Accounting, M.Acc.

Students in Saint Louis University's Chaifetz ai Master of Accounting program enhance professional accounting expertise while developing strong analytical, problem-solving and communication capabilities. 

Chaifetz accounting graduates have a long history of success on the CPA exam, with pass rates exceeding both the Missouri and national averages. The Missouri gold medal has been awarded to several of our graduates, and our graduates have historically had a 100% job placement rate within six months of graduation. 

The professional opportunities presented to me by the Chaifetz School of Business have extended well beyond the graduation stage, as I continue to receive guidance, mentorship, and support as an alumna.” Carly McKeon, Class of 2025

Curriculum Overview

SLU's Chaifetz School of Business, with its continuing mission to provide exceptional business education, developed the Chaifetz ai Master of Accounting program to help students gain superior ethical, technical and professional accounting skills. The program offers in-depth expertise in general accounting, taxation and auditing.

The program consists of 30 credits of advanced coursework with 15 credits in graduate accounting courses. The remaining credits are completed in business electives determined in consultation with the program director to support their career journey. 

The Chaifetz Way is the novel educational approach of the Saint Louis University Chaifetz School of Business, designed to prepare students for an AI-enabled, team-driven economy. It combines advanced technology, leadership development and meaningful professional experience to help students build sound judgment, critical-thinking skills and the confidence to lead in real-world business environments. This approach is embedded across every program, shaping how students learn, collaborate and apply knowledge.

Internships/Student Organizations

SLU's central location within the greater St. Louis metropolitan area provides a distinct competitive business advantage. It allows us to enhance internship and recruitment effectiveness by creating strong relationships in public accounting, private industry, not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities.

Chaifetz's graduate accounting students can access the Valerie A. Davisson Career Resources Center. Located in the School of Business, the center catalyzes creating meaningful connections, developing outstanding internships and employment opportunities, and providing other valuable career management services for Chaifetz ai Master of Accounting students. The accounting department also has a fully engaged Accounting Advisory Board, whose mission is to bring together academics and professionals to craft the program and prepare the business leaders of tomorrow.

The SLU chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international scholastic and professional honor society for financial information professionals, provides a vital link between students and the accounting profession. The chapter presents numerous guest speakers from various disciplines and industries each semester and has been recognized among all Beta Alpha Psi chapters for its continued excellence.

Graduate accounting students at CSB also have the opportunity for an international perspective on the accounting profession by participating in a two-week-long study abroad trip to Saint Louis University-Madrid.

Careers

Graduates from this program may take the CPA exam and pursue a career as an accountant. Recently graduated accountants in the St. Louis area earn a mean average wage of $84,050 as of May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are reviewed holistically for past undergraduate work, test scores, letters of recommendation and professional or internship experience.  Additional courses may be required of students without sufficient undergraduate background in accounting.

Application Requirements

• Online application form
• Official Transcript(s)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Résumé
• Professional goal statement of fewer than 500 words

Requirements for International Students

Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents will also need to submit:

• English-language proficiency scores: For non-native speakers of English, an official TOEFL or IELTS score report is also required and must be sent directly from ETS or the British Council (The school code is 6629 for ETS). TOEFL and IELTS scores should be no more than two years old. This program requires a TOEFL score of 88 and an IELTS broadband of at least 6.5. 

  • The Graduate Programs Office reserves the right to evaluate an applicant's English based on an admissions interview and/or an English language test. Based on the results from either or both, applicants may be referred to INTO SLU for additional coursework. 

• A GPA on a 4.0 scale is required and should be reflected on official transcripts or documentation. All official international transcripts received as part of a completed application will be evaluated internally by Saint Louis University personnel and translated to U.S. GPA on a cumulative and course-by-course basis.

• Documentation of financial support: After an admission decision has been made and scholarship consideration has been assessed, students must complete an addendum form outlining certification of financial support for one year of study (if a student visa is required) submitted with the necessary documentation. Documentation will include:

  • A letter (declaration) of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency providing funds for your tuition and living expenses for the duration of your study at Saint Louis University.

  • A letter (certification) from the sponsor’s bank verifying that such funds currently are available and will be so for each subsequent year of your study at this University. The financial evidence must cover at least the expenses needed for the first year of your study.

Review Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis once all application materials are received. Application files are reviewed holistically, considering undergraduate and graduate work, professional or internship experience, test scores and the professional goal statement.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

SLU's Master of Accounting program offers two types of scholarships: merit-based and competitive.

Merit-based scholarships are available to admitted full-time students, and all admitted students are considered. Students who earn a merit-based scholarship typically receive $2,000 to $7,000 per semester for two semesters total.

The competitive scholarships vary in amount and are awarded to students entering their first or second semester of the master’s program. All students admitted to the Chaifetz ai Master of Accounting Program are automatically considered.

For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Accreditation

Saint Louis University's Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the premier business school accrediting body. Achieving AACSB accreditation ensures continuous quality improvement in the learning environment through enhancements to the curriculum, instructional resources, student selection, career planning and placement and the intellectual contributions and qualifications of the faculty.

Approximately 5% of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation. The accounting program is also separately accredited by the AACSB; fewer than 200 schools have earned this distinction.

• Students will exhibit technical competency and professional knowledge as they relate to relevant professional accounting standards, tax compliance and planning, risk assessment and information technology.
• Students will develop critical thinking and communication skills necessary to apply professional accounting standards to complex issues, financial statement analysis and risk assessment, with the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Students will possess interpersonal and communication skills necessary to work effectively in diverse teams and employment settings toward a common goal.
• Students will possess the professional values and ethics required to identify ethical issues and to respond appropriately by demonstrating professional conduct and demeanor.

Students must earn a C- or better in all courses.

To receive a STEM designation with the M.Acc., students should take the Business Analysis and Reporting concentration.

Note: Additional courses may be required of students without sufficient undergraduate background in accounting.

¹

STEM OPT eligible

²

ACCT 4110 Financial Reporting II (3 cr) and ACCT 4300 Federal Income Tax I (3 cr) are required if these courses were not taken as an undergraduate student. These courses will NOT meet requirements of the M.Acc. if students have already taken them previously. 

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Audit Concentration

Business Analysis and Reporting Concentration

Financial Reporting Concentration

^

ACCT 6030 Contemporary Financial Reporting (3 cr) satisfies the research requirement now mandatory for some states.

Taxation Concentration

This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.

Roadmap notes:

• This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
• Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
• Course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

For admission questions, please contact:

Neil Jansen
Program director
neil.jansen@slu.edu

For additional admission questions, please contact:

Chaifetz Business Programs Office
Graduate Business Admission Team
314-977-3800
gradbiz@slu.edu