If you have an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than accounting, our fully online Master of Accountancy program is designed for you. This nationally ranked program will prepare you for success in the accounting field and qualify you to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination in Illinois.
Accounting is a field of constant growth. Accountants are in high demand in the areas of taxation, financial reporting, data, analytics and even law enforcement. As the economy grows in complexity, it will need more accountants to analyze and explain vast amounts of information.
When you graduate from the 100% online Master of Accountancy (MAC) program from Northern Illinois University (NIU), you'll have an enhanced understanding of the accountancy field and be qualified to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination in Illinois.* This part-time program is designed for working commitments.
*Out-of-state students will have a master's degree that fulfills the requirements to take exams in most states. Check your state's requirements for details.
The courses in this program are designed to provide graduate students with foundational knowledge for success in the accounting field. No matter what you studied as an undergraduate, the MAC will help you develop industry-standard skill sets and enhance your understanding of accounting's role in successful organizations. The curriculum was created alongside expert faculty to help students meet CPA exam requirements.
Most of our faculty practiced accounting before coming to NIU, making them uniquely qualified to bring real-world accounting skills into the classroom. They have a firsthand understanding of what it's like to work as a professional accountant, and they bring that practical experience — in the form of technical skills, interpersonal communication, time management and more — to their teaching.
By the time you graduate, you'll be qualified to sit for the CPA exam and pursue licensure in the state of Illinois and beyond. Check your specific state's requirements for details.
The MAC program is a 100% online degree.
The online program is part-time with students enrolling in 3-6 hours per semester.
The MAC degree is 33 hours, intended to be completed in two years if students follow the two courses per semester design of the online mode. However, a student can extend beyond the two-year plan as needed or desired (for example, enroll in one course each semester, and complete the program in four years.
The initial three semesters (six courses/18 hours) taken are primarily sequential and are to be completed prior to the majority of the final three semesters (six courses /18 hours). A student should work with an academic advisor to develop a course plan if deviating from the standard two-year plan.
Yes, completion of the degree fulfills the requirements to be eligible to sit for the Certified Public Accountancy (CPA) examination in Illinois.
Applications to the MAC program are accepted for the summer, fall and spring semesters. The 33-hour MAC cohort program can be started in the summer and fall semesters. However, students admitted for the spring semester are limited to enrolling only in deficient prerequisite MAC courses and can start cohort courses in the summer or fall.
No, the MAC is specifically for those that have a non-accountancy undergraduate degree. Since the MAC program incorporates both foundational and advanced accountancy coursework, a student already possessing an accountancy degree will have already completed a large amount of the content in their undergraduate program. The Master of Accounting Science (MAS) degree offered at the DeKalb campus is geared to students who have earned an undergraduate degree in accounting, or wish to pursue their graduate accounting degree in our traditional face-to-face weekday program.
A two-course Principles of Accounting (financial and managerial) sequence and general business courses in finance, statistics and economics should be completed prior to the start of the MAC program. These requirements can be fulfilled with a C or better in a corresponding undergraduate course, or a B or better in an equivalent graduate course, and may have been previously completed through undergraduate degree coursework. The Financial Accounting prerequisite course should have been completed within the last five years. If beyond the five-year limit, course competency can be proven through relevant experience in the accounting field or through passing score on competency exam or through repeating course. These requirements may be met by completing courses at a university, community college or select online providers.
Visit the NIU Catalog to see the degree requirements.
Yes, MAC students are eligible and encouraged to attend the accountancy career fairs held each fall and spring semester on the DeKalb campus. These fairs are held specifically for accountancy majors with firms recruiting for both full-time and internship positions. Additionally, students can utilize NIU Career Services Huskies Get Hired to search for jobs and internships.
Admission to the graduate program in accountancy is limited to those applicants who can demonstrate high promise of success in a graduate business degree program. Admission is competitive. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must demonstrate that they possess the following minimum qualifications:
For applicants with a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited U.S. college or university:
For applicants without a baccalaureate or higher degree from a U.S. college or university:
To be considered for admission you must submit the following documents to the Graduate School:
Summer deadline: June 1
Fall deadline: Aug. 14
Spring deadline: Dec. 17
Tuition and fees for the MAC program are $830 per credit hour and total tuition and fees for the 33-hour program is $27,390. This excludes possible book or material fees for specific courses. The NIU Planning and Cost Estimator is very useful in estimating total and semester costs.
