Admission Requirements

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must meet CSUN admission requirements as listed in the University Catalog. 

Admission to this program is highly selective. Fulfillment of admission requirements does not guaranty admission as we receive far more applications than space permits and hence must decline admission to many well qualified applicants. Students will be admitted in the fall semester each year. Successful applicants must have:

•  A four-year baccalaureate degree in non-accounting from a regionally accredited institution

•  Good academic standing at the last college or university attended.

•  Earned one of the following:

     a. a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 in all units attempted as an undergraduate, independent of when the degree was granted; or,

     b. a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 semester/90 quarter units attempted from all post-secondary institutions attended, including all units from the entire semester or quarter in which the 60/90 units began; or,

     c. an acceptable post-baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with:

          1) a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all units attempted as an undergraduate, or

          2) a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 semester/90 quarter units attempted from all post-secondary institutions attended.

• Successfully completed Introduction to Financial Accounting (with a B or higher) and Introduction to Managerial Accounting (with a B or higher) from a regionally accredited university or community college. Accounting pre-requisite course work must follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). While not an admission requirement to the program, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete courses in Economics, Finance, Statistics, Accounting Information Systems, or Business Law before the start of the program.  While those topics are not covered in the MPAcc program, they are tested on the CPA exam. Also, individuals with high level proficiency in Excel are encouraged to apply. To find a list of previously approved course equivalents for Financial and Managerial Accounting, please click here.  Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of approved courses. Other courses may qualify as well.

•  A GMAT score in the top 50th percentile of both verbal and quantitative, or GRE equivalent, unless applicants have earned a graduate degree, or an undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, from a regionally accredited institution.

Also, the Nazarian MPAcc Admissions Committee may, at its discretion, waive the GMAT/GRE requirement for applicants who have both:

• a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 units taken at a regionally accredited academic institution of higher education, and

• professional work experience of at least 4 years.

International applicants who do not have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. university must demonstrate a minimum TOEFL Paper-Based score of 550, a minimum Computer-Based score of 213 or a minimum Internet-based score of 79/80; or a minimum International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or higher; or a minimum score of 58 with the Pearson's Test of English (PTE). The prerequisite courses (Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting) must be completed from an accredited academic institution in the U.S. The MPAcc Program accepts applications from International Students. The deadline for International Students to submit an application is February 1, 2025.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

The deadline to submit applications for Fall 2025 admission is May 1, 2025. However, completed applications received by February 1, 2025 will receive priority consideration. Applicants who obtained their undergraduate degree or graduate degree from outside the United States must have their completed applications received no later than February 1, 2025.

For more information, please contact the Program Coordinator at or (818) 677-2437.

HOW TO APPLY

Starting after October 1, 2024, applicants for the Fall 2025 entering class must do the following by the due date (priority deadline is February 1, 2025 and final deadline is May 1, 2025). If you have any problems with applying, please contact the Department at 818-677-2437.

• Complete the online CSU Graduate Admissions Application. This is known as CSU Apply There is a $70 (U.S.) application fee payable to The California State University. For instructions on how to complete the CSU Apply Application, please click here.

• Send directly to CSUN Admissions and Records Office:

1. All official transcripts. The official transcripts must be delivered by the granting institution to: California State University, Northridge Office of Admissions and Records 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8207
2. GMAT scores, if applicable (our program's GMAT code is: PVC-C4-19)
3. TOEFL scores, if applicable

• After completing the application to the university through Apply Web, please complete at the Apply Web platform the Supplemental Application for the MPAcc Program available here starting on October 1, 2024. Please note that there is a separate $30 (U.S.) application fee payable to The California State University. As part of the Supplemental Application to the MPAcc Program, applicants must upload as an attachment the following documents in Apply Web:

1. Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement should be no more than two (2) double spaced typewritten pages. Use Times New Roman size 12 font, 1" margins. Please address the following questions in the Personal Statement: (a) Explain your motivation to pursue a graduate degree in accounting. How did you become interested in the field of accounting? What aspects of CSUN and the MPAcc program appeal to you? What positive aspects do you bring to the program? (b) Discuss your short-term and long-term career goals. That is, what do you expect to be doing in five years or ten years from now? How will a graduate degree in accounting help you reach your personal/professional goals?
2. Unofficial transcripts from all higher education institutions attended
3. Unofficial copy of the GMAT score, if applicable
4. Unofficial copy of the TOEFL score, if applicable
5. Resume
6. Two letters of recommendation from supervisors or professors. A link will be sent to your recommender.

An application will not be reviewed until both applications (CSU Apply and Apply Web) are completed and all required documents are received.