by our College Data Analytics TeamAccounting was the 7th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 73,172 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 3.4% reduction in accounting degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 75,655.
Our 2023 Best Accounting Schools ranking analyzes 1039 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for accounting students. Explore this or one of our many other custom accounting rankings further below.
A major in accounting prepares you for careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is crucial. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic accounting program qualifications, to serve in some accounting careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of accounting degrees. Accounting programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest accounting degree you can get. The type of accounting degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to accounting, with approximately 47.6% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for accounting workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 45.5% |
| Master’s Degree | 11.8% |
| Doctoral Degree | 11.5% |
| Some College Courses | 10.1% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 9.4% |
Most workers in accounting have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in accounting careers have.
This of course varies depending on which accounting career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your accounting degree? Accounting careers are expected to grow 9.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to accounting.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,537,600 | 10.0% |
| Business Professors | 123,000 | 18.0% |
| Credit Analysts | 79,900 | 8.3% |
| Budget Analysts | 62,200 | 6.5% |
| Tax Examiners, Collectors, and Revenue Agents | 61,700 | -0.6% |
As you might expect, salaries for accounting graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for accounting graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers accounting grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Business Professors | $103,330 |
| Financial Examiners | $90,310 |
| Credit Analysts | $82,300 |
| Budget Analysts | $79,830 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,820 |
With over 2,920 different accounting degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased accounting school rankings to help you with this.
One of 5 majors within the Accounting area of study, Accounting has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping | 19,817 |
| Accounting and Finance | 3,648 |
| Accounting and Business/Management | 1,637 |
| Other Accounting and Related Services | 814 |
| Auditing | 177 |
