by our College Data Analytics TeamAccounting and Finance was the 289th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 3,648 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 15.0% increase in accounting and finance degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 3,100.
This year's Best Accounting and Finance Schools ranking compares 84 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of accounting and finance programs later in this article.
Accounting and Finance majors are found most commonly in careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is important. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems 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. Once you obtain your degree, additional accounting and finance certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different accounting and finance degree levels. Accounting and Finance programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest accounting and finance degree you can get. The type of accounting and finance degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| 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 finance, with approximately 50.3% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for accounting and finance workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 49.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.1% |
| Some College Courses | 11.3% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 6.3% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 6.0% |
About 81.8% of workers in careers related to accounting and finance obtain at least bachelor's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in accounting and finance have received.
This of course varies depending on which accounting and finance career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your accounting and finance degree? Accounting and Finance careers are expected to grow 12.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to accounting and finance.
| 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% |
| Budget Analysts | 62,200 | 6.5% |
As you might expect, salaries for accounting and finance graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for accounting and finance graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers accounting and finance grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Financial Managers | $146,830 |
| Financial Analysts | $100,990 |
| Budget Analysts | $79,830 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,820 |
With over 265 different accounting and finance 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 finance school rankings to help you with this.
Accounting and Finance 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 Business/Management | 1,637 |
| Other Accounting and Related Services | 814 |
| Auditing | 177 |
