If you are an aspiring accountant and want to choose the right school for your career, look no further! This blog will give you all the information you need to know before applying to the best accounting colleges. Whether you are looking for a school that will help prepare you for the CPA exam, or one that you can easily afford, we’ll help you find the right one for you!
Our guide includes:
- Benefits of getting your accounting degree
- Factors to consider before applying to accounting colleges
- The best colleges for accounting
- The best online college for accounting
Benefits of getting your accounting degree
If you need an extra encouraging boost towards getting your accounting degree, consider all these great benefits that come with it!
Several career options
With a degree in accounting, there are several careers you can go on to pursue in this diverse field.
Jobs include:
- Certified Public Accountants
- Bookkeepers
- Management accountants
- Tax accountant
- Investment accountants
- Forensic accountants
- Auditors
- Financial advisors
- Financial consultants
- And many more!
Job availability and security
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that from 2021-2031, the job availability for accounting jobs is to grow 6%. That is estimated to be about 81,800 new jobs! This is an average percentage growth, meaning that your chance of getting an accounting job after college is grand.
In addition, in 2021, the median salary for an accountant was $77,250.
Factors to consider before applying to accounting colleges
Before you make your calculated decision on which school you wish to apply to, there are a few things you should consider to help you on your path to becoming an accountant.
Financial costs
Look into the financial costs of each school, including tuition, fees, living expenses, etc. to see if they fit into your affordable price range. Also do your research on any scholarships and grants the school might have to offer that will help lower your overall costs.
Accreditation
Check to see if the school has any accreditation when it comes to their accounting degrees and programs. This way, you know you are gaining a quality education for the price you are paying to attend the school.
The AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, is the associated body evaluating and accrediting schools to ensure they are providing academic excellence to their students. When looking at accounting schools, see if their business school has this status.
Plus, if you go to an accredited institution, it is easier to transfer your credits to another accredited institution.
School resources
When researching a school’s resources, you are exploring what that school has to offer you. This includes access to academic support, learning facilities, and other career building opportunities. Most likely, you want the school that can offer you the most, one that can provide you the most help towards your career growth.
You could see if the college offers any online programs, if you are looking for a more affordable, more flexible option for your education. There are schools that offer accelerated programs that allow you to get your degree quicker.
But if you are more interested in getting face-to-face interaction and more in-person connections, then online programs might not be for you.
Look to see what experiential learning opportunities the school has to offer as well. This can be through internships, study abroad programs, and networking events. Seeking out information about ELOs can help you see if the school matches your potential career goals.
Faculty
The people teaching you are extremely important for your future career. You want to learn the best, from the best. Check into a school’s faculty to see what previous experiences or expertise the faculty has to see if they seem truly helpful towards your education.
Also, figure out the student-to-faculty ratio in the particular accounting program. The smaller the ratio, the more enhanced your learning experience will be. It contributes to several benefits like personalized learning and working more closely with faculty members.
Job placement rates
Job placement rates are an essential key factor when looking at schools. This helps potential students know their possible employability after graduating from school. The higher job placement rates a school has means you will possess the necessary skills and experience that future employers are searching for.
Accounting scholarships
If financial aid is a key factor in picking schools, be sure to check out the scholarships that the school has to offer, also any accounting-based scholarships they have.
If you are interested in other accounting scholarships to apply to, you could look into the Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance undergraduate accounting scholarship and the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial scholarship.
The Best Colleges for Accounting
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University of Texas at Austin
The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin is known for their considerable reputation for their excellence in education, ranking number one. Their faculty are ground-breaking innovators and students have the chance to experience real-world knowledge and connections at this school.
They also keep students on track with preparing them for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The Gies College of Business at this Illinois school has a high ranking undergraduate accounting program. Their graduates have a 99% success outcome rate and earn an average salary of $66,678. UIUC even has programs to help you complete your bachelor’s and master’s in just five years.
Indiana University at Bloomington
Indiana University at Bloomington is home to the highly regarded Kelley School of Business where students can receive their accounting degree with its comprehensive curriculum. They help students get internships as soon as your freshman year begins as well as prepare you thoroughly for the CPA exam.
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor is regarded as reputable for its accounting program. They support students in the Paton Fellow Scholarship Program and help them with tuition assistance if they go on to receive their masters at UoM. The university also prioritizes setting students up with advisors to help you meet your accounting career goals as well as offer co-curricular groups to promote student networking.
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business strongly adheres to creating connections and receiving early career development for students in their accountancy program. Their graduates achieved 100 percent employment in the past three years and their undergraduates have achieved a 98 percent placement rate. The University of Notre Dame also offers a ton of diverse accountancy clubs and associations for students to join, including the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA).
University of Pennsylvania
UPenn’s department of accounting has an active research program for their students, helping them through a flexible curriculum. A quarter of their coursework is required to be outside of the department, meaning that students can achieve a part of their education by studying abroad or pursuing minors and other degrees.
New York University
NYU’s Department of Accounting offers a wide range of programs and courses to their students to help them achieve their accounting degree, as well as prepare them for the CPA exam. Plus, a lot of their faculty are award-winning specialists from all around the world.
University of Southern California
One of the best aspects about The Leventhal School of Accounting at USC, is that they have connections to the Big Four accounting firms – Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. This allows students to get recruited and help them gain success in their accounting careers.
University of Florida
UF’s Fisher School of Accounting dates back to 1923, and came to be a top leading university for their academic excellence in accounting. Their faculty are top of the line educators, with published scholarly work and served in jobs at international, national, and state levels. In addition to their great program, several students get to participate in study abroad programs.
The Ohio State University
Not only does the OSU’s Fisher College of Business undergraduate accounting program have its accreditation from the AACSB, they are ranked 8th in the nation. And 95% of students go through at least one internship before graduation, even though internships are not required.
The Best Online Colleges for Accounting
If you want to obtain your accounting degree in a more convenient way with more affordable prices, you may choose to enroll into an online program. Here are some of the best, inexpensive online accounting programs:
- Strayer University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- University of Phoenix
- University of Massachusetts
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Mayville State University
- University of the Cumberlands
Good luck applying to accounting colleges!
Now that you know what to look for before applying and the many benefits of obtaining an accounting degree, you can go on to apply to the best accounting colleges out there!
