Accounting Degrees in Mississippi

Introduction

Mississippi is home to one of the country’s smaller economies, but the state also boasts a low cost of living, making it very accommodating for CPAs, who can still earn a proportionately high living wage. The state’s major industries include agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas, fishing, and gambling. Accounting positions in the state are projected to increase slightly slower than the national average, but Mississippi still employs a sizeable number of accountants throughout the state: more than 5,200 across nearly 400 licensed firms. Two of the “Big Four” international CPA firms have offices located in Mississippi – KPMG in Jackson and Deloitte in Hattiesburg. The state is also home to the accounting and advisory firm Horne, which ranks as one of the largest in the South.

Mississippi at a glance

Population	2,984,100
Per Capita Income	$21,036
Unemployment Rate	4.8%
Fortune 500 Companies
Licensed CPA Firms	396

Accounting Programs in Mississippi

Search our comprehensive school directory to explore the accounting programs in Mississippi, including campus-based, online and hybrid programs.

Accounting Salaries and Employment

Mississippian accountants and auditors can look forward to a 9.6% percent rise in employment between 2012 and 2022, leading to approximately 5,580 potential employment opportunities. While this growth rate is somewhat slower than national averages, job opportunities are available in growing regional firms such as Horne, which produced $67.37 million in revenue last year.

Top-paying cities for accountants in Mississippi include Pascagoula, Jackson, Gulfport-Biloxi and Hattiesburg. Mississippi’s accountants typically earn between $34,030 and $86,990 annually.

Projected Job Growth for Accountants

Accounting Salaries by Specialty

Top-paying cities for accountants

Major firms headquartered in Mississippi

Count	Firm	Location	2014 Revenue (in millions)
1	Horne	Ridgeland, MS	$80

Accounting Today named these firms among the highest performing in a multi-state region. Rankings as based upon reported net revenues from 2014. Source: Accounting Today, "Top 100 Firms and Regional Leaders"

Becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) in Mississippi

The CPA Exam in the state of Mississippi is administered by the State Board of Accountancy. Those interested in sitting for the exam must fulfill the requirements listed below. The exam is comprised of four sections, all of which must be passed within an 18 month long period, however, it is common for students to retake individual sections of the exam until a passing score is acquired.

The list of Mississippi schools ranked by their CPA Pass Rates from 2014 below includes both first-time test-takers as well as those retaking the whole exam or portions of it. Mississippi endorses the transfer of credits to or from another State Board, as well as reciprocal licensure.

Eligibility for CPA Licensure in Mississippi

Eligibility for CPA licensure in Mississippi is contingent upon the following qualifications:

• Candidates must be a resident of the state (even if tested by another jurisdiction)
• Be of good moral character
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (including 150 hours)
• Complete 24 graduate level semester hours in accounting
• Complete 1 year of experience in accounting and/or auditing, not including academia

Age Requirement	N/A
Citizenship Requirement	No
Residency Requirement	Yes
Social Security # Requirement	Yes
Education Requirement for Licensure	Bachelor's degree (150 hours)
Participates in International Programs	No
Hours in Accounting	24 semester hours
Exam Sitting Requirements	150 hours
Experience Requirements	1 year of accounting experience
Ethics Exam	N/A

Applicants must make the application for licensure within 5 years of passing the CPA exam.

Source: The American Institute of CPAs

CPA exam fees in Mississippi

Certifying and Professional Organizations

The Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy oversees the certification of CPAs and CPA firms in order to protect the financial consumers of the state. The Board is responsible for any necessary disciplinary actions, provides continuing education opportunities and administers the state CPA Exam. After passing the exam and receiving certification, CPAs may join the

Mississippi Society of CPAs, which offers its members state advocacy, continuing education, information, leadership, networking and resources.