Student enrollment in accounting continues to rise

For the third consecutive year, accounting undergraduate enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities is on the rise.

Spring semester enrollment in four-year undergraduate accounting programs rose 8.9% from spring 2025, according to an AICPA analysis of National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data, sitting at 205,180 students. The increase follows a 12.7% rise in spring 2025 and a 4.8% increase in spring 2024.

“This is the third straight year we’ve seen increases, so accounting is really showing momentum right now among students,” Sue Coffey, CPA, CGMA, the AICPA’s CEO–Public Accounting, said in an AICPA news release. “But it’s more than just enrollment data. We’re seeing strong interest in the new CPA Exam, rising entry-level pay within firms and finance teams, and more buzz in general about accounting as a great career choice for students and young professionals. The word is getting out.”

Continue reading on the Journal of Accountancy site...