Program Costs

Information on tuition and costs for the Graduate Accounting Certificate from the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Tuition for the 12-credit Penn State Smeal Graduate Certificate in Accounting Foundations for the 2022-23 academic year is as follows:

$1,007* per credit if you are taking 11 credits or less per semester
$12,082* if you are taking 12 or more credits per semester (flat-rate)

Tuition is assessed each semester of enrollment.

Note: Starting with the Spring 2020 semester, Penn State will eliminate the information technology fee as a separate line item on the student bill and instead incorporate the fee as part of the tuition rate. This action will not impact overall cost.

Paying for Your Certificate

Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. Some students in the program have received sponsorship or reimbursement from their employers. If that is not possible, you may consider a private, alternative loan. Additionally, depending on your tax situation, you may qualify for an education credit on your tax return for certain out-of-pocket educational expenses. Please consult your tax professional to determine if this benefit applies to you.