Whether you want to work in Utah or another state, now is a great time to look at some of the accredited accounting degree programs in Utah. If you hope to one day work as a Certified Public Accountant, you will need to take the CPA exam. You can only take that exam after showing that you have experience beyond a bachelor’s degree and that you are close to finishing a graduate degree. The top programs in Utah let you learn everything you need to know about accounting from professors who worked in the business world and can prepare you for the test.
Brigham Young University
School of Accountancy
Established in 1875, Brigham Young University is a private university in Provo, Utah. Owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, also known as LDS, the university requires that all students follow a strict code of honor, which includes abstaining from premarital sex, drugs and alcohol. The university originally operated as an academy for students who were members of the church and then later became a preparatory academy for students interested in attending college before becoming a university. Washington Monthly, Forbes and U.S. News and World Report all ranked BYU among the top 100 colleges in the nation.
Master of Accountancy
Public Accounting Report ranked the Master of Accountancy program at Brigham Young University as the best graduate level accounting program in the country. More than 90% of students who complete the program find a job within the first few months of finishing, and BYU claims that it had a 100% job placement rate among graduates for several straight years. More than 40 firms from across the state and around the country attend job fairs and other hiring events on campus every year to meet with students nearing the end of their studies, and the average starting salary for graduates is nearly $52,000 a year. Some of its graduates earn even more starting out. The BYU programs focuses heavily on accounting topics and teaches students the fundamentals of finance principles in both the private and public sectors.
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
Provo, UT 84602
(801) 422-4636
wilks@byu.edu
http://marriottschool.byu.edu/soa/
Southern Utah University
School of Business
Southern Utah University is one of several schools in Utah that opened as a normal school, which was essentially a training school for future teachers. The school did not officially become a college and award degrees until the 1910s. Though it started as a teaching school, it later expanded into architectural topics. Multiple publications recognized the school for its affordable rates, and Princeton Review even called it one of the best values for the money. SUU saw its population grow dramatically in recent years, and as of 2014, it had an enrollment of above 7,000 graduate and undergraduate students.
Master of Accountancy
When SUU decide to add a Master of Accountancy degree program, the university wanted to ensure that students wanting to be come a CPA would fulfill the requirements needed to take the CPA exam. All students must complete an application and ensure they meet the requirements necessary to enroll. Students may also apply for an assistant program that lets them earn money to cover the cost of tuition while teaching or working on campus. Those who have a degree outside of accounting can still enroll, but those students will need to take up to 16 undergraduate level courses to demonstrate that they can handle the intricacies of advanced studies. Graduate students must take 12 credit hours of required accounting classes, several electives and some required business courses. SUU also requires that accounting grad students do an internship and select an emphasis in management, public accounting or tax accounting.
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
351 W Center St.
Cedar City, UT 84720
(435) 586-7700
templin@suu.edu
https://www.suu.edu/business/
University of Utah
David Eccles School of Business
Located in Salt Lake City, the University of Utah is the flagship campus in the University of Utah School System, which operates college campuses across the state. Founded in 1850, the college originally held classes in local homes and city buildings before closing its doors due to a lack of funding. When the college reopened in 1867, it found a new level of success. After going through multiple names, it settled on the University of Utah, which it thought would reflect the commitment it had to higher education. Washington Monthly recently ranked the University of Utah as the nation’s 38th best college.
Master of Accounting
In addition to an undergraduate accounting program, the University of Utah also offers a Master in Accounting program that the Public Accounting Report ranked as one of the top 25 best programs in the country. This is also one of the best accredited accounting degree programs in Utah. UU developed this program with customization in mind. Students can choose a concentration in tax accounting, accounting information services or auditing. The concentration they select determines the type of courses they take. The full time program consists of 32 credit hours but requires a commitment of only two semesters. Those who prefer taking their time may prefer the part time program, which they can complete in four semesters. You can enter the program in either the fall or spring, but if you do not have the requirements needed for enrolling, you will need to complete some prerequisites online or on campus first.
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
1655 Campus Center Dr.
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
(801) 581-7676
andrea.miller@Eccles.Utah.edu
http://www.business.utah.edu/
Utah State University
Jon M. Huntsman School of Business
Utah State University opened in 1888 as an agricultural school that focused more on preparing students for running farms and businesses that would provide locals with food and sustenance. It didn’t take long before it began introducing new programs that covered topics like engineering and science. Though the campus once considered merging with the University of Utah, the school administration declined the offer after finding that the merger would lead to the closure of multiple programs. USU has more than 28,000 students taking classes on its multiple campuses and more than 16,000 taking classes on its main campus in Logan.
Master of Accounting
The Master of Accounting program at Utah State University includes 24 credit hours of core accounting classes and 12 credit hours of work that students do in the concentration or specialization of their choosing. Specializations available in this program include personal financial planning, professional accountancy and taxation. Students applying must submit a transcript that shows they took all the prerequisite courses required for enrolling. If a student misses even one of those classes, the individual will need to take that courses before starting the program. The eight required accounting courses cover topics like income taxation, business law, cost management systems and accounting concepts and research. If you lack an accounting degree, you can enroll in a combined program through the university that lets you earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting and your master’s degree in as little as two years.
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
3500 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322
(435) 797-2272
huntsman@usu.edu
http://huntsman.usu.edu/
Weber State University
Goddard School of Business and Economics
Following the success of Brigham Young University, the Jesus Christ Church of the Latter-day Saints wanted to open a new college in Weber County. Then known as Weber Stake Academy, the school opened in 1889. The campus later shifted from preparatory courses and began offering teaching classes, which led to the college becoming a normal school in the 1920s. Facing financial difficulties, the LDS worked out a deal with the state that allowed Utah to acquire the campus. After serving as a junior college for more than 20 years, the school moved to a new area and eventually became Webster State University.
Master of Accounting
Webster State University offers a Master in Accounting program that awards students an Macc degree upon completion. This is a 30 credit hour program that requires students take 21 credits of required courses and nine credit hours of electives. All electives must fall within the accounting or business departments and may include classes like tax research and communication, internal auditing, state and local taxation, individual taxation and real estate taxation. Some of the required courses in this program include financial accounting and reporting, information systems auditing and government and nonprofit accounting. The program ranks as one of the top accredited accounting degree programs in Utah because it gives students help preparing for the CPA examination. Webster State University also has waivers available that let accounting students get in state tuition rates even if they live outside of Utah.
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
3848 Harrison Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84408
(801) 626-6000
gsbe@weber.edu
http://www.weber.edu/goddard
Think about the subjects and topics you want to study in class when choosing a graduate school, and give some thought to the areas around the campus as well. Utah offers a number of opportunities for those with an advanced accounting degree, and you can complete your degree with one of the top accredited accounting degree programs in Utah.
