by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 96 U.S. colleges awarded 1,258 degrees and certificates in Taxation. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 96% of graduates. College Factual ranks 46 schools in its 2027 Best Taxation Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $85,524 one year after completing, rising to $119,099 after four years.
Taxes aren't everyone's favorite topic, but if you have a knack for numbers and want to help your clients prepare taxes, a degree in taxation may be a good fit for you. Tax preparers work with both residential and commercial customers to prepare their taxes. You will need to work closely with your clients by interviewing them, record data into tax preparation software and look for ways to minimize the amount of taxes your clients owe.
A thorough knowledge of taxes and tax law will be necessary to be successful in this role. Tax preparers are closely related to other financial related careers such as tax examiners and accountants. While accountants are responsible for paying corporate taxes for their organization (in addition to numerous other responsibilities), they are typically not solely responsible for determining the taxes to pay - especially in larger organizations. Another related career is tax examiners - these people typically work for the government either at the state or federal level. Tax examiners examine tax returns for individuals and businesses to determine if audits are necessary.
You can become a tax preparer by obtaining a certificate in tax preparation or pursue an associates or bachelor's degree. You have some options depending on who your clients will be and what you want your role to be. The relative simplicity of preparing personal taxes may only require you to attend a vocational school. On the other hand, preparing taxes for a large multinational corporation may require a more advanced degree. Some students go on to get an advanced degree in Taxation so they can work for large companies handling much more complex scenarios.
Studying Taxation involves the study of Taxation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., taxation is a widely-pursued major, with 1,258 degrees awarded annually. 96 colleges award taxation degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 75.
By level, the 1,258 awards include 21 certificates, 12 associate degrees and 1,210 master’s degrees.
Women earned 54% of taxation degrees and certificates in the latest year (685 of 1,258). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (596) and Hispanic or Latino (206), and international students earned 86.
College Factual ranks 46 schools in its 2027 Best Taxation Schools ranking, including 37 for master’s degrees. It also ranks taxation schools within 17 states. In all, 96 colleges offer taxation programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Taxation Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common taxation credential is the master’s degree: 1,210 of the 1,258 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to taxation call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Written Comprehension and Oral Expression.
At a minimum, schools will prepare you for tax preparation by including courses on tax law, regulations, electronic tax systems, and tax planning. If you plan to prepare taxes for large organizations, additional coursework in depreciation, capital gains and losses and estates and trusts will be needed.
In order to be a successful tax preparer, you will need to enjoy working with people as communication skills are critical. You must be an active listener to ensure mistakes are not made. You also need to have a strong attention to detail and a knack for numbers.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a taxation degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 21 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 12 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,210 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to taxation, at 39.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 39.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 18.6% |
| Some college courses | 12.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 12.4% |
| Master’s degree | 5.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.7% |
| First professional degree | 4.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Taxation, with an average median salary of $91,871; the strongest outlook belongs to Financial Examiners, at 13.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Tax Associate, Tax Specialist, Tax Professional and Aircraft Appraiser.
Tax preparation is a necessary service for consumers and commercial entities.
The occupation related to taxation with the most projected jobs is Appraisers of Personal and Business Property, at 814,640.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | 814,640 | 8.0% |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | 554,994 | -0.7% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 388,087 | 3.0% |
| Tax Preparers | 206,607 | 9.5% |
| Financial Examiners | 136,492 | 13.1% |
Taxation graduates earn a median $85,524 one year after completing their program, $119,099 after four years and $117,987 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $85,524 |
| 4 years | $119,099 |
| 5 years | $117,987 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to taxation, with a median salary of $118,242.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | $118,242 |
| Financial Examiners | $117,139 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,222 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $77,212 |
| Tax Preparers | $67,542 |
Taxation includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Taxation (1,258). It has 21 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 882,891 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration, Management and Operations (421,752), Accounting and Related Services (86,793) and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (68,298). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Taxation | 1,258 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 421,752 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 86,793 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 68,298 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 61,663 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 60,422 |
| Marketing | 56,635 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 27,822 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 15,088 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 14,895 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13,200 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
