Best Online Master's in Taxation Programs in 2027

• Highest Score73.1 out of 100

  University of Akron

  Taxation, MTax

  Ohio · M.Tax

  University of Akron's M.Tax Review
• Lowest Price$556.75 per credit

  Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

  Master of Science in Accountancy with a Specialization in Taxation

  Illinois · M.S.A.

  Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's M.S.A. Review
• Highest Graduate Earnings$170,796 median earnings

  Villanova University

  Master of Laws in Taxation

  Pennsylvania · LL.M.

  Villanova University's LL.M. Review
• Strongest CredentialsAACSB stated by the school; prepares for CPA

  Portland State University

  Master of Taxation

  Oregon · M.Tax.

  Portland State University's M.Tax. Review

Master's programs you can take online: fully online, online with limited campus requirements, or online degree completion.

• Delivered fully online, online with limited campus requirements, or as online degree completion
• Any campus requirements 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.

Check What Online Means at Each Master's in Taxation Program

Online isn't one setup, so read each program's delivery details before you apply. Portland State's Master of Taxation is an online program that asks you to spend one weekend on its downtown Portland campus at the start of each term. That weekend is where you meet instructors, fellow tax practitioners and potential employers in person.

Other schools make visits optional. Florida Atlantic's Executive Master of Taxation has no on-campus requirement, though it offers in-person lectures on its Davie Campus three times a semester. Walsh College's Master of Science in Taxation lets you pick online, live virtual or on-campus classes. At Weber State, students in Davis and Weber Counties attend in person, and students outside those counties join online.

Cincinnati's Master of Science in Taxation is 100% online, so there's no travel to plan, and its courses run seven weeks. Ask each school which setup you'd get and whether you can change it later.

Check Who Each Online Program Was Built For

Entry rules differ more than delivery does, so match your background to the program. The University of Minnesota's Master of Business Taxation takes a bachelor's degree from an accredited school, with no GPA requirement. Florida Atlantic takes a bachelor's degree in any discipline, so you don't need accounting or business prerequisites.

Other programs aim at tax professionals. Georgetown's Master of Studies in Law in Taxation is open to experienced tax professionals who aren't attorneys, and it asks for a basic federal income tax course, or its free online Foundations of Federal Income Taxation course, before you start. Akron's Master of Taxation is open to CPAs, accounting and business graduates, J.D. holders and others with high potential.

If you're a lawyer, look at LL.M. programs too. Our LL.M. in taxation list covers them, and our guide on what an LL.M. in taxation is explains how it differs from the other degrees.

Count the Full Price of an Online Master's in Taxation

A per-credit rate is only part of an online price, so ask each school what sits on top. At Akron, tuition and the Akron Fee total $600 per credit hour for Ohio residents, and an online fee of $15 per credit hour applies to online courses. Walsh College lists $991 per credit hour for 2026-2027, plus a $175 student support fee each semester.

Some schools bundle the price instead. Florida Atlantic's fees run $27,000 to $32,400, or $2,700 per three-credit course, and they're the same for Florida residents, out-of-state residents and international students. The fees cover recorded lectures, advising and career services.

Minnesota adds a Carlson fee each term, $323 for a lighter load and $726 for 9 credits or more. Books run about $200 per class. Make a short checklist for every school: the rate, the credits, each fee and the book budget. Multiply the rate by the credits, add the fees, and compare programs on that total. Our cheapest master's in taxation list sorts programs by their per-credit rate.

See How Online Coursework Fits the CPA Education Rules

Many online programs help with the education side of CPA licensure, but each state sets its own rules. The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) says you'll need education credit hours to sit for the exam, that requirements vary, and that you should check with your state or jurisdiction.

Programs describe their fit in different ways. Portland State's degree works as a fifth year toward the 150 credit hours needed for CPA licensure. Minnesota says all of its courses fulfill accounting course requirements for the exam. Cincinnati says its degree can count toward credits to sit for the CPA exam, and Florida Atlantic says its courses may count toward CPA education requirements.

Ask admissions for the credit count in writing, then compare it with your state board's rule. Keep that written count with your records for when you apply for the exam. Our guide to Enrolled Agent vs. CPA shows how the two credentials differ.