Finance and Accounting Degrees Offered at the University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota appears in our ranking of the Top 40 Best Online MBAs in Finance.
The University of North Dakota (UND) offers five undergraduate and two graduate degree programs. There are four available bachelor of business administration (BBA) tracks, all of which require 120 credit hours total. BBA students all complete the fundamental business core which includes courses like Elements of Accounting, Fundamentals of Computer Information Systems, Marketing Foundations, Principles of Financial Management, and Operations Management. Each major also includes required specialty classes as well as the opportunity for customization with students choosing electives that relate to their interests and career goals. One program, the major in Managerial Finance and Accounting, prepares each student to attain professional licensure as a Certified Management Accountant or a Certified Financial Manager.
The Banking and Financial Economics major includes specialized classes like Principles of Banking and Bank Regulation. The curriculum focuses on both the corporate and public policy aspects of the economy on a local and global scale. This dual focus prepares graduates to analyze economic trends and help corporations use this information to develop a financial strategy. The BBA in Business Economics is a similar program with an emphasis on entrepreneurship over corporate banking. In this program, students learn to use data to drive business decisions in courses like Empirical Methods in Economics I. Graduates are prepared to work as business consultants, financial analysts, and forecasters among other positions.
The fourth BBA major focuses on investments and involves both courses in economic theory as well as investment strategy including Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management, Financial Derivatives, and Fixed Income Analysis and Portfolio Management. Throughout the four years of study, students also participate in managing the Student Management Investment Fund worth one million dollars which provides real-world experience in the field. The University of North Dakota also offers a Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc) degree which is 120 credit hours and gives students a strong foundation in accounting. The curriculum covers a variety of related topics featuring courses like Accounting Information Systems, Cost Accounting, and Business Income Taxation. Many students opt for the 5-year program which includes advanced business courses like Business Intelligence and Seminar in Auditing. Graduates of the 5-year track meet educational requirements to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination.
At the graduate level, there are three options for students to earn their Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree. The Professional Track is a 31-credit-hour campus-based program that takes full-time students one year to complete. It is designed for individuals who have previously earned a BAcc. Students have the opportunity to choose one of three specializations, Data Analytics, Public Administration, and Organization and Leadership. Undergraduate accounting students at UND do have the option to apply for this track as part of an accelerated 5-year program that culminates in both the BAcc and MAcc. The other two graduate options are delivered entirely online. One is geared toward individuals with a bachelor’s in accounting and the other toward those with a different undergraduate major. Upon completion, all three graduate tracks prepare students to sit for the CPA exams. There is also a Master of Science in Applied Economics program that consists of 34 credit hours and prepares students for careers in academia, research, or strategic planning. This can be completed in two years, either on-campus or online.
About the University of North Dakota
UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a college town on the eastern central border of the state. This was the site of the original campus when the school opened in 1883, even before North Dakota received statehood. At various times throughout its history, the university had to deal with crises that canceled classes for a period of time including a devastating flu epidemic in 1918, its usage as an army base in World War I, and a flood in 1997. Today, though, the school enrolls nearly 15,000 students in over 200 disciplines. The U.S. News and World Report has ranked the University of North Dakota the 24th best online graduate business program in the country and the 12th best for veterans.
University of North Dakota Accreditation Details
UND is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission which is responsible for evaluating colleges and universities in 19 states in the central part of the country. This certifies that the school meets quality standards in five areas ranging from business and administrative to academic aspects. These categories include Teaching and Learning, Mission, and Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness. Accreditation was first granted to the University of North Dakota in 1913 and is next scheduled for renewal in 2023. The accounting and finance programs are also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business which is a designation awarded to five percent of business schools worldwide.
University of North Dakota Application Requirements
Undergraduate freshman UND applicants need to submit an online application and send $35 fee, complete transcripts, and ACT or SAT scores. For acceptance, all students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75, and minimum test scores vary depending on GPA, ranging from 18 to 22 on the ACT (SAT score of 960 to 1100). Students who do not meet the cutoff scores can still apply and may be provisionally admitted. For undergraduate transfer, the minimum accepted college GPA is 2.0. Admission to the graduate program requires completion of an undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or a 3.0 GPA in the final two years as well as a GMAT score of at least 500.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition for all business programs at UND is around $10,142 for North Dakota residents annually with an out-of-state rate of $14,451 except for students from Minnesota who pay $11,176. At the graduate level, accounting and finance on-campus and online tuition rates are about $500, $600, and $700 per credit hour for residents of North Dakota, Minnesota, and all other states, respectively. The university offers a variety of scholarships to incoming students that are awarded automatically to individuals meeting academic criteria. Many graduate students take advantage of assistantships, teaching and researching with faculty members in their field. In addition, accounting and finance students at University of North Dakota often continue full-time employment during their studies and utilize tuition assistance programs through employers.
