There are several choices among accredited accounting degree programs in New York at the Master’s level. Several New York schools—both public and private—offer high quality Master’s-level graduate accounting degrees and most are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), indicating the quality of their programs. The schools profiled below range from very small to quite large, but all offer high quality graduate accounting programs.

Adelphi University

Robert B. Willumstad School of Business

Adelphi Academy was founded in 1863 as a private preparatory school in Brooklyn. It took its name from the Adelphi Street on which it was located. It became a women’s college in 1912 but reverted to coeducational status in 1946 to accommodate World War II GIs returning to school on the GI Bill. It gained university status in 1963 and founded its business school in 1964. Today, Aldelphi University is recognized as a “Best Buy” school in the Fiske Guide to Colleges. The Princeton Review includes it on its list of best colleges and U.S. News and World Report ranks it at number 152 among all national, tier one universities. The school has nearly 7,900 students, more than 2,700 of whom are graduate students.

Accounting Specialization, Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Adelphi University’s basic MBA program formally requires 66 credit hours to complete and those without a business-based undergraduate degree can count on having to take all 66 hours. Those entering the MBA program with an undergraduate degree in business, economics or accounting can have up to 33 hours waived, however, providing that students completed those classes no more than seven years previously and completed them with grades of “B” or better. Students can choose to study on a full time or part time basis. The accounting specialization requires students to take at least three accounting courses. Those seeking more targeted specialization can choose to take all of the five graduate level accounting courses that apply to the MBA program.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

1 South Avenue
P.O. Box 701
Garden City, NY 11530-0701
Phone: (516) 877-4600
Email:  admissions@adelphi.edu.
Website: http://catalog.adelphi.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=3&poid=1134&returnto=165

Alfred University

School of Business

Alfred University’s campus is a rural one. Situated south of Rochester and southeast of Buffalo, this small school was founded in 1836 by Seventh Day Baptists as a private but non-sectarian institution. The school was far ahead of its time even then. It was coeducational and in 1850 it numbered among its students two Native Americans and one African American. The school became a part of the State University of New York (SUNY) university system in 1948. There are not quite 2,000 students on campus. U.S. News and World Report ranks Alfred University as number 30 among regional universities in the north. It would appear that the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International agrees, because Alfred University’s School of Business is fully accredited by that organization.

Master of Business Administration (MBA), Accounting Major

Admission to Alfred University’s MBA, Accounting Major program requires that prospective students hold undergraduate degrees in some area of accounting. Any accounting area that is public accounting, government accounting or corporate accounting satisfies that requirement. Alfred University’s MBA, Accounting Major program satisfies New York’s 150 credit hour requirement for sitting for the CPA exam in New York. Because individuals holding undergraduate degrees in accounting already have completed most if not all of the foundational core accounting courses, many students are able to complete Alfred University’s MBA, Accounting Major program after taking only 30 credit hours of courses. Students whose undergraduate degrees are from Alfred University meet all of the requirements for admission. Graduates of other accounting programs will need to undergo a review of transcripts. Students can rectify any identified deficiencies before beginning Alfred University’s core program.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact
Olin Building
1 Saxon Drive
Alfred, NY 14802
Phone: (607) 871-2124
Email: gradinquiry@alfred.edu
Website: http://business.alfred.edu/mba/acct.cfm

Baruch College of the City University of New York

Zicklin School of Business

Baruch College is a school of nearly 13,000 students located in the heart of Manhattan. It has more than 3,200 graduate students, many of whom also work in Manhattan. Baruch College traces its roots to the Free Academy, which was the first higher learning institution in the United States to provide higher education for those who could not afford private education. The forerunner of Baruch College began in 1919 as a business school, the largest such school of its kind in the United States. It began admitting women in the 1930s. Baruch College became a senior member of the City University System. Today, Baruch College is recognized as a leader among all US schools. U.S. News and World Report ranks it at number 22 among regional universities in the north and at number three among public universities in the north. U.S. News and World Report also named Baruch College’s MBA program in the top ten of those with the greatest financial value at the time of graduation. U.S. News and World Report also ranks Baruch’s part time MBA program at number 73 in the nation; the full time program is ranked at number three in New York.

Master of Business Administration(MBA), Accountancy/CPA

Baruch College’s MBA with an accountancy major is a program designed for students who hold undergraduate degrees in areas other than accounting. The school urges those prospective students whose undergraduate degrees are in accounting to consider other programs that will meet New York’s educational requirements of 150 hours in accounting to allow them to sit for New York’s CPA exam. Baruch College’s MBA with an accountancy major prepares students for general management while providing a solid foundation in accounting theory and accounting concepts. The program provides students with the tools they need in the future to effectively interpret and utilize financial and accounting information while also preparing students to enter the accounting profession.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact
151 E. 25th St., Room 820
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (646) 312-1300
Email: ZicklinGradAdmissions@baruch.cuny.edu
Website: http://zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu/programs/graduate/ms/mba/majors/accountancy.html

Binghamton University, State University of New York

School of Management

Located in central New York State, Binghamton University is a member of the State University of New York university system. It is a public research university with more than 16,000 students, more than 3,000 of whom are graduate students. It was founded in 1946 as Triple Cities College, primarily to serve the needs of returning GIs after the end of World War II. It was renamed as the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1965. Today, U.S. News and World Report ranks Binghamton University as 97th among the 281 national universities that U.S. News and World Report ranked in 2014. The school has been named as a “best value” school for many years, perennially placing in the top ten of the best value public colleges in the country. Binghamton’s accounting programs were listed as number 18 in 30 Top Affordable Master’s in Accounting/Master of Accountancy Degree Programs by our editors. 

Master of Science (MS) in Accounting

Binghamton University’s MS in Accounting program consists of 32 credit hours and is designed for students whose undergraduate degrees are in accounting and whose degrees were awarded by and AACSB accredited institution. Any prospective student whose undergraduate degree is from an institution that is not accredited by AACSB will need to have his undergraduate program reviewed to ensure that it meets the requirements of Binghamton University’s program. The school admits students whose undergraduate degrees are not in accounting or are from institutions not accredited by AACSB but those students may be required to complete 64 to 68 credit hours in addition to the program’s base 32 hours. Binghamton University’s MS in Accounting program will satisfy New York’s educational requirement for sitting for the CPA exam in New York.

Four-Semester Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program in Accounting

The first year of this two-year program focuses on foundations of business through core courses that establish solid foundations for second year studies. Students work in situations that mimic real-world business conditions, including working in teams and requiring critical decision making. Team members draw on the expertise and experience of other team members, as is the case in the real world. Teams are task oriented but leadership requires all students to come to recognize how all of the functional areas of their respective teams are interrelated and how they all contribute to the whole. The first year also emphasizes the roles that today’s managers play in social contexts, including social responsibility, cultural sensitivity, leadership talent and communication among diverse groups. The second year requires an internship as well as more diverse course offerings that emphasize experiential learning.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact
4400 Vestal Parkway East
Binghamton, NY 13902
Phone: (607) 777-2000
Email: info@binghamton.edu
Websites:

Canisius College

Richard J. Wehle School of Business

Located in Buffalo, Canisius College was founded by the Jesuits of Germany in 1870. Though the German Jesuits who founded the college did not exclude anyone, they founded the school primarily for the benefit of the many immigrants from Germany arriving in the Buffalo area beginning 1848. Today, Canisius College is attractive to several types of students. U.S. News and World Report ranks the school at 20th among America’s best regional colleges in the north. U.S. News and World Report also ranks Canisius College at number seven among its “Great Schools at Great Prices” among regional universities in the north. Further, GI Magazine names Canisius College a “military friendly” school. Finally, Forbes names Canisius College to its list of the best undergraduate colleges for quality, graduation rates, career and low debt levels upon completion.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Professional Accounting

This Canisius College MBA program enables students with undergraduate degrees in fields other than accounting to earn a graduate degree with an accounting concentration and prepare them to enter the profession. Students who complete this program meet New York’s educational requirements for sitting for the CPA exam in New York. Classes meet only once a week and only on evenings Monday through Thursday, leaving full weekends free. With approval, students also can take some classes during daytime hours to complete the program in a shorter length of time. Canisius College maintains two campuses in Buffalo for students’ convenience. It also offers internship opportunities and maintains a 50-member Council on Accountancy consisting of accounting professionals who work with both faculty and students.

Forensic Accounting

This Master’s program focuses exclusively on forensic accounting. The reporting environment that exists today is such that there is great demand for forensic accountants who are skilled in accounting, legal, auditing and financial investigation. Preventing and detecting fraud is a key component of corporate governance systems. The Master in Forensic Accounting teaches students how to use available tools to detect and protect against fraud as well as introducing students to the types of fraud that are most common. The program includes study of criminal behavior to help inform individuals’ fraudulent behavior. Forensic accountants generally work in corporate or government settings, but they also work in other legal areas such as bankruptcy or divorce. The 50-member Council on Accountancy also works with the students and faculty in this program.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact
2001 Main Street
Buffalo NY 14208-1517
Phone: (716) 883-7000
Email: info@canisius.edu
Websites:

College of Staten Island of the City University of New York

School of Business

One of the eleven four year colleges of the City University of New York university system, the College of Staten Island is one of the newer institutions within the City University of New York university system. The College of Staten Island was created in 1976 with the merger of two slightly older institutions. It later moved to a much larger site to become one of the City University of New York university system’s largest physical campuses. The College of Staten Island is ranked among the Regional Universities in the North at number 135 by U.S. News and World Report. That publication also ranks The College of Staten Island among all public institutions at number 44.

Master of Science (MS) in Accounting

Master of Science in Accounting at the College of Staten Island is designed for students with undergraduate degrees but also admits students whose undergraduate degrees are in other disciplines. In addition to undergraduate degrees in business or accounting, those holding degrees in political science, philosophy or economics also may be admitted to the program. Applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and scores from the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) with one exception: graduates of the College of Staten Island who have a GPA of 3.2 in accounting or business major are exempt from the GMAT requirement. Regardless of background, students seeking admission to the program must have seven accounting courses, two business law courses, two finance courses, a course in communications, a course in computer function, two economics course, two quantitative methods courses, a course in management and a course in marketing.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact
2800 Victory Boulevard
Building 3N, Room 238
Staten Island NY 10314
Phone: (718) 982 – 2963
Email: masterit@csi.cuny.edu
Website: http://www.csi.cuny.edu/catalog/graduate/master-of-science-in-accounting-ms.htm

DeVry University of New York

Keller Graduate School of Business and Management

DeVry University maintains campuses throughout the county and three in New York City, two in Manhattan and one in Queens. The Manhattan locations are particularly attractive to working professionals seeking to further their education. The institution is known for its complete online programs but it also offers full programs on physical campuses. U.S. News and World Report places DeVry University at number 93 among all national universities.

Master of Accounting and Financial Management (MAFM)

DeVry’s Keller Graduate School of Business and Management integrates CPA Exam Review content that Becker Professional Education provides. DeVry’s management holds that Becker-prepared students pass various state CPA exams at twice the rate of students who do not have Becker preparation. DeVry’s rationale is that students are able to prepare for the New York CPA exam while also earning a master’s degree, thereby saving both time and the cost of tuition. The MAFM includes general management courses but generally is taught from the perspective of a practitioner. Students can choose from three specializations: finance, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Accreditation

  • The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
  • The Higher Education Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact

Manhattan Center
120 W. 45th St., 6th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 556-0002

Midtown Manhattan Campus
180 Madison Ave.
Suite 900
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-312-4300

Rego Park (Queens) Center
99-21 Queens Blvd.
Rego Park, NY 11374
Phone: 800-815-2890

Website: http://www.keller.edu/graduate-degree-programs/masters-degree-programs/masters-accounting-and-financial-management.html

There are several choices available to students who seek Master’s level education in accounting. Those discussed above represent only a sampling of the programs available in New York. There are several accredited accounting degree programs in New York.