What is Accounting?
Becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) in this state may differ somewhat from others, so it's important that students hoping to earn certification as CPAs learn the specific CPA requirements of the state. This is including the fact that Minnesota does not require a candidate to have yet graduated from college before sitting for the Uniform CPA Examination. You can find a full review and analysis of state policies and the rules individuals must follow here.
An accounting function is essential to almost all businesses. A small firm may have a bookkeeper or accountant handling the task, while an organization with a large finance department may have dozens of employees handling the process. In order to make informed business decisions, various streams of accounting, such as cost accounting and managerial accounting, generate numerous reports.
Accountants hail from a wide variety of backgrounds. Generally speaking, however, attention to detail is a key component in accountancy, since accountants must be able to diagnose and correct subtle errors or discrepancies in a company’s accounts. The ability to think logically is also essential, to help with problem-solving. Mathematical skills are helpful but are less important than in previous generations due to the wide availability of computers and calculators.
Top Ranked Campus & Online Accounting Programs in Minnesota
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Score: 84.84
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,488
- Out-of-State:$36,402
- Net Price: $16,018
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 54,955
- Undergrad Students: 39,248
- Graduate Students: 15,707
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
University of Minnesota-Crookston
Score: 76.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,120
- Out-of-State:$13,120
- Net Price: $12,894
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 2,303
- Undergrad Students: 2,303
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
St. Catherine University
Score: 76.25
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $49,758
- Out-of-State:$49,758
- Net Price: $19,976
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 3,577
- Undergrad Students: 2,404
- Graduate Students: 1,173
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Saint John's University
Score: 73.92
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $53,942
- Out-of-State:$53,942
- Net Price: $27,982
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 1,645
- Undergrad Students: 1,528
- Graduate Students: 117
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of St. Thomas-St. Paul
Score: 73.08
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $52,284
- Out-of-State:$52,284
- Net Price: $30,137
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 80%
- Total Enrollment: 9,025
- Undergrad Students: 5,906
- Graduate Students: 3,119
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Score: 72.72
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $25,000
- Out-of-State:$25,000
- Net Price: $17,776
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 5,544
- Undergrad Students: 3,071
- Graduate Students: 2,473
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Score: 72.55
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,318
- Out-of-State:$19,762
- Net Price: $18,031
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 9,675
- Undergrad Students: 8,810
- Graduate Students: 865
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Hamline University
Score: 72
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $48,311
- Out-of-State:$48,311
- Net Price: $23,021
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 2,638
- Undergrad Students: 1,765
- Graduate Students: 873
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Concordia College at Moorhead
Score: 71.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $30,020
- Out-of-State:$30,020
- Net Price: $23,087
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 1,903
- Undergrad Students: 1,827
- Graduate Students: 76
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Bethel University-Saint Paul
Score: 71.51
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $42,930
- Out-of-State:$42,930
- Net Price: $29,915
- Acceptance Rate: 72%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 75%
- Total Enrollment: 3,546
- Undergrad Students: 2,592
- Graduate Students: 954
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
The College of St. Scholastica
Score: 71.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $40,454
- Out-of-State:$40,454
- Net Price: $24,578
- Acceptance Rate: 97%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 3,207
- Undergrad Students: 1,938
- Graduate Students: 1,269
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Score: 71.32
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,490
- Out-of-State:$18,860
- Net Price: $16,809
- Acceptance Rate: 71%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 14,590
- Undergrad Students: 12,676
- Graduate Students: 1,914
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Winona State University
Score: 70.75
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,498
- Out-of-State:$17,230
- Net Price: $18,187
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 6,154
- Undergrad Students: 5,403
- Graduate Students: 751
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Score: 70.74
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,160
- Out-of-State:$43,160
- Net Price: $22,843
- Acceptance Rate: 97%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 4,133
- Undergrad Students: 1,100
- Graduate Students: 3,033
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Bemidji State University
Score: 70.13
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,164
- Out-of-State:$10,164
- Net Price: $15,561
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 4,023
- Undergrad Students: 3,677
- Graduate Students: 346
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Score: 70.12
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,336
- Out-of-State:$10,336
- Net Price: $17,939
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 4,682
- Undergrad Students: 3,729
- Graduate Students: 953
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Augsburg University
Score: 69.67
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,942
- Out-of-State:$43,942
- Net Price: $25,409
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 3,088
- Undergrad Students: 2,358
- Graduate Students: 730
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
St. Cloud State University
Score: 69.44
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,117
- Out-of-State:$10,117
- Net Price: $14,065
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 10,420
- Undergrad Students: 8,569
- Graduate Students: 1,851
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Gustavus Adolphus College
Score: 69.35
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $54,310
- Out-of-State:$54,310
- Net Price: $30,297
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 2,072
- Undergrad Students: 2,072
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Rasmussen University-Minnesota
Score: 68.4
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,899
- Out-of-State:$10,899
- Net Price: $17,858
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 3,058
- Undergrad Students: 2,649
- Graduate Students: 409
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
College of Saint Benedict
Score: 68.22
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $53,884
- Out-of-State:$53,884
- Net Price: $28,746
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 1,470
- Undergrad Students: 1,443
- Graduate Students: 27
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Herzing University-Minneapolis
Score: 66.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,420
- Out-of-State:$13,420
- Net Price: $19,527
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 815
- Undergrad Students: 808
- Graduate Students: 7
- Grads Salary: $60,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Metropolitan State University
Score: 65.69
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,780
- Out-of-State:$9,780
- Net Price: $19,347
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 6,294
- Undergrad Students: 5,488
- Graduate Students: 806
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Southwest Minnesota State University
Score: 64.54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,304
- Out-of-State:$10,304
- Net Price: $15,004
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 41%
- Total Enrollment: 6,930
- Undergrad Students: 6,518
- Graduate Students: 412
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Score: 63.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,830
- Out-of-State:$36,830
- Net Price: $25,704
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Total Enrollment: 3,253
- Undergrad Students: 3,161
- Graduate Students: 92
- Grads Salary: $64,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Online Accounting Education in Minnesota
Here, there are different specific educational requirements, accounting courses, and rules based on whether an individual is receiving a CPA certificate or sitting for the CPA exam. For the former, the licensure requirement policy is that candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree or higher that includes at least 24 semester hours of accounting at the undergraduate or graduate level. Courses must include financial accounting, taxation, auditing, and managerial accounting.
For the latter, candidates planning their initial attempt at the exam must have successfully completed at least 150 credit hours, which includes at least 24 semester hours of accounting at the baccalaureate degree or graduate degree level and courses in financial accounting, taxation, auditing and management accounting, as well as at least 24 semester hours in undergraduate or graduate courses in business or accounting. Of these 48 hours, only six may apply to life experience or internships and this does not include a CPA review course from a company that doesn't count as school credit from the department of education or a university or business school.
Residency requirements
To take the CPA Exam in this state, the candidate must be either a resident or have regular employment in the state with an accounting firm or other organizations. Other options include working in-state to obtain qualifying work experience or planning to work in the state within three months of completing your studies and passing the CPA exam by moving there from anywhere in the U.S. or abroad.
Online Associate (AS)
An associate degree in accounting teaches students how to view accounting data and make needed changes before it is used for financial statements, forecast accounting reports, or budgets. This degree will only prepare you to work at the entry level in an office or for accounting firms. Make sure that any school you sign on to attend is an accredited school with a national or regional accrediting agency approved by the Department of Education.
Online Bachelors (BS, BAcc or B.Acy)
After you complete your general education (lower-division classes) at your educational institution, you'll be able to claim entry to an accounting program within your college or university and begin working your way toward an accounting degree. This can gain you access to higher than entry-level opportunities and prepare you for more leadership positions, whether you earn your degree through distance learning or on campus. It's important to attend a school with accreditation; you should look for a school accredited by the AACSB.
Online Masters (MS, MAcc or M.Acy)
One university offers its Master of Accounting (MAcc) at two campuses in-state. A graduate degree will let you earn all the credits you need in accounting and related subjects, such as business courses, to become a CPA. In fact, a business school or other accredited institution with accreditation from the AACSB will be able to offer a higher degree, such as an MBA with a focus in accounting which will completely fulfill your CPA license requirements. A graduate accounting degree is plenty to move your career forward, but you might also attend related courses at this level to use for continuing education credits such as those in public accounting, risk assessment, accounting information systems, financial statement analysis, and more.
Online Doctorate (PhD)
The accounting Accounting PhD programs ready doctoral students for a life devoted to research. The PhD accounting program focuses on theoretical accounting and, while you won’t need a doctorate for most accounting positions, they are useful to move ahead in academia. Again, an accredited institution is important at this level, though AACSB accreditation is not a requirement.