Verdict
Our Verdict on the M.S.
Hofstra's 30-credit Master of Science in Taxation runs in a hybrid format with fall and spring starts, a required digital tax technology capstone and full coverage of New York's education requirements for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
Hofstra University offers this degree from its campus in Hempstead, New York, with the New York City financial market within reach. The program puts technology next to technical tax law: you'll take Strategic Tax Technologies, a course on communicating in a digital tax environment, and a capstone in digital tax technology.
Core courses such as Tax Practice and Procedures and Income Tax Problems of Partnerships use analytical tools and technology as part of the coursework. The school points to networking events, employer pipelines and access to New York City's financial market and professional network as ways the program expands your career options.
It also lists specialized areas you can explore, including business valuation, cryptocurrency, forensic accounting, analytics, cybersecurity and tax planning.
Credentials
Accreditation and Where It Leads
The degree satisfies in full the educational requirements for licensure as a CPA in New York State. The school adds that an advanced degree may reduce CPA experience requirements by one year in some states and allow more time for exam preparation.
Federal data lists median earnings of $110,943 for Hofstra master's graduates in this field, and the school says its networking events and employer pipelines support your search. Pre-program competency modules check that you've got the essential business skills to start.
They carry no cost, and full-time students complete them in their first semester.
- Certification Notes
- CPA
Source: hofstra.edu (accreditation and credentials), verified October 16, 2026
Where this degree can lead: Masters in Taxation Jobs.
Fit
Who It Fits
Who It Fits
- Accounting graduates in the New York area: the degree satisfies in full the educational requirements for CPA licensure in New York State.
- Tax professionals who like technology: a required Strategic Tax Technologies course and a digital tax capstone make it a core part of the degree.
- Working professionals: part-time study stretches the degree over two to five years, and a hybrid format with evening classes fits around a job.
- Applicants without a test score: the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or GRE isn't required with a 3.2 grade point average, and the requirement may also be waived for candidates with significant progressive work experience.
- Career-minded students who want employer contact: networking events and employer pipelines are part of what the school promotes.
Curriculum
What You Will Study
Eight tax courses are required, and you'll add any two tax electives to reach 30 semester hours. Tax Practice and Procedures covers how the Internal Revenue Service works, including closing and compromise agreements, assessments, refund claims, the statute of limitations and the rights of the taxpayer. Income Tax Problems of Partnerships examines distributions, sales and exchanges of partnership interests, dissolution and liquidations.
Federal Income Taxation of the Corporation and Its Shareholders gives advanced coverage of Subchapter S elections and of distributions and redemptions. Tax Research digs into the Internal Revenue Code and its administrative and judicial interpretations, using electronic sources and the internet.
The rest of the required list is Tax Considerations in Personal Financial Planning, Communication in a Digital Tax Environment, Strategic Tax Technologies and the capstone, Applied Research Capstone in Digital Tax Technology. Electives let you aim at a specialty.
Options include Federal Income Tax Aspects of Liquidations, Mergers and Reorganizations, Estate and Gift Tax with New York State provisions, Deferred Compensation and Pension Plans, State and Local Taxation with nexus and formulary apportionment, Taxation of International Transactions with the foreign tax credit and tax treaties, Advanced Individual Tax Problems, Estate Planning, Exempt Organizations and Current Developments in Taxation.
A Research Seminar adds supervised research and a formal paper with an oral presentation. Prior coursework is evaluated at admission, and your requirements may be modified to reflect it.
Courses the School Names
- Tax Practice and Procedures
- Income Tax Problems of Partnerships
- Federal Income Taxation of the Corporation and Its Shareholders
- Tax Research
- Strategic Tax Technologies
Standout Features
- Required capstone in digital tax technology and a Strategic Tax Technologies course
- Satisfies in full the New York State educational requirements for CPA licensure
- Capstone
- TAX 310 Applied Research Capstone in Digital Tax Technology.
Source: hofstra.edu (curriculum and experience), verified October 16, 2026
Length
How Long It Takes
Hofstra's degree runs 30 credits. The school lists the length as 16-24 months full time. Part time, it lists 2-5 years. You can start in the fall or the spring, and the application deadline is rolling, so you aren't racing a single date.
Admission is for candidates with a bachelor's degree in accounting or business from a qualifying or accredited institution, with at least 39 undergraduate semester hours in business already completed. Pre-program competency modules are available, and the school states that no costs are associated with them.
Because the program reviews your earlier coursework, the path through the 30 credits can be adjusted to fit what you already know.
Cost
Tuition and Fees
Hofstra bills the per-credit graduate rate each semester. Federal data lists the graduate charge the school reports at $1,695 per credit. Because tuition is charged per credit, your bill each semester follows the number of courses you take, so a part-time plan spreads the 30 credits over two to five years.
The entrance test isn't required with a 3.2 grade point average, and Hofstra evaluates your earlier coursework at admission, which may modify your requirements.
- Credits Required
- 30 credits
- Fees and Notes
- Billed the per credit graduate rate each semester; the rate is not printed on the program page.
Source: hofstra.edu (cost and aid), verified October 16, 2026
Format
How the Hybrid Format Works
The program runs in a hybrid format, mixing in-person and distance study. A student reviewing the university on Niche in 2025 wrote that there are evening classes as well as distance learner classes for anyone who can't attend in person, and that professors go over assignments to give clarity and expectations.
Several core courses build technology into the work, with analytical tools used in Tax Practice and Procedures, in Income Tax Problems of Partnerships and in the elective Advanced Individual Tax Problems. Starting terms in fall and spring, together with part-time pacing, let you set the speed that matches your work calendar.
- Terms
- Fall and spring start terms.
- Start Dates
- 2 starts a year
- Time to Finish
- 16 to 60 months
- Part-Time Option
- Yes
Source: hofstra.edu (format and schedule), verified October 16, 2026
Admissions
Admission Requirements
- GRE
- Waived under conditions
- Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in accounting or business from a qualifying or accredited institution; GMAT/GRE not required with a 3.2 GPA.
Source: hofstra.edu (admissions and transfer), verified October 16, 2026
Score
Where It Loses Points
Each factor is scored 0 to 10 against other master's programs. The weights are the same for every program, and the overall score is out of 100.
Program Score 45.7 / 100
Darker bars mean stronger factor scores. Every bar also shows its number.
The full rubric is on the methodology page.
Voices
What Students and Graduates Say
Students describe the faculty warmly. A reviewer on Niche in 2025 called Hofstra a great school that teaches you for the real world, with wonderful teachers and friendly students, and another said all the professors are kind and care about their students' education.
On a 2023 Reddit thread about accounting careers, an alumnus wrote that they interviewed with three of the Big Four firms, received internship offers from two and then a full-time offer at the end of the internship.
The same alumnus remembered on-campus interviews with Big Four and mid-size firms and an accounting and finance career fair, and a prospective student in that thread added that the Hofstra crowd is good and has good professors.
Before You Apply
Questions to Ask the School Before You Apply
- Which tax electives will run in the fall and spring terms when you plan to enroll?
- How will the school evaluate your prior coursework, and which requirements might be modified?
- Which sessions meet on campus and which are distance learner classes in a typical semester?
- How do the digital tax technology courses use analytical tools, and what will the capstone project involve?
- Which networking events and employer pipelines are active for tax students this year?
School
About Hofstra University
- Degree
- M.S., Master's
- School
- Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
- Institution Type
- Private nonprofit
- Delivery
- Hybrid
Source: hofstra.edu (program and school), verified October 16, 2026
- Total Enrollment
- 10,685
- Master's Completions a Year in This Field
- 6
- Campus Setting
- Suburban
Source: nces.ed.gov (school data from ipeds), verified October 16, 2026
Rankings
Rankings This Program Appears In
Rank is the program's position among the programs on that list at its degree level.
- Best Master's in Taxation Rank 60 of 78, master's
- On-Campus Master's in Taxation Rank 27 of 37, master's
- No-GRE Programs Rank 13 of 17, master's
- Part-Time Programs Rank 31 of 39, master's
- Best for Working Professionals Rank 36 of 46, master's
- Best for Parents Rank 36 of 46, master's
- Private University Programs Rank 31 of 43, master's
- Best Programs in New York Rank 10 of 11, master's
Compare
Master's Programs With Similar Scores
Other master's programs with the closest scores.
-
Executive Master of Taxation (EMTAX)
-
Master of Taxation
-
Master of Tax Accounting
-
Master of Science in Taxation
Frequently Asked Questions About This Taxation Program
Is Hofstra University's Taxation, MS a Good Program?
It ranks #60 of 78 master's programs in our 2027 rankings, because its tax courses span tax research and procedure, corporate tax, partnership and pass-through tax and 5 more subjects, but its school awards 6 master's degrees a year in this field, per federal data (fewer than 36 of 51 other master's programs we rank).
How Long Does Hofstra's Master of Science in Taxation Take?
Does the Degree Meet New York's CPA Education Requirements?
Do You Need the GMAT or GRE to Apply?
What Is the Capstone in the Taxation Degree?
Sources
- Hofstra University's Taxation, MS page
- Delivery: Hybrid; Term format: Fall and spring start terms; Starts per year: 2
- Duration: 16-24 months (full-time); 2-5 years (part-time)
- Cost notes: Billed the per credit graduate rate each semester; the rate is not printed...
- Credits: 30
- Capstone: TAX 310 Applied Research Capstone in Digital Tax Technology; Standout feature: Required capstone in digital tax technology and a Strategic Tax Technologies...
- Notable courses: Tax Practice and Procedures; Income Tax Problems of Partnerships; Federal...
- Standout feature: Satisfies in full the New York State educational requirements for CPA licensure; Certification prep: CPA
- GRE: Waived under conditions
- Admissions: Bachelor's degree in accounting or business from a qualifying or accredited...
- Length by enrollment status.
- Hybrid format.
- Fall and spring starts.
- Rolling deadline.
- GMAT or GRE not required with a 3.2 GPA.
- GMAT may be waived for work experience.
- Elective rule that completes 30 semester hours.
- Requirements may be modified for prior coursework.
- Pre-program modules are free.
- 39 undergraduate business hours needed.
- Satisfies New York CPA education requirements.
- Advanced degree may reduce CPA experience requirements.
- Networking and employer pipelines.
- New York City market access.
- Specialized areas to explore.
- Required digital tax technology capstone.
- Required Strategic Tax Technologies course.
- Research Seminar ends with an oral presentation.
- Evening and distance learner classes; clarity from professors.
- Reviewer praise for teachers and students.
- Professors care about students' education.
- A prospective student praised the professors.
- Alumnus recalled on-campus interviews and a career fair.
- Tax Practice and Procedures content and use of analytical tools.
- Partnership course content and use of analytical tools.
- Corporation course content.
- Estate and Gift Tax includes New York State provisions.
- State and Local Taxation content.
- International taxation content.
- Tax Research content.
- Advanced Individual Tax Problems uses analytical tools.
- Research Seminar adds supervised research and a formal paper.
- Alumnus interviewed with three Big Four firms and received internship and full-time offers
- Pre-program competency modules carry no cost
- Pre-program competencies check readiness; full-time students finish them in the first semester
- IPEDS Data Center