Stetson University students with a master’s degree taking the Uniform Certified Public Accountant exam for the first time in 2017 had the highest overall pass rate in Florida (80 percent), according to results released by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). Stetson was first in the state out of the 11 schools reporting.

Stetson also was fourth in the state for the overall pass rate (60 percent) and fifth in the state for pass rates of first-time takers (61.1 percent), out of the 27 higher education institutions in Florida that had current or former students taking the test.

“Being recognized by the NASBA 2017 Institution Rankings is a significant indicator of the quality of the accounting programs at Stetson because most of the 252 small programs are not publicly ranked,” explained Valrie Chambers, Ph.D., associate professor of taxation and accounting and chair of the M.E. Rinker, Sr. Institute for Tax and Accountancy.  “Stetson candidates performed well overall—this is a significant indicator that the Stetson education is a valuable one.”

Offered each year, the Uniform CPA exam is a 14-hour, computer-based exam comprised of four sections: auditing and attestation; business environment and concepts; financial accounting and reporting; and regulation. Candidates take one section of the exam per sitting and must pass all four parts of the exam in order to obtain a CPA license.

According to Chambers, students who pass the CPA exam have more advanced career opportunities than accountants who do not pass the exam, which can result in years of additional earnings.

These results come on the heels of the recent Stetson announcement detailing a new tax track specialization and new hybrid and online delivery formats for the Master of Accountancy program.

Recognizing the unique needs of students in the age of technology, the M.Acc. program now offers two delivery formats for students to choose from: campus hybrid and online. The M.Acc. program can be completed in as little as one year and is designed to complement preparation for the CPA exam and/or meet the 150 credit hours required by many states for CPA licensure. Stetson University also offers a Tax track within the one-year MAcc program.

For more information, visit Stetson University online.