Best colleges for Accounting and Related Services
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Accounting and Related Services by graduate earnings are Washington and Lee University ($81,625), Santa Clara University ($78,417) and Villanova University ($77,966), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Washington and Lee University (Lexington, VA): $81,625, 57 graduates a year
- Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA): $78,417, 48 graduates a year
- Villanova University (Villanova, PA): $77,966, 144 graduates a year
- Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA): $77,026, 40 graduates a year
- University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN): $76,878, 95 graduates a year
Compare 1,933 U.S. colleges offering Accounting and Related Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 58 states.
Accounting and Related Services programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,176 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 52.03 and the Accountants and Auditors occupation (BLS SOC).
About Accounting and Related Services programs
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 financial management, equipping them with the necessary skills to succeed in various business environments.
Students will gain essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and mathematics. Coursework typically covers topics such as economics, accounting, administration, and customer service, preparing graduates for the complexities of financial analysis and reporting.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,625 | 57 | 94% | $11,983 | $16,750 |
| 2 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,417 | 48 | 88% | $44,094 | $19,250 |
| 3 | Villanova University Villanova, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,966 | 144 | 92% | $33,774 | $25,858 |
| 4 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,026 | 40 | 88% | $26,912 | $23,179 |
| 5 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,878 | 95 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,000 |
| 6 | Fordham University Bronx, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,473 | 140 | 82% | $38,931 | $23,970 |
| 7 | Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,776 | 21 | 86% | $30,675 | $26,881 |
| 8 | Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,566 | 44 | 76% | $36,137 | $24,000 |
| 9 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,512 | 141 | 91% | $21,126 | $18,000 |
| 10 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,294 | 49 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
| 11 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,731 | 292 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 12 | The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,403 | 59 | 86% | — | $22,500 |
| 13 | Binghamton University Vestal, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,151 | 216 | 82% | — | $19,500 |
| 14 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,234 | 31 | 87% | $24,533 | $27,000 |
| 15 | Bentley University Waltham, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,823 | 166 | 87% | $31,677 | $27,000 |
| 16 | California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,696 | 21 | 70% | $23,129 | $21,858 |
| 17 | University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,588 | 32 | 70% | $37,121 | $24,660 |
| 18 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,031 | 146 | 86% | $25,823 | $17,778 |
| 19 | Fairfield University Fairfield, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,747 | 146 | 84% | $36,845 | $26,633 |
| 20 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,563 | 199 | 80% | — | $22,484 |
| 21 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,508 | 44 | 85% | $24,049 | $20,757 |
| 22 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,491 | 92 | 81% | — | $26,177 |
| 23 | Marist University Poughkeepsie, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,436 | 39 | 80% | $33,867 | $23,250 |
| 24 | Menlo College Atherton, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,067 | 24 | 54% | $26,655 | $26,955 |
| 25 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,960 | 39 | 79% | $36,488 | $17,000 |
Specializations within Accounting and Related Services
6 of the 6 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 52.03 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- AccountingCIP 52.030160,383 graduates / yr1,352 institutions55 states
- Accounting Technology/CIP 52.0302
Technician and Bookkeeping 18,452 graduates / yr644 institutions52 states - Accounting and FinanceCIP 52.03043,776 graduates / yr134 institutions37 states
- Accounting and Business/CIP 52.0305
Management 1,487 graduates / yr101 institutions47 states - Accounting and Related ServicesCIP 52.0399643 graduates / yr39 institutions16 states
- AuditingCIP 52.0303208 graduates / yr17 institutions13 states
Offered across 58 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 13-2011, Accountants and Auditors, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Accounting and Related Services program can expect a positive job outlook, with an estimated growth rate of 4.6% and approximately 124,200 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $81,680, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Accounting and Related Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 52.03.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 52.03 (Accounting and Related Services) maps to 15 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-3031 | Financial Managers |
| 13-2011 | Accountants and Auditorsprimary |
| 13-2022 | Appraisers of Personal and Business Property |
| 13-2031 | Budget Analysts |
| 13-2041 | Credit Analysts |
| 13-2051 | Financial and Investment Analysts |
| 13-2054 | Financial Risk Specialists |
| 13-2061 | Financial Examiners |
| 13-2081 | Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents |
| 13-2082 | Tax Preparers |
| 25-1011 | Business Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 43-3031 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks |
| 43-3051 | Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks |
| 43-4011 | Brokerage Clerks |
| 43-9111 | Statistical Assistants |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Accounting and Related Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
Common questions
What careers can I pursue with this program?+
Graduates can work in accounting, auditing, finance, and business management.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for accounting graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with many opportunities available.
What level of education do I need?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for most positions in this field.
How much do Accounting and Related Services graduates earn?+
Accounting and Related Services graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,176, College Scorecard (2019); the Accountants and Auditors occupation pays about $94,750 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Accounting and Related Services?+
Accounting and Related Services maps to CIP 52.03 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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