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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their accounting graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send accounting graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Brigham Young University Provo the top school for accounting graduate earnings in the United States. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo typically earn about $114,584 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Montclair State University earned it the #2 place for accounting. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $110,692.
A rank of #3 makes Boston College one of the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Boston College earn a median of about $110,260 a year early in their careers.
Seattle University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Seattle University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Accounting graduates of Seattle University earn a median of about $109,604 a year early in their careers.
Trinity University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in accounting, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Trinity University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $106,430.
New York University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of New York University earn a median of about $141,568 a year early in their careers.
University Of Colorado Boulder placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $102,640.
Golden Gate University San Francisco placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. 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.
Fordham University landed the #9 spot for accounting salaries this year. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Fordham University typically earn about $128,727 annually.
Central Connecticut State University landed the #10 spot for accounting salaries this year. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Central Connecticut State University typically earn about $120,945 annually.
Central Washington University came in at #11 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Central Washington University is a public school located in the town of Ellensburg. Accounting graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of about $96,647 a year early in their careers.
Vanderbilt University came in at #12 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $122,891.
Drake University earned the #13 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Drake University earn a median of about $95,303 a year early in their careers.
Rhodes College landed the #14 spot for accounting salaries this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,916.
Seton Hall University earned the #15 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of about $112,942 a year early in their careers.
Long Island University C W Post Campus landed the #16 spot for accounting salaries this year. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. Accounting graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of about $93,086 a year early in their careers.
Western New England University landed the #17 spot for accounting salaries this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Western New England University is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Western New England University earn a median of about $93,038 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. 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.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #19 spot for accounting salaries this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public school located in the city of Amherst. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst typically earn about $115,325 annually.
Westminster College Utah ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, Westminster College Utah is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Westminster College Utah typically earn about $92,877 annually.
Northeastern University landed the #21 spot for accounting salaries this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Northeastern University typically earn about $115,435 annually.
George Washington University came in at #22 for accounting graduate earnings this year. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $116,371.
The University Of Alabama landed the #23 spot for accounting salaries this year. The University Of Alabama is a public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Early-career accounting graduates from The University Of Alabama make a median of around $92,319 per year.
San Diego State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. San Diego State University is a public school located in the city of San Diego. Early-career accounting graduates from San Diego State University make a median of around $117,624 per year.
Saint Marys College Of California came in at #25 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $112,485.
These schools also send accounting graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
These schools earned honorable mentions for accounting graduate pay:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, KY | $85,876 | Full Report |
| #52 | Hofstra University | Hempstead, NY | $107,914 | Full Report |
| #53 | Suffolk University | Boston, MA | $104,716 | Full Report |
| #54 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA | $106,689 | Full Report |
| #55 | Rider University | Lawrenceville, NJ | $100,110 | Full Report |
| #56 | Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater, MA | $104,917 | Full Report |
| #57 | Saint Ambrose University | Davenport, IA | $85,373 | Full Report |
| #58 | Villanova University | Villanova, PA | $92,288 | Full Report |
| #59 | St Francis College | Brooklyn, NY | $106,785 | Full Report |
| #60 | La Salle University | Philadelphia, PA | $104,622 | Full Report |
| #61 | The University Of Texas At Arlington | Arlington, TX | $100,759 | Full Report |
| #62 | University Of Dallas | Irving, TX | $93,791 | Full Report |
| #63 | University Of Wisconsin Madison | Madison, WI | $106,036 | Full Report |
| #64 | University Of Mississippi Main Campus | University, MS | $107,015 | Full Report |
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Accounting rankings across degree levels:
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 · 100 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.