As a kid growing up in Astoria, Oregon, Hillary Demase dreamed of becoming a veterinarian someday. There was one problem.
“I love animals, but I don’t do well with blood,” she said. “I’m great with numbers, too. I have worked in healthcare finance for the past 17 years. I can support healthcare on the other side of it. I love what I do.”
Demase solidified her real-world experience by graduating from Boise State University’s online Master of Science in Accountancy in May 2024. She also earned the College of Business and Economics’ Signature Student Award while enrolled.
Given to one or two exceptional students who display a passion for learning, effective communication, critical thinking, ethical behavior, strong leadership and community engagement per program twice a year, the Signature Student went to Demase for Fall 2023.
“It was totally unexpected,” she said. “I didn’t know what the award was until they told me I had won it. I had no idea. It was really cool to be recognized.”
Demase also landed a job at Molina Healthcare not long after enrolling at Boise State. She and her husband, Aaron, and their sons, Parker (19) and Camden (15), live in Naselle, Washington.
“Earning a master’s degree wasn’t work-related,” she said. “It was something that I always wanted to do. Being a grad student while working full-time and caring for my family was a challenge, but I enjoyed the experience and have met many phenomenal people along the way.”
No blood, no problem
After making the switch from paws to numbers, Demase graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from St. Martin’s University in 2006.
She worked for more than a decade at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada and for more than three years at Columbia Memorial Hospital in her hometown before Demase enrolled at Boise State 15 years after finishing her undergraduate degree.
“I primarily chose Boise State because of its reputation,” she said. “I was a little scared of the degree mills out there. I was looking for something more, where I would actually learn and not just pay to get a piece of paper that says I have a master’s.
“I also liked knowing Boise State has a brick-and-mortar building I could appear in. The degree is also accredited (by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). Those are huge plusses.”
The online format was especially key for Demase to achieve her personal goal and become the first person in her family to earn a master’s degree.
“It was amazing,” she said. “There’s no way I could have done the traditional way, going to a classroom. I live in the boonies, so it would have been impossible. I needed the flexibility to get the degree done. I did a few online classes in my undergrad. It was a smooth transition.”
Because she was a veteran accountant coming into the program, Demase was familiar with most of the information that she learned. She still walked away with valuable insights.
“The degree strengthened the concepts I already had from my undergrad and work experience,” she said. “I also enjoyed making connections with other people in the program. I applied some of that knowledge to my job.”
Forensics, taught by Eric Gooden, was Demase’s favorite course in the online Master of Science in Accountancy curriculum.
“There were never any surprises,” she said. “He was straightforward about what material you needed to learn and about preparing for exams and really learning the information, not just preparing for the exams.”
While enrolled at Boise State, Demase earned a promotion at work. She went from finance manager to financial director, her current role, in June 2023.
“Working on my master’s degree probably helped me get a promotion while I was in the program,” she said. “It will also help for my career growth in the future.”
Room to grow
Demase was unable to attend commencement at Boise State because she was with her family on a Caribbean cruise to celebrate her eldest son’s high school graduation.
“My boys thought I was nuts for voluntarily doing homework, but they were supportive,” she said. “I appreciate my husband and our boys for inspiring and supporting my Boise State journey. I absolutely got what I was hoping to get out of the program.”
Although she is happy where she is now with her career, Demase hopes to someday move ahead with the help of having a master’s degree on her resume.
“I’d like to become a market chief financial officer, but not yet,” she said. “Having this degree will definitely help me achieve that goal. People ask me a lot more questions about things I probably knew before, but now I have that extra credit behind my name. It feels nice.”
Demase, who enjoys gardening in her free time, is happy she took a leap of faith in returning to school and earning a degree fully online. She believes it was well worth it.
“It’s going to be the time commitment you expect it to be,” she said. “You will get out of it what you put into it. Don’t hesitate getting started. That’s the hardest part. Once you’re there, you work through, semester by semester, until it’s done. Then, you have a master’s degree.”
Learn more about the Online MSA
Earning an Online Master of Science in Accountancy from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.