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Accounting

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

Accounting majors learn how businesses track and report financial activity. Coursework covers financial accounting, managerial accounting, auditing, tax, accounting information systems, and business law, plus core business classes in finance, marketing, and economics.

Many programs prepare students for the CPA exam, which often requires 150 college credits. Internships at accounting firms during junior year are common and frequently turn into job offers.

What you'll do after college

Grads work at accounting firms (especially the "Big Four": Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG), corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits. Roles include auditor, tax accountant, financial analyst, controller, and forensic accountant.

The CPA license is the standard credential for advancement and significantly boosts pay. Accounting is steady work: every business needs it, recessions don't change that, and the path from staff to manager to partner is well-defined.

Famous graduates

  • Arthur Andersen — Founder of the accounting firm; B.B.A. from Northwestern University
  • Phil Knight — Co-founder of Nike and CPA; B.B.A. in Accounting from University of Oregon
  • Arthur Blank — Co-founder of The Home Depot; B.S. in Business Administration and Accounting from Babson College

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$78,891
1,488
100–85%
$84,662
2,994
85–75%
$80,875
4,361
75–72%
$81,988
5,917
72–62%
$84,633
5,899
62–55%
$88,334
4,455
55–43%
$94,137
2,926
42–25%
$104,552
1,473
25–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted adjusted 5-year earnings

By SAT median

$66,887
1,237
400–1000
$74,735
2,547
1000–1060
$80,514
3,624
1060–1120
$82,809
4,990
1120–1200
$89,673
4,977
1200–1270
$95,786
3,758
1270–1340
$100,214
2,443
1340–1415
$107,671
1,218
1420–1600
Median SAT · bar = degree-weighted adjusted 5-year earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl 5yr Earn
Accounting 961 32,989 52% / 48% 4% $79,933
Accounting 936 31,666 52% / 48% 4% $79,569
Accountancy 2 457 58% / 42% 13% $95,274
Accounting and Finance 32 426 69% / 31% 5% $84,907
Accounting and Information Systems 1 128 62% / 38% 1% $99,378
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping 1 101 67% / 33% 1% $70,923
Accounting and Business/Management 4 51 53% / 47% 10% $79,088
Public Accounting 1 39 51% / 49% 3% $108,972
Accounting Technology 4 34 41% / 59% 0% $73,491
Accounting and Business Management 6 27 48% / 52% 0%
Auditing 5 19 21% / 79% 0% $70,698
Accounting Management 2 11 64% / 36% 0% $72,902
Accounting and Business 3 10 70% / 30% 10%
Accounting and Related Services 5 8 100% / 0% 0% $98,850
Financial Forensics 2 5 20% / 80% 0% $92,491
Accounting and Management 2 4 50% / 50% 0%
Applied Accounting 1 2 50% / 50% 0%
Taxation 1 1 0% / 100% 0%