[floacct]

Does anyone have experience or insight regarding the online master in taxation program at FAU? Thanks

[Anonymous]

Golden Gate University is the most well respected, along with DePaul University. My MST from GGU turned a lot of heads. Be warned, I put more effort/energy into my graduate degree with my one year MST program than my four year undergraduate accounting degree. It is intense.

[taxgeek83]

I've looked into Villanova and Denver as well as GGU – anyone have an idea what the best value for the money is? I haven't heard of FAU – is that Florida Atlantic?

[mla1169]

I did an MSA at Southern New Hampshire University online. They offer an MST too. I think they are a bit more pricey than the other options.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
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BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Sir Study Alot]

media.taxtalent.com/2014_Overall_MST_Results.pdf

My university looks at Tax Talents results as the guiding authority on MST programs, which basically asks employers who's program they respect the most. GGU was ranked 1st last year, however they lost their spot.

If it was me, I would choose a program on this list that has a lot of alumni in the area where you live. GGU has a lot Alumni on the West Coast, but if I wanted to live near Denver I would of choose Denver University.

For some reason I couldn't tell if University of Illionois was an online program by looking at their site, but chances are that top three will probably rotate year to year. Its also important to note that GGU is the biggest program, so more tax emloyers are likely to have GGU graduates and therefore it will probably be in the top five for a while.

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[floacct]

Ya FAU is Florida Atlantic. I also looked into Denver but it was really expensive. I noticed ggu didn't require gmat, is that a red flag?

[Sir Study Alot]

I didn't consider it a red flag and neither do the Big 4 firms and regional firms that recruit from here. What it does tell me is that the college is trying to make a lot of money by having more students. A good % of tax programs are offered at private universities that don't require GMAT scores. If you really want a prestigious tax degree then you are going to have to look into a LLM in taxation offered at the high end colleges most people can't get into; otherwise most have only regional recognition. GGU and Denver appear to have some form of national recognition.

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[Anonymous]

@Sir Study Alot

How would you rate USC MBT Program? Top rated nationally or regionally?

I am thinking of going into the program

[Sir Study Alot]

EnrolledAgentWannaBeCPA,

I am not an authority on the subject, but its 6th on that tax talent list. However the flaw of that tax talent rating is its based on employer feedback and since USC has a lot less graduates than those other schools it dosen't get as much positive feedback per call(my theory).

As a Calfornian I would definitely go to USC over GGU due to the national overall recognition. I think GGU's tax program is well respected among tax professionals, but if you later change your career path other hiring managers may not know of the degrees reputation. The same could be said if you open your own practice. Potential clients would recognize USC and not GGU.

That being said if you want to remain an employee I don't see the USC difference being as crucial. For one you will have a lot less alumni in the community. Also the same firms recruit from both schools. However it may make a difference when a CFO, who is unlikely to be familiar with GGU, looks at your resume in consideration of you for a tax director position. The general theme to my response is its based on no facts so take it for whats it worth lol.

If I still lived in Southern California I would love to go to USC depending on the cost. I think I would pay an extra 10k for the program and prestige. My guess it is much more now days?

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[jaredo155]

I think where you are geographically located makes a big difference as to the perception of the programs, so that is something you will certainly want to take in to consideration. I am much closer to the east coast, and GGU doesn't get much respect, the top reputations are probably Denver and then USC. This is mostly because there is still a stigma associated with going online, and if you went to GGU the perception is immediately that it is an online degree (even though it doesn't have to be). While Denver and USC the initial assumption is that you attended their brick and mortar campus, even though based on your question you would not be. Not that it matters to most tax professionals, but Denver and USC are both AACSB accredited, while GGU is just regionally accredited. Regional accreditation is the highest general accreditation a university can get, but AACSB is the highest business accreditation they can get period.

I am doing my MST from the University of Cincinnati online, and I am well aware it doesn't have any a big reputation preceding it, but it is AACSB accredited and it is close enough to where I live that the initial assumption will be that I attended on campus. Not to mention from comparing notes with friends who attended other programs (GGU, Denver, and Northeastern) the curriculum and classes are every bit as challenging and educational. Also a big upside for me was the fact they have a concentration in corporate taxes, which is where I currently work and intend to continue working.

Hopefully over time the stigma with online education will go away, because it really amounts to directed self study, and as we all know from this test, self study can be one of the most effective ways to learn. Until then I would certainly take that in to account in choosing your program, because it will impact peoples perception of your degree fair or not.

AUD - 2/2013 - Passed!
BEC - 5/2013 - Passed!
FAR - 8/2013 - Passed!
REG - 11/2013 - Passed!
"Do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda

[floacct]

I do not think there is much of a negative stigma left with online education. Several years ago there was.” Prestigious” schools like usc wouldn't tarnish their reputation with online programs if they weren't respected. In my professional experience most employers want someone who fits in their culture and they need to simply ” check the box ” that the employee has a degree.

[Author]

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