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 22 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 Drake University, our #1 for accounting graduate salaries in the The Plains States Region. Drake University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Accounting graduates of Drake University earn a median of about $95,303 a year early in their careers.
Saint Ambrose University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in accounting, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Saint Ambrose University make a median of around $85,373 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Iowa earned it the #3 place for accounting. University Of Iowa is a public school located in the city of Iowa City. Early-career accounting graduates from University Of Iowa make a median of around $100,851 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Missouri Columbia earned it the #4 place for accounting. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia typically earn about $93,114 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Minnesota State University Mankato one of the highest-paying schools for accounting. Minnesota State University Mankato is a public school located in the city of Mankato. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato typically earn about $95,647 annually.
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public school located in the city of Kansas City. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City typically earn about $93,358 annually.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln typically earn about $94,289 annually.
Truman State University landed the #8 spot for accounting salaries this year. Truman State University is a public school located in the town of Kirksville. Early-career accounting graduates from Truman State University make a median of around $97,613 per year.
Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #9 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus typically earn about $92,402 annually.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #10 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. University Of Central Missouri is a public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Accounting graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of about $74,442 a year early in their careers.
Iowa State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Accounting graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of about $88,648 a year early in their careers.
University Of Kansas came in at #12 for accounting graduate earnings this year. University Of Kansas is a public school located in the city of Lawrence. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,276.
University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,960.
University Of South Dakota ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from University Of South Dakota make a median of around $83,795 per year.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #15 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Maryville University Of Saint Louis make a median of around $69,594 per year.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #16 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a public school located in the city of Springfield. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,868.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota make a median of around $66,862 per year.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha typically earn about $63,460 annually.
Kansas State University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Kansas State University make a median of around $63,227 per year.
North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #20 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus typically earn about $69,362 annually.
Emporia State University came in at #21 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Emporia State University is a public school located in the town of Emporia. Accounting graduates of Emporia State University earn a median of about $59,976 a year early in their careers.
Upper Iowa University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Upper Iowa University earn a median of about $58,699 a year early in their careers.
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 · 22 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.
