Earlier this year, the UNC Greensboro Bryan School of Business and Economics’ online Master’s in Accounting program was recognized as one of the best – and most affordable – of its kind in the nation by OnlineMastersDegrees.org (OMD). Not to be outdone, the School’s B.S. in Accounting was also recently recognized by Forbes as one of the Best Accounting Degrees Online in the U.S. for 2023, adding to an already banner year for the Department of Accounting and Finance.
Bryan School Master’s in Accounting recognized for quality, affordability
“The UNCG accounting master’s program is an excellent combination of quality and value, and these recognitions are a great reflection of that,” said lecturer Jess Bankhead, who also serves as the program’s director. “Our accounting programs are also accredited by the AACSB which is achieved by only 1 percent of business schools worldwide. This high quality is paired with value, which includes affordability, added value services, and strong outcomes. Our mission is to prepare students for professional certifications and successful careers in public accounting and industry. Our programs offer concentrations in both taxation and financial reporting and assurance as well as a certificate of taxation program, and we continue to have a higher pass rate of the CPA exam over the national average.”
The program made OMD’s list of Best Online Master’s Degrees in Accounting, coming in at No. 16 in the country and No. 2 in the state of North Carolina.
Each ranking on OMD uses the latest data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which colleges and universities across the country self-report via surveys from the U.S. Department of Education. To be eligible for the ranking, colleges were required to meet criteria based on IPEDS, have institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and have programs in the subject area offered at least partially online. After creating the list of eligible colleges, OMD’s data science team assigned weightings and ranked colleges based on a combination of affordability, online learning availability, and student support performance metrics.
Bryan School’s online Master’s in Accounting also made OMD’s list of Most Affordable Online Master’s Degrees in Accounting, coming in at No. 7 in the country and the No. 1 most affordable program of its kind in North Carolina. OMD assigned weightings and ranked colleges in this category based on a combination of affordability, online learning availability, and student support performance metrics.
“These recognitions validate our efforts to provide the same quality masters of accounting education to our online students that we deliver on-campus,” said Dr. Randy Elder, Accounting and Finance Department Head and FORVIS Professor. “Students do not need an undergraduate accounting or business degree to enter the program. Some students in the program are working in accounting and looking for additional education to advance their careers or be eligible to sit for the CPA exam, but many other online MSA students are looking to make a career change into the field of accounting. Our world-class, award-winning UNCG accounting faculty are outstanding instructors who support the success of all our students.”
Bryan School ONLINE B.S. in Accounting at the top of its class
Forbes’ recent ranking of online undergraduate accounting degrees compared top colleges and universities, covering details such as course delivery methods, common coursework, and tuition costs, along with the potential benefits and drawbacks of each program.
The publication ranked the Bryan School’s online undergraduate accounting program at No. 7 in the U.S., citing the following pros: low average net price per year, high socioeconomic diversity, and tech support available for online learners.
“The online BS program in accounting at UNCG applies real-world coursework in taxation and auditing preparing graduates to enter the workforce as accomplished specialists in the field,” the write-up states. “An enrollee can complete this program 100% online or in person and fast-track a master’s degree in accounting to earn an undergraduate and graduate degree in the field in five years. Many learners pursue internships or join student clubs, like the National Millennial Community and the Spartan Investment Club, to network with peers in business and accounting. UNCG is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The Bryan School, which hosts its business programs, holds accreditation from the AACSB.”
