Colleges with Accounting Degree Programs in Florida

Florida Accounting Degrees Online and On-Campus

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There are 472 accounting degree programs in Florida in our directory (137 Associates, 152 Bachelors, 79 Masters, and 12 Doctorate).

Florida not only provides numerous accounting job opportunities in many cities, but they have plenty of higher education degrees to choose from, and that includes straight-forward Master's degrees in accounting or a more managerial experience within business administration.

CPA certification in Florida

Most of these schools provide preparation for the popular Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Within Florida, 150 credit hours are required to be CPA certified. Nova Southeastern University provides education for help in a managerial certification role.

Miami and Fort Lauderdale are examples of cities that have plenty of accounting opportunities, but they are also some of the most expensive places to live in Florida.

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Are there online accounting degree programs in Florida?

Yes, here is our list of some of the top online accounting degrees in Florida.

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Are there online Master of Accounting degrees in Florida

Yes, there are a number of different online Masters in Accounting programs at Florida universities. Here is a more in-depth look at some of the top programs.

University of South Florida - St. Petersburg

Master of Accountancy

The Kate Tiedemann College of Business offers a full MAcc program that can be completed either in a hybrid format with online and on-campus courses at St. Petersburg, or on-campus completely. Courses will have similar deadlines, but the online version can be accessed at anytime for flexible scheduling ability. There are three tracks to choose from for a more customized experience: Forensic Accounting, Tax Accounting, and a General Accounting path that is perfect to prepare for the CPA exam.

It takes 30 credit hours to complete the curriculum, which is three core classes and seven electives. Students must pass each course with a least a C letter grade and a cumulative 3.0 GPA is needed throughout the program. The three core classes needed are Financial Statement Analysis, Seminar in Accounting, and Law and the Accountant. It takes 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time to complete the entire program, and each of the courses are completed in eight-week increments online.

Nova Southeastern University

Master of Accounting

The H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship have a fully online Master of Accounting program that is tailored for students that are looking to be prepared for the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam. The difference between the CMA and CPA certifications are the former providing education within rules and regulations of auditing and taxes and the latter focusing more on managerial decisions for the organization they work for. There is a concentration in Taxation that is more for the CPA exam, and a Public Accounting certification that also provides preparation for the CPA exam and it is geared toward those looking for a job within the public sector.

Regardless of area of emphasis chosen, the program requires 33 to 51 credits depending on the undergraduate degree - those with a background in accounting can waive the foundational courses. Core curriculum courses include Advanced Accounting, Internet Technology, Financial Statement Analysis, and a Survey of Taxation. Concentration courses will total up to 12 total credits, and there will be two additional elective courses to further customize the degree. This curriculum is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

University of West Florida

Master of Accountancy or MBA Accounting

There are two ways to acquire an accounting-focused higher education degree through the College of Business at UWF, and both can be achieved online. The first is the Master of Accountancy, both available online or on-campus. Their curriculum helps students prepare for the CPA exam and they have one of the highest first-time pass rates among public universities. There are 30 credit hours needed to complete the program. Admission requirements include having an undergraduate degree with a 3.0 minimum GPA and at least a score of 450 on GMAT tests or a GRE equivalent. Other requirements include letters of recommendation, a personal letter of intent, and official transcripts.

Another option is the MBA with an emphasis of Accounting, which can be completed within 16 months with the 36 credit-hour curriculum. There is no requirement to have an undergraduate degree in business before admittance, but there needs to be prior coursework in accounting, economics, management, marketing, and statistics. For those that do not have these courses, there is a foundational seven-week course that students can pass to advance. Core courses in the MBA include Business Analytics, Management and Organizational Behavior, Marketing Management, and Quantitative Methods for Business.

Florida Atlantic University

Executive Master of Accounting - Forensic Accounting

There are several degrees to choose from within the College of Business at FAU. First, the programs are divided up into a traditional Master of Accounting and Executive Masters of Accounting, the latter being for mid-career professionals. Specifically, the concentration of Forensic Accounting is the one program that can be fully completed online within two years. The other MAC concentrations include Accounting Information Systems and Taxation, and there is also a separate Master of Taxation program. Within the Executive MAC, there are areas of emphasis in Business Valuation and Digital Forensics.

Through the Forensic Accounting specialization, students can either stream the lectures online (live or on-demand) through a computer or mobile device, or there is a way to go to the lectures held on Saturday morning on-campus at Fort Lauderdale. Coursework will consist of criminal investigation, spotting fraudulent information in accounting, resolving any disputes from the clients or organization, and litigation support. Students will need to carefully evaluate information and gain critical thinking skills to prepare for their career.

Florida Southern College

Master of Accountancy

The Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise have a Master of Accountancy that can be taken in a hybrid format of online coursework and meeting on-campus at Lakeland two Saturdays per month. This curriculum will prepare students for the CPA test, and it does have a special review course, but that will not be included within the 150 hours needed for a CPA license. There are 30 credit hours in the MAcc, and it is divided up into 20 required credits and 10 credits worth of electives. Example courses to customize the degree include Governmental Accounting, Data Analytics, and Fraud Examination.

Students looking to get into the program will need the following requirements: Official transcripts, GRE or GMAT scores, an updated resume, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. There is an opportunity to get the GMAT test paid for by the school if it has not been taken yet, or it can be waived by already having a Master's degree, have a Bachelor's degree with a 3.3 GPA or higher from a different AACSB school, already holds a CPA license, or they have three years of professional experience.

Jacksonville University

Master of Business Administration

The Davis College of Business has an online MBA that requires 36 credit hours to complete and there is no requirement to meet on-campus. This amount may increase if students do not have prior business coursework in accounting, quantitative methods, economics, and finance. These foundational courses are available to take within the program at the beginning. There are two alternatives to the online version - the accelerated version that requires full-time admittance and the part-time version that provides a hybrid of online and on-campus courses. Within these options, students can select a concentration in Accounting and Finance.

Accounting courses are different between the fully online format and the alternative versions that feature the specialization. Example courses within the specialization include Advanced Managerial Accounting, Financial Decision-Making, and a Practicum in Portfolio Management. For admittance into the MBA program, students will need to hold a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with at least a 3.0 GPA. Submissions needed in the application process include GRE or GMAT scores unless they have over a 3.3 GPA, official transcripts, work resume, at least one page for a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation.

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Accreditation Options in Florida

The AACSB is one of the world’s most recognized accreditation associations and there are multiple business schools within Florida that have this approval offering Master’s degrees in accounting or business administration. It is important to look for this logo within the program overview or curriculum listings when reviewing options. Here are some other accreditation organizations to consider:

International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)

This agency has been recognized as an official accreditation group by the US Department of Education since 2011. They focus on various higher-level degrees within the business field and has accredited schools from over 20 countries. Schools are reviewed based on some of the following criteria: how well the faculty and curriculum are presented, professional connections the program has, and innovation that the university has implemented into the program.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

A regional accreditation service that is recognized by the US Department of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Florida is one of the 11 states that are observed specifically by the SACS Commission on Colleges.

They focus on both public and private institutions, and this also includes some community colleges. There are bi-yearly updates for any schools that are put on sanctions, and they will cite issues such as lack of financial responsibility, lack of pursuing goals that they have established with the organization, and any conflicts of interest.

Accounting Career Opportunities in Florida

Popular companies that have accounting and finance opportunities in the state of Florida include Deloitte, Citi, Verizon, and L3Harris Technologies, according to Indeed.

The latter is headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, and they are part of the technical aerospace and defense industry, creating tactical radios, night vision equipment, and various wireless equipment for space, aviation, and communication systems. This form of the company was founded in June 2019 after a merger between L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation. There are a number of accounting opportunities in all the major cities in Florida, such as Tampa, Miami, Orlando, and Jacksonville.

Online Accounting Degrees Accepting Applicants

Schools with Accounting Degrees in Florida