Best institutions to study Accounting and Finance
An integrated or combined program in accounting and finance that prepares individuals to function as accountants and financial managers or analysts.
134 U.S. institutions graduated 3,776 Accounting and Finance students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.0304, 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 and Finance programs
An integrated or combined program in accounting and finance that prepares individuals to function as accountants and financial managers or analysts.
See also: 52.0301 - Accounting., 52.0801 - Finance, General.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Accounting and Finance program, part of the broader Accounting and Related Services field, is designed to prepare students for careers as accountants and financial managers or analysts. This integrated program combines essential principles of accounting and finance, equipping individuals with the skills needed to excel in various business environments.
Students will develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and mathematics, alongside knowledge in economics, accounting, and administration. Coursework typically includes topics such as financial reporting, auditing, and asset management.
Credentials awarded
What Accounting and Finance graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1,527 graduates / yr · 50 institutions40%
- Bachelor's degree823 graduates / yr · 36 institutions22%
- Master's degree599 graduates / yr · 37 institutions16%
- Associate's degree503 graduates / yr · 48 institutions13%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years192 graduates / yr · 25 institutions5.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate132 graduates / yr · 10 institutions3.5%
Graduates over time
Accounting and Finance completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2,348 |
| 2013 | 2,363 |
| 2014 | 2,030 |
| 2015 | 1,849 |
| 2016 | 1,734 |
| 2017 | 1,777 |
| 2018 | 1,817 |
| 2019 | 2,368 |
| 2020 | 3,015 |
| 2021 | 3,554 |
| 2022 | 3,677 |
| 2023 | 3,373 |
| 2024 | 3,421 |
| 2025 | 3,776 |
Top 50 institutions for Accounting and Finance, 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 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 634 | 33% | — | $38,258 |
| 2 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 282 | 43% | $34,565 | $54,898 |
| 3 | DeVry University - Illinois Lisle, ILPrivate for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 240 | 37% | $32,381 | $54,264 |
| 4 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster's | 145 | 84% | — | $67,186 |
| 5 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 118 | 24% | — | — |
| 6 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 117 | 78% | $36,004 | $70,069 |
| 7 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 115 | 31% | — | $45,092 |
| 8 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MAPublicBachelor's | 80 | 53% | — | $54,221 |
| 9 | Davidson - Davie Community College Thomasville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 79 | 46% | — | $41,532 |
| 10 | Bentley University Waltham, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 78 | 87% | $31,677 | $72,823 |
| 11 | Pitt Community College Winterville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 76 | 35% | — | — |
| 12 | Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 74 | 34% | — | — |
| 13 | Wayne Community College Goldsboro, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 70 | 49% | — | $32,979 |
| 14 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MDPublicMaster's | 68 | 33% | — | $58,863 |
| 15 | Surry Community College Dobson, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 68 | 6% | — | — |
| 16 | Gaston College Dallas, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 64 | 63% | — | — |
| 17 | Mitchell Community College Statesville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 64 | 28% | — | — |
| 18 | Lenoir Community College Kinston, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 58 | 36% | — | — |
| 19 | Fordham University Bronx, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 55 | 82% | $38,931 | $76,473 |
| 20 | Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 49 | 31% | — | — |
| 21 | Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 46 | 34% | — | — |
| 22 | Randolph Community College Asheboro, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 45 | 58% | — | — |
| 23 | Rowan - Cabarrus Community College Salisbury, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 40 | 35% | — | — |
| 24 | Richmond Community College Hamlet, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 39 | 46% | — | — |
| 25 | Asheville - Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 37 | 40% | — | — |
| 26 | Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 37 | 50% | — | — |
| 27 | Wilkes Community College Wilkesboro, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 35 | 55% | — | — |
| 28 | Coastal Carolina Community College Jacksonville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 33 | 49% | — | — |
| 29 | Johnston Community College Smithfield, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 32 | 37% | — | — |
| 30 | Piedmont Community College Roxboro, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 32 | 20% | — | — |
| 31 | Wilmington University New Castle, DEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 28 | 20% | $16,588 | $47,047 |
| 32 | Western Piedmont Community College Morganton, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 28 | 49% | — | — |
| 33 | Sampson Community College Clinton, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 25 | 56% | — | — |
| 34 | Strayer University - Global Region Washington, DCPrivate for-profitMaster's | 22 | 14% | $18,144 | $52,373 |
| 35 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 21 | 84% | $26,589 | — |
| 36 | Bucknell University Lewisburg, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 21 | 86% | $30,675 | $75,776 |
| 37 | Franklin Pierce University Rindge, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 20 | 54% | $26,344 | $45,356 |
| 38 | Clarkson University Potsdam, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 20 | 75% | $27,281 | $60,594 |
| 39 | Central Carolina Community College Sanford, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 20 | 43% | — | — |
| 40 | Stanly Community College Albemarle, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 19 | 48% | — | — |
| 41 | Alamance Community College Graham, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 17 | 39% | — | — |
| 42 | East Central University Ada, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 17 | 34% | — | $46,419 |
| 43 | South Piedmont Community College Polkton, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 15 | 38% | — | — |
| 44 | James Sprunt Community College Kenansville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 15 | 48% | — | — |
| 45 | Hiram College Hiram, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 55% | $20,210 | $40,613 |
| 46 | Jacksonville University Jacksonville, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 14 | 51% | $25,813 | — |
| 47 | Brunswick Community College Bolivia, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 14 | 40% | — | — |
| 48 | Wilson Community College Wilson, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 14 | 27% | — | — |
| 49 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus Bothell, WAPublicMaster's | 14 | 65% | — | $62,731 |
| 50 | University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Fort Smith, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 38% | — | — |
* 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 37 states & territories
Where Accounting and Finance 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 and Finance program can pursue careers as accountants and auditors, financial managers, or financial analysts. The job outlook in this field is promising, with an expected growth rate of 4.6% and approximately 124,200 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $81,680, with a typical educational requirement of a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.0304
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 |
Financial Managers SOC 11-3031 | $166,570 | +14.8% Much faster than average | ~74,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Financial and Investment Analysts SOC 13-2051 | $102,740 | +5.7% Faster than average | ~25,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Business Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1011 | $99,080 | +5.7% Faster than average | ~8,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Financial Risk Specialists SOC 13-2054 | $117,330 | +6.5% Faster than average | ~4,800 | 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 and Finance 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).
- AccountingCIP 52.030160,383 graduates / yr1,352 institutions
- Accounting Technology/CIP 52.0302
Technician and Bookkeeping 18,452 graduates / yr644 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 an award of at least 12 weeks, an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, or a master's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, active listening, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an accountant, financial manager, or financial analyst, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook 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 and Finance?+
Accounting and Finance is CIP 52.0304 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: An integrated or combined program in accounting and finance that prepares individuals to function as accountants and financial managers or analysts.
How many institutions offer Accounting and Finance programs?+
134 U.S. institutions reported Accounting and Finance graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 37 states & territories, awarding 3,776 credentials in the year. That is 4.4% of all Accounting and Related Services graduates.
How much do Accounting and Finance graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Accountants and Auditors occupation, which Accounting and Finance 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 $52,373 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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