Accounting is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 278 schools to find the best for accounting students.
Santa Clara University tops our 2026 ranking of the best accounting schools. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Santa Clara University awarded about 53 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $76,958. Students borrow a median of $17,188 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for Santa Clara University
A rank of #2 makes Loyola Marymount University one of the top schools for accounting. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 37 accounting degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $70,960. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for Loyola Marymount University
Chapman University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in accounting, ranking #3. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Chapman University awarded about 27 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $70,362. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in accounting from Chapman University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 178 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $67,576 early in their careers. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $17,083 in student loans.
Get the full accounting details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
California State University Long Beach is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in accounting, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 49 accounting students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $67,277. Typical student debt for the program is $14,899.
See the full accounting program report for California State University Long Beach
San Diego State University placed #6 among the best accounting schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 20 accounting degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from San Diego State University earn around $65,902 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,218.
Get the full accounting details for San Diego State University
California State University Northridge ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 261 accounting degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $70,302. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $15,810 in student loans.
Read more about the accounting program at California State University Northridge
Pepperdine University placed #8 among the best accounting schools. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Pepperdine University graduates 83% of students within six years. Pepperdine University awarded about 11 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $57,582. Typical student debt for the program is $23,645.
More information about a degree in accounting from Pepperdine University
California State University Fullerton landed the #9 spot for accounting this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 33 accounting degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Accounting graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $77,276 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete this degree.
Get the full accounting details for California State University Fullerton
Gonzaga University landed the #10 spot for accounting this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 84 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Gonzaga University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Gonzaga University generally make around $69,594. Gonzaga University graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in accounting from Gonzaga University
California State University East Bay ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 accounting students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $78,409. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans.
More information about a degree in accounting from California State University East Bay
Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #12 for accounting this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 11 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Point Loma Nazarene University earn around $54,116 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for Point Loma Nazarene University
University Of Oregon earned the #13 position for accounting this year. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 123 accounting degrees were awarded at University Of Oregon in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $60,521 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Read more about the accounting program at University Of Oregon
College Of The Canyons ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. About 284 accounting degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from College Of The Canyons earn around $51,913 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for College Of The Canyons
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus landed the #15 spot for accounting this year. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 73 accounting degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $67,576 in their early career. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus graduates carry a median of $17,083 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
San Francisco State University landed the #16 spot for accounting this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 accounting students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from San Francisco State University earn around $69,336 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,971 to complete this degree.
Get the full accounting details for San Francisco State University
University Of San Diego came in at #17 for accounting this year. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. University Of San Diego awarded about 71 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $69,240 early in their careers. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $24,969 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for University Of San Diego
University Of Washington Bothell Campus came in at #18 for accounting this year. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 80 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Bothell Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from University Of Washington Bothell Campus generally make around $67,576. University Of Washington Bothell Campus graduates carry a median of $17,083 in student loans.
Read more about the accounting program at University Of Washington Bothell Campus
San Diego Miramar College came in at #19 for accounting this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. There were roughly 27 accounting students who graduated with this degree at San Diego Miramar College in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,098.
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Claremont Mckenna College landed the #20 spot for accounting this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Claremont Mckenna College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Claremont Mckenna College earn around $66,028 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in accounting from Claremont Mckenna College
Seattle Pacific University came in at #21 for accounting this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Seattle Pacific University awarded about 12 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $52,713 in their early career. Seattle Pacific University graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans.
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Bellevue College landed the #22 spot for accounting this year. Located in the city of Bellevue, Bellevue College is a large public university. Bellevue College awarded about 61 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Bellevue College earn a median of $67,771 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,839.
See the full accounting program report for Bellevue College
Oregon State University came in at #23 for accounting this year. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Oregon State University earn around $53,694 in the first couple years of their career. Oregon State University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for Oregon State University
University Of San Francisco earned the #24 position for accounting this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of San Francisco awarded about 26 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $72,588 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,660 to complete this degree.
Get the full accounting details for University Of San Francisco
Seattle University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 29 accounting degrees were awarded at Seattle University in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $70,570 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,734.
Read more about the accounting program at Seattle University
Rest of the Top 50 Accounting Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s accounting ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 278 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
