Tax Analyst Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a tax analyst. Tax analysts usually study accounting, business, or finance. 70% of tax analysts hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 4,226 real tax analyst resumes to see exactly what tax analyst education sections show.

The most common colleges for tax analysts are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online tax analyst courses to help get the education required to be a tax analyst.

There are certain tax analyst certifications that you should consider. These tax analyst certifications include Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

What education do you need to become a tax analyst?

What degree do you need to be a tax analyst?

The most common degree for tax analysts is bachelor's degree, with 70% of tax analysts earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 14% and master's degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 70%
  • Master's, 14%
  • Associate, 11%
  • High School Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a tax analyst?

You should major in accounting to become a tax analyst. 41% of tax analysts major in accounting. Other common majors for a tax analyst include business and finance.

Most common colleges for tax analysts

Tax analysts often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of Houston, and DePaul University. Here are the most common colleges for tax analysts in the US based on their resumes.
Tax Analyst Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of Phoenix18.30%
University of Houston9.52%
DePaul University6.02%
Pace University4.51%
University of Massachusetts Boston4.51%

Best majors for tax analysts

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Accounting41.5%
2Business26.7%
3Finance9.7%
4Economics3.3%
5Taxation2.4%

Best colleges for tax analysts

The best colleges for tax analysts are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and University of Pennsylvania.

A tax analyst with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for tax analysts. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become tax analysts.

1. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies
Accounting
Economics

2. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

Website

www.villanova.edu

Address

800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085-1699

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $64,700 per year

Net Price: $40,134 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 29.22%
SAT Average - 1407
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Finance
Law
Communication
Accounting
B

3. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

Website

www.bentley.edu

Address

175 Forest St, Waltham, MA 02452-4705

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $67,000 per year

Net Price: $36,919 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 43.21%
SAT Average - 1338
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Accounting
Finance
Business
Marketing
Communication

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
Law
Economics
Political Science

5. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

Website

https://twin-cities.umn.edu

Address

202 Morrill Hall, 100 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0213

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,000 per year

Net Price: $17,479 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 51.87%
SAT Average - 1336
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Psychology
Economics
Finance

20 best online courses for tax analysts

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Top 10 most affordable universities for tax analysts

The most affordable schools for tax analysts are Baruch College of the City University of New York, usf sarasota-manatee, and suny farmingdale.

If the best universities for tax analysts are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for tax analysts.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

Website

www.baruch.cuny.edu

Address

One Bernard Baruch Way, New York, NY 10010

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,500 per year

Net Price: $2,981 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.29%
SAT Average - 1305
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Accounting
Business
Psychology
Economics
U

2. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,587

Cost of Attendance

13,043

Website

usfsm.edu/

Address

8350 N. Tamiani Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,400 per year

Net Price: $4,595 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 32.43%
SAT Average - 1225
ACT Average - 26
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Education
Liberal Arts
Business
Accounting

3. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice
Psychology
Economics

4. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,886

Cost of Attendance

17,645

Website

www.fullerton.edu

Address

800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92831-3599

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,500 per year

Net Price: $8,234 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 43.41%
SAT Average - 1124
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Computer Science

5. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,556

Cost of Attendance

19,434

Website

www.fiu.edu

Address

11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,500 per year

Net Price: $8,311 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 58.56%
SAT Average - 1185
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Business
Communication
Finance
Marketing

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for tax analysts

The hardest universities for tax analysts to get into are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for tax analysts are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for tax analysts based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Law
Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies
Psychology

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies
Accounting
Economics

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
Law
Economics
Political Science

4. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

29%

SAT Average

1,407

Website

www.villanova.edu

Address

800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085-1699

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $64,700 per year

Net Price: $40,134 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 29.22%
SAT Average - 1407
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Finance
Law
Communication
Accounting

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,466

Website

www.northeastern.edu

Address

360 Huntington Ave, 110CH, Boston, MA 02115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,800 per year

Net Price: $31,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.34%
SAT Average - 1466
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Economics
Law
Communication
Political Science
Accounting

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for tax analysts

The easiest schools for tax analysts to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a tax analyst without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for tax analysts.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Website

www.okwu.edu

Address

2201 Silver Lake Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,500 per year

Net Price: $26,279 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 67.73%
SAT Average - 964
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Education
Psychology
Marketing
Accounting

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

Website

www.hnu.edu

Address

3500 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619-1699

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $23,175 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 70.04%
SAT Average - 849
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Communication

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Law
Liberal Arts
Psychology
Accounting

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

Website

www.notredamecollege.edu

Address

4545 College Rd, Cleveland, OH 44121-4293

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,000 per year

Net Price: $21,651 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 89.65%
SAT Average - 994
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Communication
Accounting

5. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

83%

SAT Average

992

Website

untdallas.edu

Address

7300 University Hills Blvd, Dallas, TX 75241

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,300 per year

Net Price: $7,400 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.11%
SAT Average - 992
ACT Average - 18
Most Popular Majors
Law
Criminal Justice
Psychology
Business
Accounting

Average tax analyst salary by education level

According to our data, tax analysts with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $78,269 annually. Tax analysts with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $71,492.
Tax Analyst education level
ascdesc
Tax Analyst salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$78,269
High School Diploma or Less$56,631
Bachelor's Degree$71,492
Some College/ Associate Degree$54,463

Tax Analyst Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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