Gies College of Business – University of Illinois - MS in Accounting

Illinois Gies MS in Accounting Program Structure

The University of Illinois MS in Accounting program at the Gies College of Business is a one-year STEM degree with two distinct offerings for either undergraduates (the MSBA) and graduates (the MSA). Graduate students in the MSA program are not required to have earned an undergraduate degree in accounting prior to enrolling.

The MSA program begins in the summer, every year, with the Summer Session II. This is designed to help potential students be ready for the CPA examination the following spring. A total of 32 semester hours worth of course work is required to complete the program, with at least 20 hours dedicated to accounting courses, and at least four hours dedicated to non-accounting courses.

Curriculum

The following core courses must be completed as part of the Gies MSA program. Those who have previously completed these courses are exempt. However, a suitable replacement course is required, as designated by a program advisor:

• Accounting Analysis I
• Accounting Analysis II
• Managerial Accounting
• Auditing
• Federal Taxation

A total of 17 elective courses are available for the MSA as well. However, beyond the five required core courses, a total of 20 hours of electives must be dedicated to accounting-focused courses, so several of the optional electives must also be accounting-focused.

Career Statistics

A reported 100 percent of University of Illinois MS in Accounting domestic graduates from the most recent class earned employment offers within three months of earning the degree, with 82 percent of international-based graduates also earning employment offers. The passing rate for the CPA exam was 75 percent on the first attempt.

Tuition, Scholarships, and Financial Aid

Tuition for the University of Illinois MS in Accounting program at the Gies College of Business is currently $47,585. With fees, the total comes to $53,440. A nonrefundable deposit of $1,500 is required to hold a spot in the program. International applicants must also provide proof of financial liability (a Declaration and Certification of Finances Form).

A limited number of scholarship offerings may be available to domestic students. Federal and private loans may also be available to financial assistant applicants. However, federal loans are not available to international applicants. For more information, head to the school’s official Office of Student Financial Aid website.

Admissions

In order to apply to the University of Illinois MS in Accounting program at the Gies College of Business, applicants must have earned an accredited undergraduate degree and maintained a GPA of at least a “B” for the most recent two years of study. A degree in accounting is not required. However, a degree in business is. Those who have not earned an undergraduate degree in any business study may be able to satisfy this requirement by completing online courses through an outside provider, such as Coursera or Udacity.

In addition to a completed application, the following must be submitted:

• Official transcripts
• A completed MSA coursework form
• A résumé
• GMAT/GRE scores
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (if necessary)
• Three references
• Copy of passport (international applicants only)
• Declaration and Certification of Finances Form (international applicants only)
• $70 application fee (domestic); $90 application fee (international)

Application deadlines are as follows:

International Applicants

Feb. 1, 2020 (final deadline)

Domestic Applicants

Feb. 1, 2020 (final deadline for scholarship consideration)
March 1, 2020 (final deadline)

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