Are you deciding between an MBA in Accounting and a Master of Professional Accountancy (MAcc)? Both graduate programs open doors to rewarding accounting careers, but they offer different paths depending on your goals.
Whether you’re aiming for a CPA or want to pursue broader business opportunities, understanding the MBA vs. MAcc differences is key. In this guide, we’ll explore how each program prepares you for accounting jobs and help you choose the best degree for your future.
The Master of Professional Accountancy is solely focused on CPA certification and prepares you to sit for the CPA exam. The degree is a must if you wish to work as a certified public accountant and advance into management-level roles. The program is geared toward accounting undergraduates who need to get their 150 hours for the CPA exam and individuals with a non-accounting bachelor’s degree who wish to transition into an accounting career.
A Master of Professional Accountancy and CPA certification set you up for success in top management roles including:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that some employers give preferential treatment to job candidates who’ve completed a master’s degree. In combination with a CPA license, a graduate degree can give you an even greater competitive advantage in the working world.
Yes, our Master of Professional Accountancy program offers courses on all the CPA exam topics. It also provides a comprehensive grounding in accounting standards and business applications.
During your course of study, you’ll become proficient in traditional and contemporary accounting practices as you build skills that will enable you to expertly navigate today’s quickly changing business landscape.
When you finish our Master of Professional Accountancy program, you’ll have fulfilled the main requirements to sit for the CPA exam and gained a respected master’s degree that will bolster your resume and your employment potential.
Program at a Glance
Our MBA in Accounting program is geared toward working professionals and recent graduates from undergraduate programs of various types. It provides a functional knowledge of accounting principles and business applications.
This degree is a must if you desire the flexibility to work in a variety of business-oriented careers. It provides a broader business focus with an emphasis on accounting that gives you the ability to choose what you want to do.
To that end, it has two tracks that you can choose based on your career goals:
Graduates of this program have gone on to pursue roles such as:
Program at a Glance
Both of UT Permian Basin’s accounting-oriented master’s programs are offered online through our AACSB-accredited College of Business. Each is taught by the same doctoral-level professors and CPAs who teach the programs on campus and features the identical curriculum.
When you enroll in either of these programs, you will experience the benefits of 100% online, asynchronous learning, which allows you to complete coursework on your own schedule from virtually any location in the world—from Texas to Tasmania. This flexibility is a tremendous advantage when you’re simultaneously juggling professional, personal, and educational commitments.
In addition, both programs help you develop skills that will benefit you in a range of rewarding jobs in accounting and related fields. Compensation is generally higher in those jobs, too. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 2024, professionals who have completed a master’s degree have some of the highest earnings and an impressively low unemployment rate.
If you definitely plan to pursue a career as a CPA, the Master of Public Accountancy is your best bet. If you want to build a foundation in accounting as part of a broader business career, choose the MBA in Accounting. Again, it’s all about your professional goals.
We’d be happy to tell you more about these programs and what they can do for you! Reach out to us anytime.
Sources:
https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2025/data-on-display/education-pays.htm
Other articles you may be interested in:
Hospital bills that threaten to bankrupt families. Clinics struggling to keep their doors open. No matter which side of the exam table you’re on, healthcare costs are rising fast. Costs for everything from medical supplies to staff wages are on the rise—and it’s quickly adding up for hospitals and clinics around the country. In 2023…
Even before COVID sent millions of professionals home to work in their pajamas or athleisure, some companies offered work-from-home or hybrid options. Today, remote work has become increasingly popular with professionals: 97% of remote employees report wanting to work that way the rest of their careers. And fewer companies are posting office-only jobs. Currently, about…
Not all heroes wear capes. Sure, doctors and surgeons wear scrubs—the unofficial capes of modern medicine—but what about the people working behind the scenes? The ones making sure our hospitals, clinics, and healthcare systems runs smoothly every day? They might not always get the glory, but they’re far from undervalued, especially in today’s job market….
