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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student-teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.
Do you want to acquire a master’s degree in taxation but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best master’s in taxation programs.
What institution did we omit from this list? Leave your suggestions in the comment section below.
- Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA
GCU is rated the number one college for adult learners, according to the Washington Monthly, and its taxation degree program is rated number one in the nation by TaxTalent.com. The master of science in taxation is one of the most prominent tax programs in the country. All classes are taught by tax professionals and lawyers who have experience and knowledge in the field. Also, many “Big Four” firms hire GCU graduates. The MS in Taxation degree program also has an impressive alumni history who are currently employed in government positions or own firms.
- Fordham University, New York, NY
Fordham University is a private Jesuit Catholic institution. Fordham’s MS degree program in taxation is designed for professionals who wish to get technical expertise in taxation. This program is taught by the best professionals in the financial sector who also serve as a future network for graduates. Graduates secure employment in banks, brokerage firms, private businesses, accounting firms, and more. Graduates work at top firms such as PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, and Morgan Stanley.
- California State University-Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
California State University-Fullerton is a public research institution. CSUF’s MS in taxation prepares learners for careers in law firm tax departments and as CPAs. All learners, regardless of their undergraduate background, are urged to apply. An accelerated degree program is available for working professionals. Classes include problems in taxation, taxation of international business operations, state and local taxation, and taxation of employee compensation.
Learners holding a bachelor’s degree in business administration or accounting can waive certain degree requirements. All learners must pass the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and have a bachelor’s degree of 3.0 or better to be considered for this degree program. Learners without a business-related degree should go online for additional admission requirements.
- Villanova University, Villanova, PA
Villanova University is a Roman Catholic school established by the Order of Saint Augustine. Villanova’s masters in taxation (MT) degree program in the Charles Widger School of Law takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of taxation. Required core classes include survey of tax, tax I and II, professional responsibilities in tax and researching and writing, taxation of corporations and shareholders, and partnership taxation. Villanova offers a fully online version of this degree program. This nationally recognized degree program enables professionals to stand out and advance in their careers.
- DePaul University, Chicago, IL
DePaul University is a private Catholic institution established in 1898 by the Congregation of the Mission, following the teachings of St. Vincent de Paul. DePaul’s MS degree program in taxation was created for business professionals who want to jumpstart their careers, becoming more competent in their technical and analytic skills. The program requires an estimated 45 to 53 credit hours. Classes include federal income tax procedures, transactions in property, comparative tax systems, estate, and gift taxation.
The master’s degree program has been repeatedly rated among the top five tax programs in the nation, according to Tax Talent, the largest online network of tax professionals. Also, many alumni of this degree program currently work in major firms such as Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and Grant Thornton.
- Arizona State University-Tempe, Tempe, AZ
Arizona State University-Tempe is nationally rated for its programs, research, faculty, and educational excellence. For the past three years, ASU was rated the number one college in the nation for innovation by the U.S News & World Report. It was also rated among the best graduate schools in the US. The nationally praised W.P. Carey School of Business hosts ASU’s Master in Taxation (MTax) degree program.
ASU’s MTax degree is a nine-month degree program that fulfills the coursework requirement for a CPA licensure in the states of Arizona and California. Classes include multi-jurisdictional tax; taxation of pass-through entities; taxes and business strategy; and family tax planning and wealth transfer taxation.
ASU offers a concurrent degree program in which learners can earn a Master of Legal Studies and Taxation (MTax/MLS). Due to the rigorous nature of these degree programs, learners must satisfy certain prerequisites to be considered for this degree program.
- Bentley University, Waltham, MA
Bentley University is a private institution that was established in 1917 as an accounting and finance school. It has since grown to offer both undergraduate and graduate degree programs focusing on preparing learners for the professional world. Bentley’s Master of Science in Taxation produces professional candidates for major leading businesses in the nation. This program is rated number seven out of the Top 40 MS degree programs in taxation according to Online Accounting Degrees.
Classes include corporations and shareholders, transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual properties. Bentley maintains the following distinctives: small class size (mean of 36 learners), merit awards ($8,130 median award), and 91 percent domestic placement rate.
- Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Northeastern University is a private research institution, which has been rated among the top 50 national institutions by U.S News & World Report for the past five years. Northeastern’s MS in taxation is a part-time degree program developed for working professionals to advance in their careers. The program features three start times, small classes, and convenient class schedule (Monday–Wednesday, one night per week). Required core classes include federal tax issues and analysis; corporations and shareholders; estate and gift taxation; tax research methodology; tax practice, procedures and ethics; and partners and partnerships.
The MS in taxation degree program meets the academic requirements for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Examination as well as the 150-hour requirement for the CPA licensure. Therefore, learners can deepen their comprehension of taxation and qualify for managerial positions in their careers.
- SUNY at Albany, Albany, NY
The University of Albany is part of the State University of New York system of higher education. It has 120 undergraduate and more than 125 masters, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs.
The University of Albany’s master of science in taxation enables learners to develop a deeper comprehension of tax law, regulations, and cases. The master’s degree program covers concepts such as state and interstate, estate and gift taxation, deferred compensation, profit sharing, consolidation, and tax research. Many graduates are recruited for the “Big Four” accounting firms, CPA firms, and government entities.
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
The University of Southern California is an internationally recognized private research institution. The institution has about 44,000 undergraduate and graduate learners across its 23 schools. The Marshall School of Business, which houses its master of business taxation (MBT) degree, was established in 1920 as an international hub for entrepreneurial thinking.
USC’s one-year MBT degree program not only prepares learners to comprehend the relevant issues in taxation, but also instills ethical principles and professional standards to help graduates make good decisions. Classes include tax theory and ethics, taxation of individuals, family wealth preservation, tax research, and professional responsibilities. The program features a global accounting experience course that enables learners to examine the economic and political tax systems of the US and China.
The numbers tell the story: 97 percent of domestic learners and 79 percent of international learners are placed in relevant fields upon graduation. The mean starting salary for MBT graduates is $60,000 with the mean low being $48,000 and the mean high being $85,000.
- Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Mississippi State University is a holistic, doctoral degree-granting institution that was established in 1878. Its primary purpose is to learn, research, and service. MSU’s master of taxation degree builds upon undergraduate knowledge to advance learners in their accounting and taxation careers. Classes include research in tax practice and procedures, advanced individual taxation and wealth management, and financial accounting theory. Graduate assistantships (financial aid) are available to qualifying learners for part-time work during the degree program.
Because prerequisite knowledge of accounting and business is needed to be accepted into this degree program, learners check online for prerequisite classes. Because of the interdisciplinary format of the MTX degree program, eligible learners may also wish to pursue an MBA or a PhD in business administration.
- University of Miami, Miami, FL
The University of Miami has an award-winning master of science in taxation (MST). UM’s MST degree is designed for people who wish to focus on accounting but follow a career in taxation. Classes include partnership taxation, auditing seminar, forensic accounting, and financial reporting implications of income taxes. An accelerated degree program is available for candidates who hold bachelor’s degrees who can complete the MST degree in one year following their undergraduate education.
Interested learners should go online and check for the hours and classes they will need to qualify or the exam. Interested learners should also see additional requirements for licensure as a CPA.
- University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
The University of Baltimore is a public institution that has undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. UB’s MS in taxation was designed to meet the growing need for people who comprehend accounting and taxation principles. This degree program challenges learners and gears them toward a career as tax advisers.
Graduates will have a solid comprehension of federal tax law, be able to examine tax statutes and regulations, and develop methods for solving tax-related issues. Some areas of study include estate and business planning, partnership taxation, bankruptcy taxation, and real estate taxation.
