A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is generally considered better for career advancement, salary, and legal authority to sign audits, making it the superior credential for public accounting. A Master’s in Accounting (MAcc) is better for fulfilling the 150-hour education requirement for the CPA exam, developing specialized technical expertise, or entering academia.
CPAs command higher salaries than Master's in Accounting professionals. Furthermore, CPAs with specialized skills and knowledge in areas like taxation, auditing, or forensic accounting can expect to earn a higher salary than those without such expertise.
Eligibility for CPA Certification
Most bachelor's degrees are only 120 credit hours, so a master's degree in accounting will help you meet the education hours requirement*. Becoming a CPA comes with fantastic benefits, even if you're not interested in auditing or client representation.
Second, an advanced accounting degree may also help you secure a higher salary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlights the value of graduate education. According to BLS data from 2024, professionals with master's degrees earn an average of 19.2% more than those with only a bachelor's degree.
CPAs are essentially licensed accountants who offer assistance to companies and businesses in the areas of expense and investment management, as well as financial planning. Additionally, they are able to provide more advanced taxation and auditing services than unlicensed accountants.
No, an accounting degree is not useless without a CPA; it opens many doors in corporate, government, and non-profit sectors (like financial analysis, management accounting, and internal audit), but a CPA is often essential for public accounting (especially auditing), high-level management roles (like CFO/Controller), and roles requiring public attestations, with the CPA providing a significant career boost, higher earning potential, and faster advancement, according to Bellevue University, Franklin University, Post University, and SuperfastCPA.
A master's degree in accounting can be the boost you need to achieve a higher-level position in banking, taxation, insurance or any company with a financial division. It can also be an important step toward certification as a public accountant.
Salary Potential: Both credentials can significantly enhance earning potential; however, CPAs tend to see a higher salary in accounting roles, while MBA graduates may have a broader salary range depending on their industry and position.
A master's degree helps you meet the requirements to sit for the CPA exam. CPA requirements vary state by state. However, all states require earning 150 college credit hours before you can sit for the CPA exam.
Absolutely not. Many accounting roles don't require CPA certification. In fact, our Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Science in Accounting are designed as non-licensure programs. That means they provide the essential accounting knowledge and skills needed for a variety of accounting careers.
Earn a master's degree.
While candidates can sit for the Uniform CPA exam with a bachelor's degree (120 semester hours), many states require 150 hours of education to obtain CPA licensure. A master's degree in accounting satisfies the 150-hour requirement.
How hard is the FAR CPA exam? The FAR section of the CPA Exam is hard because it's the most comprehensive of the 4 exam sections, and it has a lot of math questions that are mentally taxing to get through. It has the lowest pass rate of all 4 exam sections and is considered the hardest CPA Exam section.
Pursuing a degree in Commerce or Business (with a major in accounting) is your quickest route to earning a professional accounting designation.
The Impact of a Master's Degree in Accounting on Salary
The average salary for individuals holding a Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree is around $81,000 annually, compared to reports that a Certified Public Accountant can earn an average base salary of $76,000.
Comparison between CA and CPA
It is difficult to determine which of these professions offers a higher salary, as the salary of a CA or CPA can vary greatly based on several factors. However, in general, CAs tend to earn slightly more than CPAs in India.
We're also seeing very high demand for many accounting positions through 2025, from entry-level positions up to senior-level management positions. Staff accountants are essential to the day-to-day accuracy of an organization's financial operations and are often the backbone of an accounting department.
The 150-hour requirement is seen as a barrier to entry. Accounting is perceived as boring. Compensation is lower than for other majors such as finance and technology. A lack of diversity seems apparent.
The Top 10 Cons of Being an Accountant
Automation and artificial intelligence have led to fears that traditional accounting roles may become obsolete. Accounting Today reported that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5% decline in bookkeeping, accounting and auditing jobs by 2023 due to technological advancements.