Accounting programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 334 schools to find the best for accounting students.
No school ranked higher than University Of Notre Dame this year for accounting. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 80 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $74,771 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in accounting, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 249 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $74,731 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in accounting, ranking #3. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 209 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $69,131 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,294 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top schools for accounting. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 76 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $75,990. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong accounting program will find one at Michigan State University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 161 accounting degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Michigan State University earn around $67,316 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 317 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $62,399 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,284 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus came in at #7 for accounting this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 166 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $63,021 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Northern Illinois University landed the #8 spot for accounting this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 130 accounting degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $67,610 in their early career. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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Miami University Oxford came in at #9 for accounting this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 140 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $68,174 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 232 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $68,849. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University placed #11 among the best accounting schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 163 accounting degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Illinois State University earn around $66,118 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,482.
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Loyola University Chicago ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 78 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $71,441 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,125.
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Marquette University landed the #13 spot for accounting this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Marquette University graduates 83% of students within six years. About 58 accounting degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Accounting graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $67,665 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Depaul University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 236 accounting degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $70,916 in their early career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned the #15 position for accounting this year. This large public university is located in the city of La Crosse. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $62,450 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,264.
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Fox Valley Technical College earned the #16 position for accounting this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. There were roughly 137 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $41,261 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,835 to complete this degree.
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Butler University earned the #17 position for accounting this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Butler University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $72,107 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Case Western Reserve University earned the #18 position for accounting this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 111 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Case Western Reserve University earn around $66,311 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Dayton earned the #19 position for accounting this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 68 accounting degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Accounting graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $67,214 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Elmhurst College came in at #20 for accounting this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Elmhurst College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $59,734 in their early career. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $18,125 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #21 among the best accounting schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 125 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $59,378 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,875.
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University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned the #22 position for accounting this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn around $62,798 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #23 position for accounting this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 78 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $55,838 in their early career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,251 in student loans.
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Western Technical College La Cross placed #24 among the best accounting schools. Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of La Crosse. There were roughly 38 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Western Technical College La Cross in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Western Technical College La Cross generally make around $42,732. Western Technical College La Cross graduates carry a median of $16,796 in student loans.
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Harper College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. About 78 accounting degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Accounting graduates of Harper College earn a median of $31,747 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963.
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Rest of the Top 50 Accounting Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong accounting education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 334 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).
