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Master's Programs

Patterson School of Accountancy master’s programs are designed to provide a fifth year of accounting education that prepares graduates for careers in professional accounting and in other business fields.

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Enhance your accountancy knowledge and skills

As a master’s student, you will not only enhance your knowledge in the field of accounting but will also develop critical thinking, analytical, technology, and writing skills that will set you apart from your peers as you begin your career. The analytical work that you will do in your master’s program will give you skills to dig deeper into data analysis, allowing you to use that analysis to interpret results and, more importantly, transform those results into usable information for decision making.

Our master’s programs:

  • Include 30 semester hours (10 three-hour courses) taken in person on the Oxford campus
  • Can be completed in 10-12 months
  • Provide students with a comprehensive education in accountancy and, if desired, specialization(s) in an area(s) of interest
  • Offer a three-credit-hour CPA review course that gives students high-quality exam preparation and the opportunity to sit for the CPA exam
  • Connect students with professionals in the field through events and internships.

Master's Programs

GRAD

Accountancy, M.Accy.

Prepare for your career with graduate-level accounting education that you can tailor to your interests and career goals.

  • Oxford

GRAD

Accountancy and Data Analytics, M.A.D.A.

Prepare for your accounting career in the data age through hands-on experience in data analytics and cutting-edge technologies.

  • Oxford

GRAD

Taxation, M.Tax.

Prepare for your career with graduate-level accounting education and a specialization in taxation.

  • Oxford

GRAD

Taxation and Data Analytics, M.T.D.A.

Prepare for your career in the data age through hands-on experience in data analytics and a specialization in taxation.

  • Oxford

Admission Requirements

Learn about GPA and GMAT requirements as well as undergraduate prerequisite courses that must be completed for master's program admission.

  • Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
  • Completion of the required undergraduate courses, with minimum grades where applicable
  • Minimum 445 GMAT score if you do not qualify for a GMAT waiver
  • If you are an international student: You are required to meet English language proficiency exam requirements as specified by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services unless you are a citizen of a country on the exemption list or a graduate of an institution of higher education in the U.S. or a country on that list.

Students who do not meet the minimum requirements for full standing admission may be considered for admission in another category. Admission in a category other than full standing requires fulfilling specified grade and/or course requirements and limits financial aid eligibility until full-standing admission is obtained.

University of Mississippi accounting majors: minimum grades of C in ACCY 401: Auditing and ACCY 405: Income Taxes I

Accounting majors from other institutions with separate accounting accreditation by AACSB International: minimum grades of C in undergraduate auditing and tax courses that are equivalent to ACCY 401: Auditing and ACCY 405: Income Taxes I

Accounting majors in programs without separate accounting accreditation by AACSB and applicants who majored in a field of study other than accounting:

If a required course is not available at your undergraduate institution, you may be able to take it at the University of Mississippi before starting master's classes.

We accept scores for the current and previous versions of the GMAT. Scores are valid for five years.

The GMAT requirement is waived for:

  • Patterson School accounting majors with an overall or resident GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Undergraduate accounting majors with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher from other AACSB-accredited institutions.

The GMAT is required for all students who wish to be considered for a PSOA graduate assistantship.

We ask students who are not eligible for a GMAT waiver to make up to three attempts if needed and send us all GMAT scores received.

When to Take the GMAT

  • Starting the master’s program in summer or fall:
    • take the GMAT in spring or summer of the year prior 
  • Starting the master’s program in winter intersession or spring:
    • take the GMAT in spring or summer of the year prior to be considered for a PSOA graduate assistantship for the fall semester that you’re enrolled
    • take the GMAT in spring or summer fall two years prior  to be considered for a PSOA graduate assistantship for the spring semester that you’re enrolled (note that we rarely have openings for spring semester)

Be sure to consider application deadlines and the timeframe for receiving your score (up to 20 business days) when scheduling the GMAT.

Application Information

Find application deadlines, including priority dates for PSOA financial aid award consideration. View details on selecting the right starting term for your master’s program and the application process.

Priority Deadlines

  • February 1, 2026 – Priority Deadline 1 to apply for a 2026 summer term, Fall Semester 2026, Winter Intersession 2027, or Spring Semester 2027 and be considered for Patterson School of Accountancy financial aid awards
    • PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with an admission score of 1350 or above (admission score = (200 x GPA) + GMAT)
    • Scholarships and fellowships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria
  • April 1, 2026 – Priority Deadline 2 to apply for a 2026 summer term, Fall Semester 2026, Winter Intersession 2027, or Spring Semester 2027 and be considered for Patterson School of Accountancy financial aid awards
    • Any remaining PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with the highest admission scores
    • Any remaining PSOA scholarships and fellowships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria

General Deadlines

  • May 1, 2026 – Deadline to apply for all 2026 summer terms
  • August 1, 2026– Deadline to apply for Fall Semester 2026
  • December 1, 2026 – Deadline to apply for Winter Intersession and Spring Semester 2027

Your graduate school application must be submitted and any required documentation for your application must be received by one of the priority deadlines or the general deadline for the term in which you'd like to begin master's classes.

Admitted students may register for and begin master's classes after the below are completed. 

  • Master’s program advising
  • All required undergraduate prerequisite courses for master’s admission (with minimum grades where applicable)
  • Undergraduate degree (with the degree certified)
    • Current Ole Miss Students:
      • Allow up to two weeks after completing your last undergraduate class(es) for your undergraduate degree to be certified. (Degree certifications for students starting a master’s class immediately will be prioritized.)
    • Students From Other Institutions:
      • Your final official transcript with the degree earned must be received by our graduate school. Contact your registrar if needed to find out when your completed undergraduate degree will be listed on your transcript and when an official copy can be sent to the graduate school (gschool@olemiss.edu). Choose a starting term that begins after the graduate school will receive your official transcript.

Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics and Master of Taxation and Data Analytics students are required to take ACCY 628 in May intersession or August intersession; we recommend taking that class at the beginning rather than the end of your master’s studies.

Dates for all terms are listed on the academic calendars.

 

 

 

Have Any Required Documentation Sent to Us

  • If you are attending or have graduated from another institution:
    • Have all official transcripts sent from the registrar's office(s) of the institution(s) you've attended to the graduate school (gschool@olemiss.edu).  
  • If the GMAT is required for you:
    • Have your official score sent to the Patterson School of Accountancy via your GMAC account.
  • If you’re an international student:
    • Have your English language proficiency exam scores sent to the university unless you are a citizen of a country on the exemption list or a graduate of an institution of higher education in the U.S. or a country on that list.

We do not require or accept statements of purpose, letters of recommendation, or resumes in the application process. 

If the GMAT is waived for your admission but you plan to take it for PSOA graduate assistantship consideration, you can have your score sent when you apply or have it sent so that we receive it by one of the priority application deadlines.

Submit the Graduate School Application

To complete the graduate school application, you'll enter basic information, select your master’s program, select your starting term for the program, and pay the $60 nonrefundable application fee (required for all applicants).

If you are applying for Fall Semester 2026 or a later term, you must upload your unofficial transcript in the application process, even if you are a current Ole Miss student or graduate. 

Financial Aid

Financial aid for master's students includes graduate assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and graduate student loans.

 

Students who apply by one of the priority deadlines, are eligible for admission, and who have completed the PSOA Financial Aid Application are considered for PSOA financial aid awards.

In addition to the information provided in the PSOA Financial Aid Application, transcript, admission application, and FAFSA information (if available) is used to determine eligibility for PSOA awards.

An official GMAT score must be received by the PSOA for graduate assistantship consideration.

  • February 1, 2026 – Priority Deadline 1 to apply for a 2026 summer term, Fall Semester 2026, Winter Intersession 2027, or Spring Semester 2027 and be considered for PSOA financial aid awards
    • PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with an admission score of 1350 or above [admission score = (200 x GPA) + GMAT]
    • Scholarships and fellowships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria
  • April 1, 2026 – Priority Deadline 2 to apply for a 2026 summer term, Fall Semester 2026, Winter Intersession 2027, or Spring Semester 2027 and be considered for PSOA financial aid awards
    • Any remaining PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with the highest admission scores
    • Any remaining PSOA scholarships and fellowships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria

Current GPAs as of the time of selection are used in evaluating candidates for PSOA financial aid award eligibility. Students from other institutions who have completed undergraduate classes since admission must have a new official transcript sent to the graduate school (gschool@olemiss.edu) by one of the priority deadlines to be considered for PSOA financial aid awards.

Students in the concurrent Juris Doctor/Master of Accountancy and Juris Doctor/Master of Taxation programs are not eligible for PSOA financial aid awards. 

PSOA Graduate Assistantship

The PSOA awards approximately 50 graduate assistantships each year for fall and spring semesters.

Graduate assistants perform 10 hours of service to the PSOA per week, with responsibilities that may include assisting faculty, tutoring, proctoring exams, and/or assisting in the PSOA office.

In exchange for their service, graduate assistants receive a partial tuition scholarship (approximately 60-65% of resident tuition), a 100% non-resident fee scholarship, and a per-semester stipend of $3,250. For the 2025-26 academic year, the partial tuition scholarship is $3,746.25. Graduate assistantships do not include winter intersession or summer terms. Tuition for classes in those terms is based on the student’s residency.

Graduate assistantships are offered to students with the highest admission scores [admission score = (200 x GPA) + GMAT]. We accept scores for the current and previous versions of the GMAT; scores are valid for 5 years. 

Hearin Foundation Graduate Fellowship

With the goal of improving the economic status of Mississippi, the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation has generously provided funding for fellowships awarded to students in our Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MADA) and Master of Taxation and Data Analytics (MTDA) programs.

Eligible candidates are Mississippi residents who are admitted to the MADA or MTDA program and plan to work in Mississippi upon graduation from the master’s program.

Students who are selected for the award receive a scholarship of $7,500 in fall and spring semesters, for a total award of $15,000, and fulfill a minimal service obligation, which generally consists of proctoring exams periodically during the semester. 

KPMG MADA Scholarship

Through our partnership with KPMG, we launched our Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MADA) and Master of Taxation and Data Analytics (MTDA) programs in 2018. 

KPMG continues to support students pursuing data analytics degrees in the PSOA by providing funding for scholarships for students in our MADA program.

Students who are selected for the award receive a scholarship of $7,500 in fall and spring semesters, for a total award of $15,000.

Graduate assistantships are available in other units on campus. Application processes and eligibility requirements vary by position. Graduate assistantships that require 10 hours of service are recommended for PSOA master's students.

PSOA graduate assistants are not permitted to serve in an additional graduate assistantship.

Share Your Information

Jennifer Lea McClure

Director of Master's Programs

I'd love to hear from you if you're interested in pursuing a master's degree in the PSOA. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions.

Jennifer Lea McClure

Director of Masters Programs Accountancy