(04-28-2020, 07:29 AM)freeloader Wrote: I am trying to decide what my next degree(s) should be and would love some additional opinions. I earned a BA and MA in history years ago on-campus from brink and mortar colleges. I was super lucky to get a government job in a finance/accounting role that I really like. Without an accounting degree I can definitely get promoted a couple of times, to go beyond that an accounting degree/CPA would definitely be helpful. I also would like to have an accounting degree/CPA as a backup should I stop working for the government for whatever reason. 

I am enrolled at a local university (that does not accept ACE credit, unfortunately). I am a planner/investigator by nature and this school is by far the easiest/cheapest/fastest way for me to meet my state’s CPA requirements.  

I would like to earn a master’s degree in accounting and am eyeing Emporia State University online. I have talked to their admissions people and the courses I am taking at my local university to meet the CPA requirements will be sufficient for admissions to the master’s program, assuming I maintain my (pretty high) business/accounting GPA. 

I am considering 3 options:
1) Take only the required CPA classes at my local university.  This will cost me around $2,500-$2,700 in tuition and fees. I can be done with this by the end of this year or early next year. I could combine this with the Emporia State masters. Would cost about $13,000 total in tuition and fees and take about 3 years. 

2) Complete my BS in accounting at the local university.  This would cost about $7,000 in tuition and fees. The biggest problem with this is that it would take 2-3 years to finish at my pace.

3) Complete the CPA requirement courses at my local university and finish my BS in Business with concentration in General Accounting from Excelsior College. I think this would cost $5,500-$6,000 in tuition and fees. The big advantage over option 2 is that I could complete it in about 1 year. 

For what it’s worth, I have looked into WGU and talked to their admissions folks. I would pretty much have to do option 2 or 3 to be admitted. I also can’t take classes/do projects super quickly because of work and family commitments, so I would have to give up WGU’s biggest advantage. 

Also worth noting that I am funding this myself, no tuition reimbursement or time off for education. 

So, what would you do in my situation?

(04-28-2020, 10:27 AM)freeloader Wrote: I had looked at the WGU bachelor’s, but wasn’t sure that I could finish in one six-month term.  I might look at it again. Even if I needed 2 terms, it would get me done faster than my local university and for a little less money. 

I last really looked at WGU before I came across this forum and ruled it out based on how much I would have to do to meet their requirements. Have taken some classes at Sophia using their current free deal, seems like I need to look back at WGU and figure out what requirements I can get out of with alternate credit.

(04-28-2020, 01:14 PM)dfrecore Wrote: I would say #1 is better than #2 - you get a MS in 3 years as opposed to a BS in 2-3 years.  That's a no-brainer.

I think WGU is out - I don't think they offer a BS in Accounting any longer, just the BSBA with an Accounting concentration - and that's not enough to get into their MS in Accounting program (kind of strange that they did that).

I think a BSBA, in your situation, is not a good option - you want an actual degree in accounting.  So option 3 is not a good plan at all.  Just my opinion.

(04-28-2020, 02:44 PM)udi Wrote: I would do something different if it works in your state. Take cheap accounting courses, transfer them to TESU and pay the $50. Take the one credit TECEP exam to generate a transcript at TESU. Show the Accounting Board which courses you received credit for on your transcript.

If you need a bachelor's degree in accounting to sit for the exam in your state, it won't work, but this may give you some ideas.