University of Massachusetts-Amherst Master of Science in Accounting (Professional Track): 2027 Review

Score

78.6 of 100, rank 2 of 50

Cost (20%)

4.9 of 10

Graduate Earnings (20%)

9.0 of 10

Completion (15%)

8.3 of 10

Flexibility (15%)

6.0 of 10

Credential Alignment (10%)

10.0 of 10

Track Record (10%)

10.0 of 10

Program Reputation (10%)

9.3 of 10

Cost per Credit

$850 per credit

Credits

30

Tuition

$25,500

Format

Fully Online, Asynchronous

Starts

3 starts per year

Time to Finish

Less than a year full time; part-time students can take up to four years

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.

UMass Amherst's online M.S. in Accounting lets you pick a nine-credit focus in Forensic Accounting, Taxation or Data Analytics. The core data course teaches Excel, Tableau and SAP, and the school lists PwC, Ernst & Young, RSM and CohnReznick among recent employers of graduates.

The Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst offers this Master of Science in Accounting Professional Track. It's delivered fully online and asynchronously, with classes in fall, spring and summer. The Charles River Campus in Newton also offers in-person weekend and evening opportunities.

• Accountants who want fraud work: the forensic focus teaches you fraud examination, investigation skills and damages analysis.
• Tax-minded staff: you take three courses covering partnerships and LLCs, tax research, and state and local tax, using software that public accounting firms use.
• UMass Amherst undergraduates: the 4+1 pathway could let you finish both degrees in fewer than five years.
• Graduates from other majors: a Transitions Track gets you started with foundation courses and runs 33 to 45 credits.
• Working professionals who want a coach: an MSA Career Coach and the IConnect platform support your job search.

The Professional Track is 30 credits: six required core classes and four electives. Core courses include Exploring Data Analytics for Accounting Professionals, Ethics and Professional Responsibilities for Accountants, Financial Statement Analysis and Advanced Audit. Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting covers consolidated statements.

Taxes and Business Decisions teaches you to weigh tax law against business choices. Your electives reach into Business Applications with Python, Cybersecurity Risk Management and Fraud Examination and Investigation. The program was shaped with an Accounting Advisory Council of alumni and executives.

If you're full-time, you can finish in less than a year, and part-time students can take up to four years. Applications open for fall, spring and summer, each with a priority deadline.

Eligible UMass Amherst and Five College students can use the 4+1 pathway to earn both degrees in five years. Some finish in fewer than five. The Transitions Track runs 33 to 45 credits for students without an accounting background.

Tuition is $850 per credit hour, or $25,500 for 30 credits. A one-time $507 graduate entering fee and an $85 registration fee per semester apply. Military students get a discount on online programs, and tuition can be billed to an employer.

Classes are asynchronous, so you can learn from any place at any time. Fall, spring and summer starts give you three entry points a year. The program joins the UMass Flex initiative, which gives flexible access to UMass Amherst courses. Students from all 50 states may enroll.

Isenberg holds AACSB accreditation and has separate AACSB accounting accreditation for its accounting department and programs. The curriculum was shaped with an Accounting Advisory Council of alumni partners and executives. The school says it's a primary recruiting school for the Big 4 public accounting firms.

Where this degree can lead: Accounting Degree Jobs.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Isenberg's online M.S. in Accounting number 9 among non-MBA online business graduate degrees in 2023, up three places. Fortune Education listed the master's in accounting number 3 overall in 2023, as shown on the Isenberg page.

U.S. News also lists it as a Best Online M.S. in Accounting for 2026. An independent college-advising site says online students can interact with faculty whose research adds to the flagship's reputation. That site also notes most online courses run asynchronously with weekly deadlines.

• Which focus, Forensic Accounting, Taxation or Data Analytics, fits my goals?
• When should I apply for the 4+1 pathway?
• Does the Transitions Track suit my non-accounting degree?
• What help does the MSA Career Coach give in my first term?

• Best Master's Programs #2 of 50
• Best Online Programs #2 of 25
• Best Online Master's Programs #2 of 25
• Best for Working Adults #1 of 15
• Accounting Programs in Massachusetts #1 of 6

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• California State University-Long Beach #3 of 50
• California State University-Fullerton #4 of 50

Also at University of Massachusetts-Amherst: our bachelor's program review