US Accounting Master’s Degree Programs Attract More Applicants

More than 70% of US master’s degree in accounting programs reported a spike in applications last year, new data show.

This growth represents a five-year peak and is nearly 30 percentage points higher than the 43% of programs that saw applicant increases in 2023, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants said Tuesday, citing data from the Graduate Management Admission Council’s 2024 application trends survey.

The boost comes as the number of new entrants to the accounting profession has declined in recent years. With the Covid-19 pandemic supercharging departures among experienced employees, ...