Best institutions to study Accounting
A program that prepares individuals to practice the profession of accounting and to perform related business functions.
1,352 U.S. institutions graduated 60,383 Accounting students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.0301, a specialization of Accounting and Related Services (CIP 52.03), and leads most directly to the Accountants and Auditors occupation (BLS SOC 13-2011).
About Accounting programs
A program that prepares individuals to practice the profession of accounting and to perform related business functions. Includes instruction in accounting principles and theory, financial accounting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, legal aspects of accounting, auditing, reporting procedures, statement analysis, planning and consulting, business information systems, accounting research methods, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific for-profit, public, and non-profit organizations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Accounting program, part of the broader Accounting and Related Services field, prepares individuals to practice accounting and perform essential business functions. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding financial principles, auditing, and reporting procedures, making it a great fit for those looking to enter the business world with a strong financial foundation.
Students in the Accounting program gain knowledge in various areas, including financial and managerial accounting, tax accounting, and auditing. Core skills developed include critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication, equipping graduates to handle complex financial data and make informed decisions.
Credentials awarded
What Accounting graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree40,899 graduates / yr · 1,028 institutions68%
- Master's degree11,486 graduates / yr · 413 institutions19%
- Associate's degree4,009 graduates / yr · 262 institutions6.6%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2,332 graduates / yr · 124 institutions3.9%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years913 graduates / yr · 86 institutions1.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate595 graduates / yr · 68 institutions1.0%
- Award of less than 12 weeks90 graduates / yr · 7 institutions0.1%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship37 graduates / yr · 14 institutions0.1%
- Post-master's certificate13 graduates / yr · 6 institutions0.0%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years9 graduates / yr · 4 institutions0.0%
Graduates over time
Accounting completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 78,101 |
| 2013 | 78,486 |
| 2014 | 78,786 |
| 2015 | 81,146 |
| 2016 | 81,757 |
| 2017 | 80,707 |
| 2018 | 80,706 |
| 2019 | 77,698 |
| 2020 | 73,802 |
| 2021 | 71,455 |
| 2022 | 66,888 |
| 2023 | 60,577 |
| 2024 | 57,564 |
| 2025 | 60,383 |
Top 50 institutions for Accounting, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 2,262 | 46% | $11,580 | $58,784 |
| 2 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 1,683 | 43% | $34,565 | $54,898 |
| 3 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 681 | 72% | — | $54,281 |
| 4 | University of Phoenix - Arizona Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 573 | 21% | $15,478 | $51,405 |
| 5 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sMaster's | 534 | 45% | — | $55,785 |
| 6 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 486 | 65% | $28,911 | $51,541 |
| 7 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 441 | 84% | — | $67,186 |
| 8 | Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, COPrivate for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 396 | 19% | $16,966 | $34,762 |
| 9 | Dallas College Dallas, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 378 | 32% | — | $39,308 |
| 10 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 374 | 90% | — | $64,058 |
| 11 | DeVry University - Illinois Lisle, ILPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 370 | 37% | $32,381 | $54,264 |
| 12 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 365 | 88% | — | $62,399 |
| 13 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 359 | 43% | $21,535 | $53,977 |
| 14 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicBachelor's | 352 | 65% | — | $48,942 |
| 15 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 348 | 63% | — | $56,600 |
| 16 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 328 | 73% | — | $53,452 |
| 17 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 326 | 77% | — | $54,371 |
| 18 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 326 | 50% | — | $51,355 |
| 19 | University of Mississippi University, MSPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 324 | 72% | — | $59,123 |
| 20 | Florida International University Miami, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 299 | 74% | — | $54,963 |
| 21 | Baylor University Waco, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 299 | 80% | $35,682 | $68,187 |
| 22 | University of Houston - Downtown Houston, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 299 | 33% | — | $54,128 |
| 23 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 292 | 85% | — | $74,731 |
| 24 | Auburn University Auburn, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 278 | 82% | — | $60,381 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 275 | 86% | — | $63,425 |
| 26 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 274 | 83% | — | $67,574 |
| 27 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 274 | 69% | — | $63,059 |
| 28 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 266 | 78% | — | $55,203 |
| 29 | Colorado State University Global Denver, COPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 264 | — | — | $61,648 |
| 30 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 261 | 75% | — | $62,930 |
| 31 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 260 | 74% | — | $53,197 |
| 32 | Texas State University San Marcos, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 260 | 55% | — | $52,610 |
| 33 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 258 | 61% | — | $61,509 |
| 34 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor's | 256 | 68% | — | $58,332 |
| 35 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, ARPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 254 | 71% | — | $57,535 |
| 36 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 252 | 87% | — | $56,419 |
| 37 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 251 | 52% | — | $57,814 |
| 38 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 243 | 68% | — | $60,659 |
| 39 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 242 | 69% | — | $53,842 |
| 40 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MDPublicBachelor's | 241 | 33% | — | $58,863 |
| 41 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 241 | 65% | — | $60,992 |
| 42 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 234 | 68% | $28,141 | $69,250 |
| 43 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 233 | 89% | — | $68,082 |
| 44 | University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NVPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 228 | 51% | — | $49,751 |
| 45 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 225 | 57% | — | $68,904 |
| 46 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 225 | 51% | — | $37,216 |
| 47 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 222 | 60% | — | $57,618 |
| 48 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicMaster'sBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 221 | 90% | — | $68,909 |
| 49 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 216 | 82% | — | $74,151 |
| 50 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 211 | 43% | — | $52,665 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Accounting and Related Services field (CIP 52.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 55 states & territories
Where Accounting graduates come from. Each state links to all Accounting and Related Services programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 13-2011, Accountants and Auditors, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Accounting program can pursue careers as Accountants and Auditors, Tax Preparers, and Financial Examiners, among others. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 4.6% and approximately 124,200 annual openings. The median wage for accountants and auditors is $81,680, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.0301
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Accountants and Auditorsprimary SOC 13-2011 | $83,680 | +4.6% About as fast as average | ~124,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Tax Preparers SOC 13-2082 | $54,920 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~10,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Business Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1011 | $99,080 | +5.7% Faster than average | ~8,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Financial Examiners SOC 13-2061 | $94,160 | +18.5% Much faster than average | ~5,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Financial Risk Specialists SOC 13-2054 | $117,330 | +6.5% Faster than average | ~4,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents SOC 13-2081 | $62,370 | -1.8% Decline | ~4,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Credit Analysts SOC 13-2041 | $83,510 | -4.4% Decline | ~3,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Budget Analysts SOC 13-2031 | $91,640 | +1.0% Little or no change | ~3,100 | Bachelor's degree |
SOC 13-2022 | — | — | — | — |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Accounting programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Accounting and Related Services specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Accounting and Related Services (CIP 52.03).
- Accounting Technology/CIP 52.0302
Technician and Bookkeeping 18,452 graduates / yr644 institutions - Accounting and FinanceCIP 52.03043,776 graduates / yr134 institutions
- Accounting and Business/CIP 52.0305
Management 1,487 graduates / yr101 institutions - Accounting and Related ServicesCIP 52.0399643 graduates / yr39 institutions
- AuditingCIP 52.0303208 graduates / yr17 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, active listening, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with an Accounting degree?+
You can work as an Accountant, Tax Preparer, or Financial Examiner, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for accountants?+
The job outlook for accountants is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.6% and 124,200 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Accounting?+
Accounting is CIP 52.0301 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Accounting and Related Services (CIP 52.03). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to practice the profession of accounting and to perform related business functions. Includes instruction in accounting principles and theory, financial accounting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, legal aspects of accounting, auditing, reporting procedures, statement analysis, planning and consulting, business information systems, accounting research methods, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific for-profit, public, and non-profit organizations.
How many institutions offer Accounting programs?+
1,352 U.S. institutions reported Accounting graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 55 states & territories, awarding 60,383 credentials in the year. That is 71.1% of all Accounting and Related Services graduates.
How much do Accounting graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Accountants and Auditors occupation, which Accounting most directly leads to, pays a median of $83,680 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Accounting and Related Services field report median earnings of $53,128 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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