by our College Data Analytics Team
[Accounting](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 33 schools on the early-career earnings of their accounting graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose accounting graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Macomb Community College, our #1 for accounting graduate salaries in Michigan. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Macomb Community College typically earn about $67,314 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Kellogg Community College one of the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a public institution. Accounting graduates of Kellogg Community College earn a median of about $52,869 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Michigan State University one of the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Accounting graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $91,024 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Montcalm Community College earned it the #4 place for accounting. Set in the rural area of Sidney, Montcalm Community College is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Montcalm Community College make a median of around $47,477 per year.
Hope College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the city of Holland, Hope College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Hope College make a median of around $83,017 per year.
Oakland University came in at #6 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Oakland University typically earn about $81,191 annually.
Central Michigan University came in at #7 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Central Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Central Michigan University typically earn about $76,147 annually.
Delta College came in at #8 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a public institution. Accounting graduates of Delta College earn a median of about $46,331 a year early in their careers.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College landed the #9 spot for accounting salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Kalamazoo Valley Community College typically earn about $46,307 annually.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #10 spot for accounting salaries this year. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public school located in the city of Dearborn. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn typically earn about $75,164 annually.
Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration earned the #11 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Troy, Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration make a median of around $67,523 per year.
Aquinas College Michigan earned the #12 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Aquinas College Michigan is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,311.
Oakland Community College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Oakland Community College make a median of around $50,461 per year.
Albion College landed the #14 spot for accounting salaries this year. Albion College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Albion. Accounting graduates of Albion College earn a median of about $62,266 a year early in their careers.
Calvin College landed the #15 spot for accounting salaries this year. Calvin College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Early-career accounting graduates from Calvin College make a median of around $81,952 per year.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #16 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Eastern Michigan University is a public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Accounting graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of about $67,858 a year early in their careers.
Concordia University Ann Arbor came in at #17 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Concordia University Ann Arbor earn a median of about $75,233 a year early in their careers.
Wayne State University landed the #18 spot for accounting salaries this year. Wayne State University is a public school located in the city of Detroit. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,718.
Grand Valley State University earned the #19 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. Accounting graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of about $73,018 a year early in their careers.
Saginaw Valley State University landed the #20 spot for accounting salaries this year. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University typically earn about $68,052 annually.
Davenport University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Davenport University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Grand Rapids. Early-career accounting graduates from Davenport University make a median of around $65,212 per year.
Spring Arbor University landed the #22 spot for accounting salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Spring Arbor University make a median of around $57,710 per year.
Grand Rapids Community College earned the #23 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,096.
Northern Michigan University earned the #24 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,837.
Western Michigan University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Western Michigan University is a public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Accounting graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of about $70,283 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid accounting ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 33 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.
