Salem State University Master of Science in Accounting: 2027 Review

Score

64.6 of 100

Cost (20%)

10.0 of 10

Completion (15%)

7.5 of 10

Flexibility (15%)

4.0 of 10

Credential Alignment (10%)

10.0 of 10

Track Record (10%)

5.1 of 10

Program Reputation (10%)

1.7 of 10

Credits

30

Format

Hybrid, On Campus, Evenings and Weekends

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.

Salem State sorts students into three tracks, so accounting graduates, business majors and career changers can all earn the same master's. Evening hybrid classes and a 4+1 option with 12 graduate credits taken during the bachelor's keep the timeline short.

The Bertolon School of Business at Salem State University, in Salem, Massachusetts, offers the Master of Science in Accounting. Courses meet in the evening in a hybrid format, and some classes are online. The program belongs to the Accounting and Finance department.

• Accounting graduates in a hurry: the Core Track takes 30 credits and can finish in twelve months full-time, including summer.
• Business majors: the Business-to-Accounting Track needs 30 to 45 graduate credits.
• Career changers with a non-business degree: the Transitions Track runs 30 to 54 credits and adds foundation courses first.
• If you're a Salem State business undergraduate, the 4+1 program earns you the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and the MSA in five years. You also don't need Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores.
• Massachusetts certified public accountant (CPA) candidates: the program is built to help you meet the state's 150-hour education requirement.

Six core courses carry the Core Track. Corporate Financial Reporting digs into investments, bonds, leases, pensions and revenue recognition. Advanced Accounting Systems covers enterprise system controls, internal control standards and IT auditing. Advanced Auditing uses cases of past audit failures, so you research auditing standards yourself. Managerial Accounting with Data Analytics applies costing techniques and accounting data to decisions.

Tax Factors in Business studies how taxes shape choices for sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations. You then take six credits of accounting and finance electives, such as Advanced Forensic Accounting or Global Financial Reporting Issues, plus six credits of business electives. If you're on another track, foundation courses come first.

Internships are encouraged for every Bertolon student, and stipends exist for unpaid ones.

On the Core Track, you'll finish the 30 credits in twelve months full-time, or you can stretch them over up to six years part-time. Earlier courses such as Intermediate Accounting or Federal Taxation can earn up to two waivers. A 15-credit graduate certificate in accounting can lead into the master's. If you take the 4+1 path, graduate credits count during your bachelor's, so you've got just 18 left.

Salem State lists the program at $599 per credit in-state and $696.50 out-of-state, including tuition, a course fee and a capital improvement fee. New degree-seeking students pay a one-time $275 matriculation fee. You can apply for graduate assistantships, grants and scholarships.

Courses meet in the evening in a hybrid format. Some classes are online, with both synchronous and asynchronous coursework. The related graduate certificate runs in fall, spring and summer terms, in person and online.

The Bertolon School of Business holds AACSB accreditation. The program offers the educational emphasis consistent with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) expectations for the CPA exam. The catalog says finishing it helps you meet the Massachusetts 150-hour requirement.

Where this degree can lead: Accounting Degree Jobs.

An accounting alumnus says that, as an undergraduate, working as a research assistant built research skills for reviewing academic papers and data sets. An alumnus who is an entrepreneur calls the Bertolon education by far the best bang for your buck. The school also reports that U.S. News and World Report ranked Salem State 23rd in the country for social mobility in 2026.

• Which track will the program coordinator place me in, based on my transcript?
• Which of my earlier courses qualify for the two waivers?
• Which evening sections meet in person and which meet online each term?
• How do I apply for a graduate assistantship or an unpaid-internship stipend?

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