Best Public University Master's in Taxation Programs in 2027

• Highest Score77.6 out of 100

  Strongest CredentialsAACSB stated by the school; prepares for CPA

  California State University-Fullerton

  Master of Science in Taxation

  California · M.S.

  California State University-Fullerton's M.S. 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$133,259 median earnings

  University of Akron

  Taxation, MTax

  Ohio · M.Tax

  University of Akron's M.Tax Review

Programs at institutions that federal data classifies as public.

• Institution control is public in federal school data
• Cost shown as a per-credit rate 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.

Compare Resident and Nonresident Rates at a Public University Master's in Taxation

A public university can charge two prices for one degree, so find the rate that applies to you first. Wayne State University's LL.M. in Taxation lists $1,347.17 per credit hour for residents and $1,477.90 for nonresidents.

Baruch College charges New York residents $470 per credit and everyone else $855. SUNY Old Westbury lists $471 in state and $991 out of state. Florida Gulf Coast University lists $373.38 per credit hour for Florida residents and $1,439.75 for nonresidents.

Other public programs charge everyone the same price. Mississippi State University and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville both do, and the University of Baltimore lets out-of-state online students in its M.S. in Accounting and Business Advisory Services pay in-state tuition. Look up which column you're in, then multiply by the credits.

Wayne State also lists a $402.91 registration fee per semester, so check the footnotes. Rates change each year, so pull the current figure from the school's bursar or tuition page.

Check How a State School's Credits Fit Your State's CPA Rules

Public universities often say how their coursework lines up with CPA rules, so you'll want to confirm the match before you apply. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) says education requirements vary by state or jurisdiction. A state board of accountancy licenses each CPA.

The University at Albany's M.S. in Taxation is registered with the New York State Education Department and meets the 150-hour education requirement for initial CPA licensure. Baruch College says its credits count toward New York State CPA licensure hours. SUNY Old Westbury is registered by the state as satisfying the 150-credit-hour requirement and a one-year work experience requirement.

Schools outside New York say it too. Texas A&M University-Kingsville says its coursework counts toward the 150 semester credit hours, subject to state board requirements. The University of Minnesota says all Master of Business Taxation courses fulfill accounting course requirements for the CPA exam. Ask the program office for a course list your own board can check, because the board makes the call.

Look Inside Public Law Schools for an LL.M. in Taxation

Several public universities teach tax through a law school, and the LL.M. there is aimed at lawyers. The University of Houston's Tax Law LL.M. requires 24 credit hours, 18 of them in tax law, and the program, established in 1983, is open to U.S. and foreign-trained attorneys. It offers about 20 separate tax courses each academic year.

The University of Washington runs a Federal Tax Clinic that closed cases in 2024 cutting taxpayers' liabilities, penalties and interest by $4,159,508, and all applicants to its Taxation program may apply for funding. Wayne State gives you automatic consideration for an LL.M.-specific scholarship when you apply by its priority deadline.

The University of Baltimore has taught attorneys and accountants side by side in its Graduate Tax Program since 1987. Classes meet on weekday evenings, and you learn from tax judges, IRS officials and practitioners. If you hold a law degree, compare clinics, scholarships and class times, not only the rate. Ask whether clinics and externships are open to part-time students.

Match the Format to Your Distance From Campus

Public programs differ on where you need to be. Weber State University's Master of Taxation requires in-person classes if you live in Davis or Weber County. If you live outside those counties, you join online, live or by recording. The University of Akron requires no campus visits.

Length differs too. The University at Albany lists one year full time and two or more years part time. At Akron, full-time students normally finish in two semesters, and part-time students who start in the fall finish within two years.

Others are built around the campus. Arizona State University's program is full-time, daytime and in person in Tempe. The University of Colorado Boulder's program is on campus for 16 months, with space for a summer internship.

Portland State University asks you to attend an in-person residency, one weekend on its Portland campus each term. Pick a format you can keep up for the whole program, and ask what travel you'll need before you apply.