EMU Today

YPSILANTI --  Eastern Michigan University’s Master of Science in Taxation program is ranked as the 18th best master’s of taxation program in the United States, according to Grad School Hub. 

Eastern’s Master's in Taxation program is highly regarded for its connections and responsiveness to the needs of employers. The program was developed with input from local and national accounting firms and other organizations about the skills they expect from recent tax program graduates. 

Eastern Michigan University College of Business Dean Kenneth Lord said, “The program focuses on compliance, technology, ethics and analytical thinking preparing graduates for high-end jobs in the tax field. I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work of the program’s administrators and faculty in preparing the next generation of students for leadership in the public or private sector.”

Eastern’s Master of Science in Taxation program allows students to sit for the CPA exam and specialize in tax accounting. To help students hit the ground running, they use the same state-of-the-art tax software used by accounting firms and major corporations around the world. Thomson Reuters has provided the license to their Ultra Tax software for Eastern’s students to use in the program.

In the program, students take 30 credits of required core and elective courses. The program is customizable for students coming in with an accounting degree and/or CPA certificate. 

In its ranking Grad School Hub states: Eastern Michigan University's Master of Science in Taxation program emphasizes tax compliance, policy, and planning, while also incorporating an understanding of technological advancements as they apply to tax practice, as well as ethical and legal standards in taxation. 

Taxation programs deepen understanding of the tax world from the individual and corporate to international levels. Those with graduate taxation degrees may work as revenue agents, tax collectors, or tax examiners. They may work for accounting firms, corporations or private businesses, or the government. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals in these careers earn a median pay of $53,130 as of May 2017. 

Rankings methodology

According to Grad School Hub, its staff utilizes public data from educational, commercial and government databases. Data contributed from sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Labor plays a significant role in how graduate degree programs are ranked because institutional transparency is essential for deciding which career path is right for students. Based on this data, Grad School Hub organizes information into five weighted categories, which are:

• Alumni Feedback: 20% 
• Continued Enrollment: 20% 
• Degree Selectivity: 10%
• Graduate Expenses: 25%
• Projected Annual Salary: 25%

To learn more about Eastern Michigan University's College of Business, visit the website.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 19,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University website