by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Auditing explores Auditing. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Including Certified Accountants, To Perform Independent Internal And External Appraisals To Evaluate Organizational Financial And Operational Activities, Ensure Compliance With Laws And Policies, Safeguard Assets, And Promote Effective Planning And Resource Allocation. Includes Instruction In Advanced Accounting, Audit Tools And Techniques, Sampling, Risk And Control, Audit Planning, Audit Function Management, Law And Regulations, Environmental Auditing, Information Technology Applications, Professional Standards And Ethics, And Specific Industry And Service Sector Problems. Read on to learn the essential details every auditing student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering auditing programs.
Across the country, auditing is a widely-pursued major, with 178 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Auditing Schools ranking analyzes these 17 schools to determine the best overall colleges for auditing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of auditing programs later in this article.
Programs in Auditing build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations auditing graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a auditing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a auditing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several auditing degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 19 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 159 |
People currently working in careers related to auditing tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 41.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 40.0% |
| Master’s degree | 13.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in auditing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in auditing can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to auditing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to auditing.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 388,087 | 3.0% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Financial Examiners | 136,492 | 13.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of auditing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $57,191 |
| 4 years | $61,213 |
| 5 years | $69,643 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for auditing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers auditing grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Financial Examiners | $117,139 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,222 |
With 17 different auditing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased auditing school rankings to help you.
Students interested in auditing, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Accounting | 58,956 |
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping | 17,375 |
| Accounting and Finance | 3,502 |
| Accounting and Business/Management | 1,270 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other | 554 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
