Colleges with Accounting Degree Programs in Washington

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Washington Accounting Degrees Online and On-Campus

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Popular institutions, such as Gonzaga University and Washington State University, have accredited business programs in the state of Washington. Salaries range from $48,910 to $123,910 when comparing the bottom and top 10 percent of accountants in the state, and it is one of the top-paying states overall in this profession.

AACSB-Accredited Accounting Programs in Washington

11 different institutions have received accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for their business programs across the state of Washington. Three of these institutions, including the University of Washington, have specific accreditation in accounting. Holding this designation means that the program has been verified by peer review, and the faculty and resources available will help in developing a successful business career.

Here is a quick list of Washington accounting degrees (all levels):

Bates Technical College: Associates in General Accounting Certificate in Bookkeeping
Bellevue College Associates in General Accounting Bachelors in Business Administration Certificate in Bookkeeping Certificate in Finance Certificate in General Accounting Certificate in information systems Online Associates in Business Administration
Bellingham Technical College Associates in General Accounting Certificate in Bookkeeping Certificate in General Accounting
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University of Washington - Master of Professional Accounting

The Foster School of Business gives students an ability to master their accounting skills with the Master of Professional Accounting. With this curriculum, students will gain the academics they need to meet state licensure requirements for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination. Graduates have gone on to work at companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Deloitte, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Students can complete the program in as little as nine months with a start date in September and finishing the following June. This includes eight courses and an internship during the winter, and this assumes the student already has an educational background in accounting. In order to finish the program at this pace, full-time enrollment is required.

48 total credit hours are divided up in these eight courses and internship experience. Topics that will be covered include utilizing data analytics within accounting, further theory and studies in financial statement analysis, and exploring cases in assurance services and accounting advisory. Students will also gain the proper knowledge in ethics and rules when performing their accounting duties.

In the application process, prospective students should complete two essays that detail goals in the profession and how they will be innovative in this field. Other submissions include a transcript, resume detailing all variations of work and skills, and three letters of recommendation. Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores are not needed for domestic students.

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Seattle University - Master of Professional Accounting

The Albers School of Business and Economics offers a Master of Professional Accounting that can be pursued by early accounting professionals or those that do not have an undergraduate degree in this field. There are high pass rates for the CPA exam for students that pursue this degree. Students have the ability to conduct an IT audit and can count up to nine credit hours if they pursue the Early Start Program.

Track One can begin at three different points of the year, and can be completed in a span of just one year if students take four courses each quarter. Up to 12 credit hours can be utilized for an internship in the summer before entering the fall semester. Examples of courses include Predictive Analytics, Advanced Accounting, and Law for Accountants.

For the second track, students that do not business or accounting education should consider this format. Prerequisites for this program include having a Bachelor's degree and completing course topics like basic statistics, micro and macroeconomics, and gaining Excel certification. Admission takes place only in the fall and students have the option to pursue this curriculum on a part-time or full-time basis.

Students can earn a dual-degree with related graduate programs, such as the Master in Business Analytics and Master in Finance. This gives students the ability to specialize in more than one key area of business to have more opportunities in their career. In addition to the AACSB accreditation, this program is also a Center of Excellence from the institute of Internal Auditors.

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Online Master of Accounting Programs in Washington

Washington State University – Master of Business Administration

The Carson College of Business offers an online MBA that is completely available in a flexible virtual setting and could be finished in as little as 22 months. Concentrations include Finance, Marketing, International Business, or students can pursue general studies. In addition to the AACSB accreditation, the program also has reviewed by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

36 total credit hours are needed to complete the program, and this is divided up into seven core curriculum courses, three elective courses, and three capstone courses. Core courses will explore leadership skills and the tools needed to succeed in a management role. For example, they will be proficient in managing marketing campaigns or using analytics to make organizational decisions.

Two of the capstone projects will prepare students to develop a full business plan using the education they received throughout the program. Students will make decisions on what type of business they will pursue, what risks they will take to gain an edge, and how goods and services will be marketed successfully.

Students not wanting to take the full program but are interested in the concentrations may consider taking a graduate certificate toward the specialization exclusively. Prospective students that do not have an educational background in business may need to take some foundational courses that explore data analysis, business law, and operations management.

City University of Seattle – Master of Business Administration

Students can also consider an online MBA at City University of Seattle, which is available at the Seattle and Renton campus locations. There are multiple formats to consider at the Seattle campus, such as taking courses face-to-face or online, and the Renton location has a hybrid option available. Anywhere from 48 to 54 credit hours will be needed to complete the program.

11 different concentrations are available to customize the program, including Public Accounting. This gives students the ability to learn advanced business topics and strictly cover the four categories they will be tested on with the CPA exam, such as financial accounting and auditing. If prerequisites are not met, a course in Common Professional Components adds three credit hours to the curriculum.

According to the university, degrees are completed at twice the national rate of other institutions. Graduates have gone on to become business analysts, human resources directors, and gain executive-level positions after the completion of this program. Examples of companies hiring graduates include Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks.

An alternative path that is also available online is the Graduate Certificate in Accounting. This is a 15-credit curriculum that specifically focuses on the four major accounting topics covered in the CPA exam. There is also a course dedicated to managerial accounting.

Washington Accounting Careers Salary Information

The state of Washington has over 32,000 workers represented in the fields of accounting and auditing. In addition to their high employment numbers, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics also estimates the annual mean wage to be at $81,970, which is higher than all surrounding states. The Seattle metropolitan area, which has the highest concentration of workers in the state, also sees a salary average boost up to $86,420.

Vazquez CPA and Company

Based in Seattle, Vazquez CPA and Company offers various accounting and tax services to their clients. Companies can outsource their accounting needs to the firm in order to keep track of financial statements, payroll, and transactional reconciliations. For small business clients, they provide full financial planning and QuickBooks support when implementing the software into the company’s accounting processes.

In addition, Vazquez CPA also provides support when dealing with a variety of Internal Revenue Service activity. This includes negotiating with the IRS on tax liens, wage garnishment, and setting up installment agreements when this can not be arranged as an organization or individually.

Washington Accounting Career Summary

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