Accounting programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their accounting programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 506 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for accounting students pursuing a degree.
University Of Virginia Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best accounting schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 29 accounting degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $73,793 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
Read more about the accounting program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
Wake Forest University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in accounting, ranking #2. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 39 accounting degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Wake Forest University earn around $70,335 in the first couple years of their career. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for Wake Forest University
Vanderbilt University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 39 accounting degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $77,802 in their early career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
More information about a degree in accounting from Vanderbilt University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 186 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $69,472 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
See the full accounting program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Students looking for a strong accounting program will find one at University Of Richmond, which ranked #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of University of Richmond. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 28 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Richmond in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $71,508. University Of Richmond graduates carry a median of $20,757 in student loans.
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Florida State University landed the #6 spot for accounting this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 145 accounting degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $63,264 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,625 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida placed #7 among the best accounting schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 242 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $65,559 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,003 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for University Of Florida
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #8 position for accounting this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 145 accounting students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $61,303 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,946 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
James Madison University landed the #9 spot for accounting this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 125 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $71,468 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,484.
More information about a degree in accounting from James Madison University
Elon University landed the #10 spot for accounting this year. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Elon University awarded about 53 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $69,764 in their early career. Elon University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
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Washington And Lee University landed the #11 spot for accounting this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lexington. About 94% of students finish within six years. Washington And Lee University awarded about 48 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Washington And Lee University generally make around $81,625. Washington And Lee University graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in accounting from Washington And Lee University
George Mason University landed the #12 spot for accounting this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 170 accounting students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $77,497 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Miami came in at #13 for accounting this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. University Of Miami awarded about 46 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $72,392. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for University Of Miami
University Of Georgia came in at #14 for accounting this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 288 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from University Of Georgia earn around $64,996 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Auburn University placed #15 among the best accounting schools. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 246 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $65,059 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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The University Of Tennessee earned the #16 position for accounting this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 212 accounting students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $61,638 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for The University Of Tennessee
Clemson University landed the #17 spot for accounting this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 246 accounting degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $63,415. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in accounting from Clemson University
The University Of Alabama earned the #18 position for accounting this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. About 313 accounting degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from The University Of Alabama earn around $53,452 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
See the full accounting program report for The University Of Alabama
Edison State College landed the #19 spot for accounting this year. Edison State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. There were roughly 25 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Edison State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Edison State College earn around $52,597 in the first couple years of their career. Edison State College graduates carry a median of $13,356 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for Edison State College
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 162 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $62,423 in their early career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $25,826 in student loans.
Read more about the accounting program at University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of Kentucky ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. University Of Kentucky awarded about 179 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from University Of Kentucky earn around $62,463 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Kentucky graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #22 spot for accounting this year. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 153 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn around $61,998 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,600.
Read more about the accounting program at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Florida International University placed #23 among the best accounting schools. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 251 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Florida International University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Florida International University earn around $62,744 in the first couple years of their career. Florida International University graduates carry a median of $18,625 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for Florida International University
University Of Central Florida ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 243 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $61,436. Typical student debt for the program is $19,736.
More information about a degree in accounting from University Of Central Florida
Palm Beach State College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Lake Worth. Palm Beach State College awarded about 16 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $42,501 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,518 to complete this degree.
Read more about the accounting program at Palm Beach State College
Rest of the Top 50 Accounting Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong accounting education:
This ranking is produced 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 · 506 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).
