2026 Best Accounting Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Accounting doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 2085 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Business Degree Central analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Accounting Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
No school ranked higher than University Of Pennsylvania this year in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Typical Accounting student debt is $16,155. See the full University Of Pennsylvania profile
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Austin, TX. About 89% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Graduates carry a median of $19,462 in student loans. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Austin
The strong Accounting programs at Michigan State University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. Michigan State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 81%. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete their Accounting program here. Read the full report on Michigan State University
Out of the 2085 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #4 spot. Located in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Graduates carry a median of $20,707 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Columbia
The strong Accounting programs at Washington State University earned it the #5 place in the United States. Located in Pullman, WA, Washington State University is a public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Washington State University Accounting students take on a median of $25,000 in debt. More on Washington State University
The University Of Alabama ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Accounting schools. This public school is set in Tuscaloosa, AL. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Typical Accounting student debt is $23,000. More on The University Of Alabama
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #7 among Accounting schools in the United States. Located in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. The median Accounting program debt is $19,600. Get the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College report
Capella University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Minneapolis, MN, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. The median Accounting program debt is $30,795. See the full Capella University profile
University Of Oregon placed #9 among Accounting schools in the United States. This public school is set in Eugene, OR. About 72% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,320, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. The median Accounting program debt is $20,500. More on University Of Oregon
Georgia State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Accounting schools. This public school is set in Atlanta, GA. Georgia State University graduates 53% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,664, while out-of-state students pay about $24,840. Graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. More on Georgia State University
Anderson University Indiana came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Anderson, IN, Anderson University Indiana is a private not-for-profit institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $37,240. Graduates carry a median of $27,401 in student loans. See the full Anderson University Indiana profile
The University Of Texas At San Antonio placed #12 among Accounting schools in the United States. Located in San Antonio, TX, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. The median Accounting program debt is $20,647. See the full The University Of Texas At San Antonio profile
Albion College
Albion College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Get the full Albion College report
Arkansas State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #14 position. See the full Arkansas State University Main Campus profile
Barstow Community College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Get the full Barstow Community College report
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Get the full Bethel University Minnesota report
Carson Newman College placed #17 among Accounting schools in the United States. See the full Carson Newman College profile
Grantham University placed #18 among Accounting schools in the United States. More on Grantham University
Kennebec Valley Community College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Get the full Kennebec Valley Community College report
Millennia Atlantic University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on Millennia Atlantic University
Mississippi Valley State University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Read more about Mississippi Valley State University
Northwood University Michigan came in at #22 in this year's ranking. More on Northwood University Michigan
Ohio Wesleyan University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Accounting schools. Get the full Ohio Wesleyan University report
Our Lady Of The Lake University San Antonio did well this year, earning the #24 position. Get the full Our Lady Of The Lake University San Antonio report
Spalding University did well this year, earning the #25 position. See the full Spalding University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Accounting Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Tidewater Community College landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. More on Tidewater Community College
University Of South Carolina Columbia did well this year, earning the #27 position. More on University Of South Carolina Columbia
Wayne County Community College District placed #28 among Accounting schools in the United States. See the full Wayne County Community College District profile
Yavapai College
Yavapai College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about Yavapai College
Augustana College Illinois came in at #30 in this year's ranking. More on Augustana College Illinois
Clarkson University landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Clarkson University
Delta State University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Accounting schools. Read more about Delta State University
Elizabethtown College placed #33 among Accounting schools in the United States. More on Elizabethtown College
Irvine Valley College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Irvine Valley College report
Lewis Clark State College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Accounting schools. Get the full Lewis Clark State College report
National University landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. More on National University
Piedmont Virginia Community College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Piedmont Virginia Community College
Strayer University Arkansas did well this year, earning the #38 position. More on Strayer University Arkansas
University Of Puerto Rico Cayey ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Accounting schools. More on University Of Puerto Rico Cayey
Friends University placed #40 among Accounting schools in the United States. See the full Friends University profile
Kent State University At East Liverpool did well this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Kent State University At East Liverpool report
Louisiana College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Get the full Louisiana College report
Saint Martins University came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Saint Martins University
Savannah Technical College came in at #44 in this year's ranking. More on Savannah Technical College
Stetson University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Accounting schools. Read the full report on Stetson University
The University Of Texas At Tyler landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. See the full The University Of Texas At Tyler profile
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of New Mexico Main Campus report
Danville Area Community College placed #48 among Accounting schools in the United States. Read the full report on Danville Area Community College
William Jessup University did well this year, earning the #49 position. See the full William Jessup University profile
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus did well this year, earning the #50 position. See the full Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus profile
Related Accounting Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Accounting Schools (All Levels)
- Best Accounting Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Accounting Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Accounting Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Accounting Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Accounting Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Business Degree Central (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 2085 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).