Florida Institute of Technology Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Forensics: Our 2027 Review

Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting sit in the required core, next to advanced internal auditing and information systems auditing, and your electives reach into forensic data mining and analysis. The master's is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) designated program on Florida's Space Coast, with internship ties to employers such as Northrop Grumman and L3Harris.

Florida Institute of Technology, often called Florida Tech, is a private research university in Melbourne, Florida. You'll take its Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Forensics in the classroom on the Melbourne campus, and it's 30 credit hours.

The school says you'll develop skills to resolve financial discrepancies, investigate fraud, assess risk, combat cybercrime and ensure compliance in complex financial environments. Graduates are prepared for criminal matters such as uncovering tax fraud or money laundering and for non-criminal work such as business valuation or bankruptcy data analysis. You also learn to explain complex financial findings in clear terms to attorneys, executives, juries and investigators.

The school describes the degree as STEM-designated, with expertise in investigation, critical thinking and auditing. You'll see listed career paths such as analyst, auditor, valuation consultant, forensic litigation consultant, financial investigator, tax examiner, financial reconstruction specialist and risk management accountant.

Florida Tech says forensic accounting is one of the fastest growing specialty areas in accounting. Career Services assists students and alumni with career plans and job searches. Christian Austria, the program's first graduate in 2017, said he planned to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and saw the master's as the way to meet its education requirements.

Where this degree can lead: Forensic Accounting Jobs, Certified Fraud Examiner Certification.

• You hold an accounting, finance or business degree, since the program welcomes applicants with those bachelor's degrees.
• You're changing careers from another field, because graduates of nonbusiness programs can complete the MBA first, with up to 12 credits applying to both degrees.
• You're a current Florida Tech student, since you can use a Fast Track option to finish the master's sooner.
• You like technology-focused work, thanks to the data mining and analysis electives and the cybercrime investigation coverage.
• You want an internship near Florida's Space Coast, where students connect with RSM US LLP, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris and Brevard County Government.

You start with a six-course core worth 18 credit hours. Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting are the forensic anchors. Alongside them you'll take Advanced Internal Auditing, Tax and Financial Accounting Research and Information Systems Auditing and Control. The catalog says these core courses use case studies or projects that require extensive qualitative or quantitative analysis.

The program page says the curriculum also covers fraud detection, cybercrime investigation, business valuations and expert witness preparation. You'll study advanced internal auditing, risk management and corporate governance, and you'll gain skills in tax research, fraud investigation and audit communication.

Electives let you tailor the degree. They range from forensic data analysis and international accounting to business ethics, data analytics, finance, information security and enterprise resource planning. Forensic Data Mining and Analysis is an accounting elective for detecting financial trends. International accounting courses cover global reporting standards and multinational business operations.

Advanced Problems and Current Topics serves as your capstone, a course on advanced and current accounting topics.

Courses the School Names

• Advanced Internal Auditing
• Fraud Examination
• Forensic Accounting
• Forensic Data Mining and Analysis

Standout Features

• Curriculum covers fraud detection, forensic accounting, cybercrime investigation, business valuations and expert witness preparation
• Internship access through Space Coast employers such as Northrop Grumman Corp., Lockheed Martin, SpaceX and L3Harris Technologies Inc
• STEM-designated Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Forensics

Florida Tech lists College of Business graduate tuition at $820 per credit hour for 2026-27, and your master's is 30 credit hours. The school's cost of attendance page lists Melbourne graduate studies tuition at $25,020 per year for 2026-2027, and it points you to its Tuition and Fees page for detailed charges.

The catalog says preference for graduate scholarships goes to applicants who take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). You don't need the test for admission, though a strong GMAT or GRE score can enhance your application. Ask the financial services office for current aid options.

You'll attend class in person on the Melbourne campus, which sits on the Space Coast near the NASA Kennedy Space Center within a high-tech corridor. The degree is 30 credit hours, and you'll be assigned an advisor soon after you're admitted to prepare your program plan.

Florida Tech admits graduate students on a rolling basis in most programs. If you're a current Florida Tech student, you can use a Fast Track option. The program's first graduate said it let him complete the master's in half the time. You'll join a global community, with students from the U.S. and around the world.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• The program's first graduate, in 2017, told Florida Tech news he was glad to be part of something new and happy the program opened because it is the field he wants to work in.

  Source: Florida Tech news (Christian Austria, 2017)

• The same first graduate advises current Florida Tech students interested in earning the master's to consider the Fast Track program so they can graduate and pursue their careers sooner.

  Source: Florida Tech news (Christian Austria, 2017)

• What do BUS 5438 Fraud Examination and BUS 5439 Forensic Accounting cover week by week?
• How does the Fast Track work, and when should a current student apply?
• How are internships placed, and how many credits can they carry?
• Which electives do students pick for forensic data mining and analysis?
• What is the current tuition and fee total for the 30 credit hours?
• Which scholarships are available, and how much does a GMAT or GRE score matter?
• If my bachelor's is in another field, how does the MBA route work and which credits count for both degrees?

A private research university in Melbourne, Florida, on the Space Coast.

• Best Forensic Accounting Programs Rank 27 of 27, master's
• Best Master's Programs Rank 27 of 27, master's
• Fraud Examination Programs Rank 10 of 10, master's
• MAcc With Forensic Concentration Rank 12 of 12, master's
• With Internships Rank 5 of 5, master's

• Strayer University

  Master of Science in Accounting with a Concentration in Forensic Accounting

  Virginia Score 50.3

• University of Scranton

  Master of Accountancy, Forensic Accounting Specialization

  Pennsylvania $895 per credit Score 56.4

• Roosevelt University

  Master of Business Administration, Accounting Forensics Concentration

  Illinois Score 61.2

• University of New Haven

  Master of Science in Accounting, Forensic Accounting Concentration

  Connecticut $1,185 per credit Score 61.4