Accounting School

There are a large number of accounting schools in the United States. Almost any college or technical school that offers a degree program in business will offer courses and probably degrees in accounting and can be considered an accounting school. This is a popular field, so you might find that you have a lot of competition for placement in courses. Fortunately, there are enough schools to go around.

In choosing an accounting school, you should keep a number of things in mind. The major considerations are listed below:

Cost: Can you afford the tuition of the accounting school? Before you decide that a school is beyond your means, remember that there are a number of ways to fund your education that don’t require money that you currently have in your bank account (or in your parents’ bank accounts). Many organizations, particularly the United States government, make grants, scholarships, and loans available to prospective students who can show financial need or who show particular promise based on their high school or community college grades. Go to the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) Web site and fill out the FAFSA form. There, you can apply simultaneously for a large number of funding options. Bear in mind that student loans will need to be paid back after graduation (though the interest is usually low), but grants and scholarships are essentially free, so consider them first.

Location: Do you need to go to an accounting school close to home? Perhaps you have a job that you can’t leave or you need to care for family. In that case, you’ll want to find an accounting school within easy commuting distance, preferably within an hour’s drive. (Remember that you don’t want to use up all of your studying time driving to and from classes.) If you can afford to move away from home, decide if the school is in a place where you’d like to live. You may even like it so much that you’ll spend the rest of your accounting career there.

Prestige: Does the accounting school have a strong reputation? Will having its name on your résumé open doors for you with employers? The more prestigious a school is, the more expensive your education will be, but the prestige of the school will also help you find a higher-paying job that will more than pay off the extra expense. And, it may speed up the transition to your accounting career if the school is well known.

Staff: Are the teachers at the accounting school well regarded? Remember, these are the people who will help you find your first job and provide recommendations for prospective employers.