Accountancy
A master’s in accounting beyond the numbers.
Ready to grow your career? Led by some of the world’s best professors, our 150-credit-hour compliant graduate accounting degree educationally qualifies you to sit for the New York State CPA exam—but goes far beyond ordinary test preparation. For information about qualifying in other states please click here.
Why Simon?
Simon is a recognized leader in accounting, economics, and finance. Under the guidance of our esteemed faculty, you’ll gain deeper insights into the future of auditing, regulations, and financial analysis.
- Acclaimed Curriculum
Driven by our acclaimed curriculum, Simon’s MS in Accountancy program routinely draws students who excel in business, economics, or accounting.
- STEM Designation
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills are becoming increasingly important in today’s data-driven business environment. A STEM-designated MS in Accountancy degree from Simon signals program quality and analytical rigor to employers and also allows international students up to 36 months of optional practical training (OPT) in a STEM-eligible role.
- Real-World Experience
Choose between two study tracks: graduate after two semesters on our non-internship track, or choose the expanded internship option to gain real-world experience that can help you excel. We also provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities to help you gain new perspectives.
- Integrated Student Experience
The Jay S. and Jeanne Benet Career Management Center and the Office of Student Engagement (OSE) are important professional resources for Accountancy students. We strive to connect you to the right career opportunities with leading employers who value the Simon approach to graduate marketing education. You’ll discover a variety of co-curricular activities designed to enrich your time as a student, including our diverse selection of student clubs. From social to academic pursuits, there’s something for everyone.
Advanced Certificate of Achievement in Tax
Develop proficiency in US taxation, regulation, accounting, and strategy by exploring tax planning opportunities, the US federal tax system, and federal tax code. This certificate is exclusively available to MS in Accountancy students.
Complement your master’s program. Distinguish yourself in the job market.
Acquire specialized knowledge and skills without extending your time to graduation.
Next application deadline:
January 5
*By 11:59 p.m. ET
We are accepting applications for 2025 entry! Simon has rolling admissions, which means we are not only accepting applications, but we’re also reviewing applications as soon as we receive them. If you apply earlier in a round, you're likely to receive your decision before the notification deadline for the round you're applying. We look forward to reviewing your candidacy!
- Receive an admission decision by March 31*
- Plenty of time to plan
- No GMAT/GRE score required
- Maximum scholarship consideration
- Special Offer: Apply by December 5* to have your application fee waived and receive an early admission decision by January 15!
Chat with an admissions counselor before you apply!
Members of our Admissions team are eager to connect with you to answer your questions about Simon's MS in Accountancy program, help you navigate the application process, explore scholarship eligibility, provide insight into the Simon experience and life in Rochester, and more. Schedule a chat at your earliest convenience—we look forward to connecting with you!
GET TO KNOW US
We’re here to help you navigate your Simon journey. Receive the latest information about Simon Business School, our Full-Time MS in Accountancy program, the application process, and more! Just fill out this form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Position yourself for success with an MSA degree from an industry-leading accountancy program.
In addition to qualifying you to sit for the New York State CPA exam, an MS accounting degree from Simon signals to employers you have gained deeper insights into auditing, regulations, and financial analysis. You can also rely on the Benet Career Management Center to offer co-curricular programming to support your career search. |
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
(NASBA) is no longer releasing school specific pass rates for the CPA
exam due to a major overhaul of the CPA Exam during the CPA Evolution
project. No word has been received on when school-specific pass rates will be
made available again.
See what you'll need to prepare for Simon's MSA curriculum.
MS in Accountancy Prerequisites
Due to the focused nature of the program, a bachelor’s degree in business, economics, or accounting is preferred for admission consideration. Having a background in one of these subjects will help to ensure that you have met the prerequisites for our program. Please note that the following courses must have been taken at the undergraduate level prior to enrollment at Simon in order to be eligible for the MS in Accountancy
Note: Only college credit-bearing courses will fulfill the prerequisite requirements. Coursework must be completed/accepted at a college or university and appear on an official transcript. Please email the Simon Admission Team with any questions.
- 3 semester credits of financial accounting
- 1 semester credit of accounting elective
- 3 semester credits of economics
- 3 semester credits of finance
- 21 semester credits of business electives
- 81 semester credits of free electives
Employment Overview:
MS in Accountancy
Explore career paths for MS in Accountancy graduates and download the MS Career Highlights report to learn more about what our graduates are doing.
92.5%
of job-seeking graduates received employment offers within 6 months of graduation
(average, 2021–2023)
Sample Hiring Companies:
BDO USA LLP
Crowe
Deloitte
Ernst & Young LLP
KPMG
PwC
Applying to Simon’s MSA Program
Our Admissions staff takes the time to get to know each MSA applicant. We encourage you to reach out to us early to help you strengthen your application and identify scholarship opportunities. In addition to the deadlines below, we also accept applications on a rolling basis. The sooner you apply in any of the rounds, the sooner you’ll hear back from us.
Learn About Admissions
Fall 2025 Deadlines
*by 11:59 p.m. ET.
| Round | Application Window | Deadline* | Decision By* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | September–October 15 | October 15 | December 15 |
| Round 2 | October 16–January 5 | January 5 | March 31 |
| Round 3 | January 6–February 15 | February 15 | April 20 |
| Round 4 | February 16–March 31 | March 31 | May 15 |
| Round 5 | April 1–May 1 | May 1 | June 15 |
4+1 Accountancy Program
If you’re a current University of Rochester undergraduate business student pursuing the Accounting Track, consider our 4+1 Accountancy Program. In addition to the other benefits offered to U of R undergrads who apply to Simon, advantages of the 4+1 include:
Beginning graduate courses early.
If you’re admitted as a junior, you’ll have access to graduate level courses in your senior year that count toward your undergraduate degree.
Completing an internship.
Some students choose to complete an internship between senior year and the beginning of the MS in Accountancy program to aid them in their future job search.
Flexible electives.
Opting in to the 4+1 Program early in your undergraduate study may give you more options in substituting electives during the MS program.
The well-designed curriculum of the accountancy program not only better prepared me for the CPA exam, but it also enabled me to think more critically and comprehensively as an accounting professional.
One of my favorite classes at Simon was Programming for Analytics. This was a great opportunity for me to get exposure to programming that I did not have much of before. Technology will be part of my future, so learning more and being challenged will now be beneficial in the long run.