MAcc
Valuation
FAQ

While the majority of our students apply for the Vanderbilt MAcc Valuation program directly out of an undergraduate program, we do welcome applicants who have between one and three years of full-time work experience. When we evaluate your application, we consider all full-time work, military experience, part-time work, internships, co-op assignments, summer jobs, volunteer work and campus involvement/leadership.

No. We seek students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Diversity in all forms—academic, professional, cultural, ethnic, gender, geographic, socioeconomic and so on—is an important component of the Vanderbilt MAcc Valuation experience. In terms of academic background, we encourage students from diverse disciplines to apply. We do look for students with strong quantitative skills and require several prerequisites that lend themselves to majors in business, finance, accounting, economics or math. However, we do not require that you have a certain major as long as you are able to complete the prerequisites prior to matriculating into our program.

No. Most top business schools do not accept transfer students or transfer credits.

Incoming MAcc Valuation students need to have demonstrated strong academic performance in prior university studies, with significant, proven quantitative experience and aptitude. Students must have completed the following courses from an accredited school, with a grade of B or better. Many students are admitted to the program before this requirement is met. Any additional prerequisite requirements will be determined on an individual basis, as some students may need to develop core competencies prior to the start of the program. 

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to rescind any offers of admission or financial aid from candidates who have not responded by the specified deadline and from candidates who have not completed the prerequisites required as a condition of their admission.

Vanderbilt waives the application fee only in exceptional circumstances. Please provide the Admissions Office with a written explanation of your request for a fee waiver by emailing us. Candidates who demonstrate substantial financial hardship may be granted a fee waiver. Applicants who reapply are required to pay another $50 fee to cover the costs of application processing and communication.

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to rescind any offers of admission or financial aid from candidates who have not responded by the specified deadline and from candidates who have not completed the prerequisites required as a condition of their admission.

Yes.

You should submit two recommendations from professors or supervisors familiar with your work. If you are unable to disclose your plans to a current supervisor, you should provide an explanation in an additional statement and request a former supervisor to complete a recommendation. Applicants with little or no full-time work experience should obtain recommendations from professors or supervisors of part-time work and internships.

The fee is $100 for each new application or reapplication for the Vanderbilt MAcc Valuation program.

We will update your status in real time as supplemental items are received and your application is processed. You can check your status by accessing the checklist on your "MyOwen Page." We occasionally send email reminders about any missing items needed to complete your file. Please allow sufficient time for the delivery and processing of all materials before checking your "MyOwen Page" or contacting our office. If you are unable to access your account, please access technical support by clicking "Tech Support." If you require a personal response, please email us. We will do our best to communicate with you promptly and accurately. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Generally, no, we do not offer deferred enrollment. In exceptional situations beyond the candidate's control, the Admissions Committee may offer a deferral. One exception is that all deferral requests for U.S. military personnel will be approved. Otherwise, candidates must decline an offer of admission and reactivate the application for admission and financial aid consideration the following year.

We seek outstanding candidates and operate on a rolling admission basis throughout the year. However, space and scholarships are limited, so it is wise to apply as early as possible. Applying earlier means that you will receive an admission decision earlier, leaving you more time to plan your transition to the Vanderbilt MAcc Valuation program.

You must submit an entirely new application. However, we can match previously submitted supplemental materials—such as official test scores, transcripts and recommendations—to your new application. We also ask that you provide an additional statement in the Optional essay area describing your personal and professional activities since the original date of application and explaining why you are now a stronger candidate for admission.

In general, we will notify you within four weeks of receiving the application.

International students do not qualify for federally funded loan programs unless they are permanent residents of the U.S. However, an international student may apply for a private alternative source of funding, but a U.S. citizen or permanent resident is required as a co-borrower.

International students can apply for a private alternative educational loan, with a U.S. citizen or permanent resident as a co-signer, for an amount up to the total cost of education. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for additional information.

No, but the U.S. government does require international students to show proof of sufficient financial resources to support themselves for their period of studies. Therefore, international students are required to complete the Preliminary Financial Declaration portion of the online application prior to submitting. Also note that transcripts and diplomas not issued in English must be accompanied by notarized translations.

You may contact our office to request a TOEFL waiver if you (1) have earned an undergraduate degree in a country where the official language is English (not just an English-speaking institution or just a country where English is spoken), or (2) have lived and worked in an English-speaking country for the past two or more years.

Interviews are conducted for selected applicants during our Open House events. After an application has been submitted, the Admissions Committee will review and make a decision based on the information provided. If an applicant meets our minimum qualifications then an invitation to attend an Open House event will be extended. Open House events are strongly encouraged. If you can not attend, please talk with a member of our admissions team to make alternative arrangements. Interviews are conducted during the Open House event, and final admission decisions are given within one week after the applicant attends the event.

No. We accept applications for fall entrance only.

No, the MAcc Valuation program is designed to be a full-time, one-year intensive program with a structured curriculum and partner firm recruitment process.

Our program includes live CFA prep sessions. The sessions take place during the academic year and are based on the Schweser CFA review material. We provide an instructor to answer your questions about the exam and to coach you while working through practice problems.

Vanderbilt MAcc Valuation students prepare and sit for the CPA exam using the Becker CPA Review Course. The Vanderbilt MAcc program has partnered with Becker, and students take classes on campus between graduation and the start of full-time employment. Standard industry practice is for new incoming associates to start work full-time in September. It is expected that students will sit for the CPA exam concurrent with the Becker course. Partner firms pay for the cost of the Becker CPA review once a full-time job is accepted. If the student's cost is not covered by his/her employer, or he/she has not accepted a full-time position, the student is responsible for the cost of the Becker CPA review.

We work closely with NASBA CPAES and the Tennessee State Board to ensure that our program meets the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Tennessee.

The CFA exam is three levels. Students in our program will study for Level 1 in the fall semester and take the Level 1 exam the first Saturday of December.

Yes. If you submit different test results, we will consider and report your best overall performance based on your highest total score. If your scores are below average, we strongly recommend that you retake the test to increase your chances of admission. Please note that the GMAT and GRE testing service providers require a waiting period in between exams.

If you are admitted to the program and choose to attend, we will require you to send us an updated transcript after you graduate.

We require either the GMAT or the GRE.

Yes, we will accept and review your application before you take the exam.

Yes, if you ask us to do so. Please note that the GMAT and GRE testing service providers require a waiting period in between exams.

We will only utilize the highest score when making an admissions decision. Please note that the GMAT and GRE testing service providers require you to wait a month between exams.

Although the GMAT and GPA are important indicators of your academic ability, they are not the only factors we consider. Your overall academic record, the quality of your undergraduate institution, the difficulty of your course of studies and the consistency of your performance are also good indicators of your potential for success in the MAcc program. Candidates who are weak in one area of the application may balance that with strengths in other areas. We may ask you to retake the GMAT or GRE if we feel that you are a strong candidate in other areas.

You may contact our office to request a TOEFL waiver if you (1) have earned an undergraduate degree in a country where the official language is English (not just an English-speaking institution or just a country where English is spoken), or (2) have lived and worked in an English-speaking country for the past two or more years.

Our institution code is 1871 for the IELTS and TOEFL. When choosing the department, please proceed as follows to ensure your scores are reported to Vanderbilt. You are given a choice of "Undergraduate" or "Graduate" as the kind of test you are taking. Please select "Graduate." A drop down box will then ask you to choose the "department." Choose the last option in the drop down menu and click on "Any Department Not Listed."

If you have already taken your required tests and sent your score reports to Vanderbilt, your scores will automatically be verified by Vanderbilt. At the time of application you will be required to upload a copy of your transcript from every college or university you attended. Only if you are offered and accept our offer of admission will you be required to mail official transcripts from each institution. Please send all score reports, offical transcripts and other hard copy materials to: 

We do not offer research or teaching assistantships in the MAcc Valuation program. Since our program is only one year long and includes the opportunity for an internship and studying/sitting for the CFA and CPA exams, the program is very intense, and you would not have enough time to devote to working during the program.

International students do not qualify for federally funded loan programs unless they are permanent residents of the U.S. However, an international student may apply for a private alternative source of funding, but a U.S. citizen or permanent resident is required as a co-borrower.

Yes. Students are encouraged to participate in the laptop program offered by the Owen Technology Productivity Services group. The systems are offered at a significant discount and come with complete on-site support. While both Mac and Windows PC are viable options for use during school, after you graduate, most firms will issue a PC for office use. Thus, learning on a PC may help you succeed professionally. You may bring your own computer and if it meets the minimum specifications, a best effort will be made to help with any technology issues once the needs of the students participating in the laptop program have been met.

You can view the Department of Education's website for complete information regarding student loans.

All admitted applicants are automatically considered for the merit-based scholarships awarded by Owen. A separate application is not required for scholarship consideration. Selection criteria are based on many of the same factors evaluated for an admission decision: academic performance, GMAT or GRE scores, leadership potential and personal characteristics demonstrated through the essays, interviews and recommendations. Scholarship decisions are communicated in conjunction with admissions decisions.

Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid, Vanderbilt University, 2309 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203-1725 or finaid@vanderbilt.edu; telephone 615.322.3591 or 800.288.0204; or fax 615.343.8512. General office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST.

International students can apply for a private alternative educational loan, with a U.S. citizen or permanent resident as a co-signer, for an amount up to the total cost of education. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for additional information.

Health insurance is required for all students. Students are billed automatically for the university's student health insurance plan if they do not provide proof of adequate coverage by another insurer prior to enrollment. The automatic coverage does not account for spouses or dependents, and students may be subject to additional health care costs for spouses and dependents. The policy costs are typically updated and published in May for the coming academic year.

Click here for the current estimated total cost of education for a single student during the nine-month academic year.

In order to qualify for federal financial aid, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Federal financial aid includes the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program. International students can apply for private alternative educational loans only with the assistance of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident as a co-signer.