Online Master of Science in Taxation
Whether your future career leads you to work with individuals, small businesses, or large corporations, the online Taxation Master’s Degree program at the University of Cincinnati prepares you for a career as a professional tax adviser, equipping you with a comprehensive and specialized understanding of the complexities of tax law that are applicable to any size firm.
Is a Masters in Taxation Right for Me?
Are you a business professional looking for a way to advance in your current corporation or to become highly sought after in a new role within a new company? Then securing a future with a top-ranked, online Master of Taxation program is for you! With both practical and interactive coursework, you can be assured that you are gaining the knowledge and skills to stand out in your career.
MS Tax Program Highlights
High Quality Education
- Instruction from award-winning faculty that includes cutting-edge tax experts, CPAs, lawyers, academics, and professionals with Fortune 500 and international accounting experience.
- The skills and experience necessary to complete well-written professional research papers on a variety of tax topics in a deadline-oriented environment that mimics the experience you will encounter in a real-world tax research setting.
- The opportunity to develop research skills in a challenging series of courses such as the Capstone Course, which is intended to showcase your mastery of tax research and technical knowledge learned throughout the program.
- A variety of elective course offerings such as partnership taxation, accounting for income taxes and estate, and gift taxation.
- In addition, this taxation master’s degree can count toward credits to sit for the CPA exam and CEUs for those looking to expand their tax expertise while retaining their credential.
Flexibility
- 100% online
- No GMAT requirement
- Courses offered in spring, summer and fall semesters
Support from Application to Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your go-to resource during the application process
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
Applicants must satisfy the following requirements for admission to the Master of Science in Taxation online program. Admission is selective and based on a combination of factors including academic and professional achievement, strong communication skills and a proven record of effective leadership.
Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Application for Admission: Choose “Business Administration (Tax) – Online, Master of Science” on the application.
An unofficial transcript (or degree audit) is required from each institution attended, including in-progress coursework, even if from the University of Cincinnati. These documents must show a complete record of your courses and grades. Uploading an unofficial transcript is recommended, but an official transcript may also be sent. Your application will not be reviewed until all transcripts are received.
International Applicants: You must have a U.S. bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or an international equivalent before starting the program. While NACES course-by-course evaluations are not required at time of admission, one may be requested in certain cases at the time of application. Your unofficial transcripts must be translated into English. If your grading scale isn't on a four-point scale, you will be asked to translate in the application process. For international three-year bachelor’s degrees, use the free WES degree equivalency tool to confirm U.S. equivalency. Please review the Graduate College's transcript submission policy after enrollment.
Please select one recommender who was, or currently is, a supervisor who can speak to your professional experience. Letters of recommendation must come directly from the listed recommender on your application.
IMPORTANT: Your application will not move forward in the review process until we receive the letter of recommendation.
At the University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business, we value thought-driven leaders. With this in mind, please upload a personal statement expressing the following:
- How will the MS Tax program prepare you to meet your career goals?
- How does your background prepare you to be successful in the program?
- What short or long-term career goals do you have?
Optional: Is there something in your resume or application that needs a brief explanation? Areas in this field may include academic outliers, career breaks, completion of additional coursework, etc.
Formatting: We recommend the personal statement be between 250 and 500 words, double-spaced.
Ensure your resume clearly lists the dates of any professional (ex: full-time role, internships, co-ops), volunteer, non-profit or any other leadership experiences. There is no formatting requirement. However, please review your resume for any grammar mistakes. It should be no longer than two pages.
Standardized test scores are not required for admission to the MS program. Applicants can submit scores if they would like them to be considered as part of the application review process. The admissions committee will accept Graduate Management Admission (GMAT) and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores. Scores must be sent directly from the agency to the following address:
Graduate Admissions
University of Cincinnati
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0091
- $65 ($70 international) non-refundable University of Cincinnati Graduate School application fee.
If your native language is not English, you must demonstrate your proficiency in English. This includes submitting an IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo test score.
Please reference the below minimum score requirements.
| Program | TOEFL (0-120 scale)* | TOEFL (1-6 scale)* | IELTS** | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBA | 90 | 4.5 | 7 | 120 |
| MS Business Analytics | 95 | 5 | 6.5 | 110 |
| MS Information Systems, MS Marketing & PhD Programs | 100 | 5 | 7.0 | 115 |
| All other programs | 80 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 110 |
*TOEFL: Can be sent using school code 1833
**IELTS: Can be sent to University of Cincinnati - Graduate School account.
For additional information, please reference the Graduate College website.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 |
April 1, 2026 July 1, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
The University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business has been proudly AACSB Accredited since 1919.
The University of Cincinnati online is the perfect choice for working individuals that want to further their education on their own schedule.
David R. MS Taxation
I am in my 2nd Semester at the University of Cincinnati Online and thus far pleased with the learning experience with my instructors and classmates. The advisors and instructors are very supportive in ensuring I succeed in my program. I do look forward to visiting Cincinnati when I complete my MS Taxation program. Thanks for making this online learning experience possible for us busy professionals!
Rose W. MS Taxation
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