Study Accounting in New Jersey

Getting an accounting education in New Jersey is as simple as choosing a program that fits your needs. Fortunately, accounting is a popular undergraduate and graduate field of study, and schools throughout the Garden State have options for you.

As an online student, the options are more limited, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a good selection of programs to choose from at the undergraduate and graduate levels. New Jersey has a particularly good selection of master’s degrees in accounting, which is beneficial for you if you want to change careers or advance in your current accounting career.

The programs outlined below represent some of the most popular options in New Jersey. Read through each program’s description to help you decide which one is right for you!

Best Accredited Online Accounting Degrees and Schools in New Jersey - Associates, Bachelor's and Master's

Online Accounting Degrees in New Jersey

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online accounting degrees in New Jersey:

  • William Paterson University
  • Seton Hall University
  • Rutgers University
  • Rider University
  • Liberty University
  • Berkeley College
  • Walden University
  • Southern New Hampshire University

William Paterson University

Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting from William Paterson University is an entry-level program that exposes you to crucial concepts and practices in accounting. Over the course of 120 credits, you’ll gain competencies in accounting, finance, and business. You’ll also gain knowledge of liberal arts fields and emerge as a well-rounded graduate with the skills needed to be successful in the workforce.

The 120-credit curriculum includes 63 general education requirements and electives that form the foundation of your education. These courses are mostly introductory level and explore topics such as English language arts, science, math, and social sciences, to name a few. For example, you might take English Composition I and II, Biology, College Algebra, and Sociology courses to fulfill part of the requirements for this component of the program.

Usually, most general education requirements are completed during the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. The final two years typically concentrate on the major area of study, in this case, accounting.

At William Paterson, you must complete one prerequisite course – Business Math – before beginning your major studies in earnest. Then, you’ll complete major coursework in two categories: Core Business Courses and Core Accounting Courses.

The purpose of the Core Business Courses is to introduce you to essential concepts in conducting business and how those concepts relate to accounting. For example, you must take classes in the following areas:

  • Corporate Finance
  • Microeconomics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Business Statistics I and II

Furthermore, coursework in Business Law, Business Strategy and Policy, and Principles of Management is required. The combination of these and other required business courses lays the foundation for building essential business skills, including an understanding of marketing, management, and finance. All told, you must complete 30 credits of business courses.

An additional 27 credits of accounting classes are required. These courses explore niche topics in accounting, like Auditing, Taxation, and Data Analytics. Other required courses include Intermediate Accounting I and II, Cost Accounting, and Advanced Topics in Taxation.

Likewise, you’ll complete a sequence of two Advanced Accounting courses that explore specialized areas of accounting, such as subsidiaries and partnerships. You’ll also review advanced concepts, principles, and skills in accounting to prepare for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.

Each course in the accounting curriculum is just seven weeks. This accelerated format means you work through material more quickly, but the advantage is that you take fewer classes at a time. For many students, the faster pace with fewer courses is helpful in keeping up with the demands of completing this degree.

William Paterson University offers numerous minors as well. Adding a minor to your accounting major can make you a more attractive job candidate. At the very least, you’ll graduate with even more knowledge and skills. Available minors include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Business Administration
  • Communication Studies
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Global Business

Each minor requires you to complete six courses or 18 credits.

You can apply to William Paterson as an undergraduate student at any time online. The admissions requirements are as follows:

  • Complete the online application and submit a $50 application fee.
  • Be four years or more out of high school (or be two years post-high school with 60 or more college credits).
  • Have a 2.0 GPA or higher.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.

Seton Hall University

Online Master of Science in Accounting

Seton Hall University’s online Master of Science in Accounting is a 30-credit program offered by the Stillman School of Business. As one of the best business schools in the nation, Stillman offers you a unique opportunity to get a high-quality education combined with the flexibility of online learning.

Another advantage of this program is that it’s accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). As such, the curriculum aligns with industry standards and prepares you to hit the ground running with your career upon graduation.

The program begins with a prequalification sequence. This collection of courses is specifically aimed at students without a business background. These courses are not for credit but are essential in helping you develop the basic business-related skills required to move forward in the program. Two courses are included in this sequence: Accounting Pre-Qualifier and Legal Studies Pre-Qualifier. As the names indicate, you’ll explore basic accounting and reporting principles as well as the relationship between law and business.

Of the 30 credits needed to complete this degree, 21 are in the accounting major. These courses dive deep into basic and advanced concepts, including Financial Reporting, Cost Accounting, and Essentials of Federal Taxation. Furthermore, you must also complete the following:

  • Auditing Standards and Problems addresses fraud detection and presents case studies to highlight effective auditing procedures.
  • Commercial Law introduces you to the Uniform Commercial Code and other important components of commercial law. This includes studies of contract law, sales, bailments, taxation, and liability, to name a few.
  • Financial Accounting Seminar – This capstone course requires you to address vague accounting problems as presented in accounting case studies. The course also requires you to complete research and writing projects.

The remaining nine credits are electives. This is the portion of the program where you can study accounting concepts or principles of most interest to you or of the most relevance to your career. From Taxation for Individuals to Big Data Analytics to Forensic Accounting, you can explore virtually all corners of the accounting field. Other elective options include the following:

  • Taxation for Businesses
  • Internal Auditing
  • Tax Accounting
  • Tax Research
  • Enterprise-Wide Accounting Information Systems

By completing the required and elective courses in this degree, you’ll fulfill the educational requirements needed to sit for the CPA exam in New Jersey and New York. Not only that, but completing this degree offers ample opportunities to network with other professionals and make connections that could lead to employment after you complete the program. The university provides access to a career expert as well, who will work with you to explore possible career options.

Throughout your time working on this degree, you’ll have the advantage of one-on-one advising to help guide your educational path. You’ll also learn from distinguished faculty who have decades of relevant work experience in business and accounting. With these and other support systems, you can complete this degree in as little as 12-20 months.

You must meet the following requirements to apply:

  • Complete the online application and pay a $75 application fee.
  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
  • Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Submit a resume.
  • Provide a statement of purpose outlining the reasons why you wish to pursue this program.
  • Provide one letter of recommendation from a former professor or colleague.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.

You can submit GMAT or GRE scores if you like, but this is not required. International students must provide TOEFL or IELTS scores demonstrating English proficiency.

Rutgers University

Online Master of Accountancy

At Rutgers University, you can earn a Master of Accountancy online in as little as one year. With no campus visits or internships required, this program offers a high level of flexibility for you to get your education in your own time frame.

The curriculum of this AACSB-accredited program includes ten courses for a total of 30 credits. Combined with a traditional 120-credit undergraduate program, this gives you enough college credits to sit for the CPA exam. In addition to the insights your coursework provides, you can get ready for the exam by taking advantage of Rutgers’ free CPA review program.

Two tracks are available, each with distinct benefits depending on your educational and work history. On the one hand, you can choose the Accountant Track if you either have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or an equivalent amount of work experience in the field. On the other hand, the Transition Track is ideal if your undergraduate degree is in a field other than accounting or if your work experience is outside the realm of accounting.

The Accountant Track includes both required core courses and electives. You must choose five of the following eight required classes:

  • Accounting for Managerial Decisions
  • Advanced Auditing
  • Problems in Financial Reporting
  • Accounting Information Systems
  • Financial Reporting and Analysis
  • Advanced Taxation
  • Forensic Accounting
  • Accounting Analytics

These courses build on the introductory-level accounting classes you took as an undergraduate. In some cases, they extend into new areas of accounting, too. For example, the Forensic Accounting class focuses on building skills necessary for detecting financial fraud.

The five electives you take are up to you. In fact, Rutgers doesn’t specify which courses you can take to fulfill this component. The only requirement is that the classes come from the MAcc, MSBA, OMBA, or Graduate Certificate Programs.

The curriculum looks a little different if you’re in the Transition Track. Firstly, you must take three prerequisite courses before starting on the core and elective coursework. These prerequisites, which include Financial Accounting/Intermediate Accounting I, Auditing, and Tax, help you build the necessary competencies to be successful in your graduate program.

Six core courses are required in the Transition Track:

  • Accounting for Managerial Decisions
  • Advanced Auditing
  • Problems in Financial Reporting
  • Accounting Information Systems
  • Financial Reporting and Analysis
  • Advanced Taxation

As for electives, you’re required to take Forensic Accounting and Accounting Analytics classes. You have the choice of taking two other courses from the MAcc, MSBA, OMBA, or Graduate Certificate Programs to fulfill this requirement.

Regardless of the track you’re in, you can work on your degree part-time or full-time. Additional flexibility is provided with three admission cycles each year, so you can have more control over when you begin the program.

You must complete the following steps to apply:

  • Submit an application for admission and pay the relevant application fee.
  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
  • Submit transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Provide a current curriculum vitae or resume.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation.
  • Submit a personal statement espousing your professional and educational goals.

You can also provide GMAT or GRE scores if you wish. This is not a requirement for admission, however.

Rider University

Online Master of Accountancy

Yet another AACSB-accredited graduate program worth your consideration is the Master of Accountancy from Rider University. This 30-credit program is completed entirely online and can be finished in about a year, provided your educational and work experience is in accounting. Roughly 21 months of full-time study are required if your bachelor’s degree is in a non-related field.

One of the benefits of this program is that you can choose from five different concentrations based on your career goals. These concentrations include the following:

  • Business Analytics
  • Finance
  • Forensic Accounting
  • Information Systems
  • Sport Management

In each case, you’ll take courses specific to the field that enable you to practice as a knowledgeable and skilled accountant. For example, the Business Analytics concentration explores strategies you can use to improve business functions and optimize organizational operations based on real-world data. The Forensic Accounting option, meanwhile, examines how to use accounting techniques to manage risk, identify fraudulent activities, and support criminal prosecution of fraud.

Each of the five specializations listed above includes the same sequence of core coursework. This includes classes in Professional Research and Communication, Issues in Managerial Accounting, and a Seminar in Federal Taxes. Other required courses include the following:

  • Analysis of Accounting Data
  • Issues in Financial Reporting
  • Auditing Practice and Problems
  • Business Analytics Fundamentals or Business Intelligence Data Mining

If you enroll in this program with a non-accounting background, you must first complete the foundation requirements. These courses represent critical studies in accounting that you missed in your bachelor’s degree.

For example, you must take two Business Foundation courses – Fundamentals of Accounting and Basic Financial Principles – to gain a solid understanding of essential accounting and finance topics. Then, you must complete 18 credits of Accounting Foundation requirements. These courses explore numerous accounting subjects, including:

  • Cost Management
  • Principles of Auditing
  • Fundamentals of Federal Taxation
  • Accounting Theory and Concepts I and II
  • Accounting Problems and Practice

You can get a waiver for some or all of the business and accounting prerequisites if you satisfy certain conditions. For example, Rider University will accept credits from one of these courses if you completed it within the last six years with a grade of C or higher. Alternatively, you might get a credit waiver if you completed an equivalent course more than six years ago but currently use relevant knowledge from that course in a professional setting.

If you have yet to begin your undergraduate studies, you might consider Rider’s 4+1 accelerated program. This program combines a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Master of Accountancy and allows you to complete both degrees in five years – four years for the BSBA and one year for the MAcc.

You must complete the following steps to be considered for admission:

  • Fill out the online application and pay a $50 application fee.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Provide a current resume.
  • Provide a personal statement that explores your educational and professional goals and objectives. The statement must be at least one page long.

Rider University does not require GMAT scores to apply to this program.

How Do I Become an Accountant in New Jersey?

To become an accountant in New Jersey, you need to fulfill these requirements:

  • Education: Earn a bachelor’s degree with 120 credits, including 30 accounting credits and 24 business-related credits. Complete a total of 150 credits through additional coursework.
  • CPA Exam: Pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination.
  • Work Experience: Gain one year (1,750 hours) of supervised professional accounting experience.
  • Licensure: Apply for CPA licensure, including proof of education, experience, and exam scores.

Education Requirements

In New Jersey, to meet the CPA educational requirements, you must complete 120 credits to qualify for the exam and 150 credits for state licensure. You need at least 24 credits from accounting courses and another 24 credits from business courses.

You have the option to complete all 150 credits before taking the CPA exam or finish the final 30 credits afterward. You can acquire additional 30 credits by completing a master’s degree in accounting in standalone courses.

Experience Requirements

The New Jersey State Board of Accountancy requires you to have the equivalent of one year of full-time accounting experience for your license, which is a minimum of 1,750 hours. Part-time experience over two consecutive years, totaling 1,750 hours, also qualifies. This experience must be supervised and verified by a licensed New Jersey CPA.

After completing your work experience, you must submit a statement of experience form. In some states, candidates need to pass the national exam first and then earn the necessary experience for state licensure. However, New Jersey allows you to earn experience before taking the exam.

While you can gain professional experience through internships, the work hours must be after you obtain your bachelor’s degree. Eligible experience can come from accounting, attestation services, financial advisory, tax, government, industry, public practice, or consulting.

Eligibility to Take the Exam

As mentioned above, to qualify for the Uniform CPA Examination in New Jersey, you must complete your bachelor’s degree. Your transcripts should include at least 120 credits, including 24 business and 24 accounting credits.

Other eligibility requirements include:

New Jersey does not require American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) ethics exam or have a residency requirement.

Applying for and Scheduling the Exam

You can apply for the exam through NASBA’s online application system, CPA Central. You need to include official transcripts showing the required degrees and credits, a notarization and photo form, and a recent photograph.

You must submit transcripts directly from your school. Recent graduates may need to wait several weeks for their official transcripts to reflect their degree completion. Incomplete applications make you ineligible for testing and you forfeit the application fee.

After NASBA receives all required materials, it takes 2-4 weeks to process your application. If you are eligible, you’ll receive a notice to schedule (NTS) for the test sections you plan to take. Each NTS expires in six months, so only apply for sections you can complete within that time frame.

If you do not pass any section of the exam, you can retake those portions.

After Taking the Exam

You have 18 months to pass all sections of the CPA exam, starting from the date of your first exam. You cannot retake any section during the same six-month testing window.

AICPA typically releases exam scores within two weeks of your test date. After passing all sections, you’ll receive a congratulatory letter with further licensure instructions. In New Jersey, passing the Uniform CPA Exam results do not expire, even if you take the exam before completing your professional experience or the full 150 credits.

Once you pass the CPA exam and meet all educational and work requirements, you can apply for licensure from the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy. Licensure applications must include a statement of experience and a criminal record check. The application review process typically takes 7-12 weeks.

Retaining New Jersey CPA Licensure

New Jersey has a triennial licensure cycle, meaning licenses renew every three years. The board issues renewal notices 60 days before the expiry date. You must complete 120 credits of continuing professional education (CPE) every three years, with at least 20 credits each year.

Of the 120 credits, 60 must be in technical subjects like business law, information technology, and taxation. Four credits per cycle must be in law and ethics. Public practice accountants need at least 24 credits in accounting or auditing courses. You should keep records of your CPEs for at least five years in case of an audit.

How Long Does It Take to Become a CPA in New Jersey?

Including education, work, and licensing requirements, becoming a fully licensed CPA in New Jersey typically takes 6 to 7 years. This timeframe can vary based on your individual circumstances, such as whether you enroll as a full-time or part-time student or the time you take to pass the CPA exam.

Does NJ Require an Ethics Exam for CPA?

No, New Jersey does not require an ethics exam for CPA licensure. The state has specific educational, experience, and continuing professional education requirements, but an ethics exam is not part of the process.

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