US Best Graduate Accounting Schools

The 2010 U.S. News & World Report rankings for accounting schools reaffirmed the strength and resilience of some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions while also showcasing significant shifts within the league table. Notably, the University of Texas at Austin retained its position as the number one accounting program in the country, further cementing its reputation as a leader in accounting education.

University of Texas at Austin (McCombs School of Business)

In 2010, the University of Texas at Austin continued its reign as the best accounting school in the country, a position it had maintained for several years. The McCombs School of Business is widely recognized for its comprehensive and rigorous accounting curriculum, which provides students with the technical skills necessary to excel in various accounting careers. What sets McCombs apart is its Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) program, which is among the best in the nation for its balance between technical knowledge and practical application.

The McCombs program is particularly strong in areas such as auditing, taxation, and financial reporting, with students benefiting from the school’s close ties to the thriving Texas business ecosystem. The McCombs accounting faculty is renowned for its academic rigor and research, and the program's emphasis on ethical standards and corporate governance further contributes to the school's standing at the top of the rankings. In addition, the school’s extensive network of alumni, who hold influential positions in major accounting firms such as Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and Ernst & Young, provides students with unparalleled internship and employment opportunities.

Wharton School of Business

Securing the second spot in the rankings in 2010 was the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, an institution with a rich history in business education and accounting. Wharton is widely regarded as the first established business school in the United States, having been founded in 1881. Wharton’s accounting program stands out for its academic rigor, depth of theoretical content, and focus on the broader role of accounting in strategic decision-making. While the program is known for its strength in areas like financial accounting and managerial accounting, what truly distinguishes Wharton’s approach is its integration of accounting with other business disciplines, such as finance, economics, and operations management.

Wharton’s accounting faculty are considered some of the leading scholars in the field, contributing significantly to the academic literature that shapes modern accounting practices. Additionally, the school’s global reach and its extensive network of alumni, many of whom occupy top roles in both the private and public sectors, provide students with valuable professional opportunities. The strong emphasis on research, combined with a curriculum that blends technical knowledge with strategic insights, ensures that Wharton remains one of the top destinations for students seeking a well-rounded education in accounting.

Indiana University Bloomington

One of the most notable shifts in the 2010 rankings was the rise of Indiana University Bloomington’s accounting program, which jumped into the top 10, moving up from 11th place in 2009. The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University has long been known for its strong business curriculum, and its accounting program has consistently gained recognition for its comprehensive and dynamic offerings. The Kelley School offers a wide range of programs, including undergraduate degrees and specialized graduate degrees such as the Master of Science in Accounting (MSA).

Indiana’s rise in the rankings reflects its growing prominence in the field of accounting education, which can be attributed to several factors. The program has placed a strong emphasis on integrating technology with accounting education, offering students opportunities to develop proficiency in the latest accounting software and analytical tools. Additionally, Kelley’s close relationships with top accounting firms provide students with valuable internship and career placement opportunities. The rise of Indiana University in the rankings signals its increasing recognition as a leader in accounting education, capable of competing with the best programs in the country.

Notre Dame

Similarly, Notre Dame’s accounting program saw a slight improvement in the rankings, moving up a place to 13th overall in 2010. The Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame has built a solid reputation for producing highly skilled accounting professionals with a strong foundation in ethics and leadership. The Mendoza College has been particularly recognized for its commitment to ethical decision-making in accounting and its emphasis on responsible business practices, values that resonate with students seeking a career that balances professional excellence with a commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Notre Dame’s strong accounting faculty, coupled with the school’s rigorous curriculum and network of alumni in top accounting firms, ensures that its students are well-equipped to succeed in the competitive accounting field. The increase in Notre Dame’s ranking highlights the program’s growing influence and its ability to adapt to the changing landscape of business education.

Columbia University and University of Florida

The 2010 rankings saw Columbia University and the University of Florida dropping to a tie for 17th place, down from 14th in 2009. Columbia Business School, one of the most prestigious business schools in the world, has traditionally been known for its strength in finance, management, and strategy, with accounting serving as one of its core disciplines. While Columbia’s accounting program remains highly regarded, its drop in the rankings suggests increased competition from other programs and possibly a slight shift in focus towards other business areas.

Similarly, the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business Administration saw a decline in its ranking, reflecting perhaps changes in its academic offerings or shifting perceptions of its program in comparison to other top schools. However, both Columbia and Florida remain highly respected institutions with robust accounting programs that continue to attract strong student interest and produce talented graduates.

Harvard University

Perhaps the most surprising shift in the 2010 rankings was the dramatic drop of Harvard University, which fell from 14th place in 2009 to a tie for 23rd place in 2010. Harvard’s Harvard Business School (HBS) has long been regarded as the gold standard in business education, with its accounting program viewed as an integral part of its comprehensive MBA curriculum. However, the drop in ranking reflects a broader trend in business schools where elite institutions like Harvard, while maintaining their prestige in other areas like strategy, leadership, and entrepreneurship, face challenges in maintaining top rankings in specialized fields like accounting.

Harvard’s accounting program, historically viewed as one component of its broader business education offering, may have seen its relative position affected by the increasing specialization of accounting programs at other institutions that focus exclusively on the field. This drop in the rankings could also be attributed to more focused competition from schools like Wharton, Texas McCombs, and Chicago Booth, which have strengthened their accounting programs in recent years.

University of Georgia

One of the more positive stories in the 2010 rankings was the University of Georgia, which moved into the top 20, improving from 22nd place in 2009. The Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia has a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality accountants who excel in both public accounting and corporate finance. The rise in the rankings speaks to the program’s continued investment in its curriculum and faculty, as well as its growing visibility within the accounting community. Georgia’s strong regional presence, particularly in the southeastern U.S., combined with its strong accounting faculty and industry connections, makes it an attractive choice for students seeking a well-rounded accounting education.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), renowned for its strength in technology, engineering, and entrepreneurship, experienced a notable drop in its accounting rankings, falling from 24th to a tie for 29th. MIT’s accounting program has traditionally been strong, but its focus on more analytical, quantitative aspects of accounting, often tied to its broader engineering and management programs, may have contributed to its relative decline in the rankings. This drop signals a potential mismatch between MIT’s traditionally strong technical focus and the growing importance of more specialized, hands-on accounting education that emphasizes ethics, leadership, and practical experience.

Duke University

In contrast, Duke University experienced a significant rise, moving up nine places from 26th in 2009 to 17th in 2010. The Fuqua School of Business at Duke has invested heavily in its accounting program, combining solid academic rigor with an emphasis on leadership and ethical decision-making. The school’s accounting faculty is recognized for its strong academic credentials and its ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Duke’s improvement in the rankings reflects the growing recognition of its accounting program as one of the best in the nation.

2010 Best Graduate Accounting Schools:
1 University of Texas--Austin (McCombs) Austin, TX
2 University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) Philadelphia, PA
3 University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL
4 University of Chicago (Booth) Chicago, IL
5 University of Michigan--Ann Arbor (Ross) Ann Arbor, MI
6 University of Southern California (Marshall) Los Angeles, CA
7 Stanford University Stanford, CA
8 Brigham Young University (Marriott) Provo, UT
9 New York University (Stern) New York, NY
10 Indiana University--Bloomington (Kelley) Bloomington, IN
11 Uni of North Carolina--Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) Chapel Hill, NC
12 Ohio State Uni (Fisher) Columbus, OH
13 Uni of Notre Dame (Mendoza) Notre Dame, IN
14 Northwestern Uni (Kellogg) Evanston, IL
15 Uni of California--Berkeley (Haas) Berkeley, CA
     Uni of Washington (Foster) Seattle, WA
17 Columbia Uni New York, NY
   Duke Uni (Fuqua) Durham, NC
   Uni of Florida (Hough) Gainesville, FL
20 Uni of Georgia (Terry) Athens, GA
21 Michigan State Uni (Broad) East Lansing, MI
     Uni of Iowa (Tippie) Iowa City, IA
23 Cornell Univ (Johnson) Ithaca, NY
     Harvard Univ Boston, MA
25 Arizona State Univ (Carey) Tempe, AZ
    Texas A&M Univ--College Station (Mays) College Station, TX
    Univ of California--Los Angeles (Anderson) Los Angeles, CA
    Univ of Rochester (Simon) Rochester, NY
29 Loyola Marymount Univ Los Angeles, CA
     Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) Cambridge, MA