University of Arizona Master of Science in Accounting: 2027 Review

Score

64.1 of 100

Cost (20%)

3.8 of 10

Graduate Earnings (20%)

6.8 of 10

Completion (15%)

5.3 of 10

Flexibility (15%)

6.0 of 10

Credential Alignment (10%)

10.0 of 10

Track Record (10%)

6.6 of 10

Program Reputation (10%)

9.2 of 10

Cost per Credit

$1,000 per credit

Credits

30

Tuition

$30,000

Format

Fully Online

Starts

6 starts per year

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

Not required

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 7, 2026.

Six start dates a year and an asynchronous format let you begin the Arizona master's when it suits you and finish in as little as 12 months. The coursework is built around the Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), Taxation and Regulation (REG) and Auditing and Attestation (AUD) sections of the certified public accountant (CPA) exam.

The Master of Science in Accounting comes from the Dhaliwal-Reidy School of Accountancy in the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. It's a 30-unit degree delivered fully online. Arizona is a public university in Tucson.

• Working accountants who want to set their own pace: the program is asynchronous, so you do coursework on your own schedule.
• CPA candidates who need 150 hours: the degree adds accounting and business units that help meet state education rules.
• Career changers without a business degree: you can complete missing prerequisites first, including in the Online Certificate.
• Students who want two degrees: dual options pair the MSA with the MBA, the Master in Health Management or the MS in Management Information Systems.

You complete 18 units of accounting and 12 units of selected MBA and accounting electives. Advanced Accounting covers consolidated statements, mergers and acquisitions, foreign currency and derivatives. The advanced tax course focuses on C corporations, with S corporations, partnerships, estates and gifts.

Principles of Auditing teaches how an auditor forms an opinion, and the course is aimed at the AUD section of the exam. Financial Statement Analysis builds skills in credit analysis, footnotes, forecasting and valuation. Ethics for Professional Accountants is an option.

Every student passes a comprehensive MSA exam in the last semester, and you'll get one retake.

The degree is 30 credits plus any prerequisites you still need. Eller says you can finish in as little as 12 months. Courses start six times a year, though you must enroll each semester to keep progressing.

Prerequisites are Introductory Financial Accounting, Introduction to Managerial Accounting, two intermediate courses and an individual tax course. Introductory Financial Accounting must come before you start. The others can be taken in the Online Certificate. Arizona says the master's can satisfy most states' education rules for CPA licensing, and requirements vary by state.

The school lists $1,000 per credit, which comes to $30,000 for 30 credits. The school says scholarships are available.

You complete the whole program online and asynchronously. Terms run in six blocks across the year, beginning in January, March, May, July, late August and late October. An Admissions Coach answers questions about requirements, applications and merit scholarships. The diploma doesn't say the degree was earned online.

Both the Eller College of Management and the School of Accountancy are AACSB accredited. The program covers CPA exam topics, and the school says the degree can satisfy most states' educational requirements for licensing. The school notes a master's isn't strictly required, but every jurisdiction asks for 150 hours of education.

Where this degree can lead: Accounting Degree Jobs.

• Which prerequisites do I still need, and can the Online Certificate cover them?
• Which core courses should I choose to prepare for the FAR, REG or AUD section?
• How does the comprehensive MSA exam work, and which three sections should I pick?
• Which merit scholarships can I apply for with my application?
• What does my state require for CPA licensure beyond this degree?

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Also at University of Arizona: our bachelor's program review