[Accounting](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong accounting education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 713 schools to find the best return on investment for accounting students.
Leading the list is Cuny Bernard M Baruch College, our #1 best value for accounting in the United States. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,464, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $54,281. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Hunter College earned it the #2 place for accounting. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,070 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $54,617. Set against $11,070 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the best values for accounting. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,620 to complete the accounting program here. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $42,862. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Florida came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value accounting schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $18,003. Early-career accounting graduates make about $65,144. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M University Central Texas earned it the #5 place for accounting. Located in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,363 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,155. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $24,106. Accounting graduates of Texas A And M University Central Texas earn a median of $54,813 early in their careers. Texas A And M University Central Texas admits about 100% of applicants.
Cuny Queens College earned the #6 position for value in accounting this year. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,313 to complete the accounting program here. Accounting graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,313 median debt. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
Cuny Lehman College placed #7 among the best values for accounting. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Accounting graduates carry a median of $13,030 in student loans. Accounting graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $43,728 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
California State University Northridge earned the #8 position for value in accounting this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $15,810. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $68,904. Set against $15,810 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Indian River State College earned the #9 position for value in accounting this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $13,526. Accounting graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $43,624 early in their careers. Set against $13,526 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Utah Valley University came in at #10 for value in accounting this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Students borrow a median of $17,250 to complete the accounting program here. Accounting graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $55,785 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,250 median debt.
Texas A And M International University earned the #11 position for value in accounting this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,894, with out-of-state students paying around $19,454. Accounting graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Early-career accounting graduates make about $35,528. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny York College landed the #12 spot for accounting value this year. Set in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,358, compared with $15,308 for out-of-state students. Accounting graduates carry a median of $17,238 in student loans. Accounting graduates of Cuny York College earn a median of $49,751 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #13 for value in accounting this year. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Accounting graduates carry a median of $13,694 in student loans. Early-career accounting graduates make about $37,216. Set against $13,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #14 for value in accounting this year. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. Students from in state pay about $7,490 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Accounting graduates carry a median of $16,232 in student loans. Accounting graduates of Cuny College Of Staten Island earn a median of $41,416 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus came in at #15 for value in accounting this year. Located in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,074, compared with $9,054 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $19,105. Accounting graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earn a median of $52,579 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,105 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Dalton State College placed #16 among the best values for accounting. Set in the city of Dalton, Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,336, compared with $10,656 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $20,582. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Dalton State College generally make around $51,841. That is a strong return on a $20,582 median debt.
Purdue University Northwest placed #17 among the best values for accounting. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. In-state tuition and fees average $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Students borrow a median of $25,099 to complete the accounting program here. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $49,993. That is a strong return on a $25,099 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine At Presque Isle ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value accounting schools. University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Presque Isle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,402, with out-of-state students paying around $14,862. Accounting graduates carry a median of $23,434 in student loans. Accounting graduates of University Of Maine At Presque Isle earn a median of $41,148 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,434 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Florida Atlantic University placed #19 among the best values for accounting. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $56,600. That is a strong return on a $19,431 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Marshall University placed #20 among the best values for accounting. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. In-state tuition and fees average $9,162, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. Accounting graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Accounting graduates of Marshall University earn a median of $43,355 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Florida International University earned the #21 position for value in accounting this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,625 to complete the accounting program here. Accounting graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $54,963 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Oakland University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value accounting schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Accounting graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Accounting graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $59,833 early in their careers. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value accounting schools. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,168, while out-of-state students pay about $43,404. Accounting graduates carry a median of $17,083 in student loans. Early-career accounting graduates make about $62,731. That is a strong return on a $17,083 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #24 position for value in accounting this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $20,439. Accounting graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $54,371 early in their careers. Set against $20,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Daytona State College landed the #25 spot for accounting value this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,106, with out-of-state students paying around $11,994. Students borrow a median of $16,126 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $43,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Accounting Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in accounting:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 713 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 713 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Accounting](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong accounting education at a price that pays off.
