Accounting degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their accounting programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 174 schools to find the best for accounting students.
No school ranked higher than Santa Clara University this year for accounting. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 53 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $76,958 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,188.
See the full accounting program report for Santa Clara University
Loyola Marymount University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in accounting, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 37 accounting degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Accounting graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $70,960 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for Loyola Marymount University
A rank of #3 makes Chapman University one of the top schools for accounting. 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. There were roughly 27 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $70,362 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
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California State University Long Beach is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in accounting, ranking #4. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 49 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $67,277. Students borrow a median of $14,899 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for California State University Long Beach
A rank of #5 makes San Diego State University one of the top schools for accounting. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 20 accounting students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $65,902 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,218 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for San Diego State University
California State University Northridge placed #6 among the best accounting schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Northridge awarded about 261 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $70,302 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,810.
See the full accounting program report for California State University Northridge
Pepperdine University landed the #7 spot for accounting this year. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Pepperdine University graduates 83% of students within six years. Pepperdine University awarded about 11 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $57,582 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for Pepperdine University
California State University Fullerton ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 accounting degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $77,276 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete this degree.
Read more about the accounting program at California State University Fullerton
California State University East Bay earned the #9 position for accounting this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University East Bay awarded about 20 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $78,409 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,073.
More information about a degree in accounting from California State University East Bay
Point Loma Nazarene University placed #10 among the best accounting schools. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 11 accounting degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $54,116. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $22,542 in student loans.
Read more about the accounting program at Point Loma Nazarene University
College Of The Canyons landed the #11 spot for accounting this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. College Of The Canyons awarded about 284 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $51,913 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in accounting from College Of The Canyons
San Francisco State University landed the #12 spot for accounting this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. San Francisco State University awarded about 24 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $69,336. Students borrow a median of $11,971 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for San Francisco State University
University Of San Diego ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 71 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Diego in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $69,240 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,969.
Read more about the accounting program at University Of San Diego
San Diego Miramar College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. San Diego Miramar College awarded about 27 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Typical student debt for the program is $8,098.
See the full accounting program report for San Diego Miramar College
Claremont Mckenna College placed #15 among the best accounting schools. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
Read more about the accounting program at Claremont Mckenna College
University Of San Francisco landed the #16 spot for accounting this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. University Of San Francisco awarded about 26 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $72,588 in their early career. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $24,660 in student loans.
Get the full accounting details for University Of San Francisco
Saint Marys College Of California ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. About 70% of students finish within six years. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 29 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $72,142 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Cerritos College landed the #18 spot for accounting this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norwalk. There were roughly 25 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Cerritos College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete this degree.
Read more about the accounting program at Cerritos College
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #19 for accounting this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 51 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $66,785 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,226 to complete this degree.
Get the full accounting details for California State Polytechnic University Pomona
California Lutheran University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Located in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 13 accounting degrees were awarded at California Lutheran University in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from California Lutheran University earn around $72,696 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,858 to complete this degree.
Read more about the accounting program at California Lutheran University
Biola University earned the #21 position for accounting this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of La Mirada. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 24 accounting degrees were awarded at Biola University in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Biola University earn around $70,042 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,875 to complete this degree.
Get the full accounting details for Biola University
American River College placed #22 among the best accounting schools. American River College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. About 62 accounting degrees were awarded at American River College in the most recent year. Accounting graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. American River College graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans.
Read more about the accounting program at American River College
De Anza College came in at #23 for accounting this year. Set in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public institution. De Anza College awarded about 53 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete this degree.
Read more about the accounting program at De Anza College
California State University Los Angeles came in at #24 for accounting this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 26 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $48,403. Typical student debt for the program is $14,430.
More information about a degree in accounting from California State University Los Angeles
University Of Redlands landed the #25 spot for accounting this year. University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Redlands. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 11 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Redlands in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $67,359 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full accounting details for University Of Redlands
Rest of the Top 50 Accounting Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s accounting ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 174 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).
