M.S. in Accounting
Our rigorous, STEM-designated MSA program cultivates in-depth understanding of how accounting affects organizations and society while strengthening necessary analytical skills. Courses focus on practical concepts, and students learn from accomplished faculty who possess valuable industry experience. Students with and without accounting backgrounds are encouraged to apply to the MSA program.
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At a Glance
209,000+
Boston College Alumni
44,000+
Carroll School Alumni
#8 in Accounting
U.S. News & World Report Business School Specialty Rankings
Curriculum
Enrolled students will receive a personalized course worksheet that outlines their individual course plan. Specific course plans take into account each student’s prior academic experience. Below is a list of core and foundational courses. Students that have taken any of these courses as undergraduates may be eligible to replace them with graduate electives from the Carroll School of Management.
Applicants and admitted candidates must note that as the entire MSA program is STEM designated, they do not choose or opt into a specific STEM track or concentration.
11
Core & Foundational Courses
| Core & Foundational Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| Managerial Statistics* | 0 |
| Advanced Business Law (U.S. based) | 3 |
| Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| Financial Accounting Practice I | 3 |
| Financial Accounting Practice II | 3 |
| Financial Auditing | 3 |
| Federal Taxation | 3 |
| Internal Cost Management and Control | 3 |
| Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| Assurance and Consulting Services | 3 |
| Forensic Accounting | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 |
*Students will complete Managerial Statistics, which is a self-paced online course, during the summer prior to arriving on campus. Students will receive instructions and information about the course from the Graduate Student Services Office in June. All assignments for this course will be due by mid-August.
Students must complete a minimum of 11 courses to satisfy degree requirements. Students who were not undergraduate Accounting majors may be required to complete up to 13 courses to meet degree requirements.
Students who have not completed Economics and basic Finance/Financial Management prior to beginning the MSA program will be required to complete these courses prior to graduating, in addition to the above-listed courses.
All MSA students are required to complete six STEM-designated courses. Specific courses will be noted on students' personalized course worksheets.
Questions? Please email the Graduate Admission Office at bcmba@bc.edu.
Boston College’s M.S. in Accounting degree is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) designated program. This classification allows international MSA graduates on an F-1 visa to potentially qualify for an additional 24 months of training in their field of study (called Optional Practical Training or OPT) beyond the standard 12 months. Eligible F-1 nonimmigrant students with a STEM degree from a Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified U.S. school who participate in an initial period of regular post-completion OPT (typically 12 months) may be eligible to apply for a STEM OPT extension.
To qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, an F-1 student must:
Have completed a degree in an eligible STEM field from an SEVP certified U.S. school.
Maintained lawful F-1 status during the standard 12 month period of OPT.
Have employment through an employer enrolled in USCIS’s E-Verify employment eligibility verification program.
Work with the employer to complete a formal training (I-983) and learning objectives.
Be employed at least 20 hours per week in a position directly related to the STEM degree.
CPA Exam
If you are interested in taking the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, required courses vary by state. For specific CPA requirements by state, please visit the "Exams" section of the NASBA website.
Community Service
The Carroll School has a proud tradition of service to our community. In keeping with that tradition and with our Jesuit heritage, all Carroll School graduate students must fulfill a requirement to serve others through meaningful work as volunteers.
Academic & Professional Profile
| Average GMAT (10th Edition) Score | 655 |
| GMAT Score 80th Percentile Range | 618–678 |
| Average GMAT (Focus Edition) Score | 565 |
| Average GRE Score | 325 |
| GRE Score 80th Percentile Range | 312–335 |
| Average Undergraduate GPA | 3.47 |
| Average Full-Time Work Experience | <1 year |
Diversity
| Women | 47% |
| AHANA* | 29% |
| International | 37% |
| Average Age | 23 |
| Age Range | 21–36 |
*African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American.
Note: All class profile information is accurate as of September 10, 2024
International Enrollments
China
Germany
India
South Korea
Taiwan
Vietnam
Undergraduate Majors
Tuition & Aid
An MSA from the Carroll School is an excellent investment in your future. We offer merit-based scholarships and financial assistance to qualified applicants. Loan and work study programs are also available.
Alumni Experiences
Yuqiong Allison Zhang ’20, Senior Associate, PwC
“During my program, I developed a strong relationship with my career advisor. She always encouraged me to be myself, to pick up my confidence, and step out of my comfort zone to do better.”
Jiahao Geng ’21, Audit Assistant, EY
“My best piece of advice to prospective students is to be proactive. Do not hesitate to network with classmates, alumni, professors, and other members of the BC community. They are happy to help and want you to succeed.”
Emma Phelan ’24, Assurance Associate, PwC
“I knew the program would prepare me well for a career in accounting. BC professors are experts in their field and our courses are very applicable to both CPA exam material and the accounting field as a whole.”
FAQ
In order to complete my 150 hours for my CPA exam, can I take graduate level courses in the MSA program without applying formally to the program?
<p>Unfortunately, in order to take classes in any graduate management program, you must formally apply and be accepted into the program.</p>
bc:schools/carroll/admission/search-tags/msa-150-hours
Is work experience required for admission to the MSA program?
<p>Work experience is not required for the MSA program. Students can gain admission directly from their undergraduate studies.</p>
bc:schools/carroll/admission/search-tags/msa-msf-work-experience
Connect
Application Link & Deadlines
Application Fee: All applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100 USD.
Admission Decisions: Applications are generally reviewed on a rolling basis. This means that, provided their applications are complete, applicants may receive admission decisions before the notification deadlines. However, it is important for applicants to understand that decisions are only guaranteed by the official notification date.
Rounds & Final Deadlines: For priority consideration, applicants must submit their applications by the earliest date possible. Applications received after the last deadline are reviewed on a space-available basis.
Fall 2025 Deadlines
| Apply by | Receive decision by |
|---|---|
| October 15, 2024 | December 4, 2024 |
| January 14, 2025* | February 26, 2025 |
| March 11, 2025* | May 28, 2025 |
| May 6, 2025 | June 25, 2025 |
| June 10, 2025 | July 9, 2025 |
* International applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by these deadlines
Boston College Fifth-Year BC Applicants
Boston College undergraduates currently in the second semester of their junior year or at any point in their senior year are eligible to apply to the Master of Science in Finance program as fifth-year applicants. Once enrolled, students can complete their MSA or MSF degree in as little as nine months from the program start date.
Resume or CV
Use this component of the application to outline your educational background and professional experience, including part-time and internship roles with months and years in each position.
✓ Application Tip: We recommend limiting your resume to one to two pages. Please also make sure that your resume corresponds to the information submitted in the “Employment” section of your online application.
Transcripts
All applicants must possess a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. You must submit transcripts from every institution where you were enrolled in a degree-granting program. At the time of application, only a self-reported transcript is required but if you are admitted, we will require an official transcript sent directly from your degree-granting institution. Transcripts should include:
Course names
All grades received (including transfer credits and study abroad programs)
Cumulative GPA
Degree conferral information
Graduates of non-U.S. institutions must possess a college or university degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. If admitted, international students are required to submit an official English translation of all academic credentials, along with a third-party degree verification from an agency such as SpanTran/TEC or World Education Services (WES).
✓ Application Tip: Verify that your degree is equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree before starting your application. Agencies such as WES provide a variety of degree equivalency tools and services.
Standardized Tests
Applicants must submit GMAT or GRE scores from within the past five years. We accept both the GMAT Exam and GMAT Focus Edition. Our test codes are:
GMAT school code: 44x-J5-96
GRE school code: 3033
MSA applicants for Fall 2025 with bachelor’s degrees from U.S.-based institutions can request consideration for a GMAT/GRE waiver. Learn more and submit a GMAT/GRE waiver request before completing your application.
✓ Application Tip: While Graduate Admissions does not have a preference between the GMAT or GRE, we encourage you to consult class profile data for average test scores in order to gauge where you stand.
English Proficiency
If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you are required to submit an English language proficiency exam score with your application. We accept TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. We do not accept the Duolingo English Test.
Scores must be from within the past two years, and applicants must meet the following minimum scores:
TOEFL, iBT, and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 100
IELTS: 7.5
PTE: 68
You are eligible to waive the language test requirement if you meet either of the following criteria:
You have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree or a two-year master’s degree (or higher) at an institution where the medium language of instruction is English. You must have completed your degree in its entirety at the English-medium institution. The medium language of instruction must be indicated on your transcript or verified in an official letter from the institution.
Youhave worked in a full-time, post-degree position for at least two years in the United States or a country where English is an official language. NOTE: Working for a company that conducts its business in English in a country where English is not an official language will not qualify you for a language test waiver.
✓ Application Tip: If you are eligible to waive the language test requirement, you do not need to submit a waiver request beforehand and can simply move forward with your application.
Letter of Recommendation
Only one letter of recommendation is required to complete your application, though we will accept up to three letters.
We are interested in learning about you from an individual who can provide an objective appraisal of your capacity for intensive graduate study and your potential for professional success.
Recommenders are required to submit the recommendation forms online and will receive instructions through email once you complete the “Recommendation” section of your application.
✓ Application Tip: MSA applicants are advised to submit recommendations from either academic references such as professors, or professional references such as supervisors or managers.
Required & Optional Essays
All applicants must submit a required essay of no more than 500 words telling us about your past experiences, short- and long-term goals, and why you want to pursue an MSA at Boston College. You may also submit an optional essay that addresses aspects of your candidacy that have not already been covered in other parts of the application.
✓ Application Tip: We want to hear about you and appreciate when applicants craft a unique response to the questions. Learn more about our essay questions and how to answer them.
Questions
If you have any further application-related questions, we encourage you to register for an App-y Hour application support session. These small-group sessions are held through Zoom and led by a member of the Graduate Admissions team.
Thinking about your fit for Carroll School of Management graduate programs? Review some tips and tactics to assess your candidacy.
You can also email us at bcmba@bc.edu, or schedule a phone call or Zoom appointment with a member of the Graduate Admission team.