Hi, I am super focused on my dream to become a successful accountant, and I'm aware of the importance of recruitment opportunities. Could anyone recommend the best colleges for an accounting major, where top corporations frequently recruit?
Certainly, recruitment opportunities can provide a powerful stepping stone to a successful accounting career. There are several schools known to have strong accounting programs and which consistently attract recruiters from top firms and corporations.
University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business has a renowned undergraduate accounting program. Many of the Big Four accounting firms (EY, Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC) as well as other corporations like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Microsoft actively recruit from McCombs.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is another highly-regarded program, and their College of Business is often targeted by the Big Four for recruitment. The university also hosts a "Meet the Firms" event every year which allows students to network with professionals in the accounting field.
Brigham Young University (BYU's) Marriott School of Business also has a top-rated accounting program and is heavily recruited by both Big Four and mid-tier accounting firms. The school's strong affiliation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is also appealing to some students.
In the northeast, the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania is another big name with a lot of recruitment happening on campus. While it is a competitive program, many of its graduates go on to careers in top accounting firms and large corporations.
On the West Coast, University of Southern California's (USC's) Leventhal School of Accounting is acclaimed for its accounting program and is heavily recruited by the Big Four firms as well. The school hosts an annual 'Meet the Firms' event for students to engage with potential employers.
All of these programs are well-regarded, but keep in mind that fit is also important. Try to visit these schools if you can, and speak with current students and professors to get a feeling for the campus culture and to see if it aligns with your own goals and values.
Also, bear in mind that wherever you go, it will be your effort and commitment to your studies, networking effectively, and leveraging the opportunities available to you that will ultimately pave the pathway to a successful career in accounting. So while these are all excellent choices, keep in mind that there are many other great schools out there.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.