5 Top Accounting Schools in New Jersey for Becoming an Accountant

by Alex Morgan · August 11, 2023

Another research says that the revenue generated by the accounting industry so far in 2023 amounts to $145 billion. That’s why a lot of students pursue accounting careers right after finishing high school. It offers stability and longevity in terms of career and job outlook.

So, which are the best accounting schools in NJ to pursue an accounting degree? And, more importantly, how to become an accountant in NJ? Let’s answer all these questions.

Top 5 Accounting Schools in NJ

The best kind of business universities are the ones that offer all-encompassing programs while keeping affordability at the forefront. In New Jersey, there are both expensive and affordable universities.

But other factors like financial aid and scholarships make them an ideal place for an accounting career to begin. So, here are some of the best accounting schools in NJ as of this writing:

1. Rutgers University – New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers University is one of the top business schools in New Jersey and offers some of the best programs in the state. It’s widely considered one of the best business colleges for higher education and one of the top finance colleges in New Jersey.

There are many great programs here, but the two accounting programs might just be the best ones at this institution. They are called:

The Bachelor of Accounting program is a major degree that covers all the essential areas of accounting. This 120-credit degree will put any accounting one step closer to getting a CPA certification, as it has some of the best courses, and these courses include:

Concepts of Auditing
Intermediate Accounting I and II
Income Tax Accounting
Accounting Information Systems
Topics in Income Taxation

This accounting degree is topped off by another incredible business program for masters in New Jersey, which has great courses of its own. The Master of Accountancy has an outstanding curriculum, which offers:

Business Law I and II
Intermediate Accounting I and II
Cost and Managerial Accounting
Auditing Concepts
Income Tax Accounting
Government Accounting and Auditing

That’s why these two are the top accounting programs available in New Jersey today.

2. Seton Hall University – South Orange, New Jersey

Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, happens to be one of the top universities in the nation. While only being topped off by Rutgers as the best university in New Jersey, Seton Hall is one of the best places to be for a student after high-school graduation.

And that’s because of the amazing array of bachelor programs available here. The two accounting programs that you should look forward to here are:

The BS in Accounting program is one of the leading undergraduate programs for accounting students in New Jersey. That’s because it covers all the essentials of becoming an accountant through an immersive curriculum. The courses in this program include:

Financial Accounting
Managerial Accounting
Business Finance
Legal Foundations of Business
Business Statistics
Quantitative Decision Making
Principles of Economics I and II

As you can judge by the courses, it’s a very immersive and detailed program aimed at accountants who wish to become CPAs. Then, you have the Master of Science in Accounting, which is another incredible program for graduate students. The courses in this program include:

Financial Reporting
Cost Accounting
Essentials of Federal Taxation
Auditing Standards and Problems
Financial Accounting Seminar
Commercial Law

This makes it apparent how detailed and comprehensive this graduate program is—thus giving accounting hopefuls another two great programs in New Jersey.

3. Montclair State University – Montclair, New Jersey

Montclair State University is another great university and one of the top options for accountants. It’s known for being one of the most affordable universities, despite its outstanding accredited status. The two accounting degrees that you can find here are called:

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting is aimed at making the student the perfect accountant for individuals and businesses. This aim is reflected by an outstanding curriculum that provides some of the best courses in accounting:

Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
Fundamentals of Managerial Accounting
Contemporary Issues in Intermediate Accounting
Taxation for Individuals
Accounting Information Systems
Taxation of Business Entities and Advanced Tax Concepts

The courses truly prepare you to become a thorough CPA in any state. However, it’s the Master of Science in Accounting that should lure graduate students the most. It’s another great master’s program for accounting in NJ that focuses on courses such as:

International Taxation and International Management Accounting

Ethics in Business, Accounting, and Finance
Comprehensive Issues in Public Accountancy
Financial Statement Analysis
Ethics in Business, Accounting, and Finance

Thus, making it another great pick for anyone looking for a good accounting school in NJ.

4. Rowan University -Glassboro, New Jersey

Rowan University is another accredited and popular university located in the peaceful Glassboro. This university has many options in both graduate and undergraduate categories. That is reflected in the great accounting programs provided by Rowan University, which are as follows:

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting is one of the best, if not the best, programs available in this state today. It has one of the best course curriculums, and it includes:

Principles of Accounting I and II
Principles of Marketing
Principles of Finance
Management Information Systems
Accounting Analytics
Intermediate Accounting I and II
Accounting Information System

Then the Master of Science in Accounting is one of the top options for graduate students needing a top-notch program to become a CPA.

Advanced Managerial Accounting
Government & Not-for-Profit Accounting
Intermediate Financial Accounting
Financial Statement Analysis
Introduction to Federal Taxation

These programs make it yet another great accredited university in New Jersey.

5. Rider University – Lawrence Township, New Jersey

Rider University in Lawrence Township may not be the best, but it’s definitely one of the top accredited options for accounting.

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration is an accounting concentration degree. While it focuses on key aspects of businesses, its major in accounting focuses on courses such as:

Fundamentals of Federal Taxation
Accounting Problems & Practice
Accounting Info Systems
Principles of Auditing
Cost Management
International Finance

Then you have the Master of Accountancy, which is a 33-credit program, and anyone taking it after graduation will become eligible for a CPA examination. This program has courses that include:

Issues in Managerial Accounting
Issues in Financial Reporting
Analysis of Accounting Data
Business Analytics Fundamentals

Thus, it can prepare students for the challenges in accounting in various industries.

Process of Becoming an Accountant in New Jersey

Accounting is one of the most prolific and sought-after jobs in the United States. As of today, Statista claims there are 1.4 million accountants active in the United States. And why wouldn’t they be? The accounting industry is a blooming one, and it offers many jobs and opportunities.

Becoming an accountant in New Jersey isn’t any different from any other state. Accounting.com says that the usual requirement to apply for a CPA certification in New Jersey is having a bachelor’s degree and around 150 total credits.

Now, you might be wondering, “But most bachelor degrees are 120 credits only?” Well, that’s because CPA requires you to work at an internship or in some professional capacity to gain an additional 30-40 credits to apply for it.

So, to sum it up, the five most important CPA requirements in New Jersey are as follow:

One hundred fifty credit hours from accredited accounting schools in New Jersey.

Twenty-four business credits, including six in accounting and taxation.
Bachelor’s degree or higher to be eligible for the CPA exam.
Work experience: one year in public accounting or related.
Ethics exam (AICPA’s Professional Ethics: A Comprehensive Course) required.

Now, additional requirements of NJ CPAs are to get at least 24 credits in general business and around 24 credits in accounting. But remember that only around 44-66% pass it on the first attempt.

Salary & Employment Rate of Accountants in New Jersey

New Jersey happens to be one of the best places for becoming an accountant. Guess how much accountants make in New Jersey? BLS suggests that an accountant’s annual mean wage is around $102,000 in New Jersey. At the same time, the employment rate in this state is around 10.88 per thousand.

Now, considering the fact the current job outlook is increasing for accountants by 6% each year, you can safely assume that number will only climb up in New Jersey within the next few years. That’s why it’s important to find the right accounting school in New Jersey.

This could be the pathway to earn all the benefits and perks of being an accountant in one of the most lucrative states for financial and accounting bachelors.

Conclusion

These are the popular accounting programs for New Jersey residents and the best schools as well. All of these schools offer incredible programs and great courses. So, it comes down to the student and what they are aiming for in the world of accounting. However, any one of these options will get them up and ready for a CPA exam.