Master of Accountancy [M.Acc] From University of South Carolina

University of South Carolina (USC) Master of Accountancy (M.Acc) is a full-time, on-campus graduate degree in Columbia, South Carolina. Students with complete accounting prerequisites can finish it in 10 months. A bachelor’s equivalent and a 3.00 upper-level accounting Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale are required. This is approximately 75% to 80% or CGPA 7.5 to 8.0 on 10 for Indian applicants. Spring 2027 tuition is US$30,930 (INR 29.59 Lakhs), before living costs and ancillary charges.

The programme develops accounting analysis, communication and data-informed decision making through three tracks: Business Measurement and Assurance, Taxation and Information Systems and Controls. It suits applicants with strong upper-level accounting preparation who want Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preparation. The focused route leads into assurance, tax or accounting systems, but the compressed schedule requires sustained weekly study.

• Students can use IDEA and Tableau in the Business Measurement and Assurance track to build practical analytics experience.
• Applicants without an accounting background can discuss a customised prerequisite schedule with the programme director.
• The curriculum connects track choices to roles such as tax analytics, information systems assurance, forensic accounting and advisory work.

Also Check: University of South Carolina M.Acc admission

University of South Carolina M.Acc Fees and Living Costs 2027

The current nonresident M.Acc schedule charges by credit, so the main cost is US$1,031 per credit (INR 98,650) across 30 credits. The programme fee page also lists required charges, while the application fee is set separately for the 2026-27 cycle.

Spring 2027 fee context: The table uses the current programme rate for international students and the current application charge shown by the Moore School.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.6838 as of 24 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

The published programme fee excludes living costs and travel, so the tuition figure is not an all-in budget. The Moore School also says fees can change, which makes a written funding buffer important for Indian applicants.

• Budget the nonresident tuition separately from the US$4,000 (INR 3.83 Lakhs) annual insurance charge because the insurance is not part of the programme total.
• Ask the programme about the number of semesters in your schedule before multiplying the US$100 (INR 9,568) health and US$200 (INR 19,137) technology fees.
• Use the official M.Acc fee page to recheck charges before paying a deposit or submitting financial documents.

Cost of Living in Columbia for M.Acc Students

USC’s 2026-27 cost-of-attendance estimate gives separate academic-year amounts for housing, food, personal spending and transportation. The figures below divide the official nine-month fall and spring estimates by nine, rather than presenting them as twelve-month rent quotes.

Official 2026-27 living estimate: The table covers nine academic months and keeps living expenses separate from tuition, books, insurance and immigration charges.

The university’s living categories total US$24,794 (INR 23.72 Lakhs) for nine months. Adding books and supplies of US$762 (INR 72,911) produces US$25,556 (INR 24.45 Lakhs) as a calculated academic-year baseline.

The calculated one-year baseline combines US$30,930 (INR 29.59 Lakhs) tuition, US$80 (INR 7,655) matriculation and two semesters of listed student fees. It adds US$4,000 (INR 3.83 Lakhs) insurance and US$25,556 (INR 24.45 Lakhs) for nine-month living plus books, producing US$61,166 (INR 58.53 Lakhs).

This baseline is a planning illustration rather than a university-published total because the programme schedule, insurance assessment and personal spending can differ. Keep the official living estimate separate from the F-1 visa maintenance evidence requested later.

Read More: USA living costs for international students

ROI reality: The programme’s US$30,930 (INR 29.59 Lakhs) tuition becomes manageable only when the other charges are funded. Keep insurance, nine-month living costs and semester fees separate before enrolment.

University of South Carolina M.Acc Admission 2027

Admission is based on upper-level accounting performance, prerequisite readiness, the application file and an interview when USC invites one. No work experience is required, but Indian applicants must solve degree-equivalency and English-score requirements before applying.

The three-track structure favours applicants who can name a clear accounting, tax or systems direction. The ten-month route is efficient for accounting graduates, while missing prerequisites can extend study to 18 months or less.

Intakes and Deadlines

USC accepts applications year-round for spring, summer and fall. The current admissions page lists the following final deadlines for the next three entry points.

International planning: USC advises international applicants to apply 30 to 45 days before each suggested deadline. No separate international time-of-day cutoff is published on the checked page, so the application portal deadline controls.

The Spring deadline is the relevant target for the current page because it is the earliest future entry point. The 30 to 45 day buffer means an Indian applicant should finish testing, transcript evaluation and financial planning before the final date.

Academic Eligibility and Selection

The academic minimum is a 3.00 upper-level accounting or major GPA, with no more than two grades below B in those courses. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required within five years unless a waiver is approved. USC also accepts applicants without an accounting degree when they complete the required prerequisites.

Indian degree planning: USC says a three-year degree is not accepted for this international M.Acc route and requires at least one additional year of study before entry.

The university makes the official equivalency decision. It accepts evaluations from World Education Services (WES) or a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member, which converts non-US transcripts to the US 4.0 scale.

The frequently asked questions (FAQ) page reports a standard target GPA of 3.35 and a GMAT benchmark of 570, while the formal minimum remains 3.00. Treat the benchmarks as selection context rather than guaranteed thresholds, and verify the current GMAT reporting format before submitting scores.

• Calculate the upper-level accounting GPA from the exact courses USC will review instead of relying only on the percentage printed on an Indian transcript.
• Ask for a transcript evaluation early when a three-year degree, lateral entry or transferred accounting credits could affect bachelor’s equivalency.
• Use the chosen track to explain why your preparation fits Business Measurement and Assurance, Taxation or Information Systems and Controls.

The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2027 place the University of South Carolina at #711-720 overall. This is not an accounting-programme ranking and does not predict M.Acc outcomes.

English Language Proficiency

International applicants must submit English scores unless they meet USC’s stated US-study exemption. The current international M.Acc page lists TOEFL and IELTS minimums, with scores valid for two years.

Test-scale note: USC currently publishes TOEFL on the 0 to 120 iBT scale, so the figures below are reproduced without conversion.

USC may require an interview in person or through Skype to assess English communication. Indian applicants should schedule a test that allows every section to clear the published floor because a strong overall score cannot offset a missed component minimum.

• Book TOEFL or IELTS early enough to keep the result valid through the application review and visa process.
• Use IELTS only when each section can reach 7.0, because USC publishes an equal minimum for all four sections.
• Check whether your prior US study meets the exemption before omitting an English score from the application.

Tip for Indian students: A three-year degree and the narrow upper-level accounting GPA rule create the main screening risk. Complete equivalency and course mapping before polishing the statement.

University of South Carolina M.Acc Application 2027

The application is submitted online with academic records, a resume, a statement of purpose, recommendations, GMAT results and English evidence when required. USC reviews completed files and may invite qualified candidates to an interview before making an admission decision.

For Spring 2027, the practical strategy is to complete testing and transcript evaluation before the 01 December 2026 final deadline. International applicants should use USC’s 30 to 45 day advance guidance because an admitted student still needs immigration documentation.

Application Components

The application should show both academic readiness and a coherent reason for selecting one of the three M.Acc tracks. The table separates required evidence from the action that makes an Indian file easier to evaluate.

USC requires official transcripts before the end of the first term, even when unofficial copies were used for initial review. This means an Indian applicant should resolve name changes, consolidated marksheets and evaluator timing before accepting an offer.

Application Timing and Decision Process

USC accepts applications year-round, but each entry point has a final programme deadline. The current page does not publish a numeric decision date, while the Decision in a Day route provides a defined priority process.

Published deadline record: The table lists each current intake and the decision information USC makes public for applicants.

Decision in a Day waives the essay and recommendation requirements for that priority process, followed by two interview rounds lasting 15 to 20 minutes each. USC describes same-day admission and a financial award for successful participants, so use the route only when your academic and test file is ready.

• Submit a complete standard application by the programme deadline because a late transcript or score can prevent review.
• Use the statement to explain why a ten-month track-based M.Acc is more suitable than a broader accounting degree for your planned role.
• Prepare interview examples that connect accounting coursework, internships or analytics projects to the selected track.

Application tip: The strongest timing advantage is a complete international file before USC’s final date, because transcript evaluation and visa documentation cannot be compressed into the programme review window.

University of South Carolina M.Acc Scholarships 2027

USC automatically considers M.Acc applicants for programme financial awards, so no separate application is required for the awards described on the tuition page. Funding depends on academic performance, GMAT evidence, service, extracurricular work, qualified admits and remaining funds.

For Spring 2027, these are current published opportunities rather than guaranteed target-cycle awards. Apply early within the published intake window because the programme evaluates fellowships at each application deadline.

Funding options: The table keeps the award value, remission rule and applicant condition separate.

The Graduate Assistant remission is the clearest tuition mechanism because USC states that the nonresident programme fee is reduced to the resident rate. Applying the published resident rate of US$600 per credit across 30 credits gives a calculated tuition of US$18,000 (INR 17.22 Lakhs), before other charges.

That remission calculation is not the same as cash scholarship value because it changes the tuition tier. Confirm whether the position is available for your entry term, whether work hours fit the compressed curriculum and how the award affects your I-20 funding evidence.

• Submit the admission file early enough for fellowship review because USC links funding decisions to each application deadline and available funds.
• Use the assistantship only after checking whether 10 weekly work hours can coexist with the ten-month course load and recruiting schedule.
• Apply separately to SCACPA or external AICPA options only after confirming their South Carolina, citizenship and degree conditions.

Check Out: Scholarships for Indian students in the USA

Scholarship reality: The assistantship can change the tuition tier, while fellowships depend on selection and funds. Build the financial plan around gross tuition until USC confirms an award in writing.

University of South Carolina M.Acc Salary 2027

The latest M.Acc employment figure is a 98% job placement rate for the 2024-25 academic year. USC does not publish a course-specific graduate salary, offer rate or sponsorship rate, so the placement figure must not be treated as a salary guarantee.

The programme is career-oriented because its tracks connect accounting knowledge with assurance, tax, systems controls and analytics. That proposition is useful for applicants seeking a defined accounting role, but international placement depends on academic background, immigration conditions and the US labour market.

Published M.Acc Employment Evidence

The available programme evidence has different scopes, so the domestic statement should not be generalised to Indian applicants. The table identifies what each figure can and cannot establish.

The international M.Acc page says placement rates vary by academic profile and background. It also states that students with a four-year US undergraduate degree plus the M.Acc have historically had better domestic placement chances. Students with undergraduate degrees outside the US face greater challenges from immigration laws and market conditions.

External Salary Benchmark

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) accountants and auditors profile is the official source used for an external occupational benchmark. Its May 2024 median annual wage is not a University of South Carolina graduate salary.

Source: University of South Carolina M.Acc employment figures and the BLS accountants and auditors profile.

The calculated one-year planning baseline is US$61,166 (INR 58.53 Lakhs), while the BLS median is gross annual pay. Take-home pay varies with federal and state taxes, benefits, location and filing status, so use an official tax calculator before comparing a US offer with an India-return plan.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the post-completion work authorisation relevant to this ROI. Federal guidance allows up to 12 months at an education level. USC has not established STEM eligibility for this M.Acc.

• The 98% M.Acc placement rate supports a career-focused case, so ask USC for the latest international, salary and sponsorship breakdown before borrowing against it.
• The US$61,166 (INR 58.53 Lakhs) baseline is close to three-quarters of BLS median gross pay, so model repayment with a realistic offer.
• USC identifies greater placement challenges for graduates with non-US undergraduate degrees, so build an India-return budget alongside the US employment scenario.
• The 12-month OPT window may be the relevant work period, so verify the degree’s classification before assuming any additional STEM work authorisation.

ROI reality: The M.Acc has a strong reported programme placement rate, but no course salary or international outcome is published. Value the degree against gross cost, the one-year work window and immigration risk together.

USA Visa for University of South Carolina M.Acc Students 2027

Indian students normally use the F-1 academic student visa for this full-time M.Acc. The current US$185 (INR 17,702) visa application fee and US$350 (INR 33,489) I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee are the main government charges. Together they total US$535 (INR 51,191).

SEVIS is the immigration record system used before visa issuance. The student visa may be issued up to 365 days before the programme start, but entry is permitted no earlier than 30 days before that start date.

Optional Practical Training can provide up to 12 months of work authorisation after a qualifying programme level. The current M.Acc pages do not establish a 24-month science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) extension. Verify the degree classification and Department of Homeland Security list before including this extension in your plan.

There is no fixed M.Acc-linked H-1B salary threshold because the employer must pay the higher of the actual wage or the applicable prevailing wage. Employment-based second preference or third preference permanent residence requires an eligible employer process, a priority date and Visa Bulletin availability rather than a guaranteed course timeline.

• Keep the US$535 (INR 51,191) government charge separate from tuition, insurance and the financial evidence used for the I-20.
• Treat the 12-month post-completion work window as the standard case and verify STEM eligibility before using a longer employment scenario.
• Ask prospective employers whether the role and wage meet the applicable H-1B requirements because the M.Acc itself does not create sponsorship eligibility.
• F-2 dependants may include a spouse and unmarried children under 21; spouses cannot work, while children may attend kindergarten through Grade 12.

Use the official student visa guidance for current fee, document and entry rules because government requirements can change independently of the programme calendar.

Check Out: USA student visa process

Visa reality: The standard 12-month work window and uncertain sponsorship path make immigration a separate financial risk, so fund the degree without assuming a STEM extension or permanent residence.