MBA or MS??

Choosing Your Zicklin Accounting/CPA Program

MBA with an Accounting Major vs. MS in Accounting

Both programs meet the 8/1/09 150 credit hour NY State CPA requirements,
The coursework required for both programs is very similar (MBA and MS students share these courses)
Our basic recommendations;
1. The MS is best for undergraduate business majors
2. The MBA is best for students without a previous business degree.

is the most broadly recognized general management credential and would often provide some additional flexibility in one’s future career,
provides somewhat more breadth and covers more areas of management,
has additional coursework that should help with CPA exam preparation,
is usually the best option for the non-business major eligible for very few MS waivers (see below);
But
1. at Baruch, MBA tuition is about 30% higher than for the MS,
2. waivers are not available and the program is much longer than the MS would be for a student with a previous business degree,
3. for students with undergraduate degrees in business, the no-waiver policy means a good deal of repetition of previously covered material.

is the shortest, most direct route to meeting the CPA requirements
1. previous business students can waive over half the program (but a minimum of 30 credits must be taken to receive the MS,)
2. focuses on just the courses needed to complete CPA requirements,
for entry level public accounting positions, the CPA is often the most important credential and the MBA vs. MS question is not as important,
undergraduate business majors normally would have already gotten a good portion of the exposure to all the different functional areas of business that the MBA provides,
tuition is approx 30% less than MBA
But
1. students without undergraduate business degrees who are eligible for very few waivers are encouraged to consider the MBA because they would be taking most of the courses anyway and it can have somewhat more impact as a credential.
2. the older the business degree, the less relevant it is without significant business experience.