2024 Best Accounting Master's Degree Schools in California
If you pursue a master's degree in
accounting, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #10 most popular program in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.
College Factual looked at 25 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Accounting Master's Degree Schools in California ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 824 master's degrees in accounting during the 2020-2021 academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Choosing a Great Accounting School for Your Master's Degree
The accounting master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A Great Overall School
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Early-Career Earnings
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
Other Factors We Consider
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
- Major Focus - How many resources a school devotes to accounting students as compared to other majors.
- Major Demand - The number of accounting students who choose to seek a master's degree at the school.
- Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
- Student Debt - How much debt accounting students go into to obtain their master's degree and how well they are able to pay back that debt.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized accounting related body.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for accounting students working on their master's degree.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The accounting school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Accounting Master's Degree Schools in California.
Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Accounting in California
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for accounting students seeking a a master's degree.
10 Top California Schools for a Master's in Accounting
It is difficult to beat Saint Mary's College of California if you want to pursue a master's degree in accounting. SMC is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large suburb of Moraga.
Master's recipients from the accounting major at Saint Mary's College of California make $8,762 more than the average college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in accounting from Saint Mary’s College of California
Golden Gate University - San Francisco is a wonderful choice for students pursuing a master's degree in accounting. Located in the large city of San Francisco, Golden Gate University - San Francisco is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.
Master's recipients from the accounting major at Golden Gate University - San Francisco earn $9,428 more than the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in accounting from Golden Gate University - San Francisco
University of San Diego is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in accounting. USD is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of San Diego.More information about a master’s in accounting from University of San Diego
It's difficult to beat Loyola Marymount University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in accounting. Loyola Marymount is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Los Angeles.More information about a master’s in accounting from Loyola Marymount University
SDSU is a fairly large public university located in the large city of San Diego.
Master's recipients from the accounting program at San Diego State University earn $4,423 more than the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in accounting from San Diego State University