by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 17 U.S. colleges awarded 209 degrees and certificates in Auditing. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 90% of graduates. College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Auditing Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $57,771 one year after completing, rising to $76,172 after four years.
A major in Auditing explores Auditing. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Including Certified Accountants, To Perform Independent Internal And External Appraisals To Evaluate Organizational Financial And Operational Activities, Ensure Compliance With Laws And Policies, Safeguard Assets, And Promote Effective Planning And Resource Allocation. Includes Instruction In Advanced Accounting, Audit Tools And Techniques, Sampling, Risk And Control, Audit Planning, Audit Function Management, Law And Regulations, Environmental Auditing, Information Technology Applications, Professional Standards And Ethics, And Specific Industry And Service Sector Problems.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, auditing is a widely-pursued major, with 209 degrees awarded annually. 17 colleges award auditing degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 53.
By level, the 209 awards include 20 bachelor’s degrees and 189 master’s degrees.
Women earned 60% of auditing degrees and certificates in the latest year (125 of 209). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (101) and Hispanic or Latino (43), and international students earned 15.
College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Auditing Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks auditing schools within 3 states. In all, 17 colleges offer auditing programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Auditing Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common auditing credential is the master’s degree: 189 of the 209 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to auditing call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Economics and Accounting, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an auditing degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 20 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 189 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to auditing, at 41.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 41.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 40.0% |
| Master’s degree | 13.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Auditing, with an average median salary of $92,312; the strongest outlook belongs to Financial Examiners, at 13.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Compliance Coordinator, Compliance Analyst, Internal Auditor and Revenue Audit Clerk.
The occupation related to auditing with the most projected jobs is Accountants and Auditors, at 388,087.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 388,087 | 3.0% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Financial Examiners | 136,492 | 13.1% |
Auditing graduates earn a median $57,771 one year after completing their program, $76,172 after four years and $71,293 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $57,771 |
| 4 years | $76,172 |
| 5 years | $71,293 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to auditing, with a median salary of $117,139.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Financial Examiners | $117,139 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,222 |
Auditing has 5 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 86,584 degrees a year; the largest are Accounting (62,166), Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping (18,457) and Accounting and Finance (3,827). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Accounting | 62,166 |
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping | 18,457 |
| Accounting and Finance | 3,827 |
| Accounting and Business/Management | 1,488 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other | 646 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
