SUNY Polytechnic Institute Master of Science in Accounting: 2027 Review

Score

65.4 of 100

Cost (20%)

7.6 of 10

Graduate Earnings (20%)

5.4 of 10

Completion (15%)

7.9 of 10

Flexibility (15%)

5.0 of 10

Credential Alignment (10%)

10.0 of 10

Track Record (10%)

6.3 of 10

Program Reputation (10%)

3.7 of 10

Cost per Credit

$565 per credit

In-State Rate

$471 per credit

Credits

33

Tuition

$18,645

Format

Fully Online

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

Waived under conditions

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.

New York State registers this degree as a licensure-qualifying program for the 150-hour certified public accountant (CPA) requirement, and you can add a three-course forensic accounting and valuation concentration. Eleven courses make up the 33 credits.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, New York, offers the Master of Science in Accounting, taught online only. It sits in the College of Business Management. The program serves both full-time and part-time students, so you can pick your pace.

• Accounting graduates aiming for New York CPA licensure: the degree is registered to satisfy the state's 150 hour education rule.
• Future fraud examiners: the forensic concentration swaps in financial statement investigations and business valuation.
• Licensed certified management accountants (CMAs) or students who have passed all four CPA sections: they can waive the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
• Nonprofit and government accountants: Fund Accounting covers reporting for not-for-profit entities.
• Graduates from other majors: you'll add undergraduate prerequisites under the guidance of the program coordinator.

The degree is 33 credits. That's 15 in accounting and 15 in business, plus 3 for an elective. Financial Statement Analysis and Reporting covers ratio analysis, cash budgeting and capital budgeting. Advanced Income Tax Research shows you federal tax rules for corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts. Fund Accounting teaches you standards for not-for-profit entities.

Advanced Auditing Theory covers computerized auditing, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations and legal liability. Advanced Financial Accounting Theory examines generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and the financial accounting standards. The optional concentration uses Financial Statement Investigations, Introduction to Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination, and either Accounting Information Systems and Data Analytics or Business and Forensic Valuation.

An internship course places you with experienced professionals.

Full-time students can finish in 18 months, and full-time means at least 9 credits a term. Part-time completion depends on how many credits you take each term. You'll build a plan of study with the program coordinator. You can transfer up to six credit hours from another graduate program. An advanced certificate in forensic accounting is 12 credits, and nine of those can count toward the degree.

Part-time tuition is $471 per credit for New York residents and $565 per credit for non-residents, up to 11 credits a term. Students with 12 or more credits pay $5,655 per semester as residents or $6,785 as non-residents. The $60 application fee is waived for veterans, active-duty members, and their spouses and dependents.

Every class is online, with no campus visits. You can study part time or full time, and you choose your load with the program coordinator around the department's course schedule. Students who stay continuously registered have up to six semesters to complete the requirements.

SUNY Poly is AACSB accredited. The degree is built to qualify you to sit for the CPA exam and the CMA. Advanced Management Accounting gives you case studies and problems from the CMA exam. The GMAT, which the school lists as required unless waived, can be replaced by the GRE, Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Where this degree can lead: Accounting Degree Jobs.

Students reviewing the school on OnlineU said the online format lets them work on their own schedule. One graduate accounting reviewer said online students can reach professors without trouble and called the program a strong, affordable choice for CPA eligibility.

The same reviewer said it's perfect for students working full time. In 2023, Fortune included the program in its list of best online master's in accounting programs. A management student pointed to the business school's AACSB accreditation.

• Which prerequisites would I need, given my undergraduate major?
• Does the forensic concentration or the advanced certificate fit my goals better?
• How would the 150 hours count toward CPA licensure in my state?
• What GMAT waiver or substitute test applies to me?

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Also at SUNY Polytechnic Institute: our bachelor's program review