Best Accounting Schools in North Carolina

by Alex Morgan · April 7, 2023

Feature North Carolina University for Accountants

Do you wish to become an accountant in N.C.? Then let’s help you find accounting schools in North Carolina.

North Carolina is known for beautiful sceneries, aviation, amazing parks, mountain ranges, and a very culturally-rich populace. However, North Carolina also has an abundance of professions in various industries.

And one of the fruitful professions in N.C. is accountancy. According to the North Carolina Association of CPAs, there are around 8,700 active CPA accountants in the state. So, which are the best schools to get score state of N.C. accounting jobs? Let’s find out.

Which Accounting Schools in North Carolina to Choose?

Selecting a business school is a daunting task for high school students who have no idea where to start. The first step is naturally finding business management programs in demand and narrowing it down to schools in your state. It’s worth noting that accredited online accounting schools are also viable for those looking outside their state options.

Once that’s done then it’s time to review the programs that some of your shortlisted North Carolina accounting schools are offering. Selecting a major or career direction helps. This is an important step because it narrows down further the type of school you want to apply for, on campus or online, full-time or part-time, accredited or graduate certification, etc. To help you make that choice, here are the top accounting schools in North Carolina with in-demand degree programs.

Top 5 Accounting Schools In North Carolina

Becoming an accountant in the Tar Heel state is a fruitful bet. So, how to become an accountant in North Carolina? The best way to do that is by enrolling in an accredited university or getting an online accounting degree in N.C. So, let’s talk about the five best accounting schools in North Carolina today.

1. N.C. State University – Raleigh, NC

NC State University is a great option for North Carolina residents, as it’s in the heart of Raleigh. However, for accountant hopefuls, this is a great option because of its two accounting degree programs:

Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Master of Accounting (MAC)

The accounting B.S. option has an incredible curriculum covering all the necessary accounting aspects. This includes Macroeconomics, Economics and Business Statistics, Elements of Calculus, and Introduction to Statistical Programming (SAS and R).

Moreover, students can simply head into Master of Accounting if they are already a graduate—or after finishing the B.S. in accounting at North Carolina State.

2. Appalachian State University – Boone, NC

Appalachian State University is located in beautiful Boone, NC. This remarkable university is known for its lucrative programs, and two of those fall under the accounting category:

BSBA Accounting
Master of Science in Accounting

The BSBA degree in accounting is a great option for accounting aspirants, as it’s the ideal foundation you need to become a CPA anywhere in the U.S. The curriculum of this bachelor’s program includes Introduction(s) to Finance, Organizational Behavior, and Principles of Marketing.

It also includes Issues in International Taxation and Accounting and International Business- which are ideal for helping you be an accountant anywhere in the world. Besides that, ASU tops it off by providing a Master of Science in Accounting.

3. Elon University NC – Elon, NC

Elon University sits in the heart of scenic Elon, North Carolina. This institution is known for its affordable programs and being the #1 ranked undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report. The two accounting programs offered at this university are:

Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Master of Science in Accounting

The BS in Accounting is an ideal fundamental degree for CPA job seekers, as the curriculum is carefully woven to meet those requirements. It involves courses such as Intermediate Accounting I, II, and II and Principles of Finance, Strategic Management, and Auditing.

And you can take it up a notch by getting the Master of Science in Accounting, which is all you will need to become a CPA in any state.

4. University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Charlotte, NC

University of North Carolina at Charlotte is one of the best accounting schools in N.C. The two accounting programs here are:

Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Master of Accountancy

The BS in Accounting has an outstanding curriculum, which includes major courses such as Intermediate Financial Accounting I and II, as well as Professional Development for Accountants, Managerial Accounting, and Accounting Information Systems. Then you have the Master of Accountancy program, which is ranked 25^th according to UNC’s website.

5. Wake Forest University – Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Wake Forest University sits in the middle of lush and beautiful Winston-Salem. However, it’s not the scenic location; it’s the two accounting programs that should lure you:

B.S in Accounting
Master of Science in Accountancy

The accounting B.S. program has various great courses in its curriculum, including Introduction to Auditing, Professional and Ethical Responsibilities of Accountants, Organizational Behaviors, Quantitative Analysis, and Management Information systems. And much like other options in this list, this university also has a great Master of Science in Accountancy program.

Reasons To Become An Accountant

Accountancy is all about numbers, but that doesn’t mean you need to be the next Carl Gauss to become one. In fact, a lot of people say that despite being surrounded by numbers, accountancy is one profession where you can become an accountant if you have below-average math skills.

This, of course, varies depending on the person and their level in accounting careers. However, for most entry-level accountants, even a basic understanding of math suffices. Besides that, here are a few more reasons to become an accountant:

It’s particularly rich in terms of job opportunities;
Every industry requires accountants;
Easy to study and find accounting schools;
And it’s ideal for those with entrepreneurship goals.

Besides all this, you can hope to score a job easily, as BLS predicts job outlooks for accountants to grow 6% by the year 2031.

North Carolina Accountant Employment Rate and Average Salary

Suppose you are looking to become an accountant in North Carolina. In that case, you might be wondering what you can expect in terms of pay, employment rate, etc. According to BLS, here are two things you should know about state of N.C. accounting jobs:

There are around 41,500 active accountants and auditors;
And the annual mean wage is around $84,000.

Source: BLS Accountants and Auditors

This indicates the abundance of job opportunities in the N.C. state for accounting and how it is one of the most lucrative states to be an accountant in. Now, of course, it comes down to experience and other factors, as it’s a calculation of mean wage.

However, even then, BLS says that North Carolina’s average wage for the 10^th percentile is around $48,000—which is still a lot more than many states in the U.S.

Conclusion

These are some of the best schools for accounting in North Carolina. Each one has something great to offer, and they all provide the best accounting foundations you can hope for. Each university we talked about has an incredible bachelor’s program, while they also provide master’s for graduate students. Therefore, it boils down to which is the nearest to you and more likely to suit your current qualification.

Feature image: unsplash.com