Binghamton University is also featured in our ranking 30 Top Affordable Master’s in Accounting/Master’s of Accountancy Degree Programs.
The State University of New York at Binghamton, also known as SUNY Binghamton or Binghamton University, is a public research institution that operates campuses in Johnson City, Vestal, and Binghamton, New York. It was established in 1946 as Triple Cities College and has since grown from a small liberal arts college to a large doctorate degree-granting university. Presently, SUNY Binghamton operates eight schools and colleges in nursing, education, arts and sciences, community and public affairs, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, engineering and applied sciences, management, and a graduate school. Binghamton University educates more than 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students each year, and it is one of four schools included in the State University of New York system.
In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked Binghamton University 8th in the country and 725th in its “America’s Best Colleges and Universities” publication. Binghamton University is considered to be a Public Ivy school, meaning that it provides an education comparable to private Ivy League schools at the cost of a public school.
Master of Science in Accounting Degree From Binghamton University
The Master of Science in Accounting degree provides a hands-on, generalist approach to accounting that emphasizes logical reasoning, analytical methods, and conceptual understanding. Students also have the option to pursue a taxation concentration. The degree program blends current analytical techniques and accounting theories with opportunities to apply classroom learning to real-world situations.
The curriculum seeks to foster skills that apply in the modern professional and social context, and courses are highly integrated in current events. Students are expected to have the desire to learn in a collaborative environment as well as strong writing and communication skills. Students also have access to a number of resources, including group advising, industry research workshops, and an annual internship and job fair that brings more than 60 organizations and companies to the campus to recruit graduates.
The one-year, 32-credit-hour master’s degree in accounting is designed for undergraduate majors wishing to seek Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification and licensure. However, Binghamton welcomes students with little or no business/accounting work. These students may need two years to complete the program as they will be required to take additional core background coursework.
A variety of courses are available in assessment and auditing as well as managerial and financial accounting. Topics of study include accounting information systems and theory, ethical issues in business, business communications, and individual tax. Core coursework requirements include operations management, marketing, management information systems, finance, organizational behavior, business law, entity taxation, auditing, accounting theory, statistics, and microeconomics/macroeconomics.
Students who choose to pursue a concentration in taxation will be prepared for future careers as financial leaders. With a mixture of integrative and specialized tax courses, the one-year program provides a solid foundational understanding of modern policy and tax issues, allowing students to develop the necessary skills to succeed in the field of accounting. Coursework covers topics such as international tax, taxation of business transactions, advanced accounting theory, auditing and managerial accounting or financial accounting theory, and asset management tax. Students will also learn about sales and local tax, global and ethical environments, individual taxation, and finance accounting as it relates to income tax.
Those who specialize in taxation typically seek positions as strategists, consultants, and advisors for tax-related issues surrounding both organizations and individuals. Students must complete 18 credits of tax-related courses, and students may only be admitted to the concentration during the fall semester. Prospective students must hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting from an accredited U.S. university or college.
Approximately 90% of graduates of the master’s in accounting degree program from Binghamton receive full-time offers before they graduate, and students learn from distinguished and experienced faculty as they work alongside competitive peers throughout the rigorous curriculum.
Binghamton University Accreditation Details
Binghamton University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The graduate and undergraduate accounting degrees as well as other business programs offered by the School of Management have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) since 1991. A peer-review team evaluated the School of Management’s accounting programs for professional and academic development, advancement in teaching and learning, innovation and strategic management, and student, staff and faculty engagement.
Binghamton University Application Requirements
Students pursuing a master’s degree from The Graduate School at Binghamton University must pay a $75 nonrefundable graduate degree program application fee and submit both an online application and required application materials. The school also requires GMAT/GRE and/or PTE/IELTS/TOEFL academic test scores. To be eligible for graduate study, students must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university or college and send transcripts from all previously attended institution. Graduate applicants must also submit a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and a resume or curriculum vitae as well as program-specific application materials such as certifications, licenses, or work samples.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Forbes ranked Binghamton University as the 15th “Best Value in the Nation,” and The New York Times ranked the school 44th on its list of “Top Colleges Doing the Most for the American Dream.” New York State residents can expect to pay $12,946 per academic year for tuition if they take 12 credits per year. Out-of-state students can expect to pay $24,286 per academic year if taking 12 credits per year. In addition, the School of Management charges an additional $125 program fee.
Binghamton University offers a number of financial aid options for undergraduate and graduate students, including external funding, research and travel funding, opportunities for tuition payment support, scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, financial aid, and opportunities for underrepresented students and employment. Graduate students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may be eligible to receive financial aid in the form of a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan or up to $20,500 in federal direct unsubsidized loan funding each aid year. However, graduate students must take a minimum of six credits to be eligible for federal loan funding. In addition, Binghamton University is ranked the 15th “Best School in the Nation for Veterans” by U.S. News & World Report for its services and educational benefits for veterans, active servicemembers, and their dependents.
