Programs Ranked
11
Schools
9
Degree Levels
2
Source: School program pages, verified October 2026
There are 11 accounting programs at 9 Massachusetts schools here, and you can take them on campus, in a hybrid format or from home. Five are bachelor's and six are master's. Nine of the eleven are listed by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Prices go from $440 per credit at Nichols College to $850 per credit at UMass Amherst. Once you're working, you can expect a median wage of $99,460 as a Massachusetts accountant or auditor, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Need 150 credits to sit for the certified public accountant (CPA) exam?
Northeastern's master's gets you there in seven months.
Best Picks
Best Pick at Each Degree Level
The best-scoring program at each degree level on this list.
- Best Bachelor's69.4 out of 100
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting (On Campus)
Massachusetts · BBA
University of Massachusetts-Amherst's BBA Review - Best Master's78.6 out of 100
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Master of Science in Accounting (Professional Track)
Massachusetts · MS
University of Massachusetts-Amherst's MS Review
Massachusetts
Studying Accounting in Massachusetts
You'll find these programs in Waltham, Boston, Amherst, Dudley, Chestnut Hill, Bridgewater, Lowell, North Andover and Salem. Want to be on campus? Look at Bentley's bachelor's, Boston College, Bridgewater State, Northeastern and the UMass Amherst bachelor's.
If you need flexibility, Salem State mixes hybrid and evening classes, and Bentley's master's offers online and hybrid study. Nichols, Merrimack, UMass Amherst's master's and UMass Lowell's master's are built so you can study from home.
As a working accountant or auditor in the state, you'd earn a median of $99,460.
Method
How We Chose These Programs
Every Massachusetts program on this page is an accounting degree, whether you'd attend on a campus in Amherst or from your kitchen table. We only count accreditation when the program appears on the accrediting body's own list.
You'll see bachelor's and master's degrees scored in separate groups on cost, graduate earnings, completion, flexibility, track record, accreditation and reputation. If you want to see the weights, the methodology page lays them out.
- The school is based in Massachusetts
- In-state rate shown when the school publishes one
- Scored the same way as every list, and compared only with programs at its own degree level
Each Program Score blends seven factors: Cost 20%, Graduate Earnings 20%, Completion 15%, Flexibility 15%, Credential Alignment 10%, Track Record 10%, Program Reputation 10% (method version 2.0).
Bachelor's
Bachelor's Degrees
-
1
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting (On Campus)
Massachusetts
69.4- On Campus
- Online
- Public
What Stands OutGraduate earnings reach 9.7 on a $100,516 median, and reputation scores 9.6. Track record is 9.8 from 133 accounting degrees awarded yearly. Credential alignment reaches 10 with full AACSB accounting accreditation, and completion reaches 8.4 with 69% of students going on to graduate.
- Cost
- $1,654 per creditout-of-state, federal data
- Credits
- 120 credits
- Graduate Pay
- $100,516 median
Best Scores (out of 10)
-
2
64.5- Fully Online
- On Campus
- Private nonprofit
What Stands OutAACSB accreditation puts credential at 10, and 68.5% of students graduating brings completion to 8.3. At $440 per credit, or $52,800 for 120 credits, with a $250 military rate and up to 90 transfer credits accepted, cost scores 7.9. A 3+1 path leads into a master's in accounting.
- Cost
- $440 per credit
- Credits
- 120 credits
- Graduate Pay
- $78,894 median
Best Scores (out of 10)
-
3
64.0- On Campus
- Private nonprofit
What Stands OutA $108,343 graduate median gives earnings a 10, and completion scores 9.9 with 92% of students graduating. Reputation reaches 9.7, and credential reaches 10 through AACSB accreditation. The Falcon Fast-Track option adds a path toward a graduate degree and the CPA exam.
- Cost
- $2,033 per creditfederal data
- Credits
- 120 credits
- Graduate Pay
- $108,343 median
Best Scores (out of 10)
Master's
Master's Degrees
-
1
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Master of Science in Accounting (Professional Track)
Massachusetts
78.6- Fully Online
- Asynchronous
- Public
What Stands OutThe University of Massachusetts Amherst confers 153 accounting degrees annually, which gives track record a 10, and program reputation scores 9.3. Median graduate pay of $109,628 sets earnings at 9, and focus areas in Forensic Accounting, Taxation and Data Analytics let you shape the degree.
- Cost
- $850 per credit
- Credits
- 30 credits
- Graduate Pay
- $109,628 median
Best Scores (out of 10)
-
2
69.9- Fully Online
- Public
What Stands OutA $111,662 median salary earns 9.4 for earnings, and AACSB accreditation lifts credential alignment to 10. Eight-week courses, no graduate entrance exam requirement, a $19,650 total for 30 credits and a Level 1 Massachusetts CPA classification add to the appeal.
- Cost
- $655 per credit
- Credits
- 30 credits
- Graduate Pay
- $111,662 median
Best Scores (out of 10)
-
3
69.8- Fully Online
- Private nonprofit
What Stands OutSix starts yearly, eight-week courses and as many as 90 transfer credits lift flexibility to 7, and completion stands at 9.1 with 74.5% of students going on to graduate. Tuition totals $24,000 at $750 per credit, and 61 accounting degrees awarded annually give track record 8.8.
- Cost
- $750 per credit
- Credits
- 32 credits
- Graduate Pay
- $92,014 median
Best Scores (out of 10)
Also on This List
More Programs on This List (5)
Every program here meets the list's criteria and is scored the same way. They're in alphabetical order, and each row links to the program page.
| School and Program | Degree | State | Cost per Credit | Graduate Pay | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley University MS Master of Science in Accounting Visit school | Master's | MA | $1,955* | $115,201 | Hybrid, Online, On Campus |
| Boston College BS Bachelor of Science in Business, Accounting Visit school | Bachelor's | MA | $2,313* | $126,461 | On Campus |
| Bridgewater State University BS Bachelor of Science in Accounting (Accounting Concentration, Accounting and Finance major) Visit school | Bachelor's | MA | $294* | $79,315 | On Campus, Evenings and Weekends |
| Northeastern University MS Master of Science Accounting Visit school | Master's | MA | $1,799* | $118,744 | On Campus |
| Salem State University MS Master of Science in Accounting Visit school | Master's | MA | $230* | Not published | Hybrid, On Campus, Evenings and Weekends |
Pay
What Accounting Jobs Pay in Massachusetts
What these jobs typically pay in Massachusetts each year, next to the U.S. median, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Occupation | Massachusetts Median | U.S. Median | Jobs in Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $99,460 | $83,680 | 46,230 |
| Financial Managers | $206,760 | $166,570 | 26,150 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $111,040 | $102,740 | 14,790 |
Beyond the State
National Programs for Massachusetts Residents
The best programs from schools in other states. Before you apply, check each school's state authorization page to make sure it can enroll students from Massachusetts.
| Rank | School and Program | Degree | Score | Cost per Credit | Graduate Pay | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Houston BBA Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting Visit school | Bachelor's | 75.4 | $409.25 | $84,668 | Fully Online, On Campus |
| 2 | Appalachian State University BSBA Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting Visit school | Bachelor's | 74.7 | $509 | $85,580 | Fully Online, On Campus |
| 3 | University of Arizona BSBA Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting Visit school | Bachelor's | 74.6 | $525 | $93,729 | Fully Online |
What Massachusetts Programs Charge
Nichols lists $440 per credit for its bachelor's. You can transfer in up to 90 credits, and active military and veterans pay $250 per credit. For master's programs, UMass Lowell lists $655 per credit for everyone and UMass Amherst lists $850.
Salem State's summer 2026 schedule lists $599 per credit in-state for its master's. So if you're comparing master's programs here, you'll see prices from $599 to $850 per credit.
Paths Toward CPA Licensure
Massachusetts asks CPA candidates for 150 credit hours, and several programs are built around that number. Salem State's 30-credit master's has three tracks, so you can start with an accounting degree, a business degree or a degree in another field. UMass Lowell says the Massachusetts Board of Public Accountancy classifies its program as Level 1 for the exam's education requirements.
Starting with a bachelor's? You've got options. Nichols offers a 3+1 path into its master's, and Bentley offers a Falcon Fast-Track. At UMass Amherst, you can finish a Master of Science in Accounting in as little as two semesters after senior year.
Boston College offers a Master of Science in Accounting for the same purpose. Northeastern's master's adds the 150 credits in seven months, with 18 credits of advanced accounting courses lined up with CPA exam topics. Bentley's and Merrimack's master's programs also list CPA exam preparation.
Before you choose, check the Massachusetts Board of Public Accountancy page and our CPA requirements guide.
Finding a Schedule That Works
If you like options, Boston College has three accounting concentrations and encourages you to study abroad. At Bentley you can major in Corporate Finance and Accounting or Accounting and Information Technology. Bridgewater State has a Trading Room with Bloomberg terminals, and its average class size is 22.
Working full time? At Salem State, you can finish the core track in twelve months full time or take up to six years part time. UMass Amherst's master's starts three times a year and lets you study part time. Merrimack's master's also offers part-time study, three or more starts a year and courses of 8 weeks or less.
Merrimack's and UMass Amherst's master's programs are both on the working adults list. At UMass Lowell, you can share up to 9 credits between the master's and the MBA. Nichols has every business student finish an internship, and Northeastern offers Audit and Tax tracks with a September start.
Graduates of these programs have been hired by PwC, EY, KPMG and RSM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Accounting Programs in Massachusetts in 2027?
What Does a Massachusetts Accounting Degree Cost?
Which Massachusetts Accounting Programs Help With CPA Licensure Credits?
Sources
- Massachusetts Board of Public Accountancy
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
- AACSB Accredited Schools List
- UMass Lowell Master's in Accounting
- UMass Amherst Professional Accounting Master's Tuition
- Nichols College Undergraduate Tuition and Transfer Credit
- IPEDS Data Center
All sources retrieved .