Virginia · Accounting and Related Services

Best colleges for Accounting and Related Services in Virginia

Ranked by graduate earnings

Washington and Lee University, James Madison University and University of Richmond are the top bachelor's Accounting and Related Services programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Washington and Lee University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $81,625, College Scorecard. Liberty University, James Madison University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Virginia: 486, 199 and 198 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 42 Virginia colleges offer Accounting and Related Services and award 1,828 degrees and certificates a year in all.

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
42
offering CIP 52.03
States & territories
58
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,828
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$56,876
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
16
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,909
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
51%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Accountants and Auditors
$100,660
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Washington and Lee University
Lexington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$81,6255794%$11,983$16,750
2James Madison University
Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$71,56319980%—$22,484
3University of Richmond
University of Richmond Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$71,5084485%$24,049$20,757
4Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$70,30319886%—$18,500
5George Mason University
Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree
$67,29115468%—$21,500
6Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree
$56,8768863%—$24,350
7Old Dominion University
Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree
$52,2268046%—$27,692
8Radford University
Radford Public · Bachelor's degree
$51,6432749%—$24,250
9Liberty University
Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$51,54148665%$28,911$32,183
10Regent University
Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$54,517957%$18,677$32,844

Top 2 certificate and associate programs

Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Tidewater Community College
Norfolk Public · Certificate
$35,5976332%—$17,429
2Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Small program
$36,958424%$12,786$26,291

Colleges awarding the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Virginia

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Liberty University
Lynchburg Private not-for-profit
486$51,541
2James Madison University
Harrisonburg Public
199$71,563
3Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg Public
198$70,303
4George Mason University
Fairfax Public
154$67,291
5Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond Public
88$56,876
6Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale Public
81Not reported
7Old Dominion University
Norfolk Public
80$52,226
8Washington and Lee University
Lexington Private not-for-profit
57$81,625
9University of Richmond
University of Richmond Private not-for-profit
44$71,508
10University of Virginia
Charlottesville Public
43Not reported
Show the other 32 Virginia colleges offering Accounting and Related Services
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Tidewater Community CollegeNorfolkPublic63
Strayer University - Virginia (Online)ArlingtonPrivate for-profit33
J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeRichmondPublic30
Germanna Community CollegeLocust GrovePublic29
New River Community CollegeDublinPublic27
Radford UniversityRadfordPublic27
Virginia State UniversityPetersburgPublic17
ECPI UniversityVirginia BeachPrivate for-profit15
Blue Ridge Community CollegeWeyers CavePublic13
Virginia Western Community CollegeRoanokePublic13
Emory & Henry UniversityEmoryPrivate not-for-profit12
Laurel Ridge Community CollegeMiddletownPublic11
University of LynchburgLynchburgPrivate not-for-profit11
University of North AmericaFairfaxPrivate for-profit10
Regent UniversityVirginia BeachPrivate not-for-profit9
Randolph-Macon CollegeAshlandPrivate not-for-profit9
Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeHamptonPublic9
Brightpoint Community CollegeChesterPublic7
Eastern Mennonite UniversityHarrisonburgPrivate not-for-profit5
Hampton UniversityHamptonPrivate not-for-profit5
Marymount UniversityArlingtonPrivate not-for-profit5
Norfolk State UniversityNorfolkPublic5
Piedmont Virginia Community CollegeCharlottesvillePublic5
Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAbingdonPublic5
Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia BeachVirginia BeachPrivate not-for-profit4
American National UniversitySalemPrivate for-profit4
Virginia Union UniversityRichmondPrivate not-for-profit4
Ferrum CollegeFerrumPrivate not-for-profit3
Patrick & Henry Community CollegeMartinsvillePublic2
Rappahannock Community CollegeGlennsPublic2
Southwest Virginia Community CollegeCedar BluffPublic2
University of the Potomac-VA CampusFALLS CHURCHPrivate for-profit2

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 Virginia

Jobs in Virginia
47,100
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$100,660
median $93,290
Best-paying metro
$93,210
Richmond, VA

Related careers

Accountants and Auditors
$100,660 avg · 47,100 jobs
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
$53,740 avg · 31,990 jobs
Financial Managers
$199,320 avg · 20,850 jobs
Financial and Investment Analysts
$117,380 avg · 10,410 jobs
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
$59,810 avg · 3,400 jobs
Budget Analysts
$112,310 avg · 2,730 jobs

Common questions

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

Which Virginia colleges award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees?+

Liberty University (486 graduates a year), James Madison University (199 graduates a year) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (198 graduates a year) award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 42 Virginia colleges offer Accounting and Related Services.

What is the best college for Accounting and Related Services in Virginia?+

By graduate earnings, Washington and Lee University leads among bachelor's Accounting and Related Services programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $81,625, College Scorecard. James Madison University and University of Richmond follow. By degrees awarded, Liberty University is the largest, with 486 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Washington and Lee University tops the list at $81,625. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Accountants and Auditors earn in Virginia?+

The average annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in Virginia is $100,660 (median $93,290), across about 47,100 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

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).

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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