CPA exam guidance is provided throughout the MSA program with the goal of having students take two
sections while in the program and two sections the summer following graduation. The MSA program will ensure that all students who do not have Becker CPA Exam review material provided by their future employer will have access, at no additional cost, to the Becker program. The auditing section of the Becker program will be provided in the fall and the remaining sections in the spring. While in the program, students are strongly encouraged to sit for the auditing (AUD) section during winter break and then sit for either financial accounting (FAR) or regulation (REG) in the spring.

The MSA program’s average placement rate is over 95% with job-seeking students being placed in the past three years! While we can’t guarantee placement, we’ve had a continued success rate and do everything we can to prepare and assist our students for career success.

All Big-Four firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PWC), most national and regional firms (e.g. BDO, CliftonLarsonAllen, CohnReznick, Forvis, RSM), and many local firms hire students from the MSA program. Opportunities in industry, non-profit and governmental entities are also available to MSA students.

While starting salary varies by location and accounting service line, the average starting salary for the MSA Class of 2024 is $69,000.

Yes, the MSA program can help you find employment at firm locations outside North Carolina. In the past few years, we have placed MSA students in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Charleston, Chicago, Nashville, Orlando, Seattle, Tampa, Washington, D.C., and West Palm Beach.

No, the MSA program is open to students with all undergraduate degrees. However, six core accounting courses must be completed at a four-year university or college before beginning the MSA program. The courses are intermediate financial accounting I, intermediate financial accounting II, accounting information systems, U.S. taxes, external auditing and advanced cost/managerial accounting. All six courses can be taken online asynchronously at UNCW the summer before the fall start of the MSA program.

The MSA program is face-to-face, with all courses offered during the day. It follows a quarter calendar, with courses offered in the fall 1, fall 2, spring 1 and spring 2 quarters

Both full-time and part-time options are available in the MSA program. Students following the full-time path will complete the 30 credit-hour program over nine months (fall 1, fall 2, spring 1 and spring 2 quarters). Students following the part-time path can complete the 30 credit-hour program over two or three years, depending on how many courses are taken each quarter.

Tuition and fees for students completing the MSA program following the full-time path (fall 1, fall 2, spring 1, spring 2) are $12,670 for in-state residents and $27,850 for out-of-state residents. Tuition and fees for students following the part-time path will vary depending on the number of courses taken each quarter and the number of quarters. Room, board and textbooks will add to the total attendance cost.

The MSA program offers merit-based scholarships, graduate assistantships and a limited number of out-of state tuition waivers.

Students may also complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov to be considered for federal aid, state need-based aid, and institutional need-based scholarships and grants.

The MSA program is a demanding program that requires significant preparation time beyond the in-class meetings. If financially possible, the MSA program recommends full-time MSA students avoid working, except assistantship hours, while enrolled.

Applications are submitted through the UNCW Graduate School. In addition to the application, we require official transcripts, three letters of recommendation and your resume. We do not require GMAT test scores. Please visit our webpage for specific details on how to apply and the link to apply.

The MSA program offers two tracks: tax services and assurance, analytics, and systems advisory (AAA). All MSA students take 21 credit-hours of core accounting coursework, 2 credit-hours of electives, and 7 credit-hours in either the tax services or AAA track.