by our College Data Analytics Team
[Accounting](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their accounting graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 88 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying accounting schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send accounting graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Pepperdine University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid accounting graduates in the Far Western Region. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Pepperdine University typically earn about $104,343 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Cerritos College earned it the #2 place for accounting. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Cerritos College typically earn about $64,506 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Santa Clara University one of the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Santa Clara University make a median of around $123,065 per year.
A rank of #4 makes Point Loma Nazarene University one of the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,989.
American River College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from American River College typically earn about $61,406 annually.
Loyola Marymount University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University typically earn about $112,523 annually.
Seattle Pacific University came in at #7 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Seattle Pacific University earn a median of about $86,909 a year early in their careers.
Azusa Pacific University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. Early-career accounting graduates from Azusa Pacific University make a median of around $86,401 per year.
Golden Gate University San Francisco came in at #9 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, Golden Gate University San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Golden Gate University San Francisco earn a median of about $111,491 a year early in their careers.
College Of The Canyons landed the #10 spot for accounting salaries this year. College Of The Canyons is a public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from College Of The Canyons typically earn about $56,041 annually.
Chapman University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Chapman University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Early-career accounting graduates from Chapman University make a median of around $107,442 per year.
University Of San Diego landed the #12 spot for accounting salaries this year. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of San Diego typically earn about $109,018 annually.
Menlo College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the suburb of Atherton, Menlo College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Menlo College make a median of around $106,037 per year.
East Los Angeles College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. East Los Angeles College is a public school located in the suburb of Monterey Park. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from East Los Angeles College typically earn about $54,828 annually.
University Of San Francisco ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of about $101,040 a year early in their careers.
Seattle University landed the #16 spot for accounting salaries this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $103,356.
Cabrillo College earned the #17 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Cabrillo College is a public school located in the suburb of Aptos. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,540.
San Francisco State University earned the #18 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $115,426 annually.
Saint Marys College Of California earned the #19 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Saint Marys College Of California earn a median of about $109,276 a year early in their careers.
University Of Redlands came in at #20 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from University Of Redlands make a median of around $100,799 per year.
San Diego State University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. San Diego State University is a public school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $117,624.
Santa Ana College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,351.
City College Of San Francisco landed the #23 spot for accounting salaries this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco typically earn about $52,283 annually.
California State University Fullerton came in at #24 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Accounting graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of about $111,024 a year early in their careers.
Shoreline Community College came in at #25 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Shoreline Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Shoreline. Accounting graduates of Shoreline Community College earn a median of about $50,485 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning accounting graduates:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their accounting graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 88 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.