications?

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Also at Rutgers University-Newark: our bachelor's program review