by our College Data Analytics Team
[Accounting](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their accounting graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 61 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.
Leading the list is Bucknell University, our #1 for accounting graduate salaries in Pennsylvania. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Bucknell University make a median of around $121,826 per year.
Lehigh University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Lehigh University typically earn about $118,286 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in accounting will find them at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Accounting graduates of West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $88,795 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Villanova University one of the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Villanova University make a median of around $109,818 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Saint Josephs University one of the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,815.
Mercyhurst College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Mercyhurst College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Erie. Accounting graduates of Mercyhurst College earn a median of about $80,293 a year early in their careers.
Muhlenberg College earned the #7 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Muhlenberg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,565.
Drexel University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Drexel University typically earn about $90,655 annually.
Neumann University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Located in the suburb of Aston, Neumann University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Neumann University make a median of around $75,027 per year.
Eastern University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Eastern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Davids. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Eastern University typically earn about $73,187 annually.
Montgomery County Community College earned the #11 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Montgomery County Community College make a median of around $48,832 per year.
Susquehanna University earned the #12 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Selinsgrove, Susquehanna University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Susquehanna University make a median of around $81,585 per year.
Widener University Main Campus placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,500.
Peirce College came in at #14 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Peirce College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Peirce College typically earn about $70,349 annually.
University Of Scranton placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. University Of Scranton is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of Scranton typically earn about $96,363 annually.
Lehigh Carbon Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Schnecksville. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College typically earn about $47,368 annually.
Temple University landed the #17 spot for accounting salaries this year. Temple University is a public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,957.
University Of Pittsburgh Bradford earned the #18 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. University Of Pittsburgh Bradford is a public school located in the town of Bradford. Early-career accounting graduates from University Of Pittsburgh Bradford make a median of around $85,705 per year.
University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg came in at #19 for accounting graduate earnings this year. University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg is a public school located in the suburb of Greensburg. Early-career accounting graduates from University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg make a median of around $85,705 per year.
University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the suburb of Johnstown, University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown is a public institution. Accounting graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown earn a median of about $85,705 a year early in their careers.
Lebanon Valley College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Lebanon Valley College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Annville. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Lebanon Valley College typically earn about $68,801 annually.
Messiah College earned the #22 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Messiah College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. Early-career accounting graduates from Messiah College make a median of around $80,555 per year.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus typically earn about $86,514 annually.
Elizabethtown College placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Elizabethtown College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elizabethtown. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,209.
La Salle University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from La Salle University typically earn about $92,930 annually.
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 · 61 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.