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Tax Professional Education Requirements
Updated April 5, 2024
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Kenton Klaus,
Andrew Hartzler
The educational requirements for a tax professional vary, with some positions requiring only a high school diploma, while others may require a certificate, associate's, or bachelor's degree. According to Kenton Klaus, Director of the Master of Science in Taxation program, "Taxation is a very broad discipline, so it's important for a new tax professional to understand all the opportunities available for them to use their graduate degree." He encourages students to explore the market before they graduate and speak with professors for courses that most interest them.
While a bachelor's degree is often required for many tax professional positions, some professionals may choose to pursue additional certifications such as Tax Certification, Accredited Tax Preparer, or Certified Professional - Human Resource. These certifications can help increase a tax professional's earning potential and demonstrate their expertise in specific areas of taxation. As Andrew Hartzler, Professor of Accounting, notes, "The most critical skill for graduates is the ability and willingness to communicate effectively." Effective communication is essential for tax professionals to work with clients, prepare accurate tax returns, and navigate complex tax laws and regulations.
What education do you need to become a tax professional?
What degree do you need to be a tax professional?
- Bachelor's, 50%
- Associate, 24%
- Master's, 10%
- High School Diploma, 9%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What should I major in to become a tax professional?
According to the education requirements, the best college majors for a tax professional are accounting, business, and finance. As stated, a bachelor's degree in these fields is preferred.
- Accounting, 42%
- Business, 28%
- Finance, 5%
- General Studies, 2%
- Other Majors, 23%
Most common colleges for tax professionals
| Tax Professional Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 31.59% |
| DeVry University | 7.95% |
| Strayer University | 6.59% |
| Ashford University | 5.91% |
| American InterContinental University | 5.45% |
Best majors for tax professionals
According to the education requirements, the best college majors for a tax professional are accounting, business, and finance. As stated, a bachelor's degree in these fields is preferred.
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accounting | 41.8% |
| 2 | Business | 27.9% |
| 3 | Finance | 4.8% |
| 4 | General Studies | 2.1% |
| 5 | Health Care Administration | 2.1% |
Best colleges for tax professionals
The University of Southern California, Villanova University, and Bentley University top the list of best colleges for tax professionals. These institutions offer a competitive edge with strong admissions and retention rates, high graduate earnings, and manageable debt for tax-focused graduates. Their programs equip students with the necessary skills to excel in tax professions.
1. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
2. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
3. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
4. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-State Tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
5. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$15,094
Enrollment
32,974
6. SUNY at Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,011
Enrollment
13,434
7. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
9. Baylor University
Waco, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$45,542
Enrollment
14,159
10. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,816
Enrollment
21,047
20 best online courses for tax professionals
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Top 10 most affordable universities for tax professionals
The most affordable schools for tax professionals are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - fullerton.
If the best universities for tax professionals are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for tax professionals.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,262
Cost of Attendance
14,046
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
3. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,886
Cost of Attendance
17,645
4. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,556
Cost of Attendance
19,434
5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
6. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,942
Cost of Attendance
14,469
7. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$4,831
Cost of Attendance
19,559
8. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
9. California State University - Northridge
Northridge, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,893
Cost of Attendance
18,870
10. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,368
Cost of Attendance
21,034
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for tax professionals
The hardest universities for tax professionals to get into are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and Villanova University.
Some great schools for tax professionals are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for tax professionals based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
3. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
29%
SAT Average
1,407
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
5. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
19%
SAT Average
1,466
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
7. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
43%
SAT Average
1,338
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
20%
SAT Average
1,419
9. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
4%
SAT Average
1,497
10. Fordham University
Bronx, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
46%
SAT Average
1,354
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for tax professionals
The easiest schools for tax professionals to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a tax professional without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for tax professionals.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
82%
SAT Average
983
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
4. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
100%
SAT Average
1,072
5. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
994
6. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
999
7. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
92%
SAT Average
1,031
8. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions Rate
78%
SAT Average
1,020
9. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
992
10. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions Rate
96%
SAT Average
1,139
Average tax professional salary by education level
| Tax Professional education level | Tax Professional salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $70,294 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $47,144 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $62,938 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $52,722 |
Tax Professional Education FAQs
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Updated April 5, 2024
Updated April 5, 2024