The Loyola Master of Accounting

Baltimore’s Premier Accounting Program

Get CPA ready in less than one year through Loyola’s Master of Accounting. Designed for recent accounting graduates and early-career accounting professionals, this full-time program offers relevant, high-quality coursework that’ll have you ready to crush the CPA exam and take your career to the next level. Through hybrid or online formats, you’ll access, our renowned faculty and executives in residence, rigorous curriculum, opportunities to engage with the unrivaled Sellinger network, and career services—preparing you to be more than ready for whatever’s next in your career.

Program Features

2024-25 Tuition: $1,195 per credit
10 Months, 30 Credits
Hybrid or fully Online
Start in Fall or Summer
Choose from Three Tracks
Senior Start Option for current Loyola Undergrads

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MAcc Tracks

The Loyola MAcc curriculum offers three track options which allow students to either focus on specific accounting topics at a deeper level or maintain a broader perspective to meet their career goals and prepare for further career advancement.

Financial Reporting

The Financial Reporting Track helps students focus primarily on financial reporting areas of accounting to achieve specific career goals and prepare for further career advancement. Students who select this track are strongly encouraged to take GB 736 Data Visualization for Decision Making to better prepare for continuously changing technology in the accounting profession.

Tax

With the ever-increasing complexities of taxation, the Tax Track offers students the ability to expand upon their undergraduate studies with additional courses in Individual Taxation and Tax Research & Writing. The Tax Track will provide students with a strong foundational framework needed to begin or advance a career in the tax field. The focused courses in our Tax Track will provide students with the essential skills and abilities to identify and solve tax problems and recognize tax planning opportunities.

Data Analytics

The prevalence of big data and the increased availability of digital tools and services have created opportunities for accountants and other key decision makers to conduct detailed analyses of emerging market trends and business operations. Real-time data platforms and improved analytics now make it possible for organizations to quickly sense and respond to market needs. In this track, students will take a series of courses designed to deliver specific skills for how to prepare, visualize, and understand patterns in data within the accounting field.

An Overview of the Master of Accounting

The MAcc program offers a cohort learning environment with start terms in summer or fall. Most students complete the program at a full-time pace—typically finishing in 10 months. All students have access to resources in career services, networking opportunities, and a clear path to both a master level credential and requisite credit hours to be a licensed CPA. Available formats include:

Hybrid

Students take a blend of in-person and online courses. In-person courses are taken on our Evergreen campus in Baltimore.

Online

Students have the option to complete any in-person course as an online synchronous course—making it possible to complete the MAcc 100% online.

Core Courses

Ethics for Accounting Professionals
Advanced Financial Accounting
Audit Analytics
Professional Communications
SEC Reporting
Accounting Internship OR Seminar in Accounting Practice

Electives

Students select four electives in the track of their choice.

Additional Curriculum Details

CPA Ready

The 30 credit hours earned in the program, combined with an accounting undergraduate degree or equivalent coursework, meet the 150-hour education requirement for CPA licensure. MAcc students emerge ready to sit for the CPA exam and typically graduate with a job offer in hand. Many MAcc students graduate having already taken two or more sections of the exam.

CPA pass rate among Loyola MAcc students is 18.5% above the national average (of all four sections) reported by the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
100% Employment rate within 6 months of graduation

Who is hiring Loyola MAcc graduates?

The "Big Four" Accounting Firms (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, PwC, KPMG), RSM, BDO, JP Morgan Chase & Co., T. Rowe Price, and more.

Priority Deadlines

Apply by the priority deadline for best award consideration. Learn more about Sellinger scholarships and awards.
Summer: March 1
Fall: June 1

Final Deadlines

Summer: May 1
Fall: August 1

At the discretion of the department, applications will continue to be reviewed after the application deadline on a space-available basis. Please review international applicant deadlines below.

The following should be included with the online application:

Online application form; Non-refundable fee of $60
Resume or curriculum vitae
Essay/personal statement
One professional/academic letter of recommendation
Official transcripts from degree-granting institution

Additional Admissions Details Apply Now

Fast Track Admission

Senior Start Option with Fast Track Admission for Loyola Students

Loyola University Maryland accounting undergraduates can apply for the MAcc after junior year and if accepted, they may take a MAcc class in each semester of their senior year.

Additional Senior Start Details

Fast Track Admission for Loyola Students and Partner Institutions

(Non Senior Start)
Current Loyola University Maryland accounting majors as well as students attending a partner institution may be eligible to apply for Fast Track Admission to the MAcc. Apply after junior year or during senior year.

Fast Track Benefits

Application fee is waived
Essay is waived
Letter of recommendation is waived
15% tuition discount if admitted

Additional Fast Track Details & List of Partner Schools

Important Licensure Information:

Loyola University Maryland offers several programs leading to professional licensure within the State of Maryland. States and other jurisdictions vary in what professions they require to be licensed and the requirements for licensure within their borders. Loyola University Maryland programs are designed to prepare students to apply for licensure exams in the state of Maryland. Students planning to become licensed in another state other than Maryland should contact the licensing agency for that state or jurisdiction to determine the appropriate requirements of the state-specific licensing board.

State CPA requirements are found on the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) website.

CPA Exam Review

Students accepting offers from firms should check to see if the firm pays for CPA exam review materials. Becker CPA Review is the program of choice for many students. Most firms that hire Loyola students coordinate with Becker for direct billing, meaning no out-of-pocket cost to students for the prep course. For this reason, we recommend that students wait to purchase the CPA Review until after internships have concluded. We also offer discounted access to Becker prep materials.

Recommended schedule for CPA exam preparation during the MAcc program:

November-January - Study for FAR
Mid-January - Take FAR
January-February - Study for AUD
Early March - Take AUD
March-April - Study for REG
Early May - Take REG
May - June - Study BEC
Early June - Take BEC

Robert J. Callens, ’81, Partner, RSM US LLP

RSM has a long and very successful relationship with Loyola - supporting its programs, its faculty and staff, and its students. Over the years, we have recruited many of our most successful professionals from Loyola’s undergraduate and graduate programs. As a Loyola alumnus myself, I’m always proud when another Loyola student or alumnus joins the Firm.

John Peter Krahel, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Accounting

While earning a Masters will almost certainly qualify a student to earn his or her CPA license, the true benefit such programs provide comes from a truly increased depth of knowledge.

Christine Aspell, BBA & Partner, KPMG LLP

As chair of the Accounting Advisory Board and a future employer of accounting students, I’m excited this new program will offer a clear path to completion of the 150-hour requirement, in addition to building a pipeline of very qualified CPAs for years to come.

Bob Jirsa, BA ’77, Partner, RSM US LLP

The new MAcc curriculum is focused on developing deeper technical, communication and decision making skills, providing graduates crucial tools for successful careers in public accounting and beyond.