5 Best Accounting Colleges

More than 1.2 million people in the U.S. work as accountants and auditors, professionals that have acquired at least a B.S. or similar degree from their college. With a projected growth rate of 16 percent through 2020, tomorrow’s grads should find sufficient job openings across the country. Several schools have been chosen by U.S. News & World Report as top accounting colleges. We list the five best here as of 2012.

1. University of Texas, Austin
WCH 4.132, Inner Campus Dr.
Austin, Texas 78712
512-471-3550

Notes: Also known as UT Austin or simply UT, the University of Texas is situated in Austin, the capital city in the Lone Star State. With more than 50,000 students enrolled, UT is one of the largest universities in the United States. Texas’ McComb’s School of Business is one of the best in the nation for undergraduates, offering several programs that are ranked in the top 10 nationwide including information systems and entrepreneurship. Its accounting program is tops not only on the undergraduate level, but for graduate and doctoral programs too.

2. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1207 S Oak St.
Champaign, IL 61820
217-333-1970

Notes: The University of Illinois is also known as U of I or sometimes as UIUC. More than 42,000 students are enrolled at this campus, which represents the flagship campus for the Illinois university system. The College of Business at Illinois was established in 1915 and is one of the highest ranking schools of its kind in the United States. Its main campus is in Champaign and a second campus is located in Chicago. The College of Business consists of three departments: accountancy, business administration and finance, with each department operating semiautonomously.

3. Brigham Young University, Provo
CES Admissions
A-41 ASB
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
801-422-4636

Notes: Brigham Young University was founded and is still operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints also known as the Mormons. Commonly known as BYU or simply Y, this private university in scenic Provo has more than 30,000 students enrolled. BYU’s Marriott School of Management places a heavy emphasis on ethical decision-making with students required to complete coursework in religion for graduation. Four B.S. degree programs are offered including Accounting. Tuition at BYU is much lower than comparable private schools and many public universities as LDS members support the university.

4. University of Southern California
USC Office of Admission
Undergraduate
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0911
213-740-1111

Notes: The University of Southern California is most commonly referenced as USC and sometimes Southern Cal. This Los Angeles school has more than 17,000 undergraduates enrolled, but more than 19,000 postgraduates. USC’s Marshall School of Business is the largest of the university’s 17 professional schools with its B.S. in Accounting degree offered through its Leventhal School of Accounting. Students in this school, regardless of degree pursuit have numerous opportunities to study abroad. Its Learning About International Commerce or LINC program comprises one-semester study abroad and a trip to another country.

5. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Office of Admissions
Stephen M. Ross School of Business
University of Michigan
701 Tappan Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1234
734-763-5796

Notes: Also known as U-M or simply Michigan, this state university in Ann Arbor welcomes more than 42,000 undergraduates to its campus. Its Ross School of Business was founded in 1924 and has more than 1,000 undergraduates and nearly the same number of graduate students enrolled. The Department of Accounting at Ross is supported by the Paton Accounting Center, which advances excellence in accounting through world-class workshops and other endeavors.

Other Schools

A number of other schools are also highly-rated by U.S. News & World Report in Accounting. The University of Pennsylvania; the University of Notre Dame; Indiana University, Bloomington; New York University; Ohio State University, Columbus; and the University of Washington round out its top 10 list.