Top Accounting Schools in Virginia with Bachelor’s Degree Programs

by Alex Morgan · September 3, 2023

Accounting schools are the go-to choice for a lot of students after school. That’s because it’s a viable career choice, and it has jobs for around 1.5 million Americans as of this writing. So, it’s no wonder a lot of them look to know how to become an accountant in Virginia.

So, what’s an accounting career like in Virginia? Moreover, what are some of the best accounting schools in Virginia? We’re going to answer that as we explore some of the top business schools in Virginia with accounting degrees, So let’s dive right into it.

Top 5 accounting schools in Virginia for Bachelor’s Degree

Now, without further ado, let’s talk about the best finance schools in Virginia with bachelor’s degrees for accountants.

1. University of Virginia – Charlottesville, Virginia

The University of Virginia is the top institution in the state and is often considered the best accounting university Virginia has to offer for many different programs. That’s why there’s no wonder that it’s on the top of the list for being the best choice accounting university in Virginia, as the undergraduate program you get here is called:

BS in Commerce – Accounting Concentration

The BS in Commerce is a finance and business management-based program focusing on accounting. The accounting major focuses on various courses that teach the intricacies of accounting, and that includes courses such as:

Intermediate Accounting I & II

Introductory Auditing

Federal Taxation

Advanced Financial Accounting

Taxes and Business Strategy

Global Commerce Immersion: Topics in Accounting

Then, there are other electives that focus on commerce and business administration in general. However, it’s a great program and offers the right base for those looking to become a CPA accountant in the United States.

2. Virginia Tech – Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, is a great technical institution. Formerly known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute, it’s now a fully accredited university that offers some of the best programs in the state. That includes it’s accounting faculty, which offers a bachelor’s program called:

Bachelor in Accounting

Bachelor in Accounting is one of the sought after accounting major undergraduate degree in Virginia. Focusing mainly on accounting, taxation, and auditing, this bachelor’s program is just right for anyone looking for an all-encompassing program in Virginia. The courses in this degree include:

Principles of Accounting I and II

Intermediate Financial Accounting I and II

Small Business Accounting

Accounting Systems and Controls

Accounting Systems and Controls

While there are other electives and optional, this degree is an accounting major, so most of it surrounds accounting, auditing, and taxation. Therefore, it’s another great undergraduate program to consider for Virginia residents.

3. James Madison University – Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, is another top accounting institution in the Virginian state. Commonly hailed as one of the leading universities for science studies, it has great commerce and business-related programs. The accounting program here is called:

BSBA Accounting Concentration

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration is an accounting-concentrated business degree, which has all the intricacies and requirements needed to become a CPA. The accounting undergraduate catalog for this degree includes courses such as:

Managerial Accounting

Business Analytics I and II

Federal Income Tax Accounting

Auditing and Assurance

Corporate Financial Reporting I and II

Now, these courses make it an ideal program for one looking to become a corporate accountant. It can also be the ideal undergraduate degree for those looking to pursue a career in forensic accounting or auditing, as it does have the tools to prepare you for it.

4. George Mason University – Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, is another great university that offers a variety of programs. It has different college faculties for various business and finance degrees. The School of Business at this Virginia university has many accounting and finance programs, but the major bachelor’s degree is called:

Bachelor of Science in Business – Accounting Concentration

The Bachelor of Science in Business is another accounting-concentrated program that focuses on the intricacies of accounting in business. The finance university in Virginia says that it’s ideal for those looking to become auditors, budget analysts, corporate accountants, credit analysts, etc.

And the focus on that is apparent in the curriculum, which includes accounting major programs such as:

Managerial and Cost Accounting

Intermediate Accounting I and II

Taxation and Managerial Decision Making

Accounting Analytics

Assurance and Audit Services

Thus, it’s apparent from the focus of this degree that it’s ideal for students looking to become corporate or other types of accountants.

5. Old Dominion University – Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University should be another accounting and finance school in Virginia for your consideration since it offers some of the best programs and is known for affordability. This is also a versatile university with various degrees, and finance undergraduate degrees include an accounting program called:

BSBA in Accounting

The BSBA in Accounting program is another business degree, though it focuses mainly on the accounting aspect—hence the name. The accounting courses found in the curriculum include:

Essentials of Financial Accounting I, II and III

Managerial Accounting

Financial Auditing

Taxation of Individuals

Taxation of Business Entities

Accounting Information Systems

That’s why it’s yet another great program to enroll in in the state of Virginia.

Accounting Job Outlook and Salaries

Accounting jobs are available in quite an abundance across the United States. And those numbers are only increasing as BLS predicts a 6% increase in jobs for accountants and auditors by 2031. That’ll make it around 136,000 new jobs in the next 8 years for accountants.

As for the compensation for accountants, the average median salary of accountants in the United States is around $79,000 per year. Now, the average salary for accountants in Virginia is around $85,000, with around 42,000 employed accountants:

Thus proving that Virginia is one of the states where there’s a lot of work for accountants, and the salaries are quite hefty, too.

Conclusion

For those looking forward to career in accounting, attending accounting schools in Virginia is the first step. These are some of the top choices for Virginian universities and the bachelor’s degrees offered by them for accountants. All of the accounting degrees have some unique properties and offer inclusive and great curriculums. So, it boils down to the student and which degree they think is more suitable for them in terms of location, affordability, and programs as well as if they are looking for accounting job prospects in Virginia.