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 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying accounting schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose accounting graduates go on to earn the most.
Golden Gate University San Francisco earned the #1 spot for highest-paid accounting graduates in California. Located in the city of San Francisco, Golden Gate University San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $111,491.
A rank of #2 makes San Francisco State University one of the highest-paying schools for accounting. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $115,426 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at San Diego State University earned it the #3 place 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.
Students chasing top earnings in accounting will find them at Saint Marys College Of California, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Saint Marys College Of California make a median of around $112,485 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at California State University Fullerton earned it the #5 place for accounting. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from California State University Fullerton make a median of around $111,024 per year.
National University came in at #6 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from National University typically earn about $92,893 annually.
California State University Long Beach earned the #7 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from California State University Long Beach typically earn about $80,238 annually.
California State University East Bay came in at #8 for accounting graduate earnings this year. California State University East Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Hayward. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from California State University East Bay typically earn about $78,409 annually.
Biola University landed the #9 spot for accounting salaries this year. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Biola University earn a median of about $74,838 a year early in their careers.
Devry University California landed the #10 spot for accounting salaries this year. Located in the city of Ontario, Devry University California is a private for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Devry University California earn a median of about $81,554 a year early in their careers.
California State University Northridge landed the #11 spot for accounting salaries this year. California State University Northridge is a public school located in the city of Northridge. Early-career accounting graduates from California State University Northridge make a median of around $71,699 per year.
Ashford University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Ashford University is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Early-career accounting graduates from Ashford University make a median of around $66,890 per year.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from California State Polytechnic University Pomona make a median of around $66,785 per year.
California State University San Bernardino earned the #14 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. California State University San Bernardino is a public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,183.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries accounting graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 14 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.
