This page summarizes key information about colleges and universities in Missouri that offer accounting degrees. Students can choose between undergraduate and graduate accounting programs, with full-time, part-time, in-person, hybrid, and entirely online formats. Those interested in accounting degrees can learn more about different program curricula, professional designation requirements, and career outlooks in Missouri below.

Table of Contents

Comparison of Missouri Accounting Schools and Programs

The table below provides detailed information on not-for-profit accounting programs in Missouri to help you compare your options. Programs that appear in bold text offer hybrid or online options.

SchoolAccreditationAccounting Degree(s)Acceptance Rate10Grad Rate1Avg Net Price1Median Debt*10Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry**10
Avila UniversityIACBEBBA-Accounting;
BSBA-Accounting;
BS-Public Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BS/BSBA to MBA-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting;
Grad Cert-Accounting		68%51%$17,210$25,000$52,544
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences—BAcc;
Minor-Accounting		99%52%$24,828$17,619$42,616
College of the Ozarks—BS-Accounting;
BS-Accounting: CPA Pathway;
Minor-Accounting		20.5%63%$12,611N.Av.$40,659
Columbia College—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MSA		N.Av.43%$22,824$23,879$44,642
Culver-Stockton CollegeIACBEBS-Accountancy;
Minor-Accountancy;
Minor-Forensic Accounting;
5-Year BS to MBA-Accounting;
5-Year BS to MBA-Accounting & Finance;
MBA-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting & Finance		92.5%48%$20,522$26,000$46,707
Drury University—BBA-Accounting65.4%64%$20,996$20,979$39,169
Evangel UniversityACBSPBBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
Concentration: Accounting		63.6%72%$20,963$24,736$45,450
Fontbonne UniversityACBSPBS-Accounting;
Concentration-Accounting;
Accelerated BS to MBA-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting;
MSA		78.1%58%$20,732$25,000$48,326
Harris-Stowe State UniversityACBSPBS-AccountingN.Av.20%$10,239$25,930$33,234
Lincoln UniversityACBSPBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting		N.Av.29%$11,199$28,875$36,347
Lindenwood UniversityACBSPBA/BS-Accounting;
BA/BS-Business Administration: Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MAcc;
MBA-Accounting		74.8%54%$18,016$26,000$49,080
Maryville University of Saint LouisACBSPBS-Accounting;
BS-Accounting Information Systems;
Dual BS Accounting/Accounting Information Systems;
Minor-Accounting;
Accelerated BS to MSA;
MBA-Accounting;
MSA-Business Analysis & Reporting;
MSA-Information Systems and Control		91.5%67%$26,757$22,000$55,969
Missouri Baptist University—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		61.8%41%$25,590$22,500$42,766
Missouri Southern State UniversityACBSPBSBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		96.9%36%$10,061$19,174$41,727
Missouri State University-SpringfieldAACSBBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BS to MAcc;
5-Year BS to MBA;
MAcc;
Grad Cert-Accounting Analytics;
Grad Cert-Forensic Accounting;
Grad Cert-Management Accounting;
Grad Cert-Tax Accounting		93.9%58%$17,677$21,992$47,850
Missouri Valley College—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		65.9%23%$18,450$25,950$40,998
Missouri Western State University—BSBA-Accounting;
Accelerated BSBA to MBA-Forensic Accounting;
MBA-Forensic Accounting		N.Av.41%$11,917$19,968$40,253
Northwest Missouri State UniversityACBSPBS-Accounting: Managerial Accounting;
BS-Accounting: Public Accounting;
Minor-Accounting Information Systems;
MBA-Accounting;
Grad Cert-Accounting		85.6%54%$14,197$21,500$45,693
Park UniversityACBSPBSBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BSBA to MBA;
5-Year BSBA to MHA;
MBA-Accounting;
MHA-Management Accounting;
Grad Cert-Accounting		N.Av.23%$15,858$21,685$53,977
Saint Louis UniversityAACSBBS-Accounting;
BS-Accounting: Consulting and Advisory;
BS-Accounting: Public Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS/MAcc;
Dual MAcc/JD;
MAcc-Audit;
MAcc-Business Analysis and Reporting;
MAcc-Financial Reporting;
MAcc-Taxation		70.1%81%$29,651$25,000$69,878
Southeast Missouri State University—BSBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting		79.3%56%$14,519$21,500$42,700
Southwest Baptist UniversityACBSPBS-Accounting: CPA;
BS-Accounting: Non-CPA;
BS-Accounting and Information Assurance		96.2%43%$18,926$20,957$41,610
Truman State UniversityAACSBBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MAcc-Audit;
MAcc-Tax		61%71%$13,993$21,000$55,351
University of Central MissouriAACSBBSBA-Accountancy;
Minor-Accountancy;
Accelerated BSBA to MAcc;
MAcc-CMA;
MAcc-CPA		75.8%53%$15,117$21,000$46,316
University of Missouri-ColumbiaAACSBBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accountancy;
5-Year Integrated BS/MAcc;
MAcc;
Grad Cert-Accounting Data Analytics;
PhD-Accountancy		76.6%75%$19,889$20,500$61,073
University of Missouri-Kansas City—BS-Accounting;
MSA-Business Analysis and Reporting;
MSA-Corporate Accounting;
MSA-Information Systems and Controls;
MSA-Tax Compliance and Planning		76%55%$14,739$18,750$55,775
University of Missouri-St LouisAACSBBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BS to MAcc;
MAcc;
MBA-Accounting;
Grad Cert-Accounting;
Grad Cert-Accounting Data Analytics;
Grad Cert-Accounting Data Security		56.6%52%$13,211$20,000$50,876
Washington University in St Louis—BSBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BSBA to MAcc;
MAcc		13%94%$23,432$17,500$90,646
Webster UniversityACBSPBSBA-Accounting;
5-Year BSBA-Accounting to MSF		59.5%59%$23,069$23,000$48,965
Westminster CollegeACBSPBA-Business Administration: Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		96.7%64%$26,768$27,000$51,446
William Jewell College—BS-Accounting;
BS-Accounting: Accounting Professional Program;
3-Year Accelerated BS-Accounting		47%62%$20,108$24,498$59,207
William Woods UniversityACBSPBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		68.3%51%$23,363$21,983$43,767

Table Notes:
*Median Debt: The median debt is the cumulative federal loan debt, excluding PLUS loans, at the time of graduation for students who completed an undergraduate program (certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree) as reported by College Scorecard for academic year 2020-2021 based on ​​National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) data.
**Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry: Median earnings are the middle value of earnings, at which half earned more and half earned less, measured 10 years (2020-2021) after the first year of study (2010-2011) for all students, institution-wide, who received federal loans and who are employed but not enrolled in school. Note that this value includes those who completed their program of study as well as those who discontinued study without receiving an award.

Top-Ranked Accounting Schools in Missouri

College rankings can be a useful tool to measure the overall reputation of a school or program. Weighing multiple rankings when evaluating your college choices can be helpful because different publishers may use different ranking factors in their methodologies. While the best program for your goals may rely on a combination of factors not typically considered in overall rankings, such as location or funding, seeing a program ranked on multiple lists can be a strong indication of reputation and academic quality.

College Factual’s Best Accounting Schools 2023

  • Washington University in St. Louis (#4)
  • University of Missouri-Columbia (#38)
  • Saint Louis University (#102)
  • Maryville University of Saint Louis (#171)
  • University of Missouri-St Louis (#189)
  • Truman State University (#197)2

US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023

  • University of Missouri (#12 tie)
  • Missouri State University (#32 tie)
  • Lindenwood University (#112 tie)
  • Southeast Missouri State University (#112 tie)
  • Drury University (#127 tie)
  • Northwest Missouri State University (#127 tie)
  • Maryville University of St. Louis (#141 tie)
  • Columbia College (#170-214)5

Highest First-Time CPA Exam Pass Rate with a Bachelor’s Degree

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) releases reports including data on candidate performance on the Uniform CPA Exam.11 The following schools had the highest first-time CPA exam pass rates in Missouri in 2019 (the most recent report available*) for candidates with a bachelor’s degree, with the overall pass rate for first-time test-takers in Missouri being 65.3%:

  1. William Jewell College 100%
  2. Evangel University 92.3%
  3. Washington University St. Louis 86%
  4. Truman State University 84.1%
  5. Saint Louis University 71%
  6. Missouri State University 69.5%

*As NASBA makes significant changes to the CPA Exam as part of the CPA Evolution initiative, new candidate score reports by state are not anticipated until at least mid-2024.

Schools in Missouri with Accounting Degrees

To give you an idea of the breadth and depth of accounting degrees offered in Missouri, we have profiled select programs below. Be sure to visit the websites of programs of interest for more detailed information on courses, admissions requirements and deadlines, and faculty.

Graduate Accounting Programs

Missouri Western State University

Students at Missouri Western State University (MWSU) can earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Concentration in Forensic Accounting. This degree program is designed for individuals interested in forensic fields of study or undergraduate accounting students wanting to meet the educational requirements for the CPA examination, but it is open to students of all educational and professional backgrounds. Applicants without an undergraduate degree in business are encouraged to either complete AACSB-accredited business courses in accounting, finance, management, marketing, and statistics or Missouri Western’s MBA Bridging Modules, which test competency in business-related subjects. The 30-credit MBA curriculum covers 21 credit hours of professional core classes (such as Foundations of Finance and Accounting; Applied Strategic Management; and Business Intelligence and Analytics) and nine credits of Forensic Accounting courses, including Auditing for Fraud; Computer Forensics; and Criminal Law, Evidence, and Legal Procedures.

University of Missouri-St. Louis

The University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) offers a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an Accounting Emphasis. Both programs are open to students without undergraduate accounting backgrounds, although students with an undergraduate accounting degree may be able to waive some of the required coursework. The MAcc degree program comprises a minimum of 30 credits and meets the educational requirements for the CPA examination in Missouri. MAcc students will complete core courses such as Financial and Managerial Accounting; Cost Systems Analysis; and Information Systems in Accounting. The MBA with Accounting Emphasis curriculum consists of 18 credits of Business core classes and required coursework in professional and written communication skills; business law; ethics and social responsibility; economics; and statistics. The Accounting Emphasis comprises nine credits and includes classes such as Professional Accountancy; Financial Accounting and Reporting; and Auditing. UMSL also offers a Post-Baccalaureate Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting for individuals who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and want to complete the educational requirements for the Missouri CPA examination, as well as graduate certificates in Accounting Data Analytics and Accounting Data Security.

Online and Hybrid Accounting Programs

Missouri State University

Missouri State University (MSU) offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting on-campus or entirely online. The online program is designed for working professionals and can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. The core curriculum includes fundamental classes such as Professionalism in Accountancy; Accounting and Management Information Systems; Auditing; and Tax Accounting. Students can then choose electives that match their career interests. Those with previous undergraduate credit may be able to transfer and apply semester hours toward this degree. MSU also offers online Master of Accountancy (MAcc) and accelerated BS to MAcc degree programs. On-campus and online students can take advantage of MSU’s Career Center for support in finding post-graduation internships and career opportunities.

Truman State University

Truman State University offers a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree that can be completed on-campus or online. This one-year program is designed for those interested in continuing their accounting education and pursuing the CPA designation. Truman’s MAcc curriculum focuses on the business and financial knowledge necessary to succeed in the accounting industry, as well as interpersonal communication, leadership, and analytical research skills. Students may choose an Audit Track or a Tax Track and must complete required core courses including Advanced Financial Accounting, Commercial Law, and Data Science for Business. Graduates from Truman meet the educational requirements to sit for the CPA examination in Missouri. For post-graduation career planning, students can take advantage of internship opportunities, an extensive alumni and industry network, and student group activities.

Missouri CPA Requirements and Steps

The Missouri State Board of Accountancy (the Board) requires that CPA candidates complete 150 semester hours and earn a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. There are six main steps to complete in order to earn a CPA license in Missouri.

  1. Complete 150 semester hours of college-level coursework in accounting.
  2. Accumulate the required hours of experience.
  3. Complete the professional ethics course and exam.
  4. Pass the Uniform CPA Examination.
  5. Apply for a license.
  6. Receive a license.

1. Complete 150 semester hours of college-level coursework in accounting.

Missouri CPA candidates must complete 150 semester hours of college-level education that includes a bachelor’s degree or higher and an accounting concentration, which the Board considers to include at least 60 semester hours of accounting and related courses. Students must take 33 semester hours of specific accounting courses, of which at least one must be in auditing and 18 must be upper-division. The remaining 27 additional semester hours must be in accounting or other areas of business. Prospective CPAs may sit for the Uniform CPA Exam if they expect to satisfy the education requirements within 60 days following the exam by providing a certificate of enrollment with their exam application. Neither credit for the exam, nor licensure, shall be issued until the completion of the 150 hours.

2. Accumulate the required hours of experience.

Candidates for CPA licensure in Missouri must complete 2,000 hours of accounting experience through employment in industry, government, academia, or public practice. The experience must be earned over no less than one year and no more than three years and verified by a currently licensed CPA. CPAs responsible for supervising services must complete 2,000 hours of experience in academia, government, industry, or public practice over one to three years. CPAs supervising attest services must have 2,000 hours of experience in public accounting or auditing.

3. Complete the professional ethics course and exam.

An exam in professional ethics is a requirement for CPA licensure in Missouri. The Missouri Board of Accountancy has approved the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Professional Ethics for CPAs course and exam for this requirement, which must be passed with a score of at least 90%. The exam may be ordered directly through the AICPA website.

4. Pass the Uniform CPA Examination.

Missouri uses NASBA to administer the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Uniform CPA Exam application and testing process. Candidates who are ready to take the exam should apply through the NASBA website. All four sections of the exam must be passed within an 18-month rolling period with a score of 75 or higher to qualify for a license. If five or more years have passed since an applicant has passed the Uniform CPA exam, the applicant must complete at least 40 hours of continuing professional education (CPE), at least two hours of which must be in ethics. Exam grades will be forwarded to the Board by NASBA.

5. Apply for a license.

Candidates who meet all of the requirements may apply to the Board for licensure. Applicants for licensure must complete the Application for Initial License to Practice Public Accounting form available on the Board’s website. They will also submit their experience information as well as the Endorser’s Attestation from the licensed CPA who has verified the experience, included in the application packet.

6. Receive a license.

Once an application has been submitted it will be processed and then sent to the Executive Director of the Board for final approval. The approval process usually takes one to two weeks. Once approved the applicant will receive an email notification with their license number, and a paper license and letter of approval will be mailed to the applicant. Upon receiving a license number, the applicant may begin practice as a CPA. Decorative wall certificates may be purchased from the Board’s website.

CPA License Renewal and Continuing Education Information

CPA licenses in Missouri renew biennially every other October 1. Notification of renewal will be mailed 60 days prior to the expiration date. Missouri CPAs must complete 40 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) each calendar year. A minimum of two hours of CPE must be in the area of ethics. Licensees in good standing who fail to meet the CPE requirements by January 1 will be granted a grace period until March 1. However, the use of the grace period will only be granted upon a written request from the CPA. You can find additional information on the Board’s website.

Career Opportunities for Accounting Graduates in Missouri

Graduates with accounting degrees in Missouri may find many different career options in the state. Fortune 500 companies such as Express Scripts, Emerson Electric, O’Reilly Automotive, and Centene are based in Missouri and may provide opportunities for those wishing to pursue corporate auditing, controlling, and managerial accounts. Additionally, the personal income tax service provider H&R Block is headquartered in Kansas City and is a leading employer of both private and public accountants. Kansas City also hosts offices of the Big Four international accounting and professional service firms: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and KPMG.

Missouri Accounting Salary and Jobs by Metro Area

Metro AreaAccountants & Auditors Employed12Average Annual Salary12
Columbia740$67,180
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO1,800$77,430
Jefferson City1,140$69,020
Kansas City11,960$77,490
St. Louis14,290$77,910
Springfield2,180$66,090

Additional Resources

Top Accounting Firms for Graduates in Missouri

  • RubinBrown LLP: A national firm with an office in Kansas City that provides a wide range of professional consulting and accounting services including, tax, assurance, and advisory services.
  • Williams-Keepers LLC: The largest business consulting firm in central Missouri, offering accounting and financial services to individuals and businesses across a variety of industries.
  • Armanino: One of the largest accountancy firms in the state, offering a full suite of accounting services in three offices in St. Louis and southern Illinois.

Missouri Accounting Associations

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. College Factual Best Accounting Schools 2023: https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/rankings/top-ranked/
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges 2023 Edition. Penguin Random House, 2022.
4. US News & World Report’s Best MBA Accounting Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/accounting-rankings
5. US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/bachelors/online-bachelors-business-rankings
6. US News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Accounting Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-accounting
7. Association to Advance College Schools of Business, Accredited Universities and Schools, Business & Accounting: https://www.aacsb.edu/accredited
8. Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, Accredited Schools, Separate Accounting: https://acbspsearch.org/
9. International Accreditation Council for Business Education, Members: https://iacbe.org/accreditation/member-status-information/
10. Department of Education College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
11. The NASBA Candidate Performance Report, 2019 University Edition: https://nasbareport.com/
12. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Missouri: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mo.htm
13. Missouri State Board of Accountancy: https://pr.mo.gov/accountancy.asp