by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, accounting and business/management was the 374th most popular major nationwide with 1,637 degrees awarded. This represents a 2.3% increase in accounting and business/management degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 1,600.
Our 2023 Best Accounting and Business/Management Schools ranking analyzes 71 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for accounting and business/management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of accounting and business/management programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in accounting and business/management is using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific accounting and business/management careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of accounting and business/management degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in accounting and business/management to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the accounting and business/management degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to accounting and business/management, with approximately 47.6% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to accounting and business/management tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 46.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 23.9% |
| Some College Courses | 13.2% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 7.4% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 5.2% |
Most workers in accounting and business/management have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in accounting and business/management careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the accounting and business/management career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your accounting and business/management degree? Accounting and Business/Management careers are expected to grow 12.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to accounting and business/management.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,537,600 | 10.0% |
| Financial Managers | 689,000 | 18.7% |
| Financial Analysts | 328,200 | 10.8% |
As you might expect, salaries for accounting and business/management graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for accounting and business/management graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers accounting and business/management grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Financial Managers | $146,830 |
| Financial Analysts | $100,990 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,820 |
With over 168 different accounting and business/management degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased accounting and business/management school rankings to help you with this.
Accounting and Business/Management is one of 5 different types of Accounting programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Accounting | 73,172 |
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping | 19,817 |
| Accounting and Finance | 3,648 |
| Other Accounting and Related Services | 814 |
| Auditing | 177 |
View All Accounting and Business/Management Related Majors >
