When you decide to study accounting in the United States. You have to face many difficulties when choosing the top accounting schools in the United States, but this informative guide helps you select the best accounting schools in the USA. In this article, you can understand why to study accounting in the USA and which university offers the best facilities, such as a campus environment, an affordable fee structure, and certified programs, and also prepares you for the CPA exam. So, go through this guide to choose the perfect colleges and make your future bright to become an accountant.
Why Do Students Prefer the USA for Studying Accounting?
Many students have a goal to become an accountant, so they need the best accounting school. That provides a globally recognized degree, high earning potential with strong ROI, excellent real world practical learning(internship), and a connection with big four accounting firms. That is the major reason students prefer the USA for accounting due to a perfect job placement and pathways to certifications like CPA and also provide a good academic and innovation for students. The USA is the combination of one of the best universities in the nation in which the university offers hands-on experience and a favourable job that really benefits those students who really want to be an aspiring accountant.
List of Top Accounting Schools in United States
Discover the best accounting schools in the USA and their specialities, like university rank, and provide opportunities and lastly, their fee structure.
University of Texas
This Texas university is one of the best accounting school in texas and the nation also. Because it is continuously ranked in the first place in the nation and they provide a variety of programs to the students with affordable fees structure. It offers outstanding faculty that have many years experience in accounting that helps students increase their networking opportunities.
Why Choose McCombs?
- It has a highly ranked CPA exam pass rate.
- They provide industry partnerships with top accounting firms
- Offer excellent career services and accounting internship opportunities
- It belongs to Austin, Texas
- Various programs included BBA in Accounting, Master’s in Professional Accounting (MPA)
- The fees are roughly between $40,500 and $46,700.
University of Illinois
The business school, Gies College of Business, is known to provide one of the top-ranking and most affordable accounting educational programs in the U.S. With its strong emphasis on innovation, the program equips students with skills necessary for careers in public accounting, corporate finance, and government sectors. That the reason it is the best accounting school in Illinois.
Why Choose Gies?
- This university provides a strong emphasis on technology in accounting service.
- Give access to top-tier internships
- Conduct the best faculty members for the students
- Location: Urbana, Illinois
- Offer BS in Accountancy, MS in Accountancy and other programs like preparation for the CPA exam.
- The undergraduate fees of gies is $33,400 and master fees of gies is $35,800.
University of Pennsylvania
It’s a famous university because of its comprehensive approach to small business education and accounting. Wharton’s accounting department is famous for producing leaders in both academic and professional spheres.
Why Choose Wharton?
- You can easily integrate accounting with other business disciplines.
- Giving you access to elite corporate recruiters
- It offers a wide global network of alumni and others.
- Their location must be Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- You can select a variety of programs like BS in Accounting, MBA Accounting
- Fee structure of Wharton is $63,400 for out of state, and $80,800 for in state
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business is among the top five best accounting programs in the United States. This college is one of the best accounting college in California. What makes the program uniquely outstanding is its fusion of different disciplines and a worldwide outlook, thus equipping the students for executive positions in the accounting field.
Why Choose Marshall?
- They provide you with knowledge of international accounting.
- Offering top recruitment from accounting firms like Deloitte, and pwc, and KPMG
- Innovative accounting research
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Programs: BS & MS in Accounting
- Fee Price: Around $60,000 per year (out of state) and $65,000 (in state), approx.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbour
One of the major concentrations in the MBA program at the Ross School of Business is Accounting and Finance.That the reason this school is one of the best accounting school in Michigan. As a leading business school, Ross combines practical industry-based scenarios with the use of theoretical accounting concepts.
Why Choose Ross?
- Provide knowledge and real-life experience of leadership development.
- Recruit a potential candidate by a recruiter.
- This facility is in Ann Arbour, Michigan.
- The price of Michigan University is $50,330 for out of state and $70,450 for in state
University of Chicago (Booth School of Business)
The Booth School of Business is one of the best accounting schools in the USA . It is a great business education institutions, and its accounting program is highly acclaimed. Booth’s research-driven approach allows the students to become very familiar with the tricks of financial reporting and corporate governance.
Why Choose Booth?
- Top-notch faculty with a strong focus on empirical research
- Very close relationships with international financial accounting institutions
- Measurement-driven approach to accounting education
- Place: Chicago, Illinois
- An accounting bachelor’s degree and an accounting MBA with a reasonable fee structure are available.
- Their fee structure for the combined program of undergraduate and master’s is around $74,000.
Stanford University
This Stanford university offers a student real-life experience of accounting . This university is famous because of their connection with the big four firms. It helps to prepare students for accounting jobs in the tech industry and other areas, Stanford emphasises entrepreneurial thinking.
Why Choose Stanford?
- It has long connections with several Silicon Valley companies
- This university has a very strong academic reputation.
- Provide a high CPA pass success rate.
New York University
NYU’s Stern School of Business is well-known for providing a top-level program in accounting, and it gains most of its prestige from concentrating on financial accounting and auditing. It is the best accounting school in New York City. The program, situated in New York City, takes full advantage of the city to give students a vast range of career possibilities.
Why Choose Stern?
- Position in the world’s financial centre.
- Close relationships with the Big Four accounting firms
- Concentration on data analytics in accounting
- It is situated in New York, NY, United States.
- Offering an accounting program like a Master’s in Accounting (MS) and an undergraduate program in accounting is known as a rigorous curriculum and strong ties to the industry.
- Their fee structure for undergraduate + master’s is 60,430 USD approx (2025 – 26).
Indiana University Bloomington (Kelley School of Business)
Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business is widely recognised for its excellent accounting programs that merge the academic side of the theory with a real-world style of learning. The majority of the graduates of the Kelley School land jobs in the best accounting firms.
Why Choose Kelley?
- The well-trained faculty members provide the student with the accounting skills for research.
- International exposure through the school’s exchange programs
- The school provides students with very high job placement rates
- Located in Bloomington, Indiana
- By providing various programs at a reasonable fee, e.g., BS and MS in accounting, the institution attracts more students.
- The fee structure of IUB is approximately $30,000–$34,000.
University of California, Berkeley
The Haas School of Business offers a famous accounting program that includes sustainability and ethics in accounting. Berkeley’s program is perfect for students who want to change the future of accounting and finance. It is a best finance school also.
Why Choose Haas?
- It concentrates on moral decision-making in accounting.
- Provide a strong bridge with tech big accounting firm.
- This university is located in Berkeley, California.
- The degrees available at this university are BS, MBA in Accounting and PHD.
- Programs Fee structure approx $45,000–$60,000
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler Business School)
That North Carolina at Chapel, another name is the Kenan-Flagler Business School offers various accounting programs that give priority to both technical skills and strategic thinking. In this university, students learn and deeply understand accounting principles, business law, and financial markets. That the reason it is the best accounting school in North Carolina.
Why Choose Kenan-Flager?
- Provide a high CPA exam rate to the students.
- Conduct a seminar for alumni to help students with strong networking.
- Offering a student a strong emphasis on leadership and ethics.
University of Washington (Foster School of Business)
Washington University is present in the top ten universities on the student list. It provides a variety of programs to the students that prepare students for roles in auditing, taxation, and financial accounting with an affordable fee structure.
Why Choose Foster?
- Offering a student collaborative learning environment.
- Provide a strong connection with leading firms in the Pacific Northwest.
- Give you real-world experience of accounting and cash studies, and internship opportunities.
Columbia University
Columbia University is the name of the school which provides an accounting program through its business school and is recognized for its academic rigour. The university integrates a thorough knowledge of accounting principles with an emphasis on using the concepts for business decision-making.
Why Choose Columbia?
- It gives a student access to a prestigious network of alumni and others.
- You can easily integrate string finance and accounting.
- This university location is one of the world’s financial capitals.
University of California, Los Angeles (Anderson School of Management)
UCLA Anderson offers an accounting program with an emphasis on financial accounting, managerial accounting, and auditing. It’s one of the top schools for students seeking a comprehensive accounting education.
Why Choose Anderson?
- This university has a highly successful CPA pass rate.
- It will help you to make good decisions and give you experience in leadership.
- Strong ties to the Southern California business community
- High job placement rates with top firms.
Boston College (Carroll School of Management)
Its is a best accounting schools in the USA , this College is famous for its focus on accounting and finance. This College offers various accounting programs and provides a balance of academic rigor and gives you real-life experience through internships and real-world case studies.
Why Choose Carroll?
- Carroll offers strong academic and professional support.
- Conduct a CPA exam and offer a high pass rate for the CPA exams.
- Conduct a get-together for students or alumni to enhance networking
University of Florida (Warrington College of Business)
Florida University provides a comprehensive accounting program and helps to prepare students for the CPA. It is one of the best accounting schools in Florida. That helps in corporate accounting, and the government also.
Why Choose Warrington?
- This University is one of the highest-ranked universities in Florida. It continuously stayed in the top U.S. accounting programs for several years.
- Provides innovative degree programs of Bachelor’s, Master of Accounting (MAcc), and 3/2 combined degrees.
- Positive CPA pass rates and high job placements have been typical of the program.
- Fee Price: Around $28,698 per year (out of state) and $6,580 (in state), approx.
- Many big industries recruit at Florida University for hiring students like Deloitte, EY, PWC, and KPMG.
Purdue University
Purdue University provides an accounting program like BS in Accounting and MS in Accounting, and other programs that are both academically rigorous and career-focused. The program focuses on both financial accounting and managerial accounting principles.
Why Choose Krannert?
- Strong business and engineering focus
- Opportunities for interdisciplinary learning
- Focus on problem-solving and leadership
- Undergraduate tuition and fees: Local tuition 9,992 USD, Domestic tuition 28,794 USD.
The Ohio State University
Ohio University offers a top rated accounting program to the student that program has strong value in the real world. Its connections with the business community ensure excellent internship and job placement opportunities. Many students know this university as fisher college.
Why Choose Fisher?
- This university has a strong network of industry partners.
- Undergraduate tuition and fees: Local tuition 12,859 USD, Domestic tuition 38,365 USD (2024 – 26)
- High job placement rate at major accounting firms
- It gives you leadership skills also.
Michigan State University (Broad College of Business)
Michigan State’s Broad College of Business provides a good accounting program which is able to nurture students to have a thriving career in public as well as private accounting. It is particularly recognized for its plentiful internship experiences.
Why Choose Broad?
- It provides another skill to the student, like accounting analytics
- Michigan State University has a strong relationship with the corporate world, so students easily get placement.
- Access to global business opportunities
- Local tuition 15,988 USD, Domestic tuition 43,372 USD (2024 – 26)
Southern Methodist University (Cox School of Business)
The Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University is a top-notch one-stop school with a plethora of courses that ensure a profound grasp of the accounting areas like financial reporting, auditing, and business taxation. There are other curriculum activities in which students are allowed to take part in this university. They provide a huge campus area to the students and better faculty members also.
Why Choose Cox?
- Providing a good faculty member to the students, they will guide and support students’ careers
- Strong alumni network in Texas and beyond
- Focus on leadership and practical experience
- The Undergraduate tuition fees is $64,460 USD (2024 – 25)
Online Accredited Colleges for Accounting in the USA
As we know the USA is a very large country and there are various universities that provide countless programs to the students. There are numerous US colleges that offer accredited online accounting degrees like BS & MS in accounting to the students. This facility is really beneficial for students who are not available to attend regular classes. There are various schools that provide this facility to the student like SNHU, WGU, ASU, and University of Arizona, and many more that allow specialized accreditations(AACSB/ACBSP). It offers a learning program where you can easily choose the multiple options for flexibility and industry relevance and focus on your career in bookkeeping, tax, auditing, and CPA prep etc.
Conclusion
There are huge schools in the USA for accounting. You can easily select the best accounting schools in the USA. It should be based on the academic quality, Fees structure, career goals, plans for getting a license, and personal lifestyle.That is the major reason USA is the best place for studying accounting. With the help of this article, you can check the top 20 accounting colleges in the USA. And easily choose good accounting colleges that help you to become a CPA accountant in the future .