Best Online Master's in Taxation Degrees

Updated December 1, 2022

Finding the best online master's in taxation program can be difficult. Discover the best program for you today!

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Explore Career Options with a Online Master's in Taxation Degrees

According to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, Americans spend billions of hours per year trying to make sense of federal tax code. Very often, they turn to tax professionals for help in doing so. The lucrative field of taxation is growing, with an increased demand for talented professionals who are able to make sense of complicated tax codes and laws.

While a bachelor's degree and some work experience are often enough to land you an entry-level job in taxation, the highest paid tax professionals must earn a graduate degree. Individuals with Master's in Taxation are eligible to receive Certified Public Accountant Designation, as well as explore administrative and executive roles that are often not available with only an undergraduate degree.

Featured Online Programs

Earning a master's degree in Taxation is highly beneficial, with the average tax accountant or collector earning well over $69,350 per year. These jobs are expected to grow significantly over the next few years, with an expected 10 percent boost in available jobs by 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you're already working in taxation, you might not be sure how you will fit the rigors of a graduate program into your already packed schedule - particularly during tax season. Luckily, earning an online master's offers you the flexibility and support you need to earn a degree by working around your schedule and offering classes at the times that fit your needs.

Featured Online Programs

Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.

Top 20 Online Master's in Taxation

  1. Northeastern University Global Network
    Location

    Boston, MA

    Tuition

    $49497

    Northeastern University's Master of Science in Taxation is taught by expert faculty in the D'Amore-McKim School of Business. Thirty total credits are required, all of which can be completed entirely online and completed in just 16 months of part-time study. Both theoretical and hands-on courses are delivered asynchronously and cover topics such as Estate and Gift Taxations, Partners and Partnerships, Corporations, and Federal Tax Issues. Two concentrations are available, allowing students to specialize their studies in either Taxation of Entities or Taxation of Individuals. The program requires no GRE or GMAT, making it an excellent choice for nontraditional learners.

  2. Florida Atlantic University
    Location

    Boca Raton, FL

    Tuition

    $4831

    The curriculum of the Master of Taxation at Florida Atlantic University includes ten courses designed for specialists who are already working in a private or governmental setting. Students will take courses such as Federal Income Tax, Corporate Taxation, Partnership Taxation, and Tax Research. Students may study on either a full- or part-time basis, with all courses meeting the requirements for CPA licensure. With a student-to-faculty ratio of just 24:1, this program offers a flexible, supportive learning environment to both full and part-time students. Courses are self-directed, meaning you don't move on in your coursework until you have mastered the content of prior work.

  3. University of Cincinnati
    Location

    Blue Ash, OH

    Tuition

    $11000

    The Master of Science in Taxation at the University of Cincinnati includes coursework in a number of engaging, industry-relevant fields. For example, students will take classes such as IRS Practice and Procedure, Federal Tax Research for individuals and businesses, and Corporations. Students will receive extensive practice in writing professional research papers on taxation and are also required to complete final capstone courses in which they demonstrate their career readiness. Class sizes are small, and because courses are accelerated, most students graduate in just around a year. The program is offered through the University of Cincinnati's accredited business school, which is regarded as one of the best business schools in the country by The Princeton Review.

  4. University of Denver
    Location

    Denver, CO

    Tuition

    $48669

    The Master of Taxation at the University of Denver is designed for individuals who want to improve their skills in the field of taxation. Thirty credit hours of study are required, with eight core courses that can be completed on either a full- or part-time basis. Students take a variety of classes, including those in topics like tax principles and estate planning. Classes are taught by talented instructors with extensive experience in the field, with tiny class sizes of fewer than 20 students apiece. This program is unique in that students engage in the same classes via live classroom presentations and discussions (which can also be accessed asynchronously) as their on-campus counterparts. Tuition is identical to the on-campus version of this program as well.

  5. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Location

    Champaign, IL

    Tuition

    $15074

    This practice-oriented degree prepares students for success in all manners of accounting careers. It provides the prerequisites necessary for taking the Certified Public Accountant Exam and is designed for those already working in the accounting field. Offered in a flexible program format, it allows students to balance their studies with their existing obligations. Most students take around four semesters to complete their studies. This degree has consistently ranked in the top three in the U.S. News & World Report as well as the Public Accounting Report, a testament to the program's hands-on nature and profound academic rigor.

  6. University of Southern California
    Location

    Los Angeles, CA

    Tuition

    $54259

    The 30 credit-hour program in Taxation at the University of Southern California is designed for accounting professionals who are already working in the field. It is offered both synchronously and asynchronously, with students required to meet online for an hour each week as a group. Courses contain a combination of live video feeds, individual activities, and guest speakers. The program can be completed in less than two years of part-time study. The program is relatively small, with a student-to-faculty ratio of just 9:1 and class sizes under 40 students apiece. An active alumni association helps to engage students in networking and career development opportunities upon graduation.

  7. Golden Gate University-San Francisco
    Location

    San Francisco, CA

    Tuition

    $16095

    The program in Taxation at Golden Gate University - San Francisco prepares students to work in high-level taxation careers. It can be completed in two years of full-time study, with all online courses delivered asynchronously. Students will take classes in a variety of topics, such as Individual Tax, Estate and Gift Tax, International Tax, and Retirement Plans. Graduates are successful upon leaving Golden Gate, with many candidates highly sought-after by Big Four accounting firms like Ernst and Young. The curriculum is delivered in a self-paced, asynchronous format, so you can study when it fits your schedule. The program also offers a flexible enrollment process that allows students to begin their studies at any point throughout the year.

  8. Bentley University
    Location

    Waltham, MA

    Tuition

    $48000

    The Master of Taxation at Bentley University has graduated thousands of successful tax professionals. The degree requires ten courses, dividing students' studies equally in core coursework and electives. Electives include unique, career-focused options like Pass-Through Entities and Intellectual Properties. Final internships or practicum experiences are also required to give students more hands-on experience. The degree is tailored to working professionals and offers live stream courses as well as asynchronous material. This degree is ranked as one of the Best Online Graduate Programs in Business by U.S. News & World Report, as well as one of the best overall in PayScale's College Salary Report. With a 95 percent domestic placement rate, this taxation program is one of the best of its kind.

  9. San Jose State University
    Location

    San Jose, CA

    Tuition

    $7721

    The Master of Science in Taxation at San Jose State University gives students experience in topics like tax research and the complexity of taxation law. Classes are highly flexible and work around the stressful requirements of the busy tax season. Each course lasts roughly eight weeks, with admission available at three start points throughout the year. Courses are affordable, with tuition starting at just $645 per unit. Five accounting courses are required to help students broaden their understanding of the diverse world of taxation. Financial aid, GRE waivers, and multiple scholarship opportunities are available to help make a college degree more accessible and affordable for students of all backgrounds and financial standpoints.

  10. St John's University
    Location

    Queens, NY

    Tuition

    $40520

    The Master of Science in Taxation at St. John's University has become increasingly popular, with the program granting students access to a top-notch education. The program explores topics such as estates, gifts, and trusts, tax issues related to financial products or employee compensation, and much more. All courses are taught by working professionals and give students access to key technological tools like major tax services. The faculty of this program is led by experienced certified public accountants, as well as individuals holding J.D. and L.L.M. degrees in taxation. This level of expertise contributes to St. John's distinguished industry reputation, along with its ranking as one of the Best Online Graduate Programs in Business by U.S. News & World Report.

Methodology: Here's How We Rank Schools

At Best Value Schools, we help students of all ages get the best possible value for their education. When choosing the best schools and programs, we prioritize tuition rates, student debt, financial aid opportunities, graduation rates, and the availability of online programs. We source unbiased data from government and educational databases like the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 6,374 schools across the U.S. We organize that data into five weighted categories to compile our school rankings.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 25%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 35%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 15%
Program Offerings Number of program options 10%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 15%
You can read more about our comprehensive evaluation process on our methodology page.

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Selection Criteria

We know you're busy crunching numbers and examining important financial records - you don't have time to pore through the thousands of schools that offer online degrees in Taxation. Therefore, we've done it for you. We looked at the most important features a college degree should have, and compiled a list of the Best Online Masters in Taxation. In order to make the final cut, a school could be either private or public but needed to have an online degree that was actively enrolling students.

Ranking Factors

After making a list of online Master's in Taxation, we narrowed down our list to schools that were the best of their kind. We looked closely at the following characteristics when creating our final list:

  • Academic Rigor
  • Accessibility
  • Accreditation
  • Cost and Affordability
  • Accolades and Program Recognitions

These weren't the only factors we examined, however, as our decision-making process was intensive. If you're interested in learning more about how we made the final cut, take a look at our methodology page.

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