Fast Facts:
- Earn your 30 credits and qualify to sit for the CPA in as few as 18 months*
- AACSB Accredited—among the 1 percent of business schools worldwide to achieve both business and accounting accreditation
- Depending on your educational and professional background, there are two unique programs to choose from




The Difference Between the Two Degrees
Online Master of Science in Professional Accounting
The Master of Science in Professional Accounting builds on the real-world knowledge of working accounting professionals who have an undergraduate accounting degree and want to become a CPA. In this programprogram, you’ll attend classes with peers who’ve either studied or worked in various accounting roles. As a result, you’re able to share experiences and learn from classmates, while building your professional network.
Master of Science in Accounting
The Master of Science in Accounting is designed for graduates of non-accounting programs, who wish to learn more about the accounting discipline. This ethics-centered degree provides the skills and knowledge needed for success as a CPA. Students in the programprogram come from rich and varied backgrounds and together immerse themselves in the field of accounting with the shared goal of becoming a CPA.
Compare the Requirements
Master of Science in Professional Accounting (M.S.P.A) | Master of Science in Accounting (M.S.A.C.) | |
Who is best suited for this degree? | Individuals who have an undergraduate degree in accounting and are looking to advance their career by becoming a CPA. | Working professionals who either have a business or non-business undergraduate degree and who want to become a CPA. |
What differentiates this program from others? | The M.S.P.A. program allows students to select 18 of the 30 credits in electives to focus in your area of interest while also making it possible to sit for the CPA.* The M.S.A.C. program provides an opportunity for students with little accounting coursework to qualify for the CPA and start a new career in a relatively short period of time.*
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Requirements | A minimum GPA of 3.0
GMAT/GRE Waiver Options: Alternative Admissions Criteria Students may be eligible to bypass the GMAT/GRE requirement if they have:
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Prerequisites | An undergraduate degree in accounting | Students without a business background will be required to complete a sequence of self-paced, prequalification courses that do not bear credit and can be completed more quickly online than traditional eight-week courses. Students can be waived from these courses based on prior coursework if conditions are met. Challenge exams are available. |
How can I take classes? | 100% online. You’ll have specific assignment deadlines and test dates, but you can complete your online coursework on your schedule. | |
Is this program accredited? | Yes. Both Seton Hall University online accounting programs are among the top 1 percent of business schools worldwide that have achieved both business and accounting accreditation from The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). | |
Program duration | 18 months | |
Total credits | 30 | |
Number of required credits | 12 | 18 |
Number of elective credits | 18 | 12 |
Cost per credit | Tuition costs $1,279 per credit hour for a total tuition cost of $38,370 | |
CPA prep | * To sit for the CPA Exam in New Jersey, applicants must have completed at least 24 credit hours in accounting and taxation and at least 24 credit hours in non-accounting, business courses. These requirements can be satisfied by any combination of undergraduate and graduate credits. Applicants from other states should become familiar with their state’s individual CPA Exam requirements at www.nasba.org. | |
Learning outcomes |
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An online graduate degree in accounting from Seton Hall University provides more than a practical CPA education. You will combine the flexibility of online learning and benefits of one-on-one attention with the specialized knowledge you need for continued advancement in your accounting career. Contact an Admissions Advisor at (844) 823-1198 to learn more or complete the form.
* To sit for the CPA Exam in New Jersey, applicants must have completed at least 24 credit hours in accounting and taxation and at least 24 credit hours in non-accounting, business courses. These requirements can be satisfied by any combination of undergraduate and graduate credits. Applicants from other states should become familiar with their state’s individual CPA Exam requirements at www.nasba.org.