Applying to the M.S. in Accounting

Applicants to the M.S. in accounting program are accepted on a rolling basis. Suggested application dates are listed below, but applications are accepted at any time until a week before classes begin. You may begin in the fall or spring semester.

Suggested Application Deadlines:

• Fall Semester - July 1
  (International applicants, June 1)
• Spring Semester - January 1
  (International applicants, November 15)

1. Application Fee

A $75 application fee is due when you submit your online application.

2. Bachelor’s Degree

A four-year bachelor’s degree in any academic field from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required. If you have a three-year non-U.S. degree, you may request a review for determination as to equivalency.

3. Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework are required with your application. Do not mail official transcripts during the applicant stage. An English translation must accompany transcripts issued in a language other than English.

4. Resume

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae that documents your prior work experience, publications, honors and awards received and a summary of your educational credentials.

5. Prerequisites

Applicants may have majored in any area during their undergraduate study. However, the M.S. program has as prerequisites the equivalent of the accounting courses required for an undergraduate accounting major as well as completion of courses meeting Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International general skills, business and management knowledge areas.

Normally, those holding an undergraduate business degree from an accredited AACSB International program will have met the general skills, business and management knowledge areas requirements outside the area of accounting.

Courses taken to fulfill the prerequisites will not count towards fulfilling the 30 credit-hour requirement of the M.S. in accounting.

1. The equivalent of the accounting courses required for an undergraduate accounting major:
   a. ACCT 315 Intermediate Accounting I
   b. ACCT 316 Intermediate Accounting II
   c. ACCT 327 Cost Accounting
   d. Economics
   e. Business Law
2. Completion of courses meeting AACSB common body of knowledge requirements

6. GMAT/GRE Optional

GMAT/GRE Test scores are not required.

Our typical applicant has the equivalent of a 4-year US Bachelor’s degree in Accounting (as a major or concentration) with a 3.3/4.0 GPA or a similar degree with two years of accounting work experience and a 3.1/4.0 GPA.

If you wish to strengthen your application you may take, at your option, the GMAT/GRE, but the GMAT/GRE are no longer required. If you are not submitting a GMAT/GRE score, please select that you request a waiver on the Test Score Waivers page of the application.

7. Personal Statement

Submit a personal statement that details your goals and objectives and clearly identifies your interest in the Lerner College degree program.

8. Two Letters of Recommendation

Submit two letters of recommendation. Recommendation forms are emailed directly from the online application to the individuals whose names and email addresses you provide. Instructions for returning the completed forms is included in the emails.

Tuition

The tuition rate for 2024-2025 is $1,069/credit.

Fees

All graduate students are responsible for mandatory fees in the fall and spring semesters. These fees vary based on whether a student is taking the program on a full-time or part-time basis. There are no registration fees for online programs. To verify whether your program is available online, see University of Delaware's online programs page.

Please visit the graduate fees and financial aid page in the Graduate Catalog for full details.

Funding in the Department of Accounting and MIS is very limited and varies year to year. Awards are based on student’s qualifications, the needs of the department and the availability of funds.

The University of Delaware is an ideal place for a great education in a global atmosphere. As an international student, you’ll join fellow students from over 100 countries. Nearly 30% of all the University’s graduate students and approximately 44% of the Lerner College graduate students are internationals.

International Application Requirements

As an international applicant, you must:

• Fulfill all the admissions requirements for domestic students.
• Provide translation and other supporting documents for transcripts.
• Demonstrate English proficiency by doing one of the following:
  • Submit a TOEFL score of 100 or higher,
  • Submit an IELTS score of 7.5 or higher,
  • Provide proof of having earned a college degree in a country where English is the primary language, or
  • Apply through the Conditional Admission Program (CAP)

The Graduate & Professional Education office provides more detailed TOEFL information on its test scores page. Please note World Education Services (WES) evaluations are no longer accepted.

Conditional Admission Program (CAP)

The Conditional Admissions Program (CAP) provides international students acceptance into the program without the need to take the TOEFL exam. After completing CAP at the University of Delaware’s English Language Institute (ELI) you begin your coursework. The length of time you will need to study in the ELI depends on your English skills when you enter the program. Please see the Graduate CAP Business Track page on the ELI website for more information.

Graduate Pathways

Graduate Pathways is a one-semester preparation program for international students whose language proficiency approaches the admission requirement (85-99 on the TOEFL iBT or 7.0 on the IELTS). You will take classes in English for graduate studies plus one course from your program with language support from the English Language Institute (ELI). Please see the Graduate Pathways page on the ELI website for more details.

Services for International Students

UD and the Lerner College offer many services to help you, both in class and out.

• The Conditional Admission Program (CAP)
• Graduate student organizations
• International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)