Predicting academic achievement in a Master of Accounting program: GMAT vs. overall GPA vs. accounting GPA
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2025
Department/School
Accounting and Finance
Publication Title
Journal of Education for Business
Abstract
This study explores admission criteria for Master of Accounting (MAcc) programs, moving beyond the traditional reliance on the GMAT. We examined data for MAcc students at a regional university from 2015 to 2024, focusing on overall undergraduate GPA and undergraduate accounting GPA. Our findings reveal that overall undergraduate GPA is a strong and consistent predictor of student success, followed by undergraduate accounting GPA. This suggests MAcc programs could benefit from prioritizing undergraduate GPA over the GMAT for admissions. However, for applicants with lower undergraduate GPAs, the GMAT remains a reliable alternative predictor of academic success. Adopting this approach could remove a significant barrier for applicants without compromising student quality.
Link to Published Version
Recommended Citation
LaGore, W. D., Mahoney, L. S., Brickner, D. R., & Lewis, P. A. (2025). Predicting academic achievement in a Master of Accounting program: GMAT vs. overall GPA vs. accounting GPA. Journal of Education for Business, 100(8), 343–350. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2025.2574649
Comments
W. K. LaGore, L. S. Mahoney, D. R. Brickner, and P. A. Lewis are faculty members in EMU's Department of Accounting, Finance, and Information Systems.