Best Master's in Taxation and Data Analytics Programs in 2027

• Highest Score61.7 out of 100

  Strongest CredentialsAACSB stated by the school; prepares for CPA

  University of Cincinnati

  Master of Science in Taxation (Online)

  Ohio · M.S.

  University of Cincinnati's M.S. Review
• Lowest Price$602.50 per credit

  Mississippi State University

  Master of Taxation

  Mississippi · MTX

  Mississippi State University's MTX Review
• Highest Graduate Earnings$129,565 median earnings

  DePaul University

  Master of Science in Taxation & Analytics (Online)

  Illinois · M.S.

  DePaul University's M.S. Review

Programs whose degree name or named concentration includes analytics, data or technology alongside taxation.

• Analytics, data or technology in the degree name or a concentration
• Concentrations shown for each program
• Ranked on the shared methodology

Scores are the weighted sum of eight factors (Tax Specialization 15%, Tax Subject Coverage 15%, Hands-On Tax Practice 10%, Cost 20%, Graduate Earnings 10%, Credential Alignment 10%, Track Record 10%, Program Reputation 10%), version 2.0. The methodology page shows the rubric for each factor.

Tell Built-In Analytics From an Add-On Concentration

Programs reach this list in two ways, and the difference changes your course plan.

Some build analytics into the degree itself. Arizona State University's Master of Taxation and Data Analytics describes a strong focus on data and analytics, real-world case studies and collaborative projects. The University of North Texas and DePaul University also carry analytics in the degree name.

Others let you add analytics to a tax degree. Florida Gulf Coast University offers an analytics concentration with courses in business analytics, big data and data mining, and business intelligence and visualization.

Mississippi State University offers an optional minor in Accounting Data Analytics. The University of Cincinnati lists corporate taxation, individual taxation, AI in business, applied AI in finance, data analytics and quantitative finance as specializations, so you can pick your own mix.

Decide how much of your schedule you want to spend on data. A built-in program gives you a set path, and an add-on gives you room to choose.

Read the Course List for Real Data Work

Course titles tell you whether analytics is a skill you'll practice or a line in a brochure. Arizona State lists Accounting Analytics I and II, and the first course has you apply descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics to cases in auditing, risk management and forensics.

The University of North Texas lists Data Visualization for Analytics next to its tax courses and names data and analysis skills in a tax context among the skills the degree builds.

DePaul pairs its tax courses with Data Analytics in Tax, and it describes the payoff as using analytics to interpret data and support clear, evidence-based recommendations. Bentley University's Master of Science in Accounting has five concentrations, including Analytics and Taxation, and the school collaborates with KPMG's Data and Analytics program.

When you compare, look for a course where you work with data and a course where you explain the results. Then count how many of your credits go to tax and how many go to analytics.

Check the Entry Path for Your Own Background

Programs differ on who they expect to walk in, so you'll want to check that before anything else. Arizona State asks for an undergraduate accounting degree, and you can also finish its Pathway Program or its Bootcamp, a fully online credential that covers the prerequisites in one semester. If you're coming from a business or technical field, that gives you a clear way in.

The University of North Texas takes a wider view. Its program is open to any qualified student who is interested in taxation, regardless of previous program of study, so a data background can work.

Mississippi State's Master of Taxation asks for a regionally accredited bachelor's degree and a 3.0 GPA on all coursework or the last 60 hours, and it doesn't require the GMAT. Florida Gulf Coast waives the GMAT and GRE requirement for qualified applicants.

Before you apply, write down each program's prerequisites, credit total and format. Arizona State is 30 credits, Mississippi State is 30 credits, and the University of North Texas is 33.

Fold CPA Prep and a Capstone Into Your Plan

A tax and analytics degree can double as CPA preparation if you plan for it. Arizona State partners with Becker CPA Review, so eligible students can prepare for and pass the CPA exam while still enrolled. Mississippi State includes a Becker CPA Exam Review class in graduate study, and Cincinnati says its degree can count toward the credits to sit for the exam.

Your state sets its own education rules, so check them first. Our CPA versus enrolled agent guide shows where each credential fits.

DePaul ends with a capstone project in which you create client-ready work. A project like that gives you something to show an employer, so ask each program what its final project looks like.

Time matters too. Arizona State runs nine months, Bentley's full-time track takes eleven months, DePaul offers as little as 12 months full time, and the University of North Texas lists 1.5 years. Pick the pace that fits your job, and don't forget your exam plan.