Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois
Accredited diploma
Offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Taught in English
Engage in group discussions with professors and peers
18-36 months
32 credit hours of graduate coursework
100% online
Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required
$20,984 - $27,200 USD total cost
Depending on elective course choices
Become an analytics-minded professional with a fully online master’s from a top-ranked accounting powerhouse.
Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is consistently ranked among the nation's top three accounting programs and is a revered destination for accounting education globally.
The online Master of Science in Accountancy (iMSA) provides students with skills in analytical thinking, data mining, and strategic accounting. This accounting degree is intentionally flexible to address the needs of today’s students: whether they seek to begin their career as an accountant, become a CPA, improve their standing in the accounting field and become a CFO, or want to leverage analytical skills in their existing non-accounting career.
In-demand skills to meet the future of accounting
The accounting industry is undergoing rapid change. New accountants need to become proficient in leading analytical techniques and tools like; programming in Python and R, data mining, statistical analysis and regression. All of this on top of a traditional accounting education.
The iMSA meets these needs with instruction from some of the very best accounting faculty in the world. Graduates from the Gies program are in high-demand because they possess the most sought-after skills. Alumni have gone on to become world-renowned founders of businesses, CEOs, CFOs, accounting firm partners, entrepreneurs, and other business leaders.
Applications for Fall 2024 are open.
Fall 2024 Deadlines:
- Priority Deadline: June 6, 2024
Upcoming Events:
Have questions?
Please contact Gies College of Business at giesonline@illinois.edu.
Upcoming Events
The full Gies Online Events Calendar can be found here.
Fall Final Deadline: June 27
Start your application or request more information.
Accredited diploma
Offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Taught in English
Engage in group discussions with professors and peers
18-36 months
32 credit hours of graduate coursework
100% online
Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required
$20,984 - $27,200 USD total cost
Depending on elective course choices
Accredited diploma
Offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Taught in English
Engage in group discussions with professors and peers
18-36 months
32 credit hours of graduate coursework
100% online
Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required
$20,984 - $27,200 USD total cost
Depending on elective course choices
Become an analytics-minded professional with a fully online master’s from a top-ranked accounting powerhouse.
Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is consistently ranked among the nation's top three accounting programs and is a revered destination for accounting education globally.
The online Master of Science in Accountancy (iMSA) provides students with skills in analytical thinking, data mining, and strategic accounting. This accounting degree is intentionally flexible to address the needs of today’s students: whether they seek to begin their career as an accountant, become a CPA, improve their standing in the accounting field and become a CFO, or want to leverage analytical skills in their existing non-accounting career.
In-demand skills to meet the future of accounting
The accounting industry is undergoing rapid change. New accountants need to become proficient in leading analytical techniques and tools like; programming in Python and R, data mining, statistical analysis and regression. All of this on top of a traditional accounting education.
The iMSA meets these needs with instruction from some of the very best accounting faculty in the world. Graduates from the Gies program are in high-demand because they possess the most sought-after skills. Alumni have gone on to become world-renowned founders of businesses, CEOs, CFOs, accounting firm partners, entrepreneurs, and other business leaders.
Applications for Fall 2024 are open.
Fall 2024 Deadlines:
- Priority Deadline: June 6, 2024
Upcoming Events:
Have questions?
Please contact Gies College of Business at giesonline@illinois.edu.
Upcoming Events
The full Gies Online Events Calendar can be found here.
Choose Your Path
Ready to give the iMSA a try? Get started on your application today, or start with an open course. With an open course, you can try the asynchronous component of the program in advance. These open courses feature degree instructors, video lectures, and readings.
Learn more about open courses related to this degree
An affordable pathway into one of the fastest growing occupations
- $20,984 - $27,200 total tuitionCompetitively priced against other top accounting schools, the iMSA provides a gateway into one of the fastest growing occupations.
- Pay-as-you-goYou pay tuition only for courses you're enrolled in. If a scheduling conflict arises, you are free to take a term off and won’t be charged during that term.
- Financial aid & scholarshipsGies College of Business and Coursera have partnered to offer a limited number of competitive scholarships covering 70% of tuition for select students. If you’re a U.S. resident, you may also qualify for student aid.
Open to all backgrounds
The iMSA is open to those without an accounting background all the way to C-suite executives. No accounting undergraduate degree is required for admission.
There are four ways to access our courses:
Apply into the iMSA program
Apply into the performance-based admissions track (PAT)
Enroll in a for-credit course as a non-degree student
Register for a non credit option
Learn more
Make progress before you enroll
These courses are part of this degree program. If you are admitted and enroll in the degree program, your coursework can count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.
C
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Strategic Leadership and ManagementLeadership and Business Skill for Immediate Impact
Beginner · Specialization
C
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Accounting Data AnalyticsDevelop Data Analytics Skills for Accountants
Intermediate · Specialization
C
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
U.S. Federal TaxationU.S. Federal Taxation of Individuals & Businesses
Intermediate · Specialization
Frequently asked questions
In general, we expect applicants to have completed a course in business management along with a one- or two- course sequence in principles of accounting or a course in financial accounting. If you are missing any prerequisites for the full degree, you can complete open courses through Coursera to demonstrate readiness and strengthen your application for the iMSA:
The three courses below, in combination, will satisfy the principles of accounting prerequisite.
- Financial Accounting - Foundations
- Financial Accounting - Advanced Topics
- Formal Financial Accounting
For the business management course prerequisite we offer a course titled Business Strategy.
You will want to make sure that you earn a course completion certificate for each course, so you can prove that you’ve successfully completed them.
If you don’t meet the GPA requirement but are still very interested in applying, you may consider applying to our Performance-based Admissions Track (PAT). You will undergo the same rigorous application review as a degree-seeking student, including a possible interview. If admitted into the PAT program, you will take a set of two iMSA for-credit courses, and upon completion (cumulative GPA or 3.0 or better, including a B or better in both courses) you will automatically be admitted to the iMSA program as a degree-seeking student. The credits earned in those two courses will be transferred toward your MSA degree. Click here for more details.
Yes, you can enroll as a non-degree student at the University of Illinois to earn official university credit through relevant online for-credit courses. To submit the short application to enroll as a for-credit, non degree student, go to https://giesonline.illinois.edu/explore-programs/degree-access-points
Yes, you can get started with these Specializations and courses on Coursera to try out the degree program before you apply. If you apply and are accepted to the program, your work counts towards your degree learning.
A maximum of 12 credit hours can be transferred. Transfer requests must be submitted with the application. Requests for transfer credits will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed even if the following criteria are met.
- School must be an AACSB-accredited institution.
- Course(s) must have been completed within the past 4 years.
- Course(s) must not have been used towards any other degree.
- Course(s) must have been taken at the graduate level.
- Student must have earned an A- or better.
No. You pay tuition when you enroll in each individual course ($850 per credit hour for accountancy courses and $332 for non-accounting electives). That means you’ll only pay for your courses as you take them.
Yes, but this can wait until you receive an admissions decision. We can review your application based on unofficial copies of these documents uploaded in your online application. If you have been admitted to the iMSA program, you have to request that the educational institution which issued those transcripts and degree certificates mail your official and original transcripts and degree certificates in a sealed envelope directly to us.
The GMAT or GRE is not required for the application, but you are welcome to submit scores to supplement your application. Unofficial scores can be loaded into your application, but your official GMAT scores must be sent directly to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Institution Code – 1836.
To enroll in for-credit courses and earn the accredited MSA degree, you must be admitted as a degree-seeking student through the University of Illinois Graduate College.
Apply here. You'll first create an account if you don't already have one. After accessing the application system, simply select Accountancy as the program and Accountancy MS (online)–iMSA as the degree program to begin. For more information about the admission process and requirements, visit the University of Illinois iMSA website or request more information. When submitting your application, select Online Master of Science In Accountancy as your Program of Interest.
Yes, each open course is available separately, with or without high-engagement courses that accompany it.
Domestic, degree-seeking students may qualify for student aid. To learn more and to apply for financial aid please visit http://www.osfa.illinois.edu/. Coursera financial aid is available for the open courses components of the iMSA. To learn more please visit this page. The iMSA program at Illinois is a self-funded program and does not offer teaching or research assistantships to students enrolled in the program.
Please refer to the requirements here.
Upon successful completion of the program, you will earn a Master of Science in Accountancy from the University of Illinois, the same degree you would earn if you attended classes on campus.
The University of Illinois has not made a determination as to whether the iMSA program satisfies the academic prerequisites for the CPA exam and licensure in all 55 U.S. jurisdictions. While the AACSB accredited iMSA program will help you meet the education requirement to sit for the CPA exam, specific requirements to be eligible to take the exam and requirements to become a licensed CPA vary from state to state. In some cases, you may need to take additional coursework or exams to meet individual state requirements and/or you may need to complete background checks to take the CPA exam. Please review the requirements issued by the Board of Accountancy in your state prior to applying to the iMSA program. Visit the NASBA website for the contact information and a listing of statutes for the State Board of Accountancy in each of the 55 jurisdictions, or the AICPA website to find your state’s CPA resources and contact information. Becoming a certified public accountant, or CPA, carries numerous benefits such as opportunities to increase your authority and responsibility, and, typically, your salary.
No, your diploma will not designate that you completed your degree online. It will simply state that you earned a Master of Science in Accountancy degree from the University of Illinois.
Resume
Take your time and be sure to highlight your skills and experience. If you aren’t quite done, you have time to edit. Simply upload a new document, and we will evaluate the most recently added.
Personal Statement
We often have students who are waiting to submit while they focus on getting their essay “just right”. Don’t stress! We are just looking to learn more about you and your goals. Once you have put your thoughts together, just proofread and submit!
References
All we need from you in order to submit are the names and contact information for your references. References will be contacted and asked to complete a short form describing their relationship and character assessment of the applicant.
A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is a professional accountant who has met state-level certification and work experience requirements and has passed the CPA examination. It is not equivalent to a graduate-level degree or master’s degree in accounting. In order to sit for the CPA exam, professionals need at least 150 credit hours. Since a typical bachelor’s degree is 120 credit hours, many CPA candidates enroll in a master’s degree in order to fulfill the full credit hours needed to sit for the exam.
That is entirely dependent on what you are looking to achieve. If you are looking to earn the 150 credits required to sit for the CPA exam, a master’s degree can help you earn these credits while also earning a valuable credential to carry with you for the rest of their careers. In addition, a graduate-level degree in accounting can provide connection with some of the brightest minds in the field, especially when you are looking at top-ranked programs.
Accounting jobs are projected to grow 10 percent by 2026, with opportunities in auditing, management, data analytics, and finance. For more information, take a look at this blog post on what you can do with an accounting degree.
A master’s degree in accounting often is a shorter, more specific degree than an MBA program. While they both provide notable ROI, if a professional is more interested in diving deeper specifically into the world of accounting, data analytics, and finance - a master’s in accounting makes more sense.
The iMSA program is a fully online Master of Science in Accountancy program and welcomes students with a bachelor’s degree in any academic discipline.
