Southern Illinois University Carbondale

How this program compares

Benchmark this program against our national recognition pages and use the key guides below to evaluate ROI, admissions difficulty, and outcomes.

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: Applicants typically need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA (often 3.0 or higher). While an accounting undergraduate background is preferred, many programs accept graduates from non-accounting disciplines; some may require prerequisite accounting courses before enrollment.

About This Program

Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s online Master of Accountancy is an AACSB-accredited program that builds on accounting foundations while preparing students for advanced professional careers and CPA eligibility; it can be completed in about a year with rolling start dates.

Career Outcomes

Graduates are prepared for senior accounting roles such as managerial accountant, corporate controller, chief financial officer, auditor or financial analyst across public accounting firms, corporations, nonprofits and government sectors.

• 1. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• 2. Audit Manager or Senior Auditor
• 3. Tax Manager or Tax Consultant
• 4. Corporate Controller or Chief Financial Officer

What You'll Learn

• Mastery of financial reporting standards, accounting frameworks, and regulatory requirements
• Advanced auditing methodologies, risk assessment, and internal control evaluation
• Tax compliance, planning strategies, and application of federal and state tax law
• Integration of accounting information systems, data analytics, and technology in accounting practice

Curriculum Highlights

30 credit hours of core accounting courses; topics like accounting research methods, partnership taxation, governmental & nonprofit accounting, with optional capstone CPA review or internship replacing core course(s)

Top Employers

Top employers include the \"Big Four\" accounting firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG), regional accounting firms, Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

Admissions

Applicants typically need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA (often 3.0 or higher). While an accounting undergraduate background is preferred, many programs accept graduates from non-accounting disciplines; some may require prerequisite accounting courses before enrollment.

Application Materials

• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: 2–3
• Resume: Required
• Official Transcripts: Required

Academic Requirements

• Degree Required: Bachelor's degree
• GRE/GMAT: Often required or optional depending on program; some schools waive for strong academic records
• TOEFL/IELTS: Required for international students (TOEFL 80+ / IELTS 6.5+)