Study Accounting in Missouri
Accounting is a major with broad applications. You can work as a public accountant, a staff accountant for a large firm, or as a government accountant. You can also train as an auditor, a forensic accountant, or a tax professional.
Likewise, an accounting degree enables you to work in various businesses and industries. In Missouri, you might work in manufacturing, tourism, or healthcare, to name a few. The possibilities are endless in a state with as diverse an economy as the Show Me State.
There are also many possibilities for getting your accounting degree in Missouri. Its system of public colleges and universities offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees online that give you the most flexibility for completing your education. Some of the popular options are outlined in the guide below!
Online Accounting Degrees in Missouri
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online accredited accounting degrees in Missouri:
- Southeast Missouri State University
- Missouri State University
- Northwest Missouri State University
- University of Missouri
- Lindenwood University
- University of Central Missouri
- Capella University
- Grand Canyon University
- Southern New Hampshire University
Southeast Missouri State University
Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting
At Southeast Missouri State University, you can complete an online accounting degree as either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts. This program, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), offers studies in cost accounting, tax accounting, managerial accounting, and other essential applications of accounting principles.
This degree requires 120 credits to graduate, which is typical for an undergraduate degree. The curriculum is divided into several components:
- General Education
- Business Administration Core
- Accounting
General education requirements are necessary for all students to complete their degree, regardless of their major. These classes, which explore topics like science, math, social sciences, and English, are introductory and teach you knowledge and skills that are fundamental to your success as a student and as a future member of the workforce.
For example, you’re required to take a three-credit government course to fulfill the university’s constitutional requirement. Likewise, you must pass a basic civics examination. These requirements help you develop an appreciation for the values and virtues of living in a democracy while also highlighting why it’s so important to be an active member of our society.
These and other lessons have implications for your career, too. In studying how a democratic republic works, you’ll learn the importance of working as a team toward a common goal – something that’s crucial for your success when working with others in a business setting.
You’ll gain specific business-related skills over the course of the 30-credit business administration core sequence. These classes run the gamut from accounting to law to marketing and management. More specifically, you’ll take courses in the following:
- Business Policy and Strategy
- Business Law
- Financial Management
- Management Information Systems
- Principles of Marketing
The business core also includes two accounting courses: Principles of Accounting I and II. These classes examine basic topics in this field that you must master before moving on to study higher-level concepts in accounting.
The accounting major includes 27 credits of coursework. These classes, all of which are at the 300 or 400 levels, help you build specific accounting skills that can be applied in a variety of business and organizational settings. For example, you’ll take a Financial Accounting and Reporting class that explores topics like preparing financial statements and cash flow statements, issues in not-for-profit and governmental accounting, and rectifying errors in financial statements.
You’ll take five other three-credit courses in accounting, too:
- Accounting Analytics
- Cost Accounting and Analysis
- Financial Accounting and Reporting II
- Taxation of Individuals
- Auditing and Assurance Services
These classes and the three electives you choose provide you with specific skills to work with clients of all types – banks, individual taxpayers, non-profit organizations, and more.
You can expand your learning even further with hands-on learning opportunities available through Southeast Missouri State. On the one hand, you can join a study-abroad program and see how accounting principles are applied in business settings overseas. On the other hand, you can elect to participate in an internship and gain valuable on-the-job training in an accounting setting in Missouri or further afield in the U.S.
You can apply to Southeast Missouri State online at any time. The following are required of first-year applicants:
- Have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
- Complete 17 units of high school studies prior to enrollment, including the following:
- 4 units of English
- 3 units of math
- 3 units of social studies
- 3 units of science
- 1 unit of visual or performing arts
- 3 additional units of a foreign language or a combination of additional studies in the areas listed above)
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
Southeast Missouri State does not require an admissions essay, ACT or SAT scores, or an application fee.
Missouri State University
Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting
The Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Missouri State offers a high level of flexibility. As an online program, you can work on your studies as your schedule allows – morning, noon, or night. Furthermore, you get the added advantage of having asynchronous courses. There are no set meeting times, so you can work at your own pace, provided you meet broad deadlines for assignment submissions and taking exams.
This program is offered by Missouri State’s School of Accountancy. The school is accredited by AACSB, making it one of a small percentage of programs to earn this high-level credential. Getting a degree from an AACSB-accredited program ensures you gain the knowledge and skills that hiring managers demand.
The curriculum includes 120 credits of coursework, which takes four years of full-time studies to complete. The first two years of classes mostly include general education courses like those described earlier. For example, your first semester schedule might look something like this:
- Writing I
- First-Year Foundations
- Algebraic Reasoning and Modeling
- Introductory Psychology
Each of these classes applies to different categories of general education requirements, including English, math, and social science. The second semester might include completely different categories of classes, such as Public Speaking, Principles of Macroeconomics, and Information Technology. Again, each of these courses addresses a different general requirement, including communications, business, and technology.
The third and fourth years of this program are mostly devoted to accounting major requirements. Some of these classes focus on specific accounting topics, like Auditing, Tax Accounting, and Managerial Cost Accounting. Others are much broader in scope. The Professionalism in Accounting class, for example, examines issues related to regulatory, legal, and ethical issues in this field.
Other broad accounting courses within the major include the following: Applied Business Statistics, Accounting and Management Information Systems, and your choice of either Data Analytics in Accounting or Data Visualization.
You must also take three accounting electives. Since these courses are your choice, it’s an opportunity to focus your studies on accounting techniques or principles that fit best with your career goals. For example, if you foresee a career focusing on auditing, you might take Internal Auditing and Operational Auditing courses. Alternatively, you might take Tax Accounting and Individual Income Tax Assistance if you want to work as a public accountant. Other options include the following:
- Advanced Accounting
- International Accounting
- Managerial Cost Accounting
- Data Analytics in Accounting
If you do well in this program and want to continue your education, you might qualify for Missouri State’s accelerated Master of Accountancy program. This program allows you to earn mixed credits that apply to your undergraduate and graduate accounting degrees. Doing so helps you save time and finish both degrees in just five years.
Freshman admission requirements are as follows:
- Have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
- Complete 17 units of high school studies prior to enrollment, including the following:
- 4 units of English
- 3 units of math
- 3 units of social studies
- 3 units of science
- 1 unit of visual or performing arts
- 3 additional units of a foreign language or a combination of additional studies in the areas listed above)
- Have a 2.5 high school GPA or higher
ACT or SAT scores are also required unless you have a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA or higher. For example, you must have a 21 on the ACT or 1060 on the SAT if your high school GPA is 2.85 to 2.99. The lower your GPA, the higher the score requirements are.
Northwest Missouri State University
Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Another 100 percent online Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree is available from Northwest Missouri State University. Like the other two undergraduate options discussed above, this one requires you to complete 120 credits of coursework to graduate. However, Northwest Missouri State allows you to transfer as many as 78 credits and apply them toward the 120 credits needed to complete the degree.
In other words, you can complete roughly five semesters of coursework elsewhere, and if all of your credits apply, you’ll need just three more semesters to earn your degree. In most cases, transferable credits are lower-division, general education classes such as Introduction to Sociology, Chemistry, and Interpersonal Communication.
However, you can also take accounting and business-related courses that apply to your major and transfer those to Northwest Missouri State. For example, this program requires you to complete 30 credits of accounting coursework. If you complete a required course like Business Taxation at another school and the credit transfers, that’s one less major-area class you have to take at Northwest.
The accounting coursework required for this degree includes studies in various accounting applications. In addition to the Business Taxation course mentioned above, you’ll study topics like:
- Cost Accounting
- Individual Taxation
- Accounting Information Systems
- Advanced Accounting
- Auditing
You’re also required to complete three Intermediate Accounting courses. Broadly speaking, these classes focus on assets, liabilities, and income taxes. Cash flows, error correction, and not-for-profit accounting are additional topics. You’ll study many other concepts in this three-course sequence, including partnerships, contributed capital, and earnings per share, to name a few.
Though your accounting studies occur online, you’ll have ample opportunities to participate in interactive learning activities. From case studies to group projects to hands-on interaction, you can put what you’ve learned in class into practice in real-world scenarios.
Northwest has what it calls “common professional component requirements” for this major, too. In fact, these courses are required for all business majors, including those in the management, finance, and marketing fields. The purpose of these classes is to give you a solid foundation in essential principles that you’ll encounter working in the business world. For example, you’ll take Microeconomic and Macroeconomic Principles to gain an understanding of economic forces operating on small and large scales.
Additionally, you’ll take classes like Principles of Marketing, International Business, and Business Communication, each of which has broad implications in accounting. Having high-level communication skills, for example, is critical for any accountant, given the need to explain complex data to various stakeholders.
The common professional component doesn’t end there, though. Other required classes include the following:
- General Statistics
- Mathematical Modeling
- Computers and Information Technology
- Operations Management
- Strategy and Decision-Making
No matter the classes you’re taking, you’ll learn from highly qualified faculty. In fact, Northwest Missouri State guarantees your classes will not be taught by graduate assistants.
Applications to Northwest are accepted year-round. You can apply here, and in many cases, begin your first classes within a few weeks. You must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission as a first-year student:
- Have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
- Score 21 or higher on the ACT or 1060 or higher on the ACT.
- Have a 2.0 cumulative high school GPA or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
University of Missouri
Online Master of Accountancy
The Master of Accountancy from the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business is a 30-credit program that typically takes just three semesters to complete. However, you can study part-time if need be and finish the degree in four or more semesters.
You’ll earn your degree by taking the same classes taught by the same professors as on-campus students. What’s more, the University of Missouri ensures that online students like you have access to the same job networking opportunities. In fact, the university presents online graduates as equally eligible for careers with the same qualifications and commitment to professionalism as on-campus students.
The curriculum includes coursework in three distinct areas: required courses, accounting electives, and core business electives. There are just two required courses: Auditing Theory and Practice and Accounting and Business Strategic Analysis. Both classes are three credits and explore essential accounting principles that enable you to practice accounting at a higher level.
By taking numerous accounting electives, you can tailor your studies to your specific interests. As an example, you can prepare for a career in international business by taking an International Accounting class. You can supplement the knowledge you gain in that class by participating in a spring or summer-term Professional Accounting Internship in a multi-national business setting.
By contrast, let’s assume you want to use your education to work in government settings. To prepare, you can take classes like Governmental Accounting and Budgeting as well as Internal Auditing. You can also prepare for using your accounting skills in a corporate setting by taking Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders.
Other available accounting electives include the following:
- Accounting Ethics
- Financial Accounting Theory and Practice
- Strategic Cost Management
- Forensic Accounting
- Advanced Auditing
Four core business electives are also available. These classes analyze key concepts in business relating to accounting. For example, you can take a Human Resource Management class to learn how to apply accounting analytics to develop HR policies. This course is also helpful in understanding how to create and present HR budgets that align with the company’s overall goals.
Each of the other available business electives are in the management niche. They include Operations Management, Organizational Behavior, and Legal Aspects of Business Organization and Operation. These classes provide valuable insights into aspects of managerial accounting, including forecasting sales, analyzing financial statements, and allocating costs across a company’s business activities and product lines.
By completing this program and a 120-credit or more bachelor’s degree, you’ll meet the minimum education requirements to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. From there, you can work in any of the fields noted earlier, from public applications to the private sector and many points in between.
To qualify, you must:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in your most recent 60 credits of coursework.
- Submit essay responses as dictated by the graduate school.
- Provide letters of recommendation.
- Complete prerequisite coursework as required.
- Provide evidence of English language proficiency if required.
- Participate in an interview if necessary.
How Do I Become an Accountant in Missouri?
To become an accountant in Missouri, follow these steps:
- Education: Obtain at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and complete 150 credit hours
- CPA Exam: Pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination.
- Work Experience: Gain two years of full-time accounting experience under the supervision of a CPA.
- Ethics Exam: Pass the Professional Ethics exam offered by AICPA.
- Licensure: Apply for CPA licensure, including proof of education, experience, and exam scores.
Educational Requirements
To sit for the CPA exam in Missouri, you must complete 120 college credits, including 24 accounting credits and 24 business education credits. After passing the exam, you need an additional 30 credits, which should include six credits in business and six in accounting. These credits should culminate in either a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree.
A typical bachelor’s degree comprises 120 credits. Many master’s programs require about 36 credits beyond a bachelor’s degree, which is slightly more than Missouri’s requirement for CPA licensure.
While a degree is necessary to become a Missouri CPA, you do not have to major in accounting or business. However, you need 30 credits in business and 30 in accounting to apply for licensure. Often, candidates earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees to meet the full credit requirement.
Missouri does not specify which courses you should take or how many should be at the undergraduate or graduate levels, but recommends courses in areas such as:
- Accounting information systems
- Data analytics, data interrogation techniques, or digital acumen
- Ethics
- Fraud examination
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Taxation
- Business law
- Information systems or technology
- Quantitative methods
- Statistics
The Missouri State Board of Accountancy allows up to nine credits earned through formal internships or independent study. All course credits must come from accredited higher education institutions.
Missouri CPA Experience Requirements
In Missouri, you need one year of full-time work experience in an accounting-related position, equating to 2,000 hours earned within one to three years. If you are pursuing a career as an auditor, you need an additional 2,000 hours of auditing experience.
The state board credits you for work involving accounting, tax review, attest, management advisory, compilation, financial advisory, or consulting skills. You can work in government, academia, or public practice performing auditing, budgeting, or governmental accounting. A CPA must supervise your work, and if you perform attest services, your supervisor must have at least 2,000 hours of experience in attestation.
You must document your experience on your application form, which requires a signature from the supervising CPA. Upon receiving your application for licensure, the board reviews your work for diversity and complexity. You may need to appear before the board to substantiate or verify your work experience.
Missouri CPA Exam Requirements
The Uniform CPA Examination is critical in becoming a CPA. Although each state determines its licensure qualifications, the exam is consistent across all states. Missouri’s specific exam requirements are as follows:
Eligibility to Take the Exam
To apply for the CPA exam, you must have completed 120 credits from an accredited college or university. At least 24 of those credits need to be in accounting and 24 in business. If you completed your higher education credits outside the U.S., you must submit your academic credentials for review.
If you have not completed the educational requirements but expect to do so within 60 days of testing, you may apply. You must sit for the exam within 60 days of receiving approval to test.
You must be at least 18 years old and of good moral character. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen, but you need a Social Security number and Missouri residency. Each candidate must complete the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) ethics exam or another written exam in professional ethics acceptable to the Missouri board. You can take this exam after completing the Uniform CPA Examination.
Applying for and Scheduling the Exam
To take the exam, create an account on CPA Central. Through your account, you can apply to take one or more sections of the exam. Ensure you have met all eligibility requirements for your application to be approved.
If you have completed your educational requirements, ask the registrar at each school you attended to submit your transcripts to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).
If you are still enrolled, you must include a certificate of enrollment form signed by an officer of the college. Applicants needing an evaluation of credits earned at schools outside the U.S. and those requesting testing accommodations should also submit request forms.
After NASBA approves your application, you receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS). You have six months to schedule your exam.
You have 18 months to pass all four sections of the exam. If you do not pass any portion within that period, you must retake it.
After Passing the Exam
After passing the Uniform CPA Examination, you must complete the remaining educational credits. If it takes longer than five years to complete these credits, you must also earn 40 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) units.
As mentioned above, you must also complete 2,000 hours of qualifying accounting experience under a licensed CPA within one to three years of passing the exam. Finally, you need to pass the ethics exam.
Next, complete the application for your CPA license through the Missouri Division of Professional Registration. Your CPA certificate will arrive in the mail, allowing you to verify your licensure to prospective employers.
Maintaining CPA Licensure in Missouri
A Missouri CPA license expires every two years. The accounting board mails a renewal reminder 60 days before the license expires so you can complete the re-licensure paperwork.
To maintain your Missouri CPA license, you must complete 40 CPE hours each calendar year, with at least two of those hours covering ethics. The Missouri State Board of Accountancy allows a grace period through March 1 to rectify any CPE deficiencies from the previous year.
CPEs must meet NASBA’s standards or those of a similar accounting board. Some CPAs earn CPE credit for leading an accounting workshop, taking a college course in accounting, publishing an article or book, authoring a program, or serving as a technical reviewer for a CPE.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Accountant in Missouri?
Including education, work, and licensing requirements, becoming a fully licensed CPA in Missouri typically takes 6 to 7 years.
How Much Does a CPA Earn in Missouri?
The average salary for a CPA in Missouri varies depending on factors such as experience, location, and specific roles within the field. As of June 2024, the average salary for a CPA in Missouri is $164,136 per year. More experienced CPAs in Missouri earn well over $250,000 per year.
What is the Difference Between a Financial Specialist and an Accountant?
A financial specialist and an accountant perform distinct roles within the financial sector. An accountant primarily focuses on preparing and analyzing financial records. They ensure accuracy in financial statements, manage budgets, handle tax filings, and comply with regulations. Accountants typically hold a degree in accounting and may pursue certifications like CPA.
In contrast, a financial specialist has a broader role that includes advising on investments, financial planning, risk management, and portfolio management. They analyze market trends and provide guidance to individuals or businesses on achieving financial goals. Financial specialists often have degrees in finance, economics, or related fields and may hold certifications like CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst).
While accountants concentrate on maintaining and reporting financial data, financial specialists focus on strategic financial advice and investment planning.