GGU’s MS Taxation Program Garners High Ratings

Golden Gate University’s Master of Taxation program has garnered three recent designations as a top-tier graduate program for taxation.  

Both College Choice and College Factual have rated GGU’s MS in Taxation the No. 1 Best Master’s Program in Tax.  The organizations recognized GGU’s MS Tax for its reputable faculty of scholar-practitioners and its excellent track record of alumni hired by Big Four firms. 

Forbes Advisor ranked GGU’s MS Tax the No. 4 Best Online Master’s in Taxation, noting GGU’s synchronous and asynchronous course delivery options and the concentration in technology and analytics, which includes an internship experience. 

GGU outranked competitors including University of Southern California, Villanova University, DePaul University, and Northeastern University. 

“I’m delighted that our Bruce F. Braden School of Taxation continues to be well received in the tax community writ large,” commented Jeff Karlin, professor at the Bruce F. Braden School of Taxation. “We’re grateful that we have the good fortune to have terrific, professional, and committed full-time and adjunct faculty. We will endeavor to do our best to deserve the high praise offered by these ratings.” 

GGU’s robust MS Tax alumni community includes tax professionals like Krystle Chow, partner at Spott, Lucey & Wall, who has referred many colleagues to the MS Tax program.  

“Early into the GGU program, when I was new at my firm, I came back with lessons from class and was able to influence some of our processes based on what I was learning at GGU. That technical training supported me in developing new areas of my practice, and the working professionals I kept in contact with are now referral sources for me,” said Krystle. “Those are the benefits of the GGU program,” she said.  

Krystle has used GGU’s Alumni Referral Grant to recommend many students to GGU with success. The Alumni Referral Grant is a tuition grant issued to a student on behalf of an alum who refers a prospective student to a degree granting program. 

“I love the Alumni Referral Grant for the financial benefit and because GGU immediately contacts the student and helps them register for their first class,” said Krystle. “The goodwill you create with that person makes all the difference.” 

The MS Tax program benefits experienced practitioners like Krystle Chow as well as beginners who wish to enter the field. Among the resources available to all students in the program is GGU’s Chi Pi Alpha Accounting and Tax Club, which provides leadership development, networking, and interviewing opportunities to its members through info sessions, workshops, and meet-and-greets with employers like Deloitte and KP&G and with alumni working in the field.  

Another flagship event at GGU available to students in the program is the annual taxation and accounting career fair that connects students with hiring employers.  

“The preparation at GGU for the career fair was awesome. At GGU they had 10-12 Lunch & Learns where you get to prepare for how the career fair runs, what to say, and what to ask,” commented alumni Nicholas Garcia, MST 2019. 

Added Microsoft Finance Leader Robert Patterson, MS Tax 2004, “At the career fair, I received offers from all the Big Four firms. That day, 100 percent of my cohort got interviews.” 

Throughout Robert’s innovative and ambitious tax career with multinational companies, and public sector he has referred people he’s met—40 individuals in total—to GGU. 

“I’ve now taught at quite a few institutions and from the post-graduate perspective, I’ve never seen professors who put in the time and investment like faculty at GGU. That focus on individuals has stayed with me. There’s truly this ‘you matter’ component to what GGU delivers.”