- Best Graduate Degree Programs in Accounting - U.S. Currency-public domain image
Students with undergraduate degrees in accounting or business who want to pursue graduate study in accounting have many options. Publications that rank graduate accounting programs do so based on a variety of factors, but surveys based on business school faculty give graduate programs (and Ph.D. programs, in particular) at the University of Texas, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University in Chicago consistently high marks.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business takes U.S. News & World Report’s top spot among graduate accounting degree programs. The McCombs School also earns a top ranking among graduate programs from the Public Accounting Report, which also specifically ranks the McCombs Ph.D. in accounting as the best in the nation.
Students pursuing graduate study at the McCombs School can work towards a Master of Public Accounting degree, a Ph.D. in Accounting, or an accounting concentration within the Master of Business Administration program. Students working on undergraduate degrees in accounting at the McCombs School can also enroll in an integrated Master of Public Accounting program that allows students to earn the bachelor’s and master’s degrees concurrently.
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School earns the second spot on the U.S. News ranking of graduate accounting programs. Wharton’s Ph.D. program in accounting also earns high marks from the Public Accounting Report.
Students at Wharton may pursue a Ph.D. in Accounting or choose accounting as a major track within the Master of Business Administration degree program. Many Wharton MBA students pursuing the accounting major choose to double major in finance.
University of Chicago
Ranking third on the U.S. News & World Report list of top graduate accounting programs is the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Booth also has the second-best Ph.D. accounting program in the country according to the Public Accounting Report.
Students at Booth pursue a Ph.D. in business, but must focus their dissertations on a general business area, of which accounting is an option. Accounting is also one of 14 concentrations within Booth’s Master of Business Administration program.
Regardless of whether students are interested in one of the three top schools mentioned here or another school, they should carefully review programs’ websites and other informational materials to ensure that they are making the best accounting graduate degree program choice for them in terms of cost, courses of study, and college atmosphere. Students should also take the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) and retake the test as necessary to ensure a score that meets the requirements of their school of choice.
Additional Information:
Colleges with the Best Undergraduate Accounting Degree Programs
Part-time MBA Program Rankings
Amy Martin - Amy Martin is a freelance writer who holds a Ph.D. in English Studies from Illinois State University. She taught literature and writing ...
