Student Success Rates

The Masters of Accountancy cohort is a full time 12-month accelerated program. Beginning August of each year, the program is designed for students to complete 18 units in the first 5 months followed by an additional 18 units in the next 7 months or 2 terms (Spring and Summer trimesters). The program is also designed to support and encourage earlier entry into the profession with a goal of part-time or full-time job placement for the students as early as January. Many of the students entering this program are either career changers or recent graduates from undergraduate institutions. The full-time program has been in existence for 3 years and data is just now becoming available to track graduation and retention rates.

The majority of the students in the first MAc cohorts, (AY 2007-2008 and AY 2008-2009), were originally admitted into the evening program and switched to the cohort. We are unable to differentiate the cohort students from the evening students in the collected data. Based on our personal observations and management of the MAc cohort programs, the MAc cohort students are retained at a high rate comparable to that of the Tax cohort, which after 4 terms averaged 95%.

Beginning in summer 2009, the Day MAc students were admitted into the MAC.ACCTD degree allowing for accurate data collection and reporting for the two separate student populations going forward. This separated and distinct data will not be available until after the fall of 2010.

Factors contributing to the observed high rate of retention are attributable to the following:

• accelerated nature of the program
• high job placement rate
• small class size
• close student-teacher relationships
• personalized academic and career advising
• active engagement of tax and accounting professionals as instructors and guest speakers

Although graduation rates are not available for previous cohorts, the accelerated program design allows students to complete 6 courses before the start of the spring term, ensuring eligibility for internship credit. Most students complete their MAc degree within four terms, although some may benefit from taking fewer courses when employed, extending graduation beyond 4 terms. Once a student is employed, various business obligations may also impact timing of degree completion. International students may postpone their graduation date for another year to extend OPT or CPT.

The evening and online students primarily matriculate on a part-time basis. A majority of these students are working professionals -- both those already in the tax or accounting industry and those seeking career changes. These part-time students typically register for one to two courses per term, graduating in two to five years (or up to 15 academic terms). Additionally, international students (required to enroll in three courses a term) can complete their degree in as little as four terms.

Average Retention Rate
	4 Terms	7 Terms	10 Terms	13 Terms	16 Terms	19 Terms
Spring	87%	66%	58%	53%	44%	50%
Summer	85%	66%	51%	47%	38%	N/A
Fall	90%	77%	73%	67%	71%	69%

Beginning 2007, the accounting degree moved to an independent School of Accounting.
Dramatic increases in retention rates (26% in 2006 to 78% in 2008) can be attributed to:

• creation of new accelerated MAc cohort program AY 2007-2008
• revised graduate curriculum
• personalized academic and career advising
• active engagement of industry professionals as instructors and guest speakers
• formation of accounting advisory boards

Average Graduation Rate
	4 Terms	7 Terms	10 Terms	13 Terms	16 Terms	19 Terms
Spring	1%	31%	40%	45%	44%	50%
Summer	3%	24%	34%	35%	38%	N/A
Fall	2%	33%	46%	54%	67%	69%