Supply and Demand of Accounting Graduates Study for 2002 released--desire for master's degrees on the rise.

• Position: Brief Article

According to the AICPA's recently released study for 2002, The Supply of Accounting Graduates and the Demand for Public Accounting Recruits, Master's degrees proved productive. The number of Master's degrees awarded nationwide increased by 11%, enrollment in Master's in Accounting programs increased by 21% and the number of new recruits hired with Master's degrees jumped 9%. By comparison, Bachelor's degrees in accounting decreased by 8% from the prior year (2000-01), enrollment in Bachelor's programs decreased by 1% and the number of new accounting recruits hired with Bachelor's degrees dropped by 5%.

Also of note, 56% of students receiving Master's degrees in 2001-2002 took positions in public accounting, while approximately one-third of Bachelor's degree recipients took...