The Best Master's in Accounting in Pennsylvania for 2026
The best master's in accounting in Pennsylvania for 2026 comes down to three numbers: cost, graduation rate, and what happens after you sit for the CPA exam. We analyzed 10 accounting programs across Pennsylvania, from Philadelphia's Ivy League campus to state system schools two hours west, and scored each one on selectivity, outcomes, and price using U.S. Department of Education and Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Cost is where these programs diverge hardest. In-state tuition among the ranked programs runs from $20,066 to $66,838, a spread of more than $46,000 for what is, in most cases, a single additional year of school. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is the cheapest strong-value option on the list at $20,066, backed by an 86% graduation rate and a Hakia Score of 93.2, second only to the University of Pennsylvania. That is the tradeoff at the center of this ranking: pay Ivy League prices for the highest-scored program, or get a top-three outcome for less than a third of the cost.
Across all 10 accounting programs in Pennsylvania we reviewed, the average graduation rate is 82%, a baseline worth holding every program against. The sections below break down what a Pennsylvania master's in accounting actually costs, how it clears the 150-credit-hour rule for CPA licensure, which programs carry AACSB accreditation, and what graduates can expect to earn nationally as accountants and auditors.
Key Takeaways on the Best Accounting Master's Programs in Pennsylvania
- University of Pennsylvania tops the ranking with a 97.2 Hakia Score, a 97% graduation rate, and $60,920 in-state tuition, the highest-scored of all ten Pennsylvania schools.
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus delivers the best cost-to-outcome ratio: a 93.2 score and 86% graduation rate for $20,066, less than a third of Villanova's $66,838.
- In-state tuition among the 10 ranked accounting programs spans $20,066 to $66,838, a $46,772 gap between the cheapest and most expensive options.
- The average graduation rate across all 10 accounting programs in Pennsylvania is 82%, with a low of 64% at York College of Pennsylvania and a high of 97% at Penn.
- Accountants and auditors nationally earn a median $94,160 a year, according to BLS wage data, a figure that applies to CPA-track graduates regardless of which Pennsylvania school they attend.
- Six of the 10 ranked programs are private nonprofit institutions, where tuition runs $21,700 to $66,838, versus $20,066 to $20,556 at the three public options.
We built the Hakia Score for each of these accounting programs from four inputs pulled directly from U.S. Department of Education IPEDS data: graduation rate, admission selectivity, in-state tuition, and program size, then layered in national BLS wage data for accountants and auditors to contextualize outcomes. Programs with incomplete IPEDS reporting, like missing tuition figures, are ranked on the fields available and flagged rather than estimated.
The 10 Best Accounting Master's Programs in Pennsylvania, Ranked for 2026
| # | Program | Type | In-state tuition | Grad rate | Admit rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA | Nonprofit | $60,920 | 97% | 5% | 97.2 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | Public | $20,066 | 86% | 61% | 93.2 |
| 3 | Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA | Nonprofit | $66,838 | 92% | 27% | 92.0 |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA | Public | $20,556 | 85% | 58% | 87.6 |
| 5 | Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | Nonprofit | $60,042 | 78% | 79% | 84.9 |
| 6 | Grove City CollegeGrove City, PA · online option | Nonprofit | $21,700 | 83% | 72% | 82.9 |
| 7 | University of ScrantonScranton, PA | Nonprofit | $53,208 | 80% | 81% | 79.0 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great ValleyMalvern, PA | Public | NR | NR | NR | 78.2 |
| 9 | Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, PA | Nonprofit | $48,986 | 77% | 84% | 77.5 |
| 10 | York College of PennsylvaniaYork, PA · online option | Nonprofit | $23,000 | 64% | 74% | 75.1 |
NR — not reported by the institution in the latest IPEDS collection.
The Top Accounting Master's Programs in Pennsylvania at a Glance
Each program scores 0 to 100 on the Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. Longer bars rank higher.
Inside the Top Accounting Master's Programs in Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 97%
- Admit rate
- 5%
- In-state
- $60,920
- Out-of-state
- $60,920
Wharton's Accounting major inside the full-time MBA accepts just 5% of applicants and graduates 97% of them, the highest Hakia Score (97.2) of any Pennsylvania accounting program in 2026.
- Hakia Score 97.2 (#1 in PA)
- 97% graduation rate
- 5% admit rate
- $60,920 flat tuition
The Accounting major at the Wharton School is built inside Penn's full-time MBA, not a standalone accounting degree. Students complete 4 course units of accounting electives, choosing from options like Cost Management, Financial Reporting and Business Analysis, Accounting for Mergers, Acquisitions and Complex Financial Structures, Financial Disclosure Analytics, Climate and Financial Markets, and Taxes and Business Strategy, on top of 9.5 core MBA units and 5.5 units of open electives, for 19 total course units. The department's flexible curriculum lets students plan toward CPA or CMA certification with an Accounting Department adviser, since state specific requirements usually exceed Wharton's minimums.
Wharton earns the top Hakia Score in Pennsylvania at 97.2, driven by a 97% graduation rate against a 5% admit rate, the most selective combination among the state's ranked programs. Tuition is a flat $60,920 with no in-state discount, reflecting Penn's private nonprofit status; the university enrolls 29,109 students overall. This track fits candidates aiming for a general management credential with an accounting specialization rather than a fast, CPA-focused MAcc; nationally, accountants and auditors earn a median $94,160 a year, per the BLS Occupational Outlook.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA · Public
- Grad rate
- 86%
- Admit rate
- 61%
- In-state
- $20,066
- Out-of-state
- $41,212
Penn State's One-Year MAcc meets the 150-credit CPA requirement for $20,066 in-state tuition, a $21,146 discount versus the out-of-state rate.
- Hakia Score 93.2 (#2 in PA)
- $20,066 in-state tuition
- 61% admit rate
- 86% graduation rate
Smeal College of Business runs two paths to the 150 credit hours Pennsylvania requires for CPA licensure. The Integrated MAcc lets Smeal accounting majors apply in the spring of their second year, start graduate coursework in year three, and leave in year five with both a bachelor's and a master's degree. The One-Year Master of Accounting is for students who already hold a bachelor's degree, whether from Penn State or elsewhere; it runs fall through summer and awards the degree in August. Recent MAcc graduates have interned at Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC.
Smeal posts a Hakia Score of 93.2, the second highest in Pennsylvania, built on an 86% graduation rate and a 61% admit rate, far more accessible than Wharton's 5%. In-state tuition runs $20,066 against $41,212 out-of-state, a $21,146 gap that rewards Pennsylvania residency. The university enrolls 50,737 students overall. This path fits Pennsylvania residents and current Penn State undergraduates who want the CPA-eligible credit count at public-school pricing; nationally, accountants and auditors earn a median $94,160 a year, per the BLS Occupational Outlook.
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 92%
- Admit rate
- 27%
- In-state
- $66,838
- Out-of-state
- $66,838
Villanova's STEM-designated MAC finishes in two semesters at 30 credit hours and has partnered with KPMG's Master of Accounting Data Analytics program since 2016.
- Hakia Score 92 (#3 in PA)
- 30 credit hours, 2 semesters
- 27% admit rate
- $66,838 flat tuition
Villanova's Master of Accounting with Data Analytics (MAC) pairs 30 credit hours of CPA-aligned coursework with a dedicated course on generative and agentic AI in accounting. The program is full-time, in-person, and STEM-designated, with fall or spring starts; it discounts Becker CPA Exam Review materials for enrolled students. Villanova has been a partner university with KPMG's Master of Accounting Data Analytics program (MADA) since 2016, and students with incoming AP credit can pursue accelerated options that reach the bachelor's-plus-150-credit-hour CPA threshold in close to the time and cost of a typical undergraduate degree.
The MAC carries a Hakia Score of 92, third in Pennsylvania, with a 92% graduation rate and a 27% admit rate, more selective than either Penn State or Pitt but well short of Wharton's 5%. Tuition is a flat $66,838, the highest of the four programs here, at a university that enrolls 10,041 students. It fits candidates who want a compact, technically focused MAcc with a named Big 4 pipeline rather than the lowest sticker price; nationally, accountants and auditors earn a median $94,160 a year, per the BLS Occupational Outlook.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · Public
- Grad rate
- 85%
- Admit rate
- 58%
- In-state
- $20,556
- Out-of-state
- $40,060
Pitt's Katz MAcc reports full-time placement above 95% for a 30-credit degree finished in two semesters, at $20,556 in-state tuition.
- Hakia Score 87.6 (#4 in PA)
- 95%+ full-time placement
- 58% admit rate
- $20,556 in-state tuition
The Katz Graduate School of Business built its Master of Science in Accounting (MAcc) as a 30-credit, full-time degree completed in 9 to 12 months, redesigned to accept career switchers with just two prerequisite courses and international students with limited U.S. accounting background. Electives include Accounting Data Analytics, Python/R programming, AI for Business, and Data Mining, and the program is compatible with a STEM-designated combined plan of study in Accounting and Business Analytics. Katz states the MAcc curriculum aligns with CPA exam content areas and that graduates land full-time placement above 95%, including at Big 4 firms.
Pitt's Hakia Score is 87.6, fourth among Pennsylvania's ranked programs, with an 85% graduation rate and a 58% admit rate, the most accessible of the four. In-state tuition is $20,556 versus $40,060 out-of-state, a $19,504 gap, at a university enrolling 35,724 students. It fits Pennsylvania residents and non-accounting undergrads who want a fast, placement-focused route into the field; nationally, accountants and auditors earn a median $94,160 a year, per the BLS Occupational Outlook.
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 78%
- Admit rate
- 79%
- In-state
- $60,042
- Out-of-state
- $60,042
Drexel's STEM-designated MS in Accounting packs 45 credits and three concentrations into a 12-month full-time track, earning the group's top Hakia Score of 84.9.
- STEM-designated, 45-credit curriculum
- 12-month full-time completion
- 3 concentrations: BARS, Tax, Accounting Info Systems
- Hakia Score 84.9, highest in this group
Drexel LeBow's MS in Accounting is a STEM-designated, 45-credit program built for full-time completion in 12 months at the University City campus in Philadelphia. Students choose one of three concentrations: Business Analysis, Planning and Reporting; Tax Analysis and Planning; or Accounting Information Systems and Controls, and the curriculum is built to prepare graduates for both the CPA and CMA exams. The STEM designation also qualifies international students for a 24-month OPT extension beyond the standard 12 months.
Drexel carries a Hakia Score of 84.9, the highest among Pennsylvania's top-ranked accounting master's programs, backed by a 78% graduation rate and a 79% admit rate. As a private university, Drexel charges one flat $60,042 tuition rate to in-state and out-of-state students alike, the highest sticker price on this list. Admission requires a bachelor's in accounting or eight specific prerequisite courses plus a 3.0 GPA, so it fits students who already have an accounting or business foundation and want the fastest one-year path to a licensure-ready credential. Nationally, accountants and auditors earn a median $94,160 a year, per BLS data.
Grove City College
Grove City, PA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 83%
- Admit rate
- 72%
- In-state
- $21,700
- Out-of-state
- $21,700
Grove City's fully online MAcc costs $21,700 total, the lowest price and highest graduation rate (83%) among Pennsylvania's top-ranked accounting master's programs.
- $21,700 total tuition, lowest in this group
- 83% graduation rate
- 72% admit rate, most selective
- 3 CPA-aligned certification tracks
Grove City College's MAcc is a 30-credit, fully online program built around three certification tracks aligned to the CPA Exam Evolution model: tax compliance and reporting, information systems and controls, and business analysis and reporting. Each track can stand alone as its own certification, and a +1 pathway lets current Grove City undergraduates finish the master's with one extra year of study. The program's own page states its students' CPA first-time pass rates rank in the top 8% of medium-sized schools nationally.
With a Hakia Score of 82.9, Grove City posts the highest graduation rate in this group at 83% and the tightest admit rate at 72%. Tuition runs $21,700 total, the same for in-state and out-of-state students since the program is delivered online, undercutting every other program here by tens of thousands of dollars. That combination, a selective admit rate paired with the lowest price, fits disciplined, self-directed working professionals who want a CPA-focused credential without relocating or taking on heavy debt. The national median salary for accountants and auditors is $94,160 a year, per BLS data.
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 80%
- Admit rate
- 81%
- In-state
- $53,208
- Out-of-state
- $53,208
Scranton prices its 30-credit MAcc at $895 a credit, $26,850 total, less than half the school's $53,208 IPEDS graduate tuition figure.
- AACSB accredited, STEM-designated
- $895/credit, $26,850 for the 30-credit degree
- Forensic Accounting or Accounting Analytics tracks
- No GRE/GMAT required
The University of Scranton's AACSB-accredited MAcc runs 30 credits across 10 courses, offered on campus or 100% online with six start dates a year and no GRE or GMAT requirement. Students pick a Forensic Accounting or Accounting Analytics specialization, and a Bridge Program brings non-accounting bachelor's holders up to speed on the missing prerequisites. Fortune|Education ranked it the #9 best online master's in accounting program in 2024.
Scranton's Hakia Score of 79 rests on an 80% graduation rate and an 81% admit rate, the most open of the four programs here. IPEDS lists the school's graduate tuition at $53,208 for in-state and out-of-state students alike, but the accounting department's own posted rate is $895 per credit, which totals $26,850 for the full 30-credit MAcc, roughly half the IPEDS figure. That gap matters for budgeting: confirm the per-credit program rate directly with admissions rather than relying on the blended campus-wide number. The program suits career changers who need bridge coursework and flexible online delivery to reach the 150-credit CPA threshold. Nationally, accountants and auditors earn a median $94,160 a year, per BLS data.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great Valley
Malvern, PA · Public
- Grad rate
- NR
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- NR
- Out-of-state
- NR
Penn State Great Valley's Master of Professional Accounting requires just two in-person days a year, the most flexible low-residency format among Pennsylvania's top accounting master's programs.
- Low-residency: 2 in-person days per year
- 30 credits (18 core / 9 elective / 3 capstone)
- GRE/GMAT not required
- Certificate-to-degree pathway
Penn State Great Valley's Master of Professional Accounting uses a low-residency format: online coursework paired with just two in-person meetings a year, with the fall 2026 residency set for Oct. 31. The AACSB-accredited, 30-credit curriculum splits into 18 core credits, 9 elective credits and a 3-credit capstone that works through investigative, consulting and forensic case studies, satisfying the additional credit hours needed for CPA licensure. Electives cover data analytics in accounting, forensic accounting and data visualization, and GRE/GMAT scores are not required.
The program carries a Hakia Score of 78.2, the fourth-ranked accounting master's in this group, and it runs on Penn State Great Valley's small graduate campus of 212 total enrolled students, meaning smaller cohorts than the university-wide programs above. It is the only public, non-private option on this list, and career changers can enter through the Financial Accounting or Management Accounting graduate certificates, transferring that coursework into the degree once completed with a B or better. Full-time students finish in 12 to 18 months; part-time students can stretch completion to two years. Nationally, accountants and auditors earn a median $94,160 a year, per BLS data.
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 77%
- Admit rate
- 84%
- In-state
- $48,986
- Out-of-state
- $48,986
Duquesne University ranks #9 of the 10 master's in accounting programs in this analysis, with a 77.5 Hakia Score and a 77% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 77.5, #9 of 10
- 77% graduation rate
- $48,986 tuition
- Admits just 84% of applicants
Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Duquesne University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Master's in Accounting program lands at #9 of the 10 ranked here, earning a 77.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 84.8 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 77% of its students, below the 82% average across the ranked schools. Duquesne University admits 84% of applicants, less selective than the 60% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 64% to 97%.
On cost, Duquesne University charges $48,986 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $97,972 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $20,066 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus to $66,838 at Villanova University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $94,160 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 10 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.
York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 64%
- Admit rate
- 74%
- In-state
- $23,000
- Out-of-state
- $23,000
At $23,000 a year in-state, York College of Pennsylvania is among the more affordable master's in accounting programs ranked here, holding a 75.1 Hakia Score on a 64% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 75.1, #10 of 10
- 64% graduation rate
- $23,000 tuition
- Online option available
York College of Pennsylvania is a private, nonprofit institution in York, PA. Its Master's in Accounting program ranks #10 of the 10 analyzed here with a 75.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 84.8 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 64% of its students, below the 82% average across the ranked schools. York College of Pennsylvania admits 74% of applicants, less selective than the 60% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.
On cost, York College of Pennsylvania charges $23,000 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $46,000 in tuition. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $20,066 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus to $66,838 at Villanova University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $94,160 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
What a Master's in Accounting Costs in Pennsylvania
Cost is the first filter for most applicants comparing accounting programs, and Pennsylvania's spread is wide. In-state tuition across the 10 ranked programs runs from $20,066 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus to $66,838 at Villanova University, a difference of $46,772. Three public options, Penn State Main Campus ($20,066), the University of Pittsburgh ($20,556), and Penn State Great Valley, sit far below the six private nonprofit schools on the list, which range from Grove City College's $21,700 to Villanova's $66,838.
Do the math against outcomes and the picture sharpens. Penn State Main Campus charges $20,066 for an 86% graduation rate and a 93.2 Hakia Score, the second-highest score in the state. Villanova charges $66,838, more than triple that, for a 92% graduation rate and a 92.0 score, a lower score at more than three times the price. The University of Pennsylvania is the outlier that justifies its cost: $60,920 in tuition against a 97% graduation rate and the top score in Pennsylvania, 97.2.
Weigh tuition against the $94,160 national median salary for accountants and auditors, per BLS wage data, and the payback period changes by school. At $20,066, Penn State Main Campus tuition equals roughly 2.6 months of that national median salary. At $66,838, Villanova's tuition equals nearly 8.5 months of it. Neither number accounts for financial aid, assistantships, or in-state versus out-of-state status, but the gap is the clearest cost signal among these ten schools.
CPA Licensure and the 150-Credit-Hour Rule in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, like most states, requires 150 semester credit hours of education to sit for the CPA exam and hold a license, 30 credits beyond the standard 120-credit bachelor's degree. A master of accountancy is the most direct way Pennsylvania students clear that bar: a MAcc typically adds 30 to 36 credits on top of an undergraduate accounting degree, landing graduates at or above the 150-hour threshold while also deepening the coursework the CPA exam tests.
This is why the 150-credit rule matters when comparing accounting programs in Pennsylvania: a MAcc is not just a credential, it is a compliance requirement wrapped in coursework. Programs built for CPA-track students, rather than general business master's degrees, tend to sequence courses in auditing, taxation, and financial reporting to match the CPA exam's four sections. Verify current hour requirements and exam-section rules directly with the AICPA before enrolling, since state boards periodically adjust them.
Graduation rate matters here too. A program with a low completion rate, like York College of Pennsylvania at 64%, means a meaningful share of enrollees do not finish the credits they started, CPA-eligible or not. Programs at the top of this ranking, Penn at 97% and Villanova at 92%, get more students to the finish line and, by extension, to the 150-hour mark and exam eligibility.
Why Accreditation Separates Strong Master's in Accounting Programs From the Rest
Accreditation is the fastest way to separate strong programs from ones coasting on name recognition. AACSB accreditation, held by a minority of business schools nationally, signals that a program's faculty, curriculum, and outcomes were independently reviewed against a common standard; ACBSP accreditation covers a separate, larger tier of business programs with its own review process. Neither accreditation body publishes a school-by-school seal here, so confirm current status directly on AACSB's site before applying.
For CPA-track students, accreditation is not optional in practice. Many state boards, and many employers doing early recruiting, use accreditation as a first screen before they even look at a transcript. Among the accounting programs in this ranking, the highest-scored options, Penn, Penn State Main Campus, Villanova, and Pitt, are the kind of large, established business schools that typically carry AACSB accreditation; applicants should still verify each program's specific status rather than assume it from institutional reputation alone.
Accreditation does not replace the other numbers in this ranking, it complements them. A school can be accredited and still post a 64% graduation rate, as York College of Pennsylvania does. Treat accreditation as a floor, not a ceiling, when narrowing a list of accounting programs.
What Sets Pennsylvania's Top Accounting Programs Apart
The University of Pennsylvania leads every accounting program in the state on this ranking, with a 97.2 Hakia Score built on a 97% graduation rate, the highest of any school analyzed, at $60,920 in tuition. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is second at 93.2, pairing an 86% graduation rate with tuition of just $20,066, the widest gap between rank and price on the list.
Villanova University holds third at a 92.0 score and 92% graduation rate, but at $66,838 it is the most expensive of the 10 accounting programs ranked, more than $5,900 above Penn's tuition despite a lower score. The University of Pittsburgh rounds out the top four at 87.6, with an 85% graduation rate and $20,556 tuition, the second-cheapest option among the top-ranked schools.
Below the top four, the field separates on cost more than outcome. Drexel University scores 84.9 with a 78% graduation rate at $60,042, Grove City College scores 82.9 with an 83% graduation rate at just $21,700, and the University of Scranton scores 79.0 with an 80% graduation rate at $53,208. Grove City's combination of low tuition and an 83% graduation rate makes it the sharpest value outside the two public flagships.
At the bottom of the ranking, Duquesne University scores 77.5 with a 77% graduation rate at $48,986, and York College of Pennsylvania scores 75.1 with a 64% graduation rate at $23,000, the lowest completion rate of any school on this list despite modest tuition. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great Valley scores 78.2 but reports no graduation rate in available IPEDS data, a gap worth asking the program to clarify directly.
Online and Accelerated Master's in Accounting Programs in Pennsylvania
Not every one of these accounting programs is built the same way. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great Valley, ranked eighth with a 78.2 score, operates as a satellite campus focused on working professionals in the Philadelphia suburbs, a format built around evening and hybrid scheduling rather than a traditional two-year residential cohort.
Larger private schools, including Drexel and Villanova, are positioned to serve working students through part-time and online-accessible formats common at research universities their size, though applicants should confirm current delivery formats and accelerated timelines directly with each program, since course formats change by academic year and are not part of the IPEDS fields this ranking scores.
The tradeoff with an accelerated or online path is the same one that shows up everywhere else in this ranking: speed and flexibility against cost and completion. A shorter timeline can mean less foregone salary while studying, but it does not change the 150-credit-hour requirement Pennsylvania sets for CPA licensure, and it is worth confirming a program's completion rate before assuming an accelerated format is also a faster path to a license.
Master's in Accounting Programs, Salary, and Job Outlook in Pennsylvania
Graduates of accounting programs in Pennsylvania enter a field with a $94,160 national median annual salary for accountants and auditors, according to BLS wage data current as of the latest reporting period. That figure is a national field median, not a Pennsylvania-specific or school-specific number, and it applies the same whether a graduate finished at Penn or at a public option like Pitt.
The BLS Occupational Outlook for accountants and auditors covers the credentialing path this ranking is built around: a bachelor's degree is the typical entry point, but the 150-credit-hour rule pushes most CPA-track candidates toward a fifth year of school, which is exactly what a MAcc from one of these schools provides.
A CPA credential, not just a MAcc diploma, is what tends to move a graduate's earnings above the field median over a career, since licensure itself signals a level of technical competency employers screen for. Choosing among Pennsylvania's accounting programs on graduation rate and cost, not on the degree title alone, is the more decision-relevant filter, since the national salary figure holds regardless of which accredited program a graduate completes.
Accounting Master's Programs in Pennsylvania: Your Questions, Answered
How long does a master's in accounting take in Pennsylvania?
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How the Accounting Master's Programs in Pennsylvania Are Scored
Every program earns a Hakia Score from 0 to 100, built only from federal data (IPEDS, the U.S. Department of Education, and BLS) and scored against its true peers: programs in the same field at the same degree level. No reputation surveys, no pay-to-play. Here is how the score is weighted:
- Outcomes44%
Graduation rate (26%) and real per-school graduate earnings (18%). Does the program get students to the finish line, and where do they land?
- Selectivity & academics38%
Admissions selectivity (24%) and the academic profile of admitted students (14%).
- Scale & value18%
Enrollment (7%), cost-to-earnings value (6%), and the number of graduates a program produces (5%).
Weights renormalize over the data each program actually reports, so a school missing a metric (many open-access colleges do not publish entrance scores or earnings) is never penalized for it. Scores are percentiles within the peer group, curved to a 0-to-100 scale. What the score does not measure: individual instructor quality, specific course content, or campus culture. Verify those directly with the program.