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Earning your Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree online is a great way to launch or advance your career in accounting. But pursuing that degree — or any college degree, for that matter — is an expensive endeavor. Unfortunately, affordable tuition rates, alternatives like accounting graduate certificate programs, and smart budgeting will only get you so far.
The good news is that you don’t have to let the sticker price of an online MAcc program stop you. That’s because you’ll find tons of valuable scholarships available to help pay for your accounting master’s education. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to a host of scholarship options and show you how, when, and where to apply for them.
We’ll also offer you some valuable advice on how to identify, apply to, and win the scholarships you want the most, as well as fix you up with a range of useful online resources to support you both during and after your master’s studies. Keep reading to unlock the resources you need to help you pay for your MAcc.
15 Top Scholarships for MAcc Students
To start you on your graduate accounting degree funding search, we’ve identified 15 of the best private scholarships currently available to MAcc students. By private scholarships, we mean those offered by entities outside of specific schools and degree programs. That includes professional associations, community organizations, private foundations, individual companies, religious and minority groups, and more.
Award amounts range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, and many scholarship programs are very competitive. But qualification requirements can vary substantially from scholarship to scholarship, so you may find one — or several — scholarship programs designed specifically for someone like you.
Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance Master’s Scholarships
- Amount: $10,000 (shared among 10 recipients)
- Annual Deadline: April 1st
In your scholarship search, you’ll likely find many graduate scholarships available exclusively for women, including this one that offers multiple awards annually to students in accounting and finance master’s programs. Applicants must be accepted to a master’s program by the application deadline. Requirements include completion of a minimum of 120 undergraduate credit hours with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. Winners are selected based on demonstrated leadership, communication skills, character, scholastic average, and financial need.
AGA Graduate Scholarships
- Amount: $3,000
- Annual Deadline: June 11th
This scholarship program is designed for students pursuing courses of study in accounting and any of several other business, IT, and public administration disciplines. Three scholarships are awarded annually to graduate-level students. Both full-time and part-time students can apply. AGA additionally awards two scholarships (available to students at any degree level) for demonstrated community service.
AICPA Foundation Scholarship for Future CPAs
- Amount: $3,000 – $10,000
- Annual Deadline: March 15th
This award is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students pursuing an accounting degree and planning to pursue CPA licensure. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 30 semester hours or equivalent of college coursework (including nine hours of accounting coursework) by spring of the year before the award is made. Applicants must also be a Student Affiliate Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and demonstrate some financial need.
AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Annual Deadline: March 15th
Multiple awards are made annually by this AICPA-sponsored scholarship to liberal arts and non-business undergraduate degree holders planning to pursue both a graduate accounting education and CPA licensure. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status, AICPA Student Affiliate membership, full-time enrollment in an accounting or accounting-related graduate program, and demonstrated financial need.
Augustus L. Harper Scholarship
- Amount: $500
- Annual Deadline: April 14th
One award is made annually to a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) undergraduate or graduate student majoring in accounting, finance, or business. Preference is given to applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Other criteria considered include ambition and financial need. Applicants are required to describe “why you think education is important and how it has brought value to you.”
BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education Scholarship
- Amount: $10,000 (U.S. students), $5,000 (Canadian students)
- Annual Deadline: April 7th
This award is offered through Lime Connect, just one of many sponsors of scholarship opportunities for students with disabilities. Full-time undergraduate and graduate students interested in careers in the financial services industry (including accounting) can apply, with preference to those focused on banking markets. Applicants must have or consider themselves to have a visible or non-visible disability.
Deloitte Foundation Accounting Scholars Program
- Amount: 100% of tuition (excluding books and living expenses)
- Deadline: Continuous
An estimated $25 million in scholarship funds is expected to be distributed to students pursuing or intending to pursue master’s level accounting degrees at any of over 20 participating colleges and universities throughout the United States. Students must apply to both the specific degree program and the scholarship program. The school will select and notify scholarship recipients. Eligibility requirements vary somewhat from school to school.
EFWA Graduate Scholarship
- Amount: $1,500
- Annual Deadline: March 30th
This one-year scholarship sponsored by the Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting is available to women working toward an advanced accounting degree at an accredited U.S college or university. Applicant must demonstrate commitment and aptitude in business and accounting reflected through prior coursework and/or work experience. Financial need is also required.
Frank L. Greathouse Government Accounting Scholarship
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: TBD; applications open in November
Sponsored by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), this scholarship is open to students enrolled full time in a graduate or upper-level undergraduate accounting degree program who are planning to pursue a career in state or local government. Application submittals include a letter of recommendation from someone who can speak to the applicant’s commitment to the public sector. Students must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or Canadian resident.
Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship
- Amount: $25,000
- Deadline: TBD; applications open in November
This GFOA-sponsored scholarship is designed to recognize and encourage outstanding minority students studying to prepare for careers in state and local government finance. Eligibility is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students in accounting degree programs or courses of study in any number of other government career-focused majors.
NABA National Scholarships
- Amount: $1,000 – $10,000
- Annual Deadline: March 15th
The National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) awards up to 150 scholarships annually to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in preparation for careers in accounting, business, and finance. Applicants must self-identify as Black or African American, be an active student member of the NABA, and demonstrate overall academic excellence. Application submittals include a short (250-word) essay. This is just one of dozens of scholarships offered exclusively to black graduate students.
Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship
- Amount: $2,000 – $10,000
- Annual Deadline: February 5th
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) sponsors this scholarship program to support full-time students intending careers in fraud examination or related anti-fraud fields. The program is open to both undergraduates and graduates with a declared major in accounting (including forensic accounting) or one of several other fraud-related disciplines. Awardees are additionally provided one-year ACFE memberships.
SILA Post Secondary College Scholarship
- Amount: $1,250
- Annual Deadline: April 30th
Twelve SILA Post Secondary College Scholarships are currently available to undergraduate and graduate students interested in careers in the insurance and securities industry. Applicants must have a current cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and be enrolled full time in any of a number of business, finance, or accounting-related majors. Factors considered for award include academic achievement, personal narrative, and financial need.
Soar to Success Accounting Scholarship
- Amount: $500
- Annual Deadline: May 15th
Sponsored by SOS Inventory, LLC, this scholarship is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate accounting students (including those in MAcc programs) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Other application requirements include one or more letters of recommendation and a demonstrated commitment to the accounting field through coursework, activities, projects, internships, or work experience. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen. Up to 10 scholarships are awarded annually.
WiNUP Scholarships
- Amount: $500, $1,000, and $2,000
- Annual Deadline: May 1st
The Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP) currently offers three scholarships annually to women pursuing advanced degrees leading to careers in the utility industry or any of several allied fields, including accounting. Applicants must be currently accepted by a regionally or nationally accredited university. WiNUP membership is not required.
College-Sponsored Scholarships in Accounting
Private scholarships make up only half the story when it comes to scholarship opportunities for your MAcc education. The other half is the availability of college-sponsored scholarships. Many schools offering accounting master’s programs also offer their own scholarships open to or exclusively for their MAcc students. To give you an idea of what you might find as you consider different MAcc programs, we’ve spotlighted below two schools that offer great in-house scholarships for their Master of Accountancy students. Be sure to seek out information on scholarship opportunities for the specific programs you’re considering by:
- Visiting campus financial aid offices
- Directly contacting the accounting or business departments at each school
- Exploring scholarship opportunities listed on each college’s accounting program and/or financial aid websites
Scholarship Spotlight: Florida International University
Florida International University, a public research university located in University Park, Florida, offers a Master of Accountancy program with both fully online and hybrid format options. FIU offers access to a range of in-house scholarships, including three that are exclusive to entering FIU MAcc students. Award amounts range from $3,000 to $7,500, and all scholarships are competitive.
KMPG MADA Scholarship
- Amount: $7,500
- Annual Deadline: June 1st
- Eligibility: Open to recently admitted MAcc students who possess an accounting undergraduate degree earned with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants must not be committed to working full time for any company (KMPG excluded) or require a work sponsorship currently or at any time during their studies.
- How to Apply: Contact the FIU Business Department for application information.
Scholarship Spotlight: University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina is a public school that features both on-campus and online options for its Master of Accounting program. Accounting graduate students at UNC can take advantage of 15 scholarship and fellowship opportunities exclusive to the MAcc program, including the award spotlighted below. Scholarship amounts vary, with most falling between $3,000 and $6,000. Eligibility requirements vary from award to award, but all take into account the student’s financial need. Consideration for awards is automatic with application to the accounting master’s program.
Carl Clinton Scott Scholarship Fund
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Same as program application deadline
- Eligibility: Award is made based on the student’s demonstrated academic achievement and desire to pursue an accounting career. Open to all UNC accounting master’s students, but preference is given to those first entering the program.
- How to Apply: Scholarship application is automatic with application to the degree program.
Tips for Winning an Accounting Scholarship
Locating the scholarships you want is just the first — and possibly easiest — step. Now you must complete and submit your applications. It’s the quality of your application that will make or break your chances for success, so below, we’re offering five important tips for winning those valuable scholarship awards.
Tip #1: Be sure you can (and do) meet all requirements for each specific scholarship you’re considering.
Qualifications are of utmost importance, so be sure that you carefully read and understand every application requirement for each scholarship to which you intend to apply. This may seem obvious, but scholarship committees are routinely rejecting applications submitted by unqualified students who spend a tremendous amount of time and effort to apply. Keep in mind that you’re applying for an accounting scholarship, so failing to clearly demonstrate that you’re detail-oriented is likely fatal to your chances of winning.
Tip #2: Apply early.
As a general rule, applying early in the submittal period is a plus. That’s because most applicants wait until near the deadline to get their applications in, and by doing so, they can get lost in the slog of application reviews by the scholarship selection committee. Getting ahead of the game means you can make an early impression, and early impressions are the most lasting impressions. One caveat: Never submit your application before it is absolutely and totally complete, even if that means waiting a little longer to do so (see tip #1).
Tip #3: Go big and small.
Big scholarships have the advantage of big awards. But big scholarships are also typically more competitive, meaning more applicants and therefore less likelihood of you winning. Conversely, smaller award scholarships are — well — smaller. But that usually means less competition and greater odds of success. The point here is that you’re not limited to the number of scholarships you can land, so don’t hesitate to apply to a bunch, regardless of size. Just make sure you qualify (again, refer to tip #1).
Tip #4: Get great letters of recommendation.
You were probably told not to underestimate the value of quality letters of recommendation when applying to your MAcc program. The same goes for scholarship letters of recommendation, which offer a critical way for you to distinguish yourself from the other applicants. Two pieces of advice for ensuring that your recommendation letters are great: The first is to pick the right letter writers — people who know you well and can speak with authority to your abilities; the second is to make sure that your recommenders have plenty of time to get their letters written and turned in before the submittal deadline.
Tip #5: Write great application essays.
In addition to a stellar letter of recommendation, another way to distinguish yourself from your scholarship competition is with your application essay. It’s impossible to overstate just how critical a well-written and compelling essay is. So here are a few tips. First, don’t write a single essay and use it for every scholarship application you submit. You must tailor your essay to the specific requirements and essay topic of each scholarship application. Second, spend some real time and effort on making your essay really shine in terms of expressing your commitment, and even passion, for your accounting degree program and career. And third, be sure your essay is free of spelling and grammatical errors before you send it in. The best way to do that is by having a writing professional or English grad student read over your essay and suggest changes to make it better.
Other Ways to Get Help Paying for College as an Accounting Student
Scholarships are great. But if you’re like the vast majority MAcc students, your scholarship awards will make up just one part of a larger package of funding sources for your degree program. Other parts of that package may include the following.
- Grants
- Assistantships and fellowships
- Work-study programs
- VA benefits (for military vets)
- Student loans
- Student loan forgiveness programs
Another funding possibility is employer tuition reimbursement. That’s where current employers help fund the education of their most valued employees in exchange for a promise to continue working for them for a predetermined period after graduation. One company example is Target, which helps its employees pay for their master’s educations in a wide range of majors, including accounting.
Resources for MAcc Students
The financial support provided by the accounting scholarships and other funding opportunities discussed above can make the difference between going after your accounting master’s and not. But how about support for your degree studies once you’ve secured your funding and your career after graduation? There’s good news on those fronts, too. Below are links to and descriptions of a whole range of useful resources you can tap into for help both during and after your MAcc program.
Articles, Videos, Books and Podcasts for Accounting Students and Professionals
- Accounting Today
The website for Accounting Today magazine offers tons of quality news and information on the profession and practice of public accountancy. Accounting Today reaches over 325,000 public accounting professionals working in all areas of the field, from sole practitioners to employees of the Big 4 firms. Site visitors can access articles, blog posts, podcasts, webinars, and much more. - The Financial Controller
This YouTube channel offers tons of great videos covering practically all aspects of accounting and financial controller careers and practice. Particular videos of note for accounting students and recent graduates include MSA vs. MBA vs. CPA, The Different Entry Level Accounting Jobs, 5 Entry-Level Accounting Interview Questions, and Benefits of Working at a Big 4 Accounting Firm. - Going Concern
Here you’ll find an informative website offering up-to-date news about and resources for the accounting profession. In addition to news, site visitors can access extensive information on accountant jobs and salaries, the CPA exam, remote accounting work, career advice, the Big 4 accounting firms, and much more. Membership is not required, and access to all information is free. - How to Study for Accounting Classes
This YouTube video offers tips and tricks for making the most of your time in class as an accounting student. This is just one of several informative and fun videos offered by accounting student Cal Mills on his YouTube channel. - Journal of Accountancy
Brought to you by the AICPA & CIMA, the Journal of Accountancy acts as a clearinghouse of news and information on the accounting profession and accounting education. Visitors have free access to hundreds of articles and videos covering all aspects of accounting practice, as well as the journal’s many podcast episodes and current and past issues of the Journal of Accounting magazine.
Accounting Professional Associations and Student Organizations
- AICPA & CIMA
With nearly 700,000 members, this joint venture that includes the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is the premier professional association of accounting professionals throughout the world. Student memberships are available to both full-time and part-time accounting students who are yet to qualify for CPA licensure. Membership benefits include exam support and scholarship exploration, networking with fellow members across the globe, resources regarding CPA practice areas, and more. - American Accounting Association (AAA)
The AAA bills itself as the “largest community of accountants in academia.” Student memberships are available to full-time accounting undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree students. Student members enjoy a wide range of benefits including association events, free online CPE opportunities, and access to the AAA’s Learning Management System, Career Center, and 17 academic journals. - Association of Nonprofit Accountants & Finance Professionals (ANAFP)
The ANAFP is dedicated solely to current and prospective professionals in the field of nonprofit accounting and finance. Members visiting the ANAFP website can access a variety of resources and benefits including nonprofit accounting and bookkeeping practice guides and articles, common job tools essential to nonprofit accounting and finance practice (including spreadsheets and files), and the ANAFP online member forum. - Beta Alpha Psi
Beta Alpha Psi is the international honor society for accounting and finance information students and professionals. There are currently 300 society chapters in operation on college and university campuses providing support and networking opportunities to members. Additional member benefits include membership discounts, expert advice, and scholarship opportunities offered by BAP-affiliated professional associations and organizations. - Beta Gamma Sigma
Beta Gamma Sigma is an international business honor society that recognizes and honors top business students (including accounting students) at schools accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). There are currently over 600 chapters on college and university campuses throughout the U.S. and around the world. Membership is open to accounting master’s students who rank in the top 20% of their class.
Accounting Social Media and Online Communities
- Accounting Café
This is an online community of accounting educators and learners. Membership is free and required for access to many site offerings such as online courses and events, but you don’t have to join to access the extensive collection of news and education articles, teaching tips, and the Accounting Café blog. - Accounting |Finance Professionals
LinkedIn hosts this highly active group with over 650,000 members that acts as a forum for sharing knowledge, discussions, career advice, job opportunities, industry tips, information on upcoming networking events, and more. Access to posts is open to anyone, but you have to be a member create posts or add comments. - r/Accountingstudenthelp
Here you’ll find a Reddit sub with over 2,500 members that offers help for accounting students. Visitors will find tons of great information and advice on the education process, careers, and the accounting profession. While this is not meant to be a space for assistance with homework, some of that sneaks in anyway. - aicpastudent
Instagram is the home of this community aimed at, “clearing the way to empower students to make it to the CPA.” There are currently over 600 posts and over 6,000 followers on the site. Helpful information of all kinds is available in the areas of study tips, career advice, and insights into what life is like for accounting students. - @TomHood
Currently the EVP of Business and Engagement in Growth at the AICPA, Tom Hood brings his decades of experience as an accounting professional and leader to a number of social media platforms, including this one on X (formerly Twitter). Visitors to his X account will find a wealth of up-to-date information and insight designed to support the success of CPA, finance, and accounting professionals at all stages of their careers.