You may not think of accredited accounting degree programs in Kansas when you first begin thinking of your career path, but there are a number of exceptional programs in the state. When most people think of Kansas, they think of farming, cowboys like Wyatt Earp and wide open prairies. Tucked within those prairies, however, are opportunities for the best and the brightest to earn accounting degrees from highly respected institutions of higher learning. There are a number of accredited accounting degree programs in Kansas for interested students, and Kansas can be a perfect destination for those looking to get into the accounting field.

Fort Hayes State University

Department of Economics, Finance, & Accounting

The Department of Economics, Finance, and Accounting at Fort Hayes State University offers students the opportunity to get a top-notch education that they can use to enter into the workforce or continue on as a graduate student. The goal of the department is to offer students the opportunity to interact with faculty, challenge students through coursework, and offer unique opportunities for students to get their hands dirty by learning about economics, finance, and accounting in the real world. With a number of resources available to students including research and career assistance, students going into Fort Hayes State University will have a strong start in the accounting field.

Master of Business Administration with an Accounting Emphasis

The MBA program at Fort Hayes State University is an online program that offers students from across the globe to receive a world class education. This program has an emphasis on forward thinking and international business relationships. In fact, since this is an online course, your classmates could be from Kansas, Mexico, China or New Zealand, and everywhere in between.

Some of the benefits of this particular program include learning on your own schedule, having easy access to faculty advisors and having affordable tuition. In addition to this, since you can concentrate in accounting through this program, you get the best of the accounting world and the best of a traditional MBA all in one package. There are opportunities to study abroad, career assistance for graduates, and you will be part of a program that is nationally ranked for business education.

Accreditation

  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact
College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Fort Hays State University
600 Park Street
Hays, KS 67601-4099
Phone: (785) 628-5696
Email: rldolechek@fhsu.edu
Website: http://www.fhsu.edu/mba

Friends University

Graduate School

Friends University has been offering graduate education to students for almost 30 years. The programs they offer, including the MBA with an accounting concentration, allow students to work closely with faculty throughout their schooling. The faculty are focused on offering a blend of cutting-edge instruction in the classroom along with the application of the information out in the world. Many faculty members are also involved in national and global organizations that give students even more opportunity to be exposed to business on a national and international scale. The programs are designed to be convenient for working adults and many classes can be taken online.

Professional MBA: Accounting Concentration

Friends University offers a professional MBA with a concentration in accounting as part of their graduate school curriculum. These programs are in place in order to prepare students for leadership roles in business. Students will be able to further develop their business and accounting skills beyond the bachelor’s level and will be fully prepared to sit for the CPA exam as per the Kansas State Board of Accountancy. Students will also be prepared to take their education to the next level by entering into a doctorate program at another institution.
This is typically a two year program, but some students might qualify for an accelerated program that can go even quicker. Classes are held at a variety of Kansas campus locations as well as online. This allows students of all types, including working adults, to take the courses that are the most convenient for them.

Accreditation

  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact

Friends University
Graduate School
2100 W. University Ave.
Wichita, Kansas 67213
Phone: 316-295-5573
Email: lori_sisk@friends.edu
Website: http://www.friends.edu/academics/mba-accounting-concentration

Kansas State University

College of Business Administration

The College of Business Administration at Kansas State University offers two graduate level programs, one being the Master of Accountancy, or MAcc degree. The College is proud of its diverse curriculum and has risen as a leader among business schools throughout the country. The curriculum is designed to create future business leaders and input from current business professionals has been used in its creation. The College puts a lot of emphasis on student interaction among themselves and with faculty and often will bring in local business professionals to interact with the students as well. This gives further opportunity for students to learn about their chosen field.

Master of Accountancy

The Master of Accountancy at Kansas State University offers students a world class education at a great value for their money. Students who are part of this program will find themselves with access to a huge alumni network and connections with corporate partners that will help them get their career started or find a job after graduation. Small class sizes are the norm, as is individual attention from faculty and staff.
This program is designed to prepare students to succeed in both a business sense as well as an accounting sense. Students will graduate knowing how to address and solve problems in the workplace and how to be lifelong learners, keeping their minds open to new things. This is a 30 credit hour program and most students can complete the program in a year of full-time study.

Accreditation

  • The Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact
Graduate Programs
Kansas State University
112 Calvin Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506- 0503
Phone: (785) 532-7190
Email: lwaugh@k-state.edu
Website: http://cba.k-state.edu/future-students/mba-and-macc/macc.html

Pittsburg State University

Kelce College of Business

The Kelce College of Business at Pittsburg State University will help to prepare students to become business professionals. Classes are held in an environment that is highly focused on student needs and both the student body and faculty are made up of those with diverse backgrounds. This is important in business as students will need to learn how to succeed in a global environment. The College encourages students to embrace a life of learning and to reach out into the community both as students and as business professionals in the future. The College prides itself on offering an affordable option for graduate students.

Master of Business Administration with Accounting Concentration

The Kelce College of Business offers an MBA program with an accounting concentration. This is a program that will prepare students to be future business leaders. Students will be given the knowledge to do things like financial analysis, work with both domestic and global companies and will learn about human behavior in the workplace. Additionally, students will learn about how technology is influencing business and how goods and services are created and distributed around the world. This program has been made with people of all backgrounds in mind and according to the university, about 40% of current students have no background in business.
The accounting concentration will take 34 credit hours to complete, 25 of them must be on the MBA track. The rest can be made up of electives. Currently, the university holds a 90% placement rate for graduates after six months thanks to their relationship with the community.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact
College of Business
Pittsburg State University
1701 S. Broadway
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: 620-235-4575
Email: mba@pittstate.edu
Website: http://www.pittstate.edu/college/business/mba-program/

Southwestern College

Professional Studies

Southwestern College has introduced a school of professional studies into their curriculum. This school is designed for non-traditional students, such as those already in the workforce or those in the military. These students are given the opportunity to get a world-class education, in a way that is flexible for their lifestyle. This college offers accredited accounting degree programs in Kansas that can meet the needs of busy professionals and will put them on the path to success in the workplace when it comes to business and accounting. Courses are available online and in traditional classroom settings which further enhance the convenience for non-traditional students.

Master of Accountancy

The Master of Accountancy, or MAcc degree, is perfect for those who are interested in becoming a CPA. This degree will prepare students for a number of job related tasks including taxes, auditing and preparing financial information for companies. Students also might be getting this degree in order to become a controller or even a CFO. Most students will enter into this program with the intention of taking and passing the CPA exam. In fact, the curriculum is set up in a way that mirrors the different sections of the exam itself. This gives students a great advantage as they go into the test following their schooling.
Typically students who are successful with this program and who have passed the CPA exam find work in a variety of areas. Some of these include as an auditor, as a financial accountant and as a budget analyst.

Accreditation

  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact
Professional Studies
Southwestern College
2040 S. Rock Road
Wichita, KS 67207
Phone: 316-684-5335
Email: info@southwesterncollege.org
Website: http://www.southwesterncollege.org/master/business/master-of-accountancy/

University of Kansas

School of Business

The University of Kansas School of Business also offers accredited accounting degree programs in Kansas. The School of Business has been teaching future business leaders since 1924. One reason that this is such a highly respected business school is because it works very hard to keep strong connections with the community, specifically global business professionals. With over 25,000 alumni worldwide, graduates have a huge network to utilize and reach out to. The faculty is forward thinking and that philosophy is taught to each student. Additionally, the school puts a great focus on international business with study abroad opportunities available.

Master of Accounting

The School of Business at the University of Kansas offers a Master of Accounting degree to interested students. This is a challenging program with a lot of diversity, perfect for training the business leader of the future. The curriculum for the master’s degree program is designed to prepare students to enter into the accounting profession and to meet the requirements to sit for the CPA exam in most states. Students will also be able to choose a specialty track in order to focus their education on a certain area of accounting. Additionally, students may wish to further their education by entering into a doctorate program.
Students who already have undergraduate degrees in accounting can typically complete the MAcc degree in a year. Other students may need to take a few prerequisites which can push them back six months to a year. Most students complete the program within two years, even if they take prerequisites.

Master of Arts in Economics

Students will also have the option of earning a master’s degree in economics from the University of Kansas. This degree is through the Department of Economics and is well known for its small class sizes and it’s focused curriculum. Additionally, many faculty members are known nationally and internationally for their work. Students are able to attend a number of university sponsored conferences and seminars and resources for students, such as computer labs, are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Students will find a very diverse student body, as well as a diverse faculty in the department. This is important as business is certainly taking a global spin and will continue to do so in the future. Fellowships and teaching opportunities are available to help pay for education and job placement assistance is available.

Accreditation

  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)
  • The University Senate of the United Methodist Church

Contact
School of Business
University of Kansas
1300 Sunnyside Ave.
Lawrence, KS 66045
Phone: 785-864-7500
Email: bschoolinfo@ku.edu
Website: http://www.business.ku.edu/academics/masters

Wichita State University

W. Frank Barton School of Business

For over 100 years, the W. Frank Barton School of Business has been preparing students for careers in the business world. This business school is ranked among the top schools in the country for business and offers a number of opportunities for those seeking a career in the business field. Faculty at the school come from a diverse background and a focus on international business is found in every classroom. There is a large alumni network for students to access, internship opportunities and thanks to the university’s relationship with local business leaders; students will also have a chance to work in the community.

Master of Accountancy

The master’s degree in accounting that is offered by Wichita State University will prepare students for careers as professional accountants in a variety of organizations. The program is based on several general education courses which give emphasis to communication in the workplace, and students are taught the importance of being lifelong learners. There are two concentrations available for students who are interested, taxation and accounting information systems, as well as opportunities for a traditional accountancy program.
Students will be required to enter into the program with a background in accounting. This typically comes in the form of an undergraduate business degree. For students who wish to enter without this requirement, core courses can be taken to meet those standards. Students will also need to have a 3.2 out of 4.0 grade point average and submit their GMAT scores.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact
Barton School of Business
1845 Fairmount
Box 48
Wichita, KS 67260-0048
Phone: (316) 978-3200
Email: joan.adkisson@wichita.edu
Website: http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=ACCOUNTANCY&p=/MACC/MACC/

Kansas offers several opportunities to pursue master’s degrees in accounting, and any of these programs would be a great choice to advance your career.  If you’re interested in seeking a master’s from an accredited accounting degree program in Kansas, take a look.

Related Resource: What is the Difference Between a Masters in Accounting and a Master of Finance?