Master of Accounting Application Requirements

Candidates are required to satisfy the equivalent of each of the following prerequisite courses prior to starting the MAcc Program. To have your application reviewed, you must complete the online application asking you to outline a plan for completion of our five mandatory prerequisite courses. This is a standard page of the application and not an independent submission. If all courses are not complete at the time of application, your application may be held until grades in these courses are reported, or you may receive admission conditional upon proof that the courses have been completed prior to starting the MAcc Program. 

All prerequisites must be taken at an accredited four-year university, and we understand that course titles vary by institution. Community college introductory-level accounting courses will be accepted only if intermediate-level accounting courses were completed at a four-year university. Upon submission, all courses will be reviewed to determine their equivalency to Ross offerings. If you are unsure whether you meet our prerequisite requirements, please complete and submit a Prerequisite Assessment Form. The MAcc Program Office will review your coursework and respond via email. 

Mandatory Prerequisite Courses:

• Principles of Financial Accounting
• Principles of Managerial Accounting
• Intermediate Financial Accounting*
• Principles of Microeconomics
• Statistics

*Intermediate Financial Accounting may require two or three separate courses at some institutions.

Advisory Prerequisite Course:

Intermediate Cost Accounting is an advisory prerequisite for the program. If you are admitted and have not completed this prior to beginning the MAcc Program, you will be required to enroll in ACC 640 - Managing Strategy Execution: People and ACC 650 - Managing Strategy Execution: Resources during the second semester of enrollment.

Transcripts must be submitted from every undergraduate or post-graduate institution you’ve attended. Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded to your application and are sufficient for evaluation.

If you are admitted to the program, final official transcripts will be required from every institution attended prior to starting the program.

A GMAT or GRE score is accepted as a measure of intellectual ability and must be submitted for your application to be evaluated. Most MAcc applicants choose to submit a GMAT score, but preference is not given to either exam.

• GMAT and GRE scores are valid for five years from your test date.
• Ross’ GMAT reporting code is SN1-J6-34; our GRE reporting code is 1839; reporting codes are valid for several Ross graduate programs.
• There is no minimum score requirement; the average GMAT score of admitted students can be found on our Class Profile page.
• If your official score report is not available when you submit your application, unofficial GMAT score reports will be considered; your official score report must be available prior to starting the program.

We believe that affording the GMAT should not be a barrier to applying to graduate school. For students demonstrating a financial need, a GMAT fee waiver may be awarded. Please complete a GMAT Fee Waiver Request Form to be considered for a waiver. Once submitted, the Specialized Master's Program Office will review your request form and respond via email. 

Your resume plays an integral role in the MAcc application; do not overlook its importance. In addition to your professional endeavors, be sure to detail your leadership, extracurricular and volunteer experience.

We recommend that your resume be no longer than one page. 

MAcc applicants are required to submit responses to four (4), short essay prompts. If there is anything about your application you think the admissions committee may question, use the “optional essay” to explain the situation. To differentiate yourself, tell personal stories and let your personality shine through in your writing.

1. What has lead you to pursue a graduate degree in business? (200 word maximum)

​2. How will the Master of Accounting program support you in achieving your short- and long-term career goals? (200 word maximum)

3. Michigan Ross deeply values student engagement beyond the classroom. Please describe two or three ways in which you plan to be involved as a contributing member of the Michigan Ross community. (200 word maximum)

4. Choose one (1) short answer prompt from the list below. (200 word maximum)

• An academic challenge I faced as a college student is/was . . .
• My best friend would describe me as . . .
• My client at work would describe me as . . .​
• I am most proud of . . .
• My mentor is . . . because . . .
• A time that I went above and beyond expectations was . . .
• An academic or professional goal that I set for myself is/was . . .
• My greatest responsibility is/has been . . .
• If I could have lunch with anyone, it would be . . . because . . .

Optional Essay:

If there is any other information that you believe is important to our assessment of your candidacy, feel free to add it to your application. (If in written form, limit your response to 500 words.)

You must have two (2) recommendation forms on file to be considered for admission. Forms are generated through the online application system and are the only type of recommendation accepted. Choose individuals who know you well and can speak specifically about your aptitude for success in graduate school.

• We prefer one recommendation from an intermediate-level or higher accounting professor; the second recommender may be from any professional or academic acquaintance.
• When you submit your recommender and their contact information within your application, you initiate distribution of their recommendation form via email. This can be done before submitting your entire application, giving your recommenders time to complete your form while you complete other components of the application.
• Applications will not be considered complete until both recommender forms are on file.

The application fee is $75 USD for domestic applicants and $100 USD for international applicants.

The application fee is waived if:

• You are a current or former member of the U.S. military
• You have served in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps or Teach for America within three years of the application deadline

We do not waive application fees for any other reason. Please email proof of membership to rossadmissions@umich.edu prior to submitting your application.