What is Accounting?
Business accounting is the process of recording financial transactions. In accounting, transactions are summarized, analyzed, and reported to regulatory agencies, tax collection agencies, and oversight agencies. A company's financial statements present a summary of its operations, financial position, and cash flow during a period of time.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that nationwide demand for the accounting profession will grow by 7% between the 2020 and 2030 reporting period, which, today, is faster than the national average for all professions and areas of employment. The rate of growth is slightly lower in Massachusetts where it's projected to climb by 3.9% between 2020 and 2030. By that time there will be 48,240 general accountants employed at firms throughout the state, earning a median salary above the 2020 estimate of $88,830. These professionals provide cost accounting, auditing, financial reporting, management accounting, and leadership for each private or public firm as well as national and state accounting organizations. They also are essential for providing general accounting experience and other related work experience to CPA candidates. This guide shows you exactly how to become a certified public accountant and CPA requirements in Massachusetts.
Top Ranked Campus & Online Accounting Programs in Massachusetts
1
Boston College
Score: 84.54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $67,680
- Out-of-State:$67,680
- Net Price: $30,559
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 15,287
- Undergrad Students: 9,982
- Graduate Students: 5,305
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
2
Northeastern University
Score: 82.23
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,141
- Out-of-State:$63,141
- Net Price: $35,827
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 30,013
- Undergrad Students: 16,302
- Graduate Students: 13,711
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
3
College of the Holy Cross
Score: 79.7
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,850
- Out-of-State:$60,850
- Net Price: $34,679
- Acceptance Rate: 36%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 3,083
- Undergrad Students: 3,083
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
4
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Score: 78.59
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,357
- Out-of-State:$39,293
- Net Price: $22,291
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 32,229
- Undergrad Students: 24,391
- Graduate Students: 7,838
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
5
Bentley University
Score: 78.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $58,150
- Out-of-State:$58,150
- Net Price: $44,233
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Total Enrollment: 5,165
- Undergrad Students: 4,131
- Graduate Students: 1,034
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
6
Assumption University
Score: 76.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $49,414
- Out-of-State:$49,414
- Net Price: $28,911
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 2,059
- Undergrad Students: 1,704
- Graduate Students: 355
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
7
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Score: 75.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,570
- Out-of-State:$35,396
- Net Price: $17,240
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 17,153
- Undergrad Students: 12,389
- Graduate Students: 4,764
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
8
Simmons University
Score: 75.64
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $45,538
- Out-of-State:$45,538
- Net Price: $24,423
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 5,710
- Undergrad Students: 1,788
- Graduate Students: 3,922
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
9
Stonehill College
Score: 74.81
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $54,500
- Out-of-State:$54,500
- Net Price: $31,021
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 79%
- Total Enrollment: 2,543
- Undergrad Students: 2,500
- Graduate Students: 43
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
10
Western New England University
Score: 72.59
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $46,430
- Out-of-State:$46,430
- Net Price: $30,214
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 3,430
- Undergrad Students: 2,406
- Graduate Students: 1,024
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
11
Springfield College
Score: 71.02
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,707
- Out-of-State:$43,707
- Net Price: $27,930
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 2,921
- Undergrad Students: 2,005
- Graduate Students: 916
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
12
Fitchburg State University
Score: 70.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,046
- Out-of-State:$17,126
- Net Price: $15,535
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 6,554
- Undergrad Students: 3,168
- Graduate Students: 3,386
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
13
Framingham State University
Score: 69.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,630
- Out-of-State:$17,710
- Net Price: $17,715
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 4,111
- Undergrad Students: 2,970
- Graduate Students: 1,141
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
14
Salem State University
Score: 69.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,978
- Out-of-State:$18,961
- Net Price: $19,277
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 6,539
- Undergrad Students: 5,078
- Graduate Students: 1,461
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
15
Cambridge College
Score: 68.75
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $18,072
- Out-of-State:$18,072
- Net Price: $21,178
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 2,135
- Undergrad Students: 840
- Graduate Students: 1,295
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
16
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Score: 68.24
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $42,061
- Out-of-State:$42,061
- Net Price: $23,498
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 75%
- Total Enrollment: 1,275
- Undergrad Students: 980
- Graduate Students: 295
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
17
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Score: 67.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,208
- Out-of-State:$31,750
- Net Price: $19,700
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 7,457
- Undergrad Students: 5,517
- Graduate Students: 1,940
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
18
Emmanuel College
Score: 67.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $46,686
- Out-of-State:$46,686
- Net Price: $32,273
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 66%
- Total Enrollment: 2,012
- Undergrad Students: 1,947
- Graduate Students: 65
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
19
Endicott College
Score: 67.66
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,212
- Out-of-State:$39,212
- Net Price: $39,496
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 4,006
- Undergrad Students: 3,062
- Graduate Students: 944
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
20
Nichols College
Score: 66.86
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $40,375
- Out-of-State:$40,375
- Net Price: $27,192
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Total Enrollment: 1,403
- Undergrad Students: 1,164
- Graduate Students: 239
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
21
Merrimack College
Score: 66.69
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $51,786
- Out-of-State:$51,786
- Net Price: $37,296
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 5,505
- Undergrad Students: 4,229
- Graduate Students: 1,276
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
22
Gordon College
Score: 65.67
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,100
- Out-of-State:$28,100
- Net Price: $24,483
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 1,628
- Undergrad Students: 1,294
- Graduate Students: 334
- Grads Salary: $64,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
23
Curry College
Score: 65.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $46,220
- Out-of-State:$46,220
- Net Price: $31,091
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 62%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 2,052
- Undergrad Students: 1,833
- Graduate Students: 219
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
24
Suffolk University
Score: 64.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $45,380
- Out-of-State:$45,380
- Net Price: $32,270
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 6,734
- Undergrad Students: 4,381
- Graduate Students: 2,353
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
25
Lasell University
Score: 64.81
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $26,000
- Out-of-State:$26,000
- Net Price: $29,706
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 1,591
- Undergrad Students: 1,247
- Graduate Students: 344
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
