Masters in Taxation Online

<a href="https://www.onlinemasterscolleges.com/masters-in-taxation-online/">Master's in Taxation Online</a>

College Name & Address	Tuition	Graduation Rate
#1 Villanova University 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085	$20,506	90%
#2 Northeastern University 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115	$24,793	89%
#3 Bentley University 175 Forest St, Waltham, Massachusetts 02452	$38,400	90%
#4 University of Southern California University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089	$46,272	92%
#5 New York University 70 Washington Sq South, New York, New York 10012	$33,408	85%
#6 Boston University One Silber Way, Boston, Massachusetts 02215	$54,720	88%
#7 DePaul University 1 E Jackson Blvd, Chicago, Illinois 60604	$19,584	74%
#8 University of Cincinnati 2624 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221	$12,790	71%
#9 University of Denver 2199 S. University Blvd, Denver, Colorado 80208	$51,336	77%
#10 Golden Gate University 536 Mission Street, San Francisco, California 94105	$15,840	NA%
#11 San Jose State University One Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192	$7,176	64%
#12 University of New Haven 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, Connecticut 06516	$16,920	62%
#13 University of Hartford 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117	$14,292	59%
#14 St. Johns University 8000 Utopia Pky, Queens, New York 11439	$28,569	63%
#15 California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge, California 91330	$7,176	55%
#16 Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Rd, Administration Bldg., Room 339, Boca Raton, Florida 33431	$5,467	50%
#17 Liberty University 1971 University Blvd, Lynchburg, Virginia 24515	$7,980	47%
#18 University of Akron 302 Buchtel Common, Akron, Ohio 44325	$8,306	46%
#19 Portland State University 724 SW Harrison, Portland, Oregon 97201	$11,718	48%
#20 Southern New Hampshire University 2500 North River Road, Manchester, New Hampshire 03106	$18,810	44%

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

<a href="https://www.onlinemasterscolleges.com/masters-in-taxation-online/">Master's in Taxation Online</a>

College Name & Address	Tuition	Graduation Rate
#1 Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Rd, Administration Bldg., Room 339, Boca Raton, Florida 33431	$5,467	50%
#2 California State University-Northridge 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge, California 91330	$7,176	55%
#3 Southern Utah University 351 West University Blvd, Cedar City, Utah 84720	$7,574	50%
#4 Liberty University 1971 University Blvd, Lynchburg, Virginia 24515	$7,980	47%
#5 University of Akron 302 Buchtel Common, Akron, Ohio 44325	$8,306	46%
#6 Purdue University Global 9000 Keystone Crossing, Suite 800, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240	$8,791	27%
#7 Colorado State University, Global Campus 585 Salida Way, Aurora, Colorado 80011	$9,000	NA%
#8 Bellevue University 1000 Galvin Rd S, Bellevue, Nebraska 68005	$10,530	24%
#9 The University of Alabama 739 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487	$10,780	71%
#10 Portland State University 724 SW Harrison, Portland, Oregon 97201	$11,718	48%
#11 Bellarmine University 2001 Newburg Rd, Louisville, Kentucky 40205	$11,734	66%
#12 University of Cincinnati 2624 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221	$12,790	71%
#13 University of Hartford 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117	$14,292	59%
#14 Strayer University 5110 Auth Way, Suitland, Maryland 20746	$14,940	10%
#15 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 601 E John Street, Champaign, Illinois 61820	$14,997	85%
#16 Southern New Hampshire University Online 2500 North River Road, Manchester, New Hampshire 03106	$18,810	44%
#17 DePaul University 1 E Jackson Blvd, Chicago, Illinois 60604	$19,584	74%
#18 Nova Southeastern University 3301 College Ave, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314	$19,665	58%
#19 Northeastern University 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115	$24,793	89%
#20 St. John’s University 8000 Utopia Pky, Queens, New York 11439	$28,569	63%

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

While a college degree in taxation might get you ready to start a taxation career at an entry-level, a master’s in taxation will make you eligible for some high wage careers. And the best way to get a master’s degree in taxation is online. But before you sign up for an online degree in taxation, it is essential to understand the online taxation program fully. This section will walk you through all aspects of a master’s in online taxation programs.

Online Masters in Taxation Degree Types

Online Masters in Taxation programs are offered mainly in three degrees: MS, MBA, and LLM. While MS and MBA are largely popular courses amongst graduates, LLM is available with select universities.

Specializations in Masters in Taxation Programs

Taxation is a specialization in itself, but given the complexity of the modern-day tax code, this field has branched out into several different fields. Generally, most universities that offer a master’s degree in taxation offer these specializations as electives in the program. A master’s in taxation degree provides various electives that focus on many specializations in high demand. It is important to note that most universities offer these specializations as electives or add-ons. Some universities have programs that solely focuses on these specializations. Students can check the universities that they are interested in to see if those specific universities offer any specializations that they might be interested in. Here is a list of common specializations in masters in taxation programs:

Elective	Description
Business taxation	Master’s in business taxation is a specialization that provides exposure to the most common gaps identified in corporate tax. Students learn more about dividends, liquidations, business transactions, accounting for corporations, and how it affects their taxes.
Global Taxation	Organizations registered in the US and have a global presence must deal with many tax situation complexities. Every country that these organizations do business have their tax laws, and at times there will be double taxation. Masters in global taxation explores the international taxes in-depth for foreign holding companies, indirect and direct tax, dual taxation, foreign exchange situations, and many more complex tax codes on a global scale.
Personal Finance Planning	Personal finance is a field that many students are interested in as this field involves providing advice and guidance to individuals and families for a secure financial future. Students aspiring to become individual/family tax professionals elect online masters in personal finance and planning. This field deals with assisting and advising on ways to grow wealth, lower tax bills, capital investment management, manage portfolios, risk mitigation, etc.
Auditing and Taxation	Auditing is another specialization of the taxation field that focuses on providing auditing services to organizations to ensure that the organizations’ financials comply with tax laws. Tax auditors also work for governmental agencies in an auditing capacity. Students who pursue online masters in auditing and taxation learn about all aspects of tax laws, how to audit, the tools used, and ensure overall compliance with the applicable tax laws and policies.
Estate Planning	Taxes are levied when individuals, families, or organizations transfer wealth via inheritance or other means. Students that pursue a Master’s in estate planning become experts in tax situations that arise because of wealth transfer, gifts, inheritance, etc. They work as experts who provide guidance that ensures lower taxes, protecting wealth and growth, etc.

Taxation Vs Accounting Degrees

Taxation and Accounting degrees may appear to be very similar, but there are critical differences. Students often wonder about MS in Taxation vs. Accounting. In this section, we will point out the key difference between those Taxation and Accounting degrees.

MS in taxation focuses on tax laws, regulations, tax situations, etc.

MS in Accounting degrees provides a deep dive in accounting topics such as book-keeping, auditing, catching white-collar crimes, act as comptrollers of organizations, etc.  

The below table gives a comparison of MS in Taxation vs. accounting.

	Master’s in Accounting	Master’s in Taxation
Benefits	Career growth in public and corporate accounting and prepares for the CPA exam.	Career growth with knowledge on Federal and state income taxation for all graduates, attorneys, and CPAs.
Course Duration	One to two years. Few intensive and integrated programs can be completed within a year.	12-18 months of duration. There are few flexible options, too, like part-time ones that allow a little longer tenure for completion.
Work Experience	It is preferred to have prior experience of at least one year.	Some programs require 1-2 years of previous experience while others don’t need it.
Admissions prerequisites	Though these programs’ targeted audience is experienced professionals, some universities look for GMAT or GRE scores. There are some exceptions where such standardized test scores are not required.	It varies by programs chosen where some need GRE or GMAT scores, and others don’t.
Specializations	Auditing, Taxation, corporate governance, international business, data analytics in accounting are some of the popular specializations	There are very few elective courses as the taxation program itself is specialized.

Curriculum and Skills Gained in Masters in Taxation Programs

Students who want to pursue a master’s in online taxation program need to know that these programs’ curriculum differs from university to university. Typically, the taxation master’s degrees have about 30 credit hours’ worth of curriculum, but most provide additional courses that let students’ additional knowledge in this vast field. Here are some common courses that students will see in masters in online taxation programs:

Corporate Income Taxation	Corporations pay a major share of their income in the form of taxes. The crucial revenue funds governments around the world and especially the US. In this course, students learn about how this tax works, the laws around it, subsidies, etc.
Tax Research	This course teaches students about how to analyze tax issues by looking at tax laws, interpreting them, and how the judiciary interprets these laws.
Business Law	In this course, students learn about the legal situation for businesses. This course also teaches students about the current regulatory environment, employment law, labor rules, liabilities, etc.
Tax Policy	Governments’ tax policies have a deep impact on the country’s larger economy and business environment. In this course, students will learn about various tax policies in the US and worldwide. Students will learn the history and impact of various policies from the past, which will help understand the relationship between tax policies and macroeconomics.

Accreditation for Online Masters in Taxation Programs

Graduates pursuing a master’s in taxation should always apply and enroll in accredited programs by independent organizations. Accreditation is a process in which third-party organizations look for program standards and education quality at universities. The accrediting body would issue the accreditation certificate to the university or the program.  Hence, accreditation is essential while choosing the right university. There are three types of accreditations – National, regional, and programmatic. Regional accredited schools are most preferred over national accredited institutions. The credits earned from a nationally accredited school are difficult to transfer to a regional one. Read more about accreditation on our Accreditation guide

For the master’s in online taxation programs, three main bodies issue accreditation. Students should check the accreditation of the program that they want to pursue to ensure that the master’s in online taxation program is accredited by one of the three organizations mentioned below:

• The Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation® (ACAT) – Established in 1973, ACAT is a nonprofit organization that does testing, accrediting, and monitoring educational programs. ACAT also provides services to small and medium-sized businesses that provide professional services in accountancy, finance, and taxation. ACAT is affiliated with the National Society of Accountants (NCA). An accreditation from ACAT is considered valuable, and students can be confident about the program’s quality.
• AACSB International (AACSB) – Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business was formed in 1916 by colleges and universities. This body is a global nonprofit association that is well-known for its high-quality standards of education. AACSB accreditation is considered as a gold standard for many programs like business, finance, marketing degrees. An accreditation from AACSB for master’s in online taxation programs is a stamp of the program’s high quality.
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) – ACBSP is the first global accreditation association to provide all graduate programs. It was founded in 1988 and now has offices in 11 regions across the globe.

Timeline for graduation from Masters in Taxation Programs

Students often wonder about how long it takes to complete an online masters in taxation programs. The answer depends on many factors. First and foremost, it is important to note that the timeline for a master’s in taxation programs varies from university to university. Other factors that play a role in determining the timeline are:

• Specializations
• Part-time vs. Full time
• How many credits can students enroll in?
• Synchronous vs. Asynchronous style of the programs
• Availability of summer semesters
• Flexibility in the course selection process

Students from tax or account-related under-grad programs take less time to complete the master’s in online taxation programs than those entering such degrees for the first time. Non-tax or account-related students will have to take up prerequisite courses to gain the required credit hours to finish the programs. Taxation or accounting under-graduates can also opt for accelerated programs, i.e., to complete the entire online master’s program in just 15 months. Students who do not have a taxation or accounting background would need to take up to 36 credit hours to complete the program. This means that the timeline taken to graduate from online masters in taxation programs can take up to two to two and a half years for completion.

Online Masters in Taxation Programs Admission Requirements

Before students pick online master’s in taxation programs, note that each program’s admission requirements might differ. While the requirements might be specific to the specialization and/or the university, there are a set of common requirements. Students can start collecting the supporting materials to include with their application kit. Here are some of the most common admission requirements for masters in online taxation programs:

• GRE / GMAT – While most universities require some standardized test score requirement, many universities do not require a GRE or GMAT.
• Transcripts: A vast majority of all universities require transcripts from an undergraduate degree. The undergraduate degree may not necessarily belong to taxation or accounting. However, students will get prerequisites waived if the undergraduate degree belongs to taxation or accounting, or other related fields.
• Statement of Purpose: Many universities require a statement of purpose from students. Students who want to pursue an online master’s in taxation program should create a statement of purpose explaining why they intend to get into the program, their background, career aspirations, why they chose that particular university, etc.
• Letters of Recommendation: Most graduate schools require two or three letters of recommendation for students. These letters are typically written by students’ past teachers/faculty, employers, or other people who have/had a significant role in their lives.
• Undergraduate GPA: A minimum GPA requirement from the undergraduate degree can also be expected as part of the admission requirements. This minimum GPA requirement varies from university to university. Typically, the range can be between 2.5 to 3.0.
• Professional Experience: Some universities also want to see a few years of professional experience from student applicants to ensure that they can take up rigorous work involved in graduate programs. This requirement is not that widely imposed, but students need to be aware of such requirements. Typically, the universities that do not require a GRE or a GMAT score requirement enforce professional experience requirements.

Students who want to pursue online master’s in taxation should note that this field’s career prospects are high. Graduation of taxation degrees qualifies for a wide variety of career titles and roles. The compensation for taxation graduates varies based on the industry, specialization, prior professional experience, and geographical location. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), tax consultant earns median wages of $54,000/year. PayScale shows a slightly higher average wage of $61,000/year. Here are some more job titles that taxation master’s graduates can expect to pursue:

Job Role	SALARY
Senior Tax Accountants	$71,477
Tax Managers	$96,666
Accounting Managers	$70,163
Tax Preparers	$41,203
Auditors	$62,837
Tax Accountants	$62,905

Taxation is a diverse field with many specializations. The students who also complete a CPA exam after master’s in taxation will qualify for more job titles and better career prospects. The below table displays some of these career options with their average salary per year.

CAREER	ANNUAL MEDIAN SALARY
Certified Public Accountants	$71,550
Chief Financial Officers	$104,690
Financial Analysts	$85,660
Financial Managers	$129,890
Personal Financial Advisors	$87,850

In today’s world, every individual, organization, business, and entity have to file for taxes. This makes the taxation field an essential component of every industry. This is why there is a high demand for taxation graduates. The average wage of tax professionals depends on which industry they work for. The below chart is the salary split based on the industry type.

INDUSTRY	ANNUAL MEAN WAGE
School and Employee Bus Transportation	$109,250
Federal Executive Branch	$100,080
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities	$97,000
Other Investment Pools and Funds	$96,770
Other Pipeline Transportation	$93,590

Students who want to pursue a career in taxation should also consider getting certifications and should know about licensing requirements. A master’s in taxation is the right step in building a good career, but certain certifications and licenses put you ahead of the competition. These certifications or licensing requirements vary based on geographical location. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam is an obvious choice for many students that pursue taxation degrees. Apart from the CPA exam, there are few other certifications that students can consider:

• Certificate in Employee Benefits Law: Employee benefits is a vast field that covers many aspects such as compensation, health benefits, retirement account administration, deferred compensation, short-term and long-term disability benefits, etc. A certificate in this crucial field puts students in the HR department of organizations or financial organizations that administer these employee benefits for corporations.
• Certified Estate Planner/Master Certified Estate Planner: Many families opt to create estates for their wealth for an easy transfer to their family members. This estate planning involves a deep understanding of many tax laws that deal with inheritance, charitable giving, gift tax situations, etc. A certification in estate planning adds value to students that want to pursue a career as financial advisors or wealth managers.
• Certified Bookkeeper: The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers administers the Certified Bookkeeper (CB) program that certifies qualified individuals as CBs. This title adds value for students and lets them pursue many careers in the accounting and bookkeeping industry.

Students pursuing an online master’s in taxation should note that graduating from these programs will help. Still, they also need close contact with the taxation industry for a wide variety of reasons. Staying updated with changes happening around in taxation or accounting helps shift gears and upward mobility for students. Many organizations in taxation that students can network with for a better career, increased knowledge, etc. Here are a few such organizations:

• American Association of Finance and Accounting
• National Society for Accountants
• Latino Tax Pro
• Young CPA Network
• National Association of Tax Professionals