California is one of the economically powerful states in the U.S. It is home to a tech giant and a global corporation, and it offers the world’s highest-ranked university. And offers multiple opportunities for accounting students, like providing an internship in Silicon Valley, jobs in Big Four accounting firms, and strong CPA-focused academic programs.
In this article, we understand why we study accounting in California and discover the best accounting colleges in California, and provide information related to the best accounting schools for an accounting degree in California. And how to choose the right colleges.
Why Go to Study Accounting in California?
Studying accounting in California means students get to enjoy the best of things in the worlds. The state is the only place in the world that houses the top six great industries, namely, tech, entertainment, real estate, finance, healthcare, and global corporations, the ones that the world looks up to. It is home to Silicon Valley, the crown jewel of the tech industry, where the likes of Google, Apple, Meta, and Tesla can be found. These are the most influential tech companies that are constantly renewing the demand for accountants with strong finance, auditing, data analytics, and business accounting skills. Students have access to great universities, quality CPA prep, and a chance to intern at a Big Four firm or a startup.
California’s vibe is super cool, and you are loaded with marketable financial skills instead of just theoretical concepts. Furthermore, the state is also offering you well-paying jobs, a melting pot of cultures, and a great professional environment that will be a perfect fit for ambitious students. To make a long story short, California is the place where you get the perfect mix of education, exposure, career, and financial stability needed to make a successful accounting career.
Simple Steps / Reasons
- Nothing would have happened in California if there had been no Silicon Valley, and accountants would not be in such great demand.
- Big Four firms and major companies are always looking for top students to recruit.
- Universities provide excellent CPA-focused programs with high graduation rates.
- Multiple different industries provide hundreds of summer internship spots for students majoring in finance, e.g., tech, entertainment, and finance.
- High-salary positions are available for accountants and CPAs in California, New York, Texas, and Georgia.
- Investigating attractive colleges or universities is an effective way to continue your growth in the industry with connections and diverse campus opportunities.
- Students are prepared on the cutting edge for the CPA exams thanks to the industry-driven curriculum incorporated with the latest advancements in the field of accounting.
Top 10 Best Accounting Colleges In California
Point out the best accounting colleges in California and understand their values, ranking, and fee structure.
University of California, UC
- It is situated in Barkley, CA.
- University of California is ranked among the top business schools in the world.
- It offers BS, Master of Accounting, and PhD programs
- Provide an extremely strong placement rate
- This university has a tie-up with Big recruiters.
- The fee structure of UC is $44,000 (out-of-state), $15,000 (in-state)
University of California, (UCLA)
- It is situated in LosAngeles, CA
- Features a challenging minor in accounting and a business economics program
- Provide a very high CPA pass rate
- Good recruiting from the Big Four firm and the other representative industry
- The Annual Cost of university is approximately $44,000 (out-of-state), $15,000 (in-state)
- UCLA continuously ranks among the top public universities, though often slightly lower than Berkeley in some overall lists.
University of Southern California
- It is located in Los Angeles, CA
- Highly selective private university with the best programs in accounting
- This university offers BS, MAcc, and Business Taxation programs
- Providing a student with top-level networking and almost 100% job placement
- The fee structure is approximately $64,300 per year.
California State University- Fullerton
- It is Situated in Fullerton, CA.
- The best CSU campus for accounting
- Offers BS and MSA degrees.
- It is one of the most affordable universities with great job opportunities
- Cost of an annual year is approximately $17,000 (out-of-state), $7,000 (in-state).
San Diego State University
- It is located in San Diego, CA
- Business and accounting degrees are the main attractions of the university.
- The students can have easy access to accounting internships in the corporate world by the beach.
- The offer fee structure is $20,590 (out of state) and $8,250 (in state).
University of California (Irvine)
- Based in Irvine, CA.
- UCI is a business and technology-focused environment.
- They offer the Master of Professional Accountancy degree.
- Undergraduate and master’s programs are around is $44,220USD and $15,300USD.
Loyola Marymount University
- The location of the university is Los Angeles, CA
- LMU provides a BS in Accounting and MS program options.
- LMU is well-connected with the top local law and tax firms.
- Private, premium university atmosphere
- The annual cost of an undergraduate is approximately $57,600 per year
California State University- Northridge
- This university belongs to Northridge, CA
- CSUN has high CPA pass rates, especially for a publicly funded institution.
- CSUN is a nice, affordable college option for students with a limited budget.
- Cost: around $18,000 (out-of-state), $7,000 (in-state).
Santa Clara University
- Santa Clara, based in Silicon Valley in CA
- This University is best for those students whose aim is tech accounting, startup finance, and venture capital.
- Providing a BS & MS accounting program to the students.
- Students can easily afford the annual fees of this university.
- Fees structured of this university are around $58,250 yearly.
Pepperdine University
- This University is situated in Malibu, CA
- Provide an accounting specialization in its business school.
- Offers a student a strong placement in the LA corporate market.
- And the annual fees of Pepperdine are approximately $67890 yearly
CPA in California Success Pathway
California is one of the best states for CPA preparation, and if you want to become a certified public accountant in California. You have to must fulfil these requirements set by the California Board of Accountancy that include education, examination, and experience.
Education Requirement for CPA
You have to complete a total of 150 semester units of college to become a CPA in which bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree will include.
- Complete 24 semester units in accounting subjects (e.g., auditing, financial reporting, taxation).
- Also, 24 semester units in business-related subjects (e.g., finance, statistics, business law).
- 20 semester units in accounting study.
- 10 semester units in ethics study (including a minimum of 3 units in accounting ethics or professional responsibilities).
Examination Requirement
- Uniform CPA Exam: The Uniform CPA examination can be passed by clearing all the four sections once. The test for accounting, auditing, and regulations must be passed with a score of at least 75. In addition, you may select one section such as Business Analysis and Reporting, Information Systems and Controls, or Tax Compliance and Planning. A score of 75 in each section is the meaning of passing your exam.
- Professional Ethics: From July 1, 2024, onwards, the separate PETH exam will not be required for the first-time licensure. Applicants will be required to complete a CBA-approved regulatory review course for their first license renewal.
Experience Requirements
- You need a minimum of 12 months of general accounting experience supervised by an individual holding a current, active, and unrestricted U.S. CPA license.
- This experience can be gained through employment in public accounting, private industry, or government.
- The work may be full-time or part-time (170 part-time hours equals one month of experience).
- If you wish to have the authority to sign test reports (like audit or review reports), you must complete a minimum of 500 hours of attest services as part of your general experience.
Next Steps to Licensure
- You must ensure all your coursework is completed; if not, then complete it.
- Then submit your application, transcripts, and fees to the California Board of Accountancy
- After that, pass the uniform CPA Exam and clear all four sections within 30 30-month rolling period
- You need to gain 12 months of supervised experience to become a supervisor and fill out the necessary forms.
- When you complete all steps, submit your final license applications and check them via fingerprinting, and pay the relevant fees.
Conclusion
There are Multiple colleges in California for accounting, and they all provide various bachelor’s and master’s programs. That is the major reason California is the best place for studying accounting. With the help of this article, you can check the top 10 Best accounting colleges in California. And easily choose the best accounting colleges in California. After reading this article, you can prepare for the CPA exam easily.