The University of Arizona is also featured in our ranking 30 Top Affordable Master’s in Accounting/Master’s of Accountancy Degree Programs.
Located in Tucson, Arizona, the University of Arizona, also known as UA, U of A, or simply Arizona, is a public research institution. Founded in 1885, it enrolls more than 43,000 students per year via online classes and on its 392-acre campus. The school utilizes a semester-based academic calendar, and U.S. News & World Report ranks UA 124th on its “Best National Universities” list in the 2018 edition of Best Colleges.
The University of Arizona is one of the largest public institutions in the state, offering a variety of academic opportunities and activities, including more than 30 sororities and fraternities and three levels of intramural sports. As a research institution, both graduate and undergraduate students may participate in research projects. Freshmen account for 80 percent of the residential campus community, although they are not required to live on-campus. UA offers a number of graduate programs from its schools and colleges, including a College of Medicine, the James E. Rogers College of Law, and the Eller College of Management. Notable UA alumni include journalist Geraldo Rivera and reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian.
Master in Accounting Degrees From the University of Arizona
The Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree at the University of Arizona prepares students for careers in consulting and professional accounting with advanced training in tax, managerial, and/or financial accounting. The degree also provides students the opportunity to obtain licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and approximately 70% of students pass the CPA exam on their first try within one year following graduation. As of 2016, the national average pass rate for the CPA exam was 49%.
The 30-unit program includes a minimum of 18 units in accounting. Students who have already completed prerequisites and who take 15 units per semester can earn the MAcc degree in one year. UA allows students to transfer a maximum of six credits of graduate coursework so long as the coursework was completed with a grade of A or B and it was taken within the last two years. Students may take a minimum of three units per semester, unless they are attending via a research associateship or assistantship, in which case they must take a minimum of six units. Students must earn their degree within six years, and the time to complete the degree begins with the earliest coursework they apply to the program, including transfer credits from previously attended universities or colleges.
The MAcc curriculum accommodates diverse interests and student backgrounds, including two tracks of study, tax, and audit, and students must take a total of 30 credits to earn the MAcc degree. Eight courses, or 24 credits, are required for the audit track, including communication skills for the accounting profession, accounting information systems, business law and search for non-obvious liabilities, audit simulation, principles of auditing, accounting theory and institution, advanced federal taxation, and advanced accounting.
In addition, students will take six units of electives such as accounting for not-for-profit entities, international finance reporting standards, technology for accountants, and accounting analysis of financial systems. Other potential topics to study include forensic and investigative accounting, ethics for professional accountants, and principles of profit planning and control.
Similarly, 24 credits are required for the tax track. Core courses include corporate taxation, technology for accountants, tax provision and related topics, taxation of real estate transactions, tax return preparation lab, tax research, principles of auditing, and advanced accounting. Students must also round out the degree with six electives, including state and local taxation, international business and investment structuring, federal tax policy, estates and gift taxation, federal income tax, and estates and trusts. Depending on the student’s interests, he or she may also choose to study forensic and investigative accounting, business law, and/or ethics for professional accountants.
Earning an MAcc degree from UA will allow students the opportunity to earn the 36 accounting credits required to meet the CPA requirement in Arizona. Students without an undergraduate degree in accounting or business may need to take additional business classes in order to fulfill this requirement.
University of Arizona Accreditation Details
The University of Arizona is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The accreditation process evaluates UA’s integrity and quality of procedures, facilities, resources, staff, faculty, administration, research, and academics. In addition, UA offers a number of accredited specialized programs, and like regional accreditation, each program must submit to a rigorous assessment process every six to eight years to ensure that its degrees continue to meet high standards of quality. Within the Eller College of Management, the Master’s in Accounting degree is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
University of Arizona Application Requirements
Students seeking a Master in Accounting degree from the University of Arizona must have earned a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale, hold a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and show acceptable GMAT scores. Before entering the MAcc program, students must complete coursework in federal taxation, financial accounting, cost accounting, and managerial accounting. Prospective students must submit a completed Graduate College application, a Graduate College fee, and official transcripts from all graduate and undergraduate institutions. Other required documents include three short essays and two letters of recommendation. Students who earned a bachelor’s degree from UA do not need to send these transcripts. Work experience, either related to accounting or otherwise, is not a requirement for admission.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Arizona residents pursuing a master’s degree from the Eller College of Management can expect to pay $12,156 for seven or more units of coursework, including mandatory fees and program fees. Non-residents will pay $18,635 for the same schedule. However, the specific cost of the program depends on how many units per semester a student takes, how many semesters he or she plans to enroll, and whether he or she is an international, out-of-state, or in-state student.
Loan programs available to students earning a Master in Accounting degree include alternative private loans for both international and U.S. applicants and federally sponsored (Stafford) loans for residents of the U.S. Eligibility is based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The University of Arizona offers several accounting-specific scholarships, including teaching assistantships, and a number of third-party scholarships.
