MSA [Accounting] vs. MBA vs. CPA 

As someone with 20 plus years in different levels of roles in accounting, this is pretty spot on. Great job with the recipe!!!

I just got my MBA in accounting GPA 3.7. My bachelor degree was in finance GPA 3.3 ☹️. Now preparing myself to take the cpa 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Personally I have a very low undergrad GPA graduating in 2012 (I worked too much compared to course load in college). I immediately went to grad school to get my MSA (I scored very well on the GMAT to get in). Upon graduation it was very difficult to overcome my low undergraduate GPA. After I passed the CPA exam that didn't matter at all. Now I'm at a CPA firm doing very well.

Cool video! I got my BS in Accounting (2009, lowish GPA 3.0), my MBA (2014, 3.2 GPA) and my CPA license (2015, after so many attempts). It has been very beneficial in my career. My goal was to become a CFO and to have my own business. In corporate, I made it to a Financial Controller, then did a pivot to my own business. It definitely worked out in the end. I should mention that I worked my way up in the field starting as a accounting specialist in 2006 while in school.

Thank you Bill I almost forgot about my MBA I, I didn’t know where to start, but with your videos I really appreciate I got hope .

I had a long journey. I got my bachelor's in political science, I wanted a career change so received an associate in accounting, then a MSA afterwards. Currently, Studying for my CPA.

In Texas (I'm not sure about other states) we have to get 150 credits so it's mandatory to get your Master's in Accounting (in my case it's called a MAcc master of accountancy) if you want to get your CPA. I hope this puts me on track to earning a higher salary sooner upon completion of my degree.

Hello! Thank you so much for always sharing your knowledge ! - I graduated undergrad with lower gpa and 150 credit hour and I’ve recently started my cpa journey . I plan to go back to get my masters after I get my CPA.

I’m 37 in December and will be applying to MBA programs soon. My plan is to do MBA and then a MS Accounting. I majored in English in undergrad (lol) and have worked in higher education for nearly 10 years. Wish me luck!

Hey man! Your videos are really informative. Could you please compare accounting with advisory and consulting? I know they pay better but I’m sure we all would love to learn more about it especially exit opportunities, thanks!

More people need to check this out! Thanks for sharing.

THANK YOU!!! That’s where I am now. I did my bachelors in Public Administration. Wanted to advance my education and went for the MBA in Finance. Now I have to passion again to do my MSA and will complete that. My educational goal has been to have two masters and then become CPA later. My MBA curriculum is not enough to jump to the CPA, so I will complete the extra credits for the CPA exam through the MSA.

I’m a financial advisor looking to be more versatile. Think I’ll do the mba with accounting concentration

For an accounting career a CPA is a must and the MBA is the icing on the top to go to C-Suite positions

Thank you! I’m looking at making a career change and this video confirmed a few things for me.

FYI, Big4 is now requiring MBA, they list it as minimum qualifications. So if that is something you are looking for, be aware.

The CPA is a fantastic credential and if you can get it, do it. But the vast majority of accountants are not CPAs. The latest numbers I saw say that roughly 67% of all working accountants in the U.S. are not a CPA. I don't know if that's because most can't pass it, or they choose not to take it, but it does suggest the odds are against you ever getting the credential. The bottom line is that the vast majority of accounting grads will never be a CPA. However, one could still do very well without it, as the 67% of all non-CPA accountants regularly show. As someone with a BS in Accounting, and an MBA, who is currently trying to make a career swith into accounting, it's been really bleak. In addition to not finding anything thus far, I was pretty surprised at the low salaries for entry level positions. The starting salaries I've been seeing for things like AR specialist, AP specialist, accounting assisstant are around $15 per hour. That's minimum wage in places like NYS. I don't think I've ever seen an enrty level position that required an engineering or computer science degree that pays minimum wage. Just really disheartening to see jobs require a 4 year degree in accounting paying minimum wage.

I seems redundant do get a MSA when your undergrad was in accounting. i don’t think an MBA satisfies the requirements for the CPA exam. usually people only do an MSA for CPA eligibility.

I am graduating this month my gpa is a 3.2 so I guess I should take either the mba or msa. I definitely want to get my cpa license. This video provides good insight on which professional masters degree I should get I am interested in an analyst position . Thanks for posting this

I work in private accounting and I'm halfway through getting a MSA...but everyone makes it seem like it's a waste and I should have gotten an MBA instead. :'(

In Utah you have to get the master's degree in order to get the CPA.

I have BSB with a major in Finance, 3.2 GPA and MSA with a 3.9 GPA and became a CPA last year. Have been a controller for about a year and a half for a small to mid size company. Looking to move to a solidly mid size company and eventually become a CFO. Perhaps looking to get the CGMA designation to be able to go for CFO roles.

I need some advice. I have an MBA in Finance and Investment Management (GPA 3.3) And I would like to enhance my professional career by obtaining my CPA. I don’t plan to be an accountant, I just think with a finance background, having a CPA will make me stand out and it’s much easier to get versus the CFA. Please, lmk what you’re thoughts are, as I am wanting to work at the executive level and own my own ecommerce business and feel maybe a CPA license will be beneficial. Please what are your thoughts on this??

I’m pursuing my MSA, getting some public accounting experience, and then switching to an industry accounting role. I don’t have an interest in getting my CPA.

Great video! I had a few more questions. I am on under the “career switch”. However, what would be the best options if I wanted to have my own business as an accountant? Would you recommend me going back to get another bachelors in accounting? Or MBA? If I get an MBA is it possible to be certified after the program? I am 24. However it is extremely hard to get a job in Healthcare Administration without any experience. I need a more practical career!

I have my B/S in Accounting but my job is tax... I want to switch and try audit/assurance/financial reporting so I was thinking I should get the MSA.

So I just did a career switch from a science undergrad degree to getting an MBA with an concentration of Finance and investment management. There is also an option of doing an concentration in accounting. What route would you advise for me to reach the recipe?

要明白，在这个世界上，你改变不了这个世界，你也改变不了任何人，唯一能改变的就是你自己。所以好好修心，改变自己，才能让自己的慧命重放光芒。 --20210519师父每日白话佛法《慧命难求》

What about a post baccalaureate program such as a certificate in accountancy program at a top tier university?

I have one year left in school currently on track to finish my bachelors in accounting. Trying to decide between double majoring in finance or the MSA program at my school. Either one would add a year on to my school to get the 150 credits needed. Tough decision .

Thanks Great video,I would like to ask if you can also make a video on CPA exam studying strategies.

Thank you for your video!

Can you make a video of universities for MSA that is beneficial to international students?

doesnt apply in canada

Can you become a CFO, having done an MBA but not being a CPA

Isn't it likely you would be earning 50 to 100 percent more had you remained with PWC? And you'd earn more in a CPA firm generally. However, external auditing pay at lower levels has been destroyed by SOX and it seems internal auditing is a better career path if one is interested in auditing. Do you agree?

Next You should talk about remote work in finance, everybody talks about how tech can be done 100% remote and im pretty sure finance too, there isnt a single Activity that requieres You to be on site (except for audits and internal, some minor stufd) yet bosses are reluctant to accept it... Been doing sec fillings and fp&a remote for almost 3 years, all You need is strong communication, trust and commitment.

Hi Bill, thank you so much for your constant great videos! I wonder can I ask you a question really quick? I am in my early 20s and I am a Big Four Tax professional with one year and half experience (with CPA licence). I have taken GRE exam and got a decent scrore for 330 and I am thinking about applying for finance-related master programs. My ideal career goal is getting into finance field, eg: Asset Management/ Portfolio Management/ PE. Would you suggest me to jump out of Tax and do something else now? or I should say do you think Tax experiece at Big Four is helpful to apply for finance jobs after I gruduate from masters? Thank you sooooo much for your advice!!!

What about for accounting in the public sector? Is the MSA (CPA track) or MBA better than an MPA?

Thank you for the insight!

literally two hours before you have uploaded this video I was thinking about the same thing, My GPA is 3.89/4 and I'm an intern in a big four firm, it's not Eye&why. anyway, after 6 months, I will get my degree and I thought of this:- Bachelor degree of accounting + MSA + PhD + CPA + CMA. I want to start a public accounting firm, that provides assurance, consulting, and business solutions. 9-12 years from now. and yes someone is paying for it all of it. what do you think, what else may I need? note: I wrote in my cv that my goal is to get CPA, MBA, MSA and the employer was very interested, I do believe these are high-demand things as you told in the video.

Fantastic analysis 👌

Hello Sir! I wanted to know about Asset Management Companies how does it works, and you could share your experiences with this type of company, if any.... Also thankyou for your videos it's very helpful 👍

Any tips on passing CPA?

Hello. Thank you for the video. I am curious to know why your recipe suggests a 3.5GPA. if you are getting a CPA what use is a GPA at all? do employers ask to see your GPA? as far as i know, a GPA is only going to matter when applying for a graduate program. please clarify. thanks

I’m working on my BS in Accounting with a minor in Finance & Economics. My goal is CFO of a large company. I’m currently an accounting intern (payroll) at a large airline and I’m really enjoying the culture and environment, and I’d like to stay. That being said, I’m thinking of transitioning into finance when I’m done with my undergrad and start as a financial analyst at the airline. Otherwise, I thought of going in to big 4 accounting for a while. My original plan was to get my CPA by completing an MSA program to fill in the gap for my 150 credits, but after watching a few of your videos, I’m not sure anymore. Should I just start in finance and work on my MBA instead? Will a CPA help me in any way under finance, or would I be better off as a controller if I get my CPA?

If I’m a fresh cpa in public now and want to exit to a controllership role and eventual CFO position when would you recommend working to get an MBA?

Im literally getting started in my associates degree. I’m in presumir of achieving a CPAs license. Will this be a good course to take even if I’m not taking classes related to accounting yet?

What is the path for those who would like to have the CPA credential but don’t want to get burned with the public accounting 80 hour weeks?

I have all 3!

Hello! I have landed a job at one of the big 4 firms and have a BS in Finance, however, I'm working as a consultant and want to take a master's degree to advance in my career, would you recommend that i take an MBA or the MSA and continue to pursue the CPA after?

What is difference between cpa and account and cpa is dying field

I feel like most of the major colleges in Utah offer a masters of accountancy but not an MSA, but if I'm just taking the credits to get to a CPA does that really matter ?

I am doing a career change and just got accepted into a MSA program. What is the typical salary for an accountant with out a cpa?

hi im a mechanical engineer, and i want to switch to accounting, if i took master degree in accounting and work on my self can i be like the accountant who took accounting in his bachelor degree? also can i take CPA, and what is the benefit of it?

My undergrad was in not in accounting. I've had my MBA for years but it's been useless. I am now looking into MAcc/MSA, second BSBA Accounting. Does the accreditation AACSB vs ACBSP matter for accounting programs. My MBA was is from an AACSB institution and I noticed that several of the schools that I'm looking at will only accept business foundation courses or other courses from other AACSB programs. Only one school on my list is non-AACSB accredited, it is instead ACBSP accredited. It lost it's AACSB accreditation due to a recent school merger. This school had a high CPA pass rate, a really solid program and was slightly more affordable. Now the program has changed a little and so has the accreditation. My question is does this matter? Keep in mind it's been almost 20 years since I graduated undergrad and I have been working for a long time. I work for a bank and they will provide some financial assistance for an accounting degree. My goal is to get my CPA.

thank you, helpful for me!

Thanks!

I have a B.S. in Accounting and I graduated with 138 hours, 12 shy from 150 CPA requirement. Should i get a masters? is it worth it?

How difficult is it to find a job after undergrad with a gpa of 2.8? Will the big 4 accept me? I plan to start grad school in January to pursue my cpa

I am an accountant in Bangladesh. I am interested in Master’s degree in USA. Masters of accountancy/ MBA / businesses analytics which can be better for me. I am 37 years old. I need part time job besides studying.. Please Give me perfect suggestion... Thanks in advance.

Just FYI, Amazon has raised its base pay for VPs/executives to $350,000.

Hello, I have a question for you I'm from Mexico and I studied here too, do you think is easy to me to get a job like accountant in USA?

thank you !

Does it matter where you get your MBA from - assuming it is accredited? I’m currently a software engineer debating on making the switch and I’d have 150 credits and the required amount of accounting courses to take the CPA. Though idk if they’d hire someone with a comp science undergrad MBA with CPA.

If you have a CPA license and looking for a promotion in a company, do you still have to get a MSA degree?

So if I wanna eventually do private Accouting and ultimately be a CFO it would be wiser to get a MBA than a MSA? With a CPA being the cherry on top?

Hello... will CMA USA help me to get a job in USA? Will the companies consider this course when applying for an entry level job? I know this isn't included on your topic/video...but I really wanna know

Hlw sir What is the career opportunity for indian candidate who qualifies US CPS..

Thanks again

A MSA is useless in my opinion. Only point is to get the extra credits for CPA.

1ST!

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If you arent a cpa you arent qualfied to work in accounting and will never be taken seriously.

I don't know where the hell you should live to get 250k mid career, but here in the Netherlands CFO's only make 100k euro's a year.

I see one of your videos in my RU-vid suggestions. Thank you for sharing your perspective in this video. I have returned to University for a career change after serving in the U.S. Air Force. I graduated with my BSc Accounting and Finance degree in July 2021 at age 36. Currently I am at my second UK University doing my MSc in Forensic Accounting. I'm committed to building my next career as a Forensic Accountant. And I gradually studying towards the CPA Exam. Question: I am wondering, would my BSc and MSc transcripts and credits equal to 150 credits when I return to the States? (And hopefully return for a few years to establish myself then I want to travel again to different States and countries with my next career like my previous one.) Date Stamp: 18may22