[HoosierDaddy]

I have been considering a masters in accounting but I i’m not sure if it’s worth it. Most of the masters in accounting programs are geared towards preparing students for the CPA exam. If you went through a rigorous undergraduate accounting program, i’m not sure how much there is to gain from taking a masters in accounting unless you found a specialty masters in forensics, fraud, or anti-money laundering.

I’m thinking an MBA might be better if you already have your CPA. Even a masters in Entrepreneurship, Information Systems, or Management might be better than a masters in Accounting.

Thanks for any advice.

-Passed all four sections of CPA exam in 2010 using Becker.
-Former Seasonal Audit Senior with Big Four accounting firm.
-Plan to sit for Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)

[Missy]

I think it's important to know FIRST what your career goal is then plan toward that goal. For some careers, an MBA is practically a must even with a CPA and for others it's little more than a talking point during the interview. Even if it's completely free, why bother if it's only a talking point? A MBA only holds value when combined with several years' professional experience anyway. It's when you get to management level that anybody cares about a graduate degree.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[RSBro]

Most people nowadays that I've met get their MAcc or MTax just because it helps you get the 150+ hours requirement within the 5 year window. I don't know any CPA+MBAs who actually use their latter credential.

I was a Computer Science then an Eco/Fin major before switching to Accounting so I didn't need that program and haven't really thought about getting it since. But depends on your area and employer and what they think of it. The last 50+ person firm I worked with, one person had their MTax and CPA in the department but it didn't really improve her skill or promotion track that I could tell from reviewing her work.

REG - ('11) 71, ('12) 71 - Becker
AUD - TBD
BEC - TBD
FAR - ('16) 54 - Becker

[Anonymous]

Negative? oh brother..for telling someone the truth and trying to keep them from burying themselves in debt??and if someone else is willing to pay for it thats fine..but what is the opportunity cost for you in order to do so even with that..A 20k dollar MBA program cant be a very prestigious program..I dont suppose you know many ivy leaguers in general..I know a few harvard and yale grads..they arent all that bright.

Also I love the back handed attack bro and people who feel as if they are more intelligent by getting an MBA..I hate to break it to you but MBA classes are the exact same thing you could take at a Community college for the most part..Any big city has specialized Business programs for adults that teach the exact same thing an MBA program will. You're not smarter then the average bear.

And really most successful people I know that have large incomes and are independent will tell you college in general as a whole is a COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME and money..Doing a specialized masters program someone else pays for to qualify for the CPA is one thing..doing one in order to try and pretend it is going to help you out further in life is a sad silly con of a joke..

I have never seen in job listings anyone asking for both a CPA and MBA…its always cpa OR mba..

The number one thing employers want in the workforce is EXPERIENCE which an MBA doesnt give you..

[jm962011]

“You're not smarter then the average bear.”

Well, maybe I am smarter than the average bear.

[MaLoTu]

@amohr – you points are valid. BUT we cannot make blanket statements that it is useless or a waste of time … I have seen 100 year-olds get their HS diploma … it has personal worth.

[Anonymous]

i have both an MBA and Macc, had i known they would be completely useless without mgmt experience i would not have gotten them. everywhere i went for interviews and networking in general, the CPA carries more weight than a MBA/Macc.

Edit: they did help me meet the CPA credit requirements and expose me to the concepts tested by the CPA exam, for that i am grateful!

just my 2 cents. NOBODY cares about my graduate degrees, unless i have my CPA. once i pass this last test maybe having all three designations will be a different story.

[Stilgoin]

@amoh. You assume I don't know anyone from and Ivy League program? And because I said the MBA is worth 20k in govt, you equated that to it costing 20k? Hahaha. Thanks for the laugh. Dude- I seriously hope you are not in audit. Good luck on your exams and have a great weekend. I have absolutely no regrets about my education. Every step has opened new doors for me. 😉

B | 62, 78
A | 73, 67, 79
R | 82
F | 59, 59, Waiting

Ethics | 93

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
~Winston Churchill

“In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

[Missy]

The problem with making judgements based on what job listings say is that job listings are merely a guide to minimum requirements. Trust me if a listing says “CPA OR MBA required” and 2 out of 10 applicants have both their resumes make it to the top of the pile. I think a lot of people completely ignore the simple fact that getting an interview and offer depend on how you appear on paper compared to other applicants. A job listing can say a high school diploma is required but if it's a poor job market the candidates with a college education get the job.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Nessie]

Well this might help…Someone I know has made $3-7 million for every year since 2007. This person is the CFO of a company with an MBA, CPA and BA degree in finance/economics. This person is quite smart, started off making about $30k at one of the big 4. He is very good at what he does. Now, could he have got this far without the MBA and CPA? No. Personally, I want to do something much more simple with my MBA/CPA, but, if you want shoot for the stars it never hurts to educate yourself.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[Track55]

At the publicly traded company I'm at, a master's degree isn't worth the paper it's printed on. The certifications are more important. We've got CPA, CIA, CFE, CISA, and I saw someone with a CICA. One person has 4 cert's and another has a law degree. The audit committee cares about cert's not master's.

That being said, there are people with a master's (MBA, MS A, MS IS, etc) but it's not that important. I was thinking of going for an MBA since there is tuition reimbursement, but now I see there's no point to it.

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[klmc]

The ONLY reason to get an MBA, in my opinion, is if you are headed towards a teaching path. Otherwise, I would take the CPA test and be done with it. If the job pays for it, that's a different story…

|FAR| - 72, 83
|AUD| - 73, 76
|REG| - 76
|BEC| - 73, 82

ALL DONE!!

[lysol12345]

I did not read anyone else's post, but here's my answer.

I believe Ernst & young gives you one year seniority for having the masters. Other than that, I think it is a waste of time.

Generally speaking, having a non top tier mba is also a waste of time.

[monikernc]

For what it is worth i have an mba from a non tier but well respected school and it has helped me in ways i never anticipated. Buying a house, insurance, investment decisions, etc, have all benefited from my knowledge. I worked in IT for years and could do analysis that others were not prepared to do. In negotiating contracts and developing or reviewing RFPs it added a perspective that was often appreciated and valued. Dealing with vendors it was essential to knowing where they were coming from and what their end goal was. Having the case study experience has provided a good approach in many professional situations. I have always been happy to have it both personally and professionally and attribute a good amount of my success to it. Today, so many people have bachelor's degrees that it can set you apart at times. Life is very business driven and it helps to navigate through it.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Pete]

I'd say the certificates provide more ROI. The CPA and CFA would definitely be worth the cost while the MBA is more grey. You might make a little more, but factoring inflation, etc. it might not really be worth it. If you lack the 150 credit hours, the MBA is probably worth it because you need it for the license and you might as well get that slightly better increase in salary.

Reason i'm going back to get my MBA, I only have 120 credit hours, which basically restricts you to private accounting.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[HoosierDaddy]

Lots of great insight!

If someone paid for my MBA I'm sure I would enjoy the experience (if it was a challenging program). I would be pretty bored with a masters in tax or general accounting, but that's me. Some people love accounting or need the MS to get 150 credit hours to pass the exam and start their careers.

I have $750/mo in student loans already, so earning additional certifications to compliment my CPA might be a cheaper way to distinguish myself for now. I loved the university environment and wish I went to law school!

-Passed all four sections of CPA exam in 2010 using Becker.
-Former Seasonal Audit Senior with Big Four accounting firm.
-Plan to sit for Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)

[Author]

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