Best Colleges for Finance & Accounting in 2025–26

30 colleges with strong finance & accounting programs, ranked by size and selectivity.

University of Maryland Global Campus

Adelphi, MD

$8,136 in-state

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

11.6% acceptance$15,602 in-state

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA

26.7% acceptance$16,758 in-state

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

11% acceptance$16,347 in-state

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT

67.8% acceptance$6,688 in-state

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

87.5% acceptance$14,220 in-state

University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA

16.3% acceptance$21,426 in-state

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA

16.8% acceptance$21,803 in-state

Miami University-Oxford

Oxford, OH

75.4% acceptance$18,161 in-state

Post University

Waterbury, CT

$16,327 in-state

CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY

64.4% acceptance$7,538 in-state

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA

3.5% acceptance$61,990 in-state

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL

69.8% acceptance$13,248 in-state

CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, NY

58.4% acceptance$7,452 in-state

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA

16.4% acceptance$70,702 in-state

College of Staten Island CUNY

Staten Island, NY

92.3% acceptance$7,490 in-state

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Whitewater, WI

85.7% acceptance$8,616 in-state

Strayer University-Global Region

Washington, DC

$13,920 in-state

Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus

Gurabo, PR

$7,750 in-state

Rutgers University-Newark

Newark, NJ

71.4% acceptance$17,250 in-state

Pace University

New York, NY

75.9% acceptance$53,290 in-state

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

3.6% acceptance$65,910 in-state

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA

92.7% acceptance$9,936 in-state

Brown University

Providence, RI

5.4% acceptance$71,412 in-state

William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA

34.1% acceptance$25,914 in-state

Yale University

New Haven, CT

3.9% acceptance$67,250 in-state

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA

48% acceptance$61,293 in-state

University of Rochester

Rochester, NY

40.1% acceptance$67,080 in-state

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ

4.6% acceptance$62,688 in-state

Franklin University

Columbus, OH

$9,577 in-state

About finance & accounting as a major

Finance and accounting are two of the most direct career-track college majors in the US. A finance degree leads to investment banking, asset management, financial planning, corporate finance, real estate, and increasingly fintech and crypto. An accounting degree leads to the CPA license (Certified Public Accountant) and Big Four accounting firm careers (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) — one of the most predictable college-to-corporate-career pipelines available. Finance careers have higher ceilings (Wall Street trading floors and hedge funds pay 7-figure compensation packages to mid-career performers) but more career volatility. Accounting careers have lower ceilings but unusual stability and clear advancement (audit manager → senior manager → partner). The major prestige effect is steep for finance: top undergraduate business schools (Wharton, NYU Stern, Berkeley Haas, Michigan Ross, McCombs) feed Wall Street directly while non-target schools have a much harder time breaking in.

Salary range

$60,000 – $80,000 starting in corporate finance; $110,000-$130,000 starting investment banking; $70,000-$85,000 starting Big Four accounting; CPAs $85,000-$120,000 mid-career

Study path

4-year BS or BBA in Finance or Accounting. Core: financial accounting → managerial accounting → corporate finance → investments → statistics/econometrics → senior capstone. CPA path typically requires 150 credits (5 years) plus 1-2 years supervised work + 4-part CPA exam.

How to choose a finance & accounting program

For accounting, choose a program that prepares you for the CPA exam — check first-time pass rates. AACSB-accredited programs are the gold standard. Look for schools with strong Big Four recruiting partnerships and 150-credit-hour pathways (most states require 150 credits for CPA licensure, so look for schools offering a 5-year combined BS/MS in Accounting or a clear 5-year credit-completion plan). For finance, look for schools with strong Wall Street or fintech placement. Bloomberg terminals, student-managed investment funds, and Big Four recruiting relationships are indicators of quality. Networking opportunities (alumni in target firms) often matter more than course content — a strong finance club and active student-run investment fund are valuable signals.

Common career paths for finance & accounting graduates

Financial Analyst, Investment Banker, Accountant (CPA), Financial Planner, Risk Manager, Hedge Fund Analyst, Corporate Finance Manager, Auditor, Tax Specialist, Quantitative Analyst, Treasury Analyst

Real careers, real salaries

Data Scientist$108K

Financial Analyst$100K

Accountant / Auditor$80K

Management Consultant$99K

Scholarships for finance & accounting students

There are scholarships specifically for students studying finance & accounting. Search our database to find awards you qualify for.

Find finance & accounting scholarships →

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Last updated: November 2025. Live acceptance rates and tuition pulled from each college's most recent reporting.

KidToCollege is free to use and editorially independent. Data sourced from public records including IPEDS, Common Data Sets, College Board and FAFSA.gov. Always verify deadlines and requirements directly with institutions. Not a guarantee of admission or financial aid.