Top Ten
Accounting Colleges
2010
www.waccounting.net
Colleges are ranked to assist students in selecting the institution that will best meet their goals. There are 4 major ranking providers: U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, Newsweek and Business Week. Of these, U.S. News and World Report is the only provider that ranks college by degree program.
1- University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Its accounting undergraduate and graduate degree programs have been ranked among the best in the country by the Public Accounting Report, US News and World Report, the Financial Times, the Princeton Review and BusinessWeek.
Highly demanding coursework will provide an in-depth look at financial, managerial and cost accounting principles. The school offers tutorial services and peer support through student organizations.
Admission requires a completed application, essays, official transcripts, test scores, and a non-refundable application fee. Additionally, the Office of Admissions highly encourages applicants to submit their resume, letters of recommendation, and any information on special circumstances, such as socioeconomic status, responsibilities, adversities, and cultural background.
The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business 1 University Sta B6000 Austin, TX 78712-0201 (512) 471-5921
2-University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral accounting degree programs. Its department of accountancy is among the nation's highest ranked programs; including such recognition by recruiters of the Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive as the 5th best accounting program.
The Bachelor of Science in Accountancy includes coursework in institutions and regulations, decision-making, and assurance. For students who wish to take the CPA examination in the state of Illinois, they must either be admitted to the dual Bachelor's/Masters's degree program or obtain a Certificate of Accountancy. Applications will enable admissions officers to assess and select students based on academic record, ACT/SAT scores, leadership skills,
communication ability and a diversity of interests.
The master's programs are one-year highly specialized degree programs that prepare students to take the United States Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination, the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examination, and the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) examination. Admission to the master's programs, requires the submission of GMAT test scores, completed accounting coursework, 3 letters of recommendation, official transcripts, current resume and a personal statement.
The Ph.D. program is suited for those who wish to become accountancy educators or researchers. Admission requires a completed application, GMAT test scores, official transcripts, a personal statement, resume and 3 letters of recommendation.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Accountancy
360 Wohlers Hall 1206 South Sixth Street Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-0857 illinois.edu
3-Brigham Young University - Provo
The School of Accountancy at Brigham Young University-Provo provides educational instruction in accounting information systems, financial accounting, statement auditing, taxation and managerial accounting. The Bachelor of Science in Accounting is a 2-year program. Students may apply to the program in their junior year of college. In order to be admitted to the University, each student must have successfully completed several years of mathematics, English, science, history and foreign language. Declaring accounting as a major requires the completion of several prerequisite accounting courses.
The School of Accountancy offers one graduate program; a Masters of Accountancy. The program may be completed in one year by those with an undergraduate degree in accounting; otherwise, the program takes 2 years to complete. Coursework will provide in-depth study of many accounting principles, including financial accounting, managerial accounting, fraud prevention and detection and taxation. Admission requires a minimum GMAT score of 550, completion of pre-management and pre-accounting courses with a cumulative 3.0 grade point average.
Brigham Young University-Provo 346D Administration Building
Provo, UT 84602 (801) 422-1211 byu.edu
4- University of Pennsylvania
One of the most prestigious business schools in the nation, the Wharton School of Business, at the University of Pennsylvania offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in accounting. The bachelor's degree program includes coursework in financial, international, managerial and cost accounting, as well as merger and acquisition accounting principles. In order to be admitted to the program, a student is evaluated based on academic performance, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation and extracurricular involvement.
The masters degree provides academic instruction that prepares you for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examinations. When applying to the graduate program, you will need to submit four essays, official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, GMAT scores and a resume. If selected, you will also be required to interview with campus officials.
If applying to the doctoral program in accounting, you can expect to embark on educational study in accounting research in a specialized area of financial economics. Applicants are selected based on academic achievement, GMAT test scores and evaluations of past instructors and professional supervisors.
University of Pennsylvania 3400 Spruce St. #2DONNER Philadelphia, PA 19104-4206
(215) 662-6934 upenn.edu
5-University of Southern California
The University of Southern California offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in accounting. In order to be admitted to the undergraduate program, you must submit a personal statement and activity summary, copies of official transcripts, a counselor/teacher report with attached letter of recommendation and SAT or ACT test scores. Successful completion of the undergraduate program will allow you to receive a bachelor of science degree in accounting with an emphasis on professional accounting or accounting information systems.
To apply to the graduate program submit recommendations, a statement of purpose, test scores, academic records and supplemental materials such as portfolios and resumes. Coursework covers such areas as financial statement analysis, auditing, enterprise systems, and tax theory. The master's program is a one-year degree program and students typically take 5 courses each semester.
The Ph.D. in Accounting requires the completion of an application, submission of 3 letters of recommendation, copies of transcripts (unofficial acceptable), GRE or GMAT test scores, and an application fee. The program provides highly intensive study in such areas as statistical methodology, research design, microeconomics, and behavioral sciences. University of Southern California
Office of Admission 700 Childs Way
University Park Campus Los Angeles, CA 90089-0911 (213) 740-1111
Other Top Accounting Programs
Other top accounting programs are at these institutions: Indiana University-Bloomington
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor University of Notre Dame
New York University
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
