Follow
With a view of the majestic Great Lakes, some of the best accounting graduate programs in Michigan hail from cities like Grand Rapids, East Lansing, and Rochester. The state also houses some of the world’s biggest companies and has a nearly 200-year history of offering its citizens higher education. Creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance mark the citizens of Michigan through invention and discovery. The world’s first corn flakes were sold in Michigan by the Kellogg brothers, and the first soda pop made in the United States was also created in Michigan. Residents of the state get to enjoy a shoreline that’s longer than any state in the contiguous 48. Only Alaska’s shoreline is longer. Michigan even has more boats registered to the state than any other place in the country.
In 1817, the University of Michigan was the first university established in the state. After a name change and a move, the university arrived in Ann Arbor, where it stands today. Throughout the next few hundred years, Michigan would add several lauded universities and colleges to its shores. Below, you’ll find examples of some accounting graduate programs in Michigan, each of which offers phenomenal educational opportunities. Additionally, all of these colleges offer masters programs that have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Central Michigan University
College of Business Administration
Central Michigan University counts itself as a premiere research institution. The school has an extensive network of campus-based students and online-only students. CMU calls accounting the “international language of business,” and accounting students will notice a heavy concentration of business classes during studies for an accounting graduate degree. Additionally, students at the university get to enjoy one of the safest universities in Michigan. The university’s motto is, “Sapientia, Virtus, Amicitia,” which means wisdom, virtue, and friendship.
The university is convenient to several major Michigan towns including Flint, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Saginaw. CMU is so popular with local students that admissions experts recommend students apply as early as possible since the college receives thousands of applications. Numbers suggest that the college gets over 18,000 applications every year. While admittance isn’t on the level of an ivy league institution, it’s possible to miss out on acceptance because the school reaches capacity.
MBA with Accounting Concentration
There are two paths for students of the School of Accounting at CMU. Students may enroll in the traditional MBA program with an accounting concentration or they may choose the accelerated MBA program, which requires some early work during undergraduate school. CMU suggests that its accounting program offers valuable knowledge for students who choose to take part in any area of the business world. Whether it’s as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) at an accounting firm, CMU’s students have opportunities in a great many business fields.
Accreditations
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HLC)
Contact
School of Accounting
312 Grawn Hall
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
(989) 774-3796
Philip.L.Kintzele@cmich.edu
https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/cba/academic_programs/departments/acc/Pages/programs.aspx
Grand Valley State University
Seidman College of Business
Located just outside Grand Rapids in the town of Allendale, the main campus of Grand Valley State University was created in 1960 and has almost 25,000 students enrolled in its programs. Accounting students taking classes in the Seidman Center, which is located in downtown Grand Rapids, getting to enjoy classrooms that were just completed in May of 2013. The university is also known to have a strong commitment to offering students an environmentally-friendly campus.
U.S. News & World Report listed the Seidman programs as a “Best Undergraduate Business Program.” Grand Valley State University’s accounting major is a flexible option for students who need to enroll in a short program. Students may attend full-time and finish in just one year. Students with families, careers, or other obligations may choose to attend part-time and finish in two years. The Seidman College of Business is only one of 177 grad schools to have achieved accreditation in accounting, as well as business.
Master of Science in Accounting (M.S.A.)
To graduate from GVSU’s graduate degree program, students must complete 33 semester hours of graduate level classes. 18 semester hours of those classes are accounting classes. Students should expect to take classes like “Ethics for Accountants,” “Accounting Theory,” and “International Accounting.” Most of the classes for this program are held in the evenings, but the summer schedule offers the opportunity to take classes during the afternoon.
Master of the Science of Taxation (M.S.T.)
Students who have already entered the workforce in taxation are welcome to apply for GVSU’s Master of Science in Taxation. The rigorous classroom environment is updated on a continual basis so that students are exposed to the newest changes to taxation. Students may complete the program in as little as 18 months by attending full-time. Completion in 2 1/2 years is possible with a part-time schedule. As is the case with many graduate programs, most classes are offered in the evening.
Related Resource: What is a Master of Taxation?
Accreditations
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HLC)
Contact
Seidman College of Business Graduate Programs
Grand Valley State University
1031 L. William Seidman Center
50 Front Ave SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504-6431
(616) 331-7100
go2gvmsa@gvsu.edu
http://www.gvsu.edu/msa
Michigan State University
The Eli Broad College of Business
Each of the accounting degrees offered by Michigan State University ranks highly among the nation’s programs and is considered a rigorous curriculum for students. Founded in 1855, MSU has undergone several name changes in its long history, but the commitment of its faculty to research and innovation has been a constant in the university’s record. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, the campus is around 5,200 acres with over 2,000 acres of new learning facilities currently under development.
Michigan State University’s accounting degree program is headed by a staff that’s ranked 11th overall for masters programs in accounting and 8th for public universities. In existence since 1956, the Eli Broad College of Business provides more than an education for its students. The faculty also helps students prepare for post-graduation interviews and hosts on-campus recruiting.
Master of Science in Accounting
MSU describes its masters degree program as “challenging” and requires students to complete 30 credits. One of the best features of the program is the opportunity to specialize in a certain area. MSU allows students to specialize in financial reporting and assurance services, information systems, management accounting, or taxation. The school requires its students to complete at least 24 program credits with a grade-point-average (GPA) of 3.0 or above.
PhD in Accounting
Michigan State University bills itself as one of the one of the top-ranked schools for awarding accounting degrees at the doctoral level. The school prides itself on preparing students for work as researchers and teachers at top universities around the country. The department is particularly productive regarding research and publications and was ranked 7th in total research productivity by a study conducted by Brigham Young University. The university keeps the number of doctoral students rather low so as to facilitate effective communication between faculty and students.
Accreditations
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HLC)
Contact
North Business College Complex
632 Bogue St. N270
East Lansing, MI 48824-1121
(517) 355-7486
msacct@broad.msu.edu
http://accounting.broad.msu.edu/welcome/ms/
http://accounting.broad.msu.edu/welcome/phd-accounting/
Oakland University
School of Business Administration
The 20,000 students of Oakland University who attend this Michigan college operate under a motto of “seek virtue and knowledge,” which is a quote from Dante’s “Inferno.” The words are part of a speech that urges sailors to pursue knowledge all over the world. Once a part of Michigan State University, Oakland has been independent since 1970. The university’s board of trustees recently approved a multimillion dollar investment plan to facilitate campus expansion and improvement.
Students who wish to pursue advanced study in accounting may enroll in the university’s Master of Accounting program, or they may choose to attend the university’s MBA program, which offers a concentration in accounting. Accounting students and CPAs who possess an MBA are in high demand by businesses today.
Master of Accounting
Oakland University offers its students a malleable program where class schedules and requirements aren’t rigidly defined. Students looking for work in public, corporate, or non-business accounting may benefit from the program’s focus on preparing students for a successful career path in accounting. The university suggests that its graduates are in high demand by employers. Many students already have a job offer waiting before graduation. However, students aren’t limited to work in accounting after graduation and may pursue many different careers in business.
MBA with Accounting Concentration
Graduating from an MBA program offers students an incredible bargaining tool in the job market and specialization in accounting provides expansion on topics like financial analysis, auditing, fraud, and information systems. The MBA program allows students an extraordinary level of freedom in completing class requirements; however, students who wish to enroll in a more structured environment may want to consider an MBA with an accounting concentration. Additionally, the university offers a dual degree program where students may earn their MBA alongside a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
Accreditations
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HLC)
Contact
School of Business Administration
427 Elliot Hall
2200 N. Squirrel Road
Rochester, MI 48309-4401
(248) 370-3287
gradinfo@oakland.edu
http://www.oakland.edu/business/master-of-accounting
http://www.oakland.edu/business/mba
Western Michigan University (Michigan)
Haworth College of Business
Established in 1903, Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo and counts over 24,000 in enrollment. Interestingly, a railroad was built a few years after the school opened because of the steep terrain that led from the town up to the school and this “funicular” operated until the late 1940s. The university’s aviation program is one of the largest in the country and attracts aviation students from all over the country.
The business side of Western Michigan University also features a very popular program. The Haworth College of Business is one of the largest business schools in the country. The graduate program has over 500 people enrolled in its Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Accountancy (MSA) tracts, in addition to around 4,000 undergraduate students at the college.
Master of Science in Accountancy
The approximately 45 graduate students studying under the Department of Accountancy have access to 17 faculty. The school encourages its faculty to maintain involvement in the professional world so as to offer students an updated and relevant curriculum in accounting. The school was added to AASCB’s list of accredited graduate schools in 1970 and the Department of Accountancy was independently accredited in 1999. The degree program is suitable for graduates who recently received a bachelor’s degree as well as professionals in the workforce who wish to advance a career through advanced education.
Accreditations
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HLC)
Contact
Haworth College of Business, Schneider Hall
1903 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 59008-5457
(269) 387-5210
donald.gribbin@wmich.edu
http://wmich.edu/accountancy/academics/msa.html
Although there are 13 schools in Michigan that offer master’s degrees in accounting, there are only 5 schools which are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Attending one of the top business schools in the state requires students to perform well in undergraduate school, maintain a high GPA, and get high scores on standardized tests like the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Accounting graduate programs in Michigan have a decades-long history of providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to enter the professional world.
