North Carolina State University is also featured in our ranking 30 Top Affordable Master’s in Accounting/Master’s of Accountancy Degree Programs.

Master’s in Accounting (MAC) from North Carolina State University

The MAC program at NCSU focuses on teaching students accounting theory while simultaneously demonstrating the practical applications of these ideas. The entire program consists of 11 courses, some of which have an option for online enrollment. The entire program can be completed in a single year, and upon completion, graduates will be prepared to sit for the CPA exams. All students need to complete eight core classes in the areas of tax, auditing, management, and financial law including Advanced Commercial Law, Accounting Tax and Research, and Managerial and Career Effectiveness. The remaining three courses are fulfilled by electives which students choose based on their interests and career goals.

Students who opt for a concentration have preset electives based on their specialty. The available three concentrations are Enterprise Risk Management, Information Technology, and Tax Strategy. Another available option for MAC students is a 1-month study abroad program to Prague in early summer. This allows students to study the financial structure of Europe and experience the differences in the business world internationally. During this time, students attend classes, tour businesses, and accounting firms, and participate in panels with Prague professionals.

About North Carolina State University

Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, NCSU first opened its doors as North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1887. It was one of the many land-grant universities that the government helped start in order to increase engineering and agricultural research and education. Since then, along with its name change, the university has also expanded to include ten different colleges with degree programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Enrollment reaches more than 30,000 students each semester, and with over 2,000 faculty members, the school has a 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

The Poole College of Management houses four departments with eight degrees including the Jenkins Master’s of Accounting. The College focuses on research and innovation, especially emphasizing the integration of new technology and data analytics into these fields. There are 10 full-time accounting professors specifically for the Master’s of Accounting program, and the department has previously earned the North Carolina State’s prestigious department teaching award.

The entire university ranks #33 in Top Public Schools, the 44th best college for veterans, and #81 out of all National Universities according to the U.S. News & World Report. The business college at North Carolina State University is also ranked in the top quarter of all programs nationally.

North Carolina State University Accreditation Details

As a whole, the university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) which is responsible for all schools in 11 states in the southeastern and south central regions of the U.S. This organization is responsible for evaluating the quality of education, student engagement, financial situation, and organizational structure of the school. Most recently in 2014, the SACSCOC certified that NCSU continued to meet all designated standard, and this process is next scheduled for 2024. Attending an accredited school enables students to receive federal financial aid and to easily transfer credits between schools.

Additionally, the Poole College of Management, specifically the accounting program, is also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This organization only certifies accounting and business programs and requires reevaluation every 5 years to ensure that the curriculum keeps up with current business practice. At NCSU, this process is scheduled to occur next in 2020.

North Carolina State University Application Requirements

All NCSU graduate students must first apply to the graduate school and pay a $75 fee. Then, when submitting a supplemental application to the Master’s in Accounting program, applicants must include a professional resume, personal statement outlining career goals, official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and GMAT scores. Candidates are primarily evaluated based on GPA, GMAT score, and leadership and community involvement experiences including sports, volunteer positions, academic and social organizations, and participation in study abroad programs. The average GPA for the class of 2019 was 3.58, and as far as the GMAT score, students are advised to retake the exam if they score less than 530. After an initial screening of applications, the most qualified individuals are invited for interviews before the admissions board makes their final decisions.

While all students need to have completed a bachelor’s degree, it does not have to be in accounting. Students with a different major need to satisfactorily complete the seven accounting classes listed below:

  • Financial Reporting
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Intermediate Accounting I and II
  • Tax Accounting
  • Audit Accounting
  • Business Law

Any admitted students who have an undergraduate GPA of 3.2 and still need to complete these courses can participate in the Accelerated Summer Accounting Prerequisite (ASAP) Program lasting 5 weeks. This does not provide actual credit for these classes but provides the necessary foundation for students to move into the master’s program.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition rates are dependent on the state of residence and number of credit hours taken. For students enrolled in 9 or more credit hours with North Carolina residence, tuition is $11,544.30 with out-of-state students paying $19,250.80 per semester. The entire program is about 31 hours and takes most students 2 to 3 semesters to complete. Along with federal financial aid programs and student loans, the Jenkins MAC program offers a variety of methods of financial assistance.

To be considered for any college scholarship, assistantship, or fellowship, applications must be submitted before February 1st. These awards are given out primarily based on demonstrated academic and community achievements. The fellowship program places qualified students into accounting positions at the university, their partner institutions, or local CPA firms. Each year, fellowships are granted to about 12 students who, in exchange for working a designated number of hours per week, receive valuable experience, financial assistance, and possibly a job offer upon graduation.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the number of accounting jobs is expected to rise ten percent between 2016 and 2026 with master’s-educated professionals being the most in demand. Graduates from North Carolina State University have a solid understanding of accounting principles as well as the ability and experience necessary to apply these theories in the professional world.