Master’s (MS) in Accounting
Earn your Master’s in Accounting degree from NYU Stern and be CPA ready in just one year.
- Gain the advantages of being in New York City while attending one of the best ranked business schools in the world.
- Learn from our world-class faculty from our consistently highly ranked Accounting Department.
- Capitalize on the NYU Stern proven track record of career outcomes and success.
Our full-time, in-person, 30-credit MS in Accounting (MSA) program is specifically designed to prepare recent college graduates and young professionals for the New York State Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, meet the licensure requirements, and accelerate their accounting career.
Our MS in Accounting degree program is an excellent way for talented and highly motivated students who want to go beyond their undergraduate degree. By providing accounting graduates with the credibility, technical skills, and an expansive network of accounting professionals and professors, NYU Stern students are prepared to lead the future of the accounting industry.
NYU Stern is also AACSB accredited, an honor held by only the best of the world’s leading business schools. US News & World Report ranked NYU Stern #1 in Accounting in their 2026 "Best Business School" rankings of speciality areas.
Video: MS in Accounting Virtual Information Session
Watch an overview of the NYU Stern MS in Accounting degree and admissions process.
Learn from Expert Faculty and Accounting Professionals
At Stern, gain the specialized knowledge and analytical skills essential to succeed in a career in accounting and beyond. Our faculty brings expertise in specialized areas such as tax, audit, assurance, valuation, and financial analysis. You’ll benefit from a dynamic classroom environment that emphasizes face-to-face interaction and practical engagement.
Video: Master's in Accounting Student Experience
Learn about life as a student completing their MSA degree at NYU Stern. (Video length: 1:48)
Carolina Cuello, MSA 2017
Through Stern’s Master of Science in Accounting, alumna Carolina Cuello learned how accounting principles impact people, policies, and business practices.
“The M.S. in Accounting offers both sides of the equation: highly qualified faculty and experienced practitioners who can help students achieve the next level for their learning and application of accounting principles."
Benefits of the Stern MS in Accounting Degree Program
- Get CPA ready in just one year: We prepare you to sit for the New York CPA exam. Courses are taught by renowned Stern faculty, many of whom are practicing CPAs, accounting professionals, and industry leaders with expertise in accounting systems, tax accounting, public accounting, management accounting, and more. Our MSA program provides 30 credits to meet CPA requirements. The MSA program has a Fall intake and students graduate at the start of Summer.
- World Class Faculty: Stern’s accounting department is consistently highly-ranked by US News & World Report. Our faculty includes industry-leading researchers, and it also includes accomplished practitioners who have worked in the field.
- Experience the on-campus difference: Pursue your highly ranked master’s in accounting degree in New York City, the heart of the business world. Leverage our extensive network of accounting and corporate contacts for the NYC advantage.
- Proven Career Outcomes: Our master’s degree in accounting prepares students with an advanced accounting education for a global marketplace, with 95% of students who graduated in 2025 receiving job offers within four months of graduation, and more than half joining Big Four public accounting firms. For specific details and more information on how this data is collected and calculated, visit our Careers page.
- Access career services for life: We offer personalized career services for current students and alumni, including career coaching, specialized career databases with job postings for junior-to-senior-level roles at the Big 4 and many other top employers with whom we’ve cultivated strong relationships, networking events, professional development seminars, skill-building resources, and an online platform to search full-time opportunities, internships, and on-campus employment.
- Join a powerful global alumni network: Receive immediate access to the largest alumni community of any top business school. Stern's global alumni community includes 115,000+ members in 130+ countries.
- AACSB-accredited: NYU Stern is AACSB-accredited, an honor held by only the best of the world’s leading business schools.
Key Admissions Information
Requirements to Apply
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, demonstrate a mastery of English, and show how they meet, or plan to meet, our pre-enrollment course requirements in accounting and general business.
Visit our Admissions page for more information about our admissions process and requirements.
Selection Criteria
We evaluate applicants holistically across three dimensions:
- Academic Profile
- Professional Achievements & Aspirations
- Alignment with NYU Stern’s core values
Visit our Admissions page for more information about our admissions process and requirements.
Application Deadlines
The Fall 2027 application is now open.
| Fall 2027 Deadlines | |
|---|---|
| Non-US Citizens* AND US Citizens and Permanent Residents | November 15, 2026 |
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents Only | February 15, 2027 |
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents Only | April 15, 2027 |
*Note: Applicants who are non-US citizens or do not hold Permanent Residency at the time of submitting their application must apply by the November 15 deadline.
Visit our Application Deadlines & Process page for more information, and join our mailing list to stay updated on the latest Stern MS in Accounting admissions and program announcements.
Standardized Test Requirements & Test Waivers
NYU Stern requires one of the standardized tests listed below, unless you qualify for a test waiver.
- GMAT
- GRE
- EA (Executive Assessment)
Pre-Approval of Waiver
You may qualify to waive the standardized tests if you meet the conditions of our test waiver.
- Have earned a four-year bachelor's degree from a U.S. accredited college or university in the U.S.
- Were a business major (per our approved list)
- Graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
Talk to Student and Alumni Ambassadors
Have questions about our master's in accounting degree program or what student life is like at Stern?
Email our Student and Alumni Ambassadors as msaga@stern.nyu.edu
They're happy to share their firsthand experiences and insights with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, see our current student or alumni ambassador profiles or email them at msaga@stern.nyu.edu.
An MS in Accounting is a graduate degree that prepares students for advanced roles in accounting and finance and to sit for the CPA exam. Most master's in accounting programs can be completed in 12 to 24 months and typically require 30 to 33 credit hours. NYU Stern’s 1-year, 30-credit MSA program, taught by CPA professionals and expert faculty, includes course topics such as auditing, data management, data analysis, corporate finance, forensic accounting, financial statement analysis, financial reporting and disclosure, and more. The program also prepares students to sit for the New York Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam by ensuring they fulfill the requirements to sit for the exam. Certain pre-enrollment requirements are needed to enroll in the NYU Stern MS in Accounting program.
A master’s in accounting can open doors to a wide range of careers, including roles such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), financial analyst, forensic accountant, tax manager, tax advisor, accounting manager, finance manager, auditor, compliance risk manager, corporate controller, director of finance and accounting, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
The degree program has the potential to enhance your earning potential and pave the way for opportunities in specialized areas like financial regulation, tax law, corporate finance, and forensic accounting, where understanding relevant laws and compliance requirements is essential.
Students in NYU Stern’s master's in accounting benefit from comprehensive career support designed to prepare them for success in the accounting profession and beyond. Throughout the program, students have access to the Wasserman Center for Career Development, which offers individualized coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, career-readiness seminars, and an online job search platform. Graduate-specific workshops and events further enhance professional development.
Stern’s deep industry ties—including strong connections with the Big Four accounting firms and other leading employers provide graduates with valuable opportunities to build their network and pursue full-time roles. Visit our Careers page to see our proven career outcomes.
After graduation, alumni continue to receive lifelong support through Stern’s Working Professionals Team, which offers career coaching, events, skill-building resources, and job postings for mid-to-senior-level roles in various industries and functions.
Visit our Master of Science in Accounting Events page to register for a webinar.
The tuition and fees for the master’s degree in accounting at NYU Stern are approximately $66,862 for students who started the program in Fall 2025. Visit our Financial Aid & Tuition page for more information about the program’s cost, scholarships, loan programs, and return on investment.
To enroll in NYU Stern’s accounting master’s program, applicants must have a strong academic foundation in accounting and general business. This ensures students are prepared for graduate-level coursework and eligible to sit for the CPA exam in New York State.
Visit our Pre-Enrollment Requirements page for more information.
To be eligible to enroll in NYU Stern’s master’s in accounting, you must have a bachelor’s degree, demonstrate a mastery of English, and indicate how you completed, or plan to complete, our pre-enrollment requirements.
Visit our Admissions page for more information, and review all of our admissions policies before submitting your application.
Yes, all domestic and international applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. Awards are typically $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000, applied evenly between the first and second semesters of the program. While about 25–35% of students receive a scholarship, availability may vary from year to year. No additional application materials are required to be considered for scholarships.
Scholarship decisions are made at the time of admission and will be included in your official admission letter. All scholarship decisions are final.
NYU Stern’s Master of Science in Accounting program is intentionally designed to meet the educational requirements for CPA licensure in New York State. The curriculum builds on a strong foundation of accounting and business knowledge with advanced coursework in financial reporting, auditing, taxation, data management, data analysis, financial statement analysis and fraud examination, forensic accounting, accounting information systems, and more.
Students learn the relation between accounting standards and organizational practices, including how these standards impact regulatory compliance and internal controls. They gain the expertise and credit hours needed to sit for the New York CPA exam while sharpening critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for real-world practice.
What sets NYU apart is the caliber of instruction and the strength of its professional network. Courses are taught by distinguished faculty from Stern’s top-ranked accounting department, many of whom are licensed CPAs and industry experts. Their direct insight into the profession ensures students learn both the theory and the practical applications needed to succeed on the Uniform CPA exam and in the field, with a focus on understanding SEC regulations and reporting requirements. US News & World Report ranked NYU Stern #1 in Accounting in their 2026 "Best Business School" rankings of speciality areas.
Additionally, NYU Stern’s location in New York City provides unparalleled access to leading accounting firms, including the Big Four, which regularly recruit Stern students. The program’s rigorous academic foundation, combined with real-world relevance and employer connectivity, uniquely positions graduates for CPA success and long-term career advancement.
NYU Stern’s MSA degree program takes one year to complete full-time. The program typically begins in August and ends in May.