Get ready to uncover fraud and white collar crime by earning an online master's in forensic accounting.
Not all superheros wear capes. And not all accountants are pencil pushers. Put your analytical mind to the test and become a forensic accountant. You'll sniff out fraudulent financial activity by performing audits on everything from law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, government institutions, and big business. You'll literally be a crime-fighting accountant.
What kind of online master's in forensic accounting should you get?
Forensic accounting is considered a law enforcement job. You may not be patrolling the streets at night, but you will be involved in high-profile cases. You're moving in the right direction by getting a master's degree in forensic accounting. Most upper-level positions – like working at the FBI or the Department of Defense – will require a graduate degree.
One thing all of these programs have in common is that you can complete them online. These days, online learning is increasingly popular and effective for working adults. They are flexible, affordable, and just as rigorous as any traditional program.
Some schools give you the option of coming on-campus for residencies or hands-on learning. If that's important to you, check out Stevenson University or West Virginia University. Other schools include coursework that will help you finish your Certified Public Accountant license. If that's on your radar, start with Liberty University or Bay Path University.
You really can't go wrong with any of these programs Take a look and see what works for your budget and your schedule. If finances are the biggest concern for you, but you're still hoping to stay in the field of forensics, take a peek at College Choice's list of the Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Forensic Psychology.
How much money do people make with an online master's in forensic accounting?
You'll be pleased to learn that being a forensic accountant will not only keep you vocationally satisfied, but also financially supported.
You'll be working within the field of accounting, which is already a lucrative area. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants make on average $68,150 per year, but that number increases to an average of $72,950 for accountants working in finance and insurance.
When we get even more specific, Certified Fraud Examiners can make upwards of $104,500 per year. The demand is there. Financial law and auditing regulations are constantly in flux. We need experts in the field to keep organizations in check. As a whole, forensic science positions are expected to rise in demand by 17 percent in the next ten years. Finishing up a master's degree now will secure you a position in a long and rewarding career.
Learn about how much money accountants make.
What can you do with an online master's in forensic accounting?
Since forensic accounting is such a specialized field, your options will come more from where you want to work rather than what you'll be doing.Regardless of where you work, your job description will likely be the same: you'll be hired to perform third-party audits on financial transactions and business funds. That means you'll be scanning receipts, tax returns, financial agreements, and other documents to see if anything seems fishy. If you find incriminating data or evidence, it's up to you to prepare and present that data in court. This means you not only need to have the mathematical chops in accounting, but also the ability to understand litigation.
White collar crimes are serious. Sometimes they go all the way to the top of Fortune 500 companies. That means forensic accountants are needed in some of the highest positions of law enforcement. Here are some places that you could work as a forensic accountant:
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Accounting firms
Insurance companies
What are the requirements for an online master's in forensic accounting?
In order to qualify for a number of these programs, you'll need to have at least some background in accounting or business. Maybe that's an undergraduate degree in accounting. Maybe it's an MBA. Either way, schools will want to see that you have a basic understanding of the core concepts.
All of the programs last between one and two years. Most require around 30-40 credit hours to complete. The amazing thing about online programs is that you can make school fit with your schedule in whatever way it works for you.
As you start digging into the curriculum, you'll find that most of these schools only require ten to twelve classes total. This program will fly by! So make the most of your education. Add on a certificate in cybercrime. Attend mock trials. Interact with faculty beyond your required classes. All of these things will enhance your education and make you a better forensic accountant in the long run.
Learn more about accountant requirements.
What are the best online master's in forensic accounting degrees?
Below you'll find the 10 best online master's in forensic accounting degrees. We took a number of steps to boil down our list to the top ten. First and foremost, we gathered the academic quality of each program. Then we looked at affordability and the return on investment – a big factor in how you decide on a school. And, last but not least, we factored in student happiness using retention rates and graduation rates.
Our methodology draws from our own data experts at College Choice, the well-respected resources at U.S. News & World Report, and the number-crunching whiz kids at Payscale.com. If you're ready to solve financial crimes and bring criminals to justice, then look no further. Here are the top programs in the nation!
Ranking
See our rankings methodology page.
