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. The highest-paying schools turn a accounting degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find where accounting graduates earn the most.
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 Rio Salado College, our #1 for accounting graduate salaries in Arizona. Located in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Rio Salado College make a median of around $54,619 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in accounting will find them at University Of Arizona, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a public institution. Accounting graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of about $92,207 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Arizona State University earned it the #3 place for accounting. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Accounting graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of about $82,689 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in accounting will find them at Arizona State University Skysong, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong typically earn about $82,689 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Northern Arizona University earned it the #5 place for accounting. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,353.
Grand Canyon University landed the #6 spot for accounting salaries this year. Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Early-career accounting graduates from Grand Canyon University make a median of around $67,380 per year.
University Of Phoenix Arizona landed the #7 spot for accounting salaries this year. University Of Phoenix Arizona is a private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,285.
Ottawa University Surprise earned the #8 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Surprise, Ottawa University Surprise is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Ottawa University Surprise typically earn about $51,664 annually.
Pima Community College came in at #9 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Pima Community College typically earn about $32,401 annually.
Mohave Community College came in at #10 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Mohave Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Kingman. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,738.
American Intercontinental University Online placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Set in the city of Chandler, American Intercontinental University Online is a private for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of American Intercontinental University Online earn a median of about $48,340 a year early in their careers.
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 · 11 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.