California · Accounting and Related Services

Best Accounting and Related Services institutions in California, ranked by earnings

The Accounting and Related Services program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in accounting, auditing, or…

Institutions
159
offering CIP 52.03
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
5,911
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$70,362
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
28
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,035
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
47%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Accountants and Auditors
$104,710
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Santa Clara University
Santa Clara Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$78,4175388%$44,094$19,250
2California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$72,6961370%$23,129$21,858
3University of San Francisco
San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$72,5882670%$37,121$24,660
4Menlo College
Atherton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$71,0671154%$26,655$26,955
5Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$70,9603779%$36,488$17,000
6Chapman University
Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$70,3622782%$42,965$21,250
7University of San Diego
San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$69,2407184%$26,035$24,969
8California State University - Northridge
Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree
$68,90426157%$15,810
9University of Redlands
Redlands Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$67,3591167%$22,706$27,000
10Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$66,6282970%$25,578$25,000

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.6%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~124,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$81,680
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingWritingMonitoring

What Accountants and Auditors earn in California

Jobs in California
173,370
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$104,710
median $96,360
Best-paying metro
$128,730
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Related careers

Accountants and Auditors
$104,710 avg · 173,370 jobs
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
$59,680 avg · 154,980 jobs
Financial Managers
$210,640 avg · 96,860 jobs
Financial and Investment Analysts
$128,860 avg · 40,570 jobs
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
$64,010 avg · 23,180 jobs
Tax Preparers
$69,980 avg · 10,700 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Accounting and Related Services programs in California.

Which Accounting and Related Services program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Santa Clara University tops the list at $78,417. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Accountants and Auditors earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in California is $104,710 (median $96,360), across about 173,370 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Accounting and Related Services program?+

The Accounting and Related Services program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in accounting, auditing, or…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Accountants and Auditors?+

The national job outlook is about +4.6% growth with around 124,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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