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. The highest-paying schools turn a accounting degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 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.
Leading the list is Harding University, our #1 for accounting graduate salaries in Arkansas. Located in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,632.
Students chasing top earnings in accounting will find them at University Of Arkansas, which ranked #2. University Of Arkansas is a public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Early-career accounting graduates from University Of Arkansas make a median of around $90,174 per year.
Arkansas Tech University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in accounting, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Arkansas Tech University make a median of around $66,718 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in accounting will find them at University Of Arkansas At Little Rock, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public institution. Accounting graduates of University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earn a median of about $69,782 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Strayer University Arkansas earned it the #5 place for accounting. Strayer University Arkansas is a private for-profit school located in the city of Little Rock. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,639.
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #6 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,243.
University Of Central Arkansas earned the #7 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. University Of Central Arkansas is a public school located in the city of Conway. Early-career accounting graduates from University Of Central Arkansas make a median of around $68,389 per year.
University Of Arkansas At Monticello came in at #8 for accounting graduate earnings this year. University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a public school located in the town of Monticello. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Monticello typically earn about $54,972 annually.
Henderson State University earned the #9 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a public institution. Accounting graduates of Henderson State University earn a median of about $51,005 a year early in their careers.
Grantham University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the city of LIttle Rock, Grantham University is a public institution. Accounting graduates of Grantham University earn a median of about $48,931 a year early in their careers.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus came in at #11 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public institution. Accounting graduates of Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earn a median of about $40,138 a year early in their careers.
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Set in the town of Pine Bluff, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff make a median of around $37,991 per year.
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 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.