Verdict
Is Loyola University Maryland's BBA Worth It?
Loyola University Maryland calls this the only undergraduate forensic accounting program in Maryland, and you take it in person in Baltimore. Your faculty include CFEs, Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and experienced expert witnesses. In the senior capstone, you'll work through real cases and present your findings the way an investigator would.
This Bachelor of Business Administration in Forensic Accounting comes from Loyola's Sellinger School of Business and Management, part of a Jesuit university in Baltimore.
Loyola says few universities nationwide offer undergraduate forensic accounting degrees and even fewer offer them in person. It also points to expected job growth above 18% for forensic accounting in the Mid-Atlantic. The degree is 120 credits, and it prepares you to investigate financial misconduct, analyze complex transactions and promote responsible business practices.
Score
Why This Program Ranks Among the Top Three
Each factor is scored 0 to 10 against other bachelor's programs. The weights are the same for every program, and the weighted total is scaled so the top program on the site scores 100.
Forensic Program Score 87.9 / 100
Darker bars mean stronger factor scores. Every bar also shows its number.
The full rubric is on the methodology page.
Credentials
Accreditation and Certification Rule Changes
Loyola's accounting program is accredited by AACSB. As an accounting student, you can join Loyola's chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society for AACSB-accredited business programs, along with Beta Alpha Psi and Alpha Sigma Nu.
Loyola says the major supports your progress toward professional licensure and certification, such as the CPA and CFE. Graduates are prepared for roles that include forensic accountant, fraud examiner or investigator, auditor, compliance or risk analyst, financial examiner, valuation or litigation support analyst, and regulatory or law enforcement financial specialist.
- Programmatic Accreditation
- AACSB
- Confirmed on Official List
- No
- Accreditation Notes
- AACSB International (Loyola's accounting program)
- Certification Preparation
- CFE
Where this degree can lead: Forensic Accounting Jobs, Certified Fraud Examiner Certification.
Fit
Who This Program Fits
- You want to study in person. Loyola teaches the major on its Baltimore campus.
- You like variety. Three of your electives can come from finance, sociology and criminal justice courses.
- You're planning a master's degree. The major works with Loyola's 3+1 Master of Accounting option. It works with the 4+1 option too.
- You like guests and field work. Guest lectures, case studies and field trips are built into the program.
- You're aiming at firm careers. The Sellinger School has industry ties with PwC, RSM and CohnReznick.
Curriculum
What You Will Study
The major pairs a full accounting core with forensic study. You take Intermediate Accounting, Cost Accounting, Taxation of Business Entities, Auditing and Commercial Law. That makes the accounting skills behind every investigation solid before you specialize.
On the forensic side, you begin with a forensic science foundation. One choice is How to Get Away with Murder (Or Not), which explores crime through investigation methods, forensic analysis, criminal psychology and victimology. The other is Introduction to Forensic Science with Lab. Then you pick three electives.
Financial Analysis and Valuation has you build pro forma financial statements and determine what a company is worth through hands-on spreadsheet modeling. Introduction to Criminal Justice follows the system from investigation to prosecution to corrections. Investments, Introduction to Sociology, Social Problems and Seminar: Forensic Sociology are on the menu too.
The Forensic Accounting Seminar is your capstone. It's a 3-credit course for forensic accounting majors, and Loyola's sample plan places it in the senior spring term. You'll combine real-world case studies, faculty experiences and guest lectures. You analyze real cases, learn directly from industry professionals and present your findings in a professional investigative format.
Courses the School Names
- Forensic Accounting Capstone
- Financial Analysis and Valuation
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
Standout Features
- Compatible with accelerated 3+1 and 4+1 Master of Accounting pathways (bachelor's plus master's in four to five years)
- Faculty include CFEs, CPAs and experienced expert witnesses
- Industry connections with firms such as PwC, RSM and CohnReznick
- Only undergraduate-level forensic accounting program offered in Maryland, per the school
- Capstone
- Forensic Accounting Capstone: analyze real-world cases and present findings in a professional investigative format.
- Internship or Practicum
- Forensic Accounting Capstone course with industry professionals and faculty-led field experiences; the school's news release says the new programs reflect industry partners' commitment to hands-on learning and internships.
Cost
How Much It Costs at $975 a Credit
Loyola lists 2026-27 full-time undergraduate tuition as a flat $30,905 per semester, or $61,810 per year. That covers 12 to 20 credits, so a full load and a heavier one carry the same rate. If you study part-time (under 12 credits), you'd pay $975 per credit in fall and spring.
Housing, meals and fees are listed separately. SAT or ACT scores are optional for full-time undergraduate admission, and any you submit are also considered for merit scholarships. You can ask the financial aid office what merit awards could look like for you.
- Cost per Credit
- $975 per credit
- Fees and Notes
- 2026-27 undergraduate tuition: full-time (12-20 credits) flat $30,905 per semester ($61,810 per year); part-time (<12 credits) $975 per credit in fall and spring. Housing, meals and fees are extra.
Format
Format and Schedule
This is an in-person program on Loyola's Baltimore campus. It's 120 credits, and the sample plan builds toward the Forensic Accounting Seminar in your senior spring term. If you study full-time, you'll take 12 to 20 credits a semester. Loyola enrolls new students for two entry terms a year.
If you want to keep going, Loyola offers a 3+1 Master of Accounting option. There's a 4+1 option too. Motivated students can earn a bachelor's and a master's in four to five years. Your learning extends past the classroom through guest lectures, case studies and field trips.
- Start Dates
- 2 starts a year
- Campus Requirements
- In-person program; the page says few universities offer undergraduate forensic accounting degrees 'and even fewer offer them in person'.
Reputation
What People Say About the Program
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Dean Mary Ann Scully said industry leaders helped shape the new programs, so the curriculum reflects real workforce needs and gives students practical skills they can apply right away.
Source: Loyola news release
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Loyola's news release calls the major the only undergraduate program of its kind in Maryland and one of few in the nation.
Source: Loyola news release
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In its filing with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, Loyola says case studies run throughout the curriculum to put students in real-world scenarios.
Source: Maryland Higher Education Commission proposal (Loyola filing)
Before You Apply
Questions to Ask the School Before You Apply
- Which three forensic electives are offered this year, and how many seats does each have?
- How do the capstone's field experiences work, and which organizations take part?
- How early can I apply to the 3+1 Master of Accounting pathway? Is the timing the same for the 4+1?
- How do merit scholarships work alongside the flat full-time tuition rate?
- Which CPA exam requirements does the 120-credit plan meet in Maryland, and what do the master's pathways add?
School
About Loyola University Maryland
Private Jesuit university in Baltimore, Maryland; the Sellinger School of Business and Management launched the Forensic Accounting B.B.A. in 2026.
- Degree
- B.B.A., Bachelor's
- School
- Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, MD
- Institution Type
- Private nonprofit
- Religious Affiliation
- Catholic
- Delivery
- On Campus
- Graduation Rate, Transfer Students (8 Years)
- 88.5%
- Admit Rate
- 75%
- Total Enrollment
- 4,897
- Bachelor's Completions a Year in This Field
- 45
- Campus Setting
- City
Rankings
Rankings That Include This Program
Rank is the program's position among the programs on that list at its degree level.
- Best Forensic Accounting Programs Rank 2 of 22, bachelor's
- Best Bachelor's Programs Rank 2 of 22, bachelor's
- CFE Exam Prep Programs Rank 2 of 12, bachelor's
- Cheapest Programs Rank 11 of 11, bachelor's
- With Internships Rank 2 of 8, bachelor's
Compare
Bachelor's Programs With Similar Scores
Other bachelor's programs with the closest scores.
-
Bachelor of Science in Forensic Accounting
-
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science in Fraud Examination and Financial Forensics
-
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Bachelor of Science in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination
-
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting, Business Fraud and Forensic Concentration
Frequently Asked Questions About This Forensic Accounting Program
Is Loyola University Maryland's Bachelor of Business Administration in Forensic Accounting a Good Program?
It ranks #2 of 22 bachelor's programs in our 2027 rankings, because 88.5% of its transfer students go on to graduate (the highest among the bachelor's programs we rank) and its graduates in this field typically earn $103,352 (the highest among the bachelor's programs we rank).
It also places #2 among bachelor's programs on the CFE Exam Prep Programs list and #2 among bachelor's programs on the With Internships list.
Is Loyola's Forensic Accounting Degree Offered Online?
What Happens in the Capstone Course?
Can I Earn a Master's Degree Faster After This Major?
Does the Major Connect to the CPA and CFE Credentials?
Sources
- Loyola University Maryland's Bachelor of Business Administration in Forensic Accounting pageDepartments / accountingTuition price affordability / cost breakdownApplication process / first yearAccounting / student organizationsLoyola news release
- Acadproginstitapprovals / ProposalsMaryland Higher Education Commission proposal (Loyola filing)
- Preview course nopopPreview program
- IPEDS Data Center
- Certified Fraud Examiner eligibility
Sources retrieved to .