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    Accounting Schools in Maryland

    Table of Contents

    1 – Comparison of Schools and Programs
    2 – Top-Ranked Schools in Maryland
    3 – Highest First-Time CPA Exam Pass Rates
    4 – School Profiles
    5 – Maryland CPA Requirements
    6 – Career Opportunities for Graduates

    This outline of accounting schools in Maryland will provide you with information on your options for pursuing an undergraduate or graduate accounting degree or certificate in the state. Many degree programs are available on a full-time or part-time basis, and some degrees are available entirely online. Those interested in working in accounting in Maryland after graduation can learn about career outlooks and salary prospects in the state. For information about Maryland program details and school rankings, continue reading below.

    Quick Facts

    • 33 public colleges and universities offer an accounting degree program in Maryland.1
    • 15 schools offer a certificate in accounting.1
    • 14 schools offer an associate’s degree in accounting.1
    • 17 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in accounting.1
    • 8 schools offer a graduate degree in accounting.1
    • 5 schools ranked in College Factual’s Best Accounting Schools 2023.2
    • No schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges for Accounting Majors 2023.3
    • No programs ranked in US News & World Report’s Best MBA Accounting Programs 2023.4
    • 1 school ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023.5
    • 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Undergrad Accounting Programs 2022-2023.6
    • 9 schools are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in Business and Accounting.7
    • 7 schools have accounting programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).8
    • 3 schools have accounting programs accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).9

    Comparison of Maryland Accounting Schools and Programs

    The table below provides detailed information on not-for-profit accounting programs in Maryland to help you compare your options. Programs that appear in bold text offer hybrid or online options. For further school statistics, including median SAT, ACT, and GMAT scores, see the tables on our Maryland business schools page, which break out information at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

    SchoolAccreditationAccounting Degree(s)Acceptance Rate10Grad Rate1Avg Net Price1Median Debt*10Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry**10
    Allegany College of Maryland—AS-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Accounting    		N.Av.35%$9,943$13,702$36,578
    Anne Arundel Community College—AAS-Financial Accounting;
    UG Cert-Financial Accounting;
    UG Cert-Bookkeeping    		N.Av.27%$14,256$8,250$44,183
    Baltimore City Community CollegeACBSPAAS-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Accounting    		N.Av.10%$7,051N.Av.$32,426
    Bowie State UniversityACBSPBSBA-Accounting87.0%40%$13,886$22,985$50,806
    Carroll Community College—AABA-AccountingN.Av.42%$6,019$11,750$41,342
    Cecil College—AAS-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Accounting    		N.Av.28%$9,996$9,536$42,137
    Chesapeake College—AAS-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Basic Accounting;
    UG Cert-Advanced Accounting    		N.Av.28%$5,423N.Av.$33,642
    College of Southern MarylandACBSPAAS-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Accounting    		N.Av.32%$7,031$8,500$40,478
    Community College of Baltimore CountyACBSPAA-Accounting;
    AAS-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Certified Public Accountant    		N.Av.16%$6,850$11,528$40,340
    Coppin State UniversityACBSPBS-Accounting;
    Minor-Accounting    		47.9%24%$8,562$25,000$43,697
    Frederick Community College—AAS-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Business Accounting;
    UG Cert-Computerized Accounting;
    UG Cert-CPA Exam Qualification    		N.Av.33%$3,640$8,150$41,817
    Frostburg State UniversityAACSBBSBA-Accounting;
    5-Year Accelerated BSBA/MBA    		86.1%49%$16,114$21,105$51,992
    Hagerstown Community College—AAS-Accounting and BusinessN.Av.35%$7,345$11,000$39,200
    Harford Community College—AS-Accounting;
    AAS-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Accounting    		N.Av.29%$8,278$9,812$40,687
    Hood CollegeACBSPBA-Accounting;
    Minor-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Accounting;
    Grad Cert-Accounting    		76.8%61%$23,624$25,000$54,057
    Howard Community College—AA-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Certified Bookkeeper;
    UG Cert-CPA Candidacy    		N.Av.23%$9,789$10,500$45,973
    John Hopkins UniversityAACSBMinor-Accounting and Financial Management7.5%94%$24,034$10,250$89,551
    Loyola University MarylandAACSBBBA-Accounting;
    Minor-Accounting;
    MAcc    		84.2%79%$33,312$27,000$81,216
    McDaniel College—BA-Accounting;
    Minor-Accounting    		86.7%66%$23,733$25,000$57,629
    Montgomery College—AAS-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Accounting    		N.Av.28%$8,276$10,415$49,278
    Morgan State UniversityAACSBBS-Accounting;
    MS-Accounting;
    PhD-Business Administration: Accounting    		87.1%46%$13,956$27,250$46,092
    Mount St. Mary’s UniversityIACBEBS-Accounting;
    Minor-Accounting;
    5-Year Accelerated BSA/MBA    		81.8%65%$24,379$25,391$61,492
    Notre Dame of Maryland UniversityACBSPBBA-Accounting65.1%60%$22,675$22,666$56,906
    Prince George’s Community College—AAS-Accounting Professional;
    UG Cert-Accounting    		N.Av.17%$14,879$10,500$44,901
    Salisbury UniversityAACSBBS-Accounting;
    Minor-Accounting    		86.5%69%$19,756$21,000$57,122
    Stevenson UniversityIACBEBS-Accounting;
    Minor-Accounting;
    5-Year Accelerated BSA/MS;
    MS-Forensic Accounting    		90.9%65%$27,600$26,000$60,421
    Towson UniversityAACSBBS-Accounting;
    Accounting Accelerated BS/MS;
    MS-Accounting & Business Advisory Services (Joint Program with UBalt)    		87.9%70%$14,443$18,718$61,376
    University of BaltimoreAACSBBSBA-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Accounting;
    MS-Accounting and Business Advisory Services;
    Grad Cert-Accounting Fundamentals    		89.4%33%$18,122$23,250$58,875
    University of Maryland Eastern ShoreAACSBBS-Accounting;
    Minor-Accounting    		81.9%37%$12,020$27,000$43,696
    University of Maryland Global CampusIACBEBS-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Accounting Foundations;
    MS-Accounting & Financial Management;
    MS-CyberAccounting;
    Master’s Specialization-Management: Accounting;
    Grad Cert-Accounting Information Security    		N.Av.19%$16,957$21,000$59,823
    University of Maryland-Baltimore County—UG Cert-Accounting;
    UG Cert-Management Accounting    		81.2%70%$17,692$19,500$67,473
    University of Maryland-College ParkAACSBBSBA-Accounting;
    4+1 BSBA/MSA;
    MS-Accounting    		52.0%89%$16,210$19,000$76,997
    Washington Adventist University—BS-Accounting;
    Minor-Accounting    		61.8%50%$17,088$30,500$58,399

    Table Notes:
    *Median Debt: The median debt is the cumulative federal loan debt, excluding PLUS loans, at the time of graduation for students who completed an undergraduate program (certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree) as reported by College Scorecard for academic year 2020-2021 based on ​​National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) data.
    **Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry: Median earnings are the middle value of earnings, at which half earned more and half earned less, measured 10 years (2020-2021) after the first year of study (2010-2011) for all students, institution-wide, who received federal loans and who are employed but not enrolled in school. Note that this value includes those who completed their program of study as well as those who discontinued study without receiving an award.

    Top-Ranked Accounting Schools in Maryland

    College rankings can be a useful tool to measure the overall reputation of a school or program. Weighing multiple rankings when evaluating your college choices can be helpful because different publishers may use different ranking factors in their methodologies. While the best program for your goals may rely on a combination of factors not typically considered in overall rankings, such as location or funding, seeing a program ranked on multiple lists can be a strong indication of reputation and academic quality.

    College Factual’s Best Accounting Schools 2023

    • University of Maryland-College Park (#22)
    • University of Maryland Global Campus (#73)
    • Loyola University Maryland (#80)
    • Towson University (#109)
    • McDaniel College (#233)2

    US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023

    • Stevenson University (#91 tie)5

    US News & World Report’s Best Undergrad Accounting Programs 2022-2023

    • Loyola University Maryland (#50 tie)
    • University of Maryland-College Park (#50 tie)6

    Highest First-Time CPA Exam Pass Rate with a Bachelor’s Degree

    The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) releases a report including data on candidate performance on the Uniform CPA Exam.11 The following schools had the highest first-time CPA exam pass rates in Maryland in 2019 (the most recent report available*) for candidates with a bachelor’s degree, with the overall pass rate for first-time test-takers in Maryland being 54.5%:

    1. University of Maryland, Baltimore County 70.6%
    2. University of Maryland, College Park 65.3%
    3. Salisbury University 61.1%
    4. Towson University 52.5%
    5. Loyola University Maryland 50.4%

    *As NASBA makes significant changes to the CPA Exam as part of the CPA Evolution initiative, new candidate score reports by state are not anticipated until at least mid-2024.

    Schools in Maryland with Accounting Degrees

    To give you an idea of the breadth and depth of accounting degrees offered in Maryland, we have profiled select programs below. Be sure to visit the websites of programs of interest for more detailed information on courses, admissions requirements and deadlines, and faculty.

    Undergraduate Accounting Programs

    Loyola University Maryland

    At the Sellinger School of Business at Loyola University Maryland, students can earn an AACSB-accredited Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting. This program is ideal for those interested in careers in public accounting, business, non-profit organizations, and government. Students learn about the functional areas of accounting, preparing them for positions in auditing, controllership, taxation, and administration. The curriculum focuses on both managerial and technical skills in the field of accounting, and students also learn how to research and communicate financial information. Loyola’s student organizations offer industry-relevant events and guest lectures, providing networking and professional development opportunities. Loyola University Maryland also offers a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree, available on-campus or online.

    Salisbury University

    At the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University (SU), students can pursue an AACSB-accredited Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting. This program emphasizes a global perspective on the field of accounting, and students learn both accounting theory and practice. Core courses include Managerial Accounting, Financial Accounting, and Statistics, and students then take upper-level courses such as International Accounting, Auditing, and Business Law. Coursework focuses on experiential learning through team-based projects, real-life case studies, and seminars. The accounting department at SU maintains connections with the accounting community to support students in finding internships and post-graduation job placements. The BS in Accounting at SU meets the educational requirements to sit for the Uniform Maryland CPA exam.

    Towson University

    At the College of Business and Economics at Towson University (TU), students can earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting. The BS in Accounting degree is an AACSB-accredited program ideal for those interested in auditing, tax accounting, cost accounting, or managerial accounting. Courses such as Strategic Management, Global Financial Management, and Tax Accounting are designed to help students research, prepare, and analyze financial data. To qualify for the CPA exam, students can opt for the accelerated BS in Accounting and Master of Science (MS) in Accounting and Business Advisory Services. The master’s portion of the five-year Accelerated BS/MS is offered jointly by TU and the University of Baltimore (UBalt). This program format allows students to complete their undergraduate requirements on-campus through TU while taking advantage of the online master’s courses offered at UBalt.

    Graduate Accounting Programs

    Morgan State University

    At Morgan State University (MSU), students can earn an AACSB-accredited Master of Science (MS) in Accounting. This program consists of a minimum of 30 semester credits for students and is ideal for students seeking employment in the public accounting field. Students will also be qualified to pursue employment with investment banks and in corporate financial management. MS in Accounting courses are divided into four categories: Business Exposure Requirements, Accounting Exposure Requirements (undergraduate and graduate), Core Requirements, and Professional Track Requirements. The MS in Accounting meets the educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam. Students interested in a research or teaching accounting career can also earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Accounting at MSU.

    University of Maryland, College Park

    The Smith School of Business at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland (UMD) offers a Master of Science (MS) in Accounting degree. Students can finish this AACSB-accredited program in two or three semesters, and undergraduates already at UMD can pursue a joint, accelerated bachelor’s and master’s degree. The program is generally designed for full-time students, with the majority of courses offered during the day, but some classes are offered in the evening. The curriculum covers topics including internal auditing, forensic auditing, managerial accounting, management planning, valuation, and federal, state, and local tax planning and compliance. Students can choose between specializations in Tax Analytics, Audit Analytics, or Public Accounting. The Smith School of Business has an extensive alumni and professional network, and graduates can take advantage of industry connections in pursuing job opportunities.

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    Online Accounting Programs

    University of Baltimore

    Students at the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore (UBalt) can earn an AACSB-accredited Master of Science (MS) in Accounting and Business Advisory Services. The MS in Accounting and Business Advisory Services consists of 30 semester credits and can be completed in 18 months for those with an undergraduate degree in a related field. UBalt’s MS in Accounting and Business Advisory Services offers both a general accounting track and two specializations; Data Analytics and Nonprofit Financial Management. All three tracks can be completed on campus, in a hybrid format, or completely online. The MS in Accounting and Business Advisory Services also fulfills the educational requirements to sit for the CPA examination.

    University of Maryland Global Campus

    Through the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), students can earn a Master of Science (MS) in Accounting and Financial Management degree entirely online. The IACBE-accredited program is ideal for accountants, financial managers, and other mid-career professionals interested in leadership roles in their industry. The curriculum consists of 36 semester credits and focuses on relevant experiential learning, and students study case studies, analyze current data sets, and complete projects for real companies. Through coursework and projects, students learn how to analyze financial statements and make strategic management decisions in the short and long term. The curriculum is designed with the input of industry leaders and employers to ensure the coursework is relevant to the accounting field. This degree prepares students for accounting certifications like the CPA designation and professional certifications in auditing, financial management, fraud, and tax preparation.

    Maryland CPA Requirements

    The Maryland Board of Public Accountancy (the Board) requires CPA candidates to complete a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and 150 semester hours. At least 30 of these semester hours must cover accounting fundamentals and ethics, and at least 21 hours must be in business courses. Candidates can then take the Uniform CPA examination. After passing the examination, individuals must complete at least 2,000 hours of relevant experience in public accounting that should be verified by a CPA. Finally, after receiving CPA licensure, individuals must maintain their designation by completing continued education (CE) hours through taking ethics courses or other industry classes.

    Career Opportunities for Accounting Graduates in Maryland

    Maryland offers many different career opportunities to graduates with accounting degrees. The DC metropolitan area provides many positions in federal auditing, public accounting, and tax preparation. Large accounting firms based in the DC area include Reznick Fedder & Silverman and RSM. These firms focus primarily on tax planning, federal procurement, consulting, and management of information systems. In the greater Baltimore area, CPA firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and Deloitte offer additional employment opportunities. For those who prefer smaller office environments, Squire, Lemkin and Company (SL+Co), as well as medium-sized firms based throughout the state, consistently have opportunities for graduates. Small businesses and not-for-profit groups may also offer promising opportunities for recently certified accountants.

    Maryland Accounting Salary and Jobs by Metro Area

    Metro AreaAccountants & Auditors Employed12Average Annual Salary12
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson12,460$87,780
    California-Lexington Park260$86,840
    Salisbury MD-DE1,230$73,340
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV43,670$101,870

    Maryland Schools with Accounting Degree Programs

    Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

    Howard Community College
    10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy
    Columbia, MD 21044
    (443)-518-1000
    https://www.howardcc.edu/

    Student Review: “The accounting program at Howard Community College is a good program. The resources available and the staff make it easy to grasp the concepts being taught. Being a full time worker and part time student, this college makes it easy for you to juggle both. They offer classes in the evenings, on the weekends, as well as online. My professors were great at explaining the course material while using real life analogies to help one to understand a formula.” – student at Howard Community College

    University of Maryland
    7965 Baltimore Ave
    College Park, MD 20740
    (301) 405-1000
    https://www.umd.edu/

    Student Review: “The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland is ranked consistently among the top 50 programs in the country. The school and the building itself, Van Munching Hall, provide students with a plethora of opportunities and resources that rival any in the country, including a virtual trading floor room. The professors are hit or miss: I have had some truly great teachers and some truly awful teachers, but they all seem to care. The students work hard for the most part, but there is definitely a contingent of students who don’t try as hard as they should (see Greek Life). The best thing about the Smith School is the opportunity for internships and full-time job offers. Smith routinely brings in the Big 4 accounting firms, as well as other prominent consulting and banking companies. They all actively recruit Smith students and the OCS space at UMD has been improved substantially over the years.” -Nick D., student at University of Maryland

    Student Review: “The University of Maryland accounting program is rigorous. It requires a great deal of self-discipline to complete. Accounting is a complex subject to begin with, and taking it in an online format requires a greater level of dedication. However, UMUC has many systems in place to support their students and to help them along the way. However, like any other major university, the quality of the faculty can vary widely from mediocre to truly exceptional. Students would be wise to investigate their professors before picking their classes.” -student at University of Maryland

    Geographically Close Accounting Degree State Pages:

    References:
    1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
    2. College Factual Best Accounting Schools 2023: https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/rankings/top-ranked/
    3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges 2023 Edition. Penguin Random House, 2022.
    4. US News & World Report’s Best MBA Accounting Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/accounting-rankings
    5. US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/bachelors/online-bachelors-business-rankings
    6. US News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Accounting Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-accounting
    7. Association to Advance College Schools of Business, Accredited Universities and Schools, Business & Accounting: https://www.aacsb.edu/accredited
    8. Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, Accredited Schools, Separate Accounting: https://acbspsearch.org/
    9. International Accreditation Council for Business Education, Members: https://iacbe.org/accreditation/member-status-information/results/
    10. Department of Education College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
    11. The NASBA Candidate Performance Report, 2019 University Edition: https://nasbareport.com/
    12. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Maryland: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_md.htm