by our College Data Analytics Team
[Accounting](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a accounting degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 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 Fayetteville Technical Community College, our #1 for accounting graduate salaries in North Carolina. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Fayetteville Technical Community College make a median of around $55,214 per year.
Elon University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Elon University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Accounting graduates of Elon University earn a median of about $103,374 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in accounting will find them at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #3. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school located in the city of Raleigh. Accounting graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of about $83,729 a year early in their careers.
Wake Technical Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in accounting, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,446.
Students chasing top earnings in accounting will find them at Davidson County Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the rural area of Thomasville, Davidson County Community College is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Davidson County Community College typically earn about $41,532 annually.
Appalachian State University came in at #6 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Appalachian State University is a public school located in the town of Boone. Early-career accounting graduates from Appalachian State University make a median of around $78,158 per year.
Methodist University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fayetteville. Accounting graduates of Methodist University earn a median of about $63,419 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #8 spot for accounting salaries this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school located in the city of Charlotte. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte typically earn about $78,329 annually.
Catawba Valley Community College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Set in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,177.
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #10 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University typically earn about $73,215 annually.
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution. Accounting graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $38,461 a year early in their careers.
Belmont Abbey College came in at #12 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Belmont, Belmont Abbey College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Belmont Abbey College make a median of around $64,164 per year.
Strayer University North Carolina earned the #13 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, Strayer University North Carolina is a private for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Strayer University North Carolina earn a median of about $53,528 a year early in their careers.
Guilford Technical Community College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College typically earn about $34,804 annually.
Johnson And Wales University Charlotte landed the #15 spot for accounting salaries this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Johnson And Wales University Charlotte is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Johnson And Wales University Charlotte make a median of around $75,585 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a public school located in the city of Asheville. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville typically earn about $61,246 annually.
Campbell University landed the #17 spot for accounting salaries this year. Campbell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. Accounting graduates of Campbell University earn a median of about $62,907 a year early in their careers.
East Carolina University came in at #18 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. Accounting graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of about $65,459 a year early in their careers.
Edgecombe Community College landed the #19 spot for accounting salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Tarboro, Edgecombe Community College is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Edgecombe Community College make a median of around $38,723 per year.
North Carolina Central University landed the #20 spot for accounting salaries this year. Set in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a public institution. Accounting graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of about $62,109 a year early in their careers.
Guilford College earned the #21 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, Guilford College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Guilford College typically earn about $65,281 annually.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,647.
Wingate University came in at #23 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Wingate University make a median of around $51,437 per year.
Gardner Webb University came in at #24 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,875.
Winston Salem State University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Winston Salem State University make a median of around $53,840 per year.
These schools also send accounting graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 30 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.