Accounting major

Accounting: courses, careers, and where to study

Accounting prepares graduates for the CPA exam and careers in public accounting, corporate finance, audit, tax, and forensic accounting, a major with high job placement.

Accounting is one of the most career-direct business majors. The standard 4-year BS in Accounting covers financial accounting, managerial accounting, intermediate and advanced accounting, audit, taxation, and accounting information systems. To sit for the CPA exam, most states now require 150 credit hours, students typically complete the BS plus an MS in Accounting (or MBA) for that fifth-year requirement. Average starting salaries at Big Four firms are competitive, and the profession has predictable career advancement (Senior → Manager → Senior Manager → Partner).

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Accounting maps to CIP 52.0301, Accounting, within the BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES family. The official definition:

A program that prepares individuals to practice the profession of accounting and to perform related business functions. Includes instruction in accounting principles and theory, financial accounting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, legal aspects of accounting, auditing, reporting procedures, statement analysis, planning and consulting, business information systems, accounting research methods, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific for-profit, public, and non-profit organizations.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • Financial accounting (GAAP, IFRS basics)
  • Managerial / cost accounting
  • Intermediate and advanced accounting
  • Audit principles and procedures
  • Federal and state taxation
  • Accounting information systems and ERP
  • Forensic accounting and fraud examination
  • Business law and ethics

Typical careers

Typical salary range: $56,000–$78,000 early-career (BLS accountant median $79,880)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Accounting. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Accounting major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Accounting program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Accounting department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Business programs may hold AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE accreditation (AACSB is the most selective). Accreditation can affect graduate-school admission and some employers, so confirm it for any Accounting program you shortlist.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Accountingcareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Accounting program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Accounting programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

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How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.