New estimated data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows a 12% increase in spring 2025 undergraduate accounting enrollment compared to the prior year. The increase amounted to an additional 29,312 students.
Total undergraduate accounting enrollment for spring 2025 was 266,507 students. This marked the third consecutive semester of growth in accounting enrollment across undergraduate institutions of all types. It was the second consecutive semester of double-digit percentage increases.
Accounting enrollment increased at a higher rate than overall business enrollment.
“More bright minds are choosing accounting, where graduates find dynamic career opportunities that draw on a mix of skills and backgrounds,” said Susan Coffey, CPA, CGMA, the CEO of public accounting for the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). “It’s inspiring to see positive trends in student interest. Enrollment growth underscores the need to continue to raise awareness of the benefits of accounting careers. Building future talent also hinges on continuing to make the path into accounting more accessible and the work, once there, rewarding.”
Accounting enrollment at two-year institutions rose 24% to 77,936 students.
Four-year institutions saw an 11% increase in accounting enrollment, for a total of 188,571 students.
The National Student Clearinghouse data did not include graduate enrollment figures by instructional area, such as accounting. Overall graduate enrollment increased 1.5% from spring 2024.
Coffey said details within the enrollment data will help a host of programs and initiatives that stakeholders from across the profession are leading – from educators on college campuses to accountants volunteering to talk about accounting careers to high school students.
A student pulse survey conducted by AICPA in partnership with the Future Accountants Sponsoring Organizations (FASO) in April explored factors influencing student decisions. The survey gathered responses from 786 students across 101 schools regarding their motivations for majoring in accounting and related trends. The pulse survey showed:
- Decision to Major in Accounting: 46% of students decided to major in accounting after taking an accounting-related course, while 39% chose it before entering college
- Influencing Factors: The top reasons for choosing accounting included increased job demand (66%), earning potential (56%), and economic conditions (48%)
- Professional Events Attendance: Around 80% of students attended events featuring accounting professionals, with 62% stating these events strongly or somewhat influenced their major choice
- Consideration of Other Majors: 67% of respondents either strongly considered other majors or switched to accounting from another field, with finance being the most common alternative
- Awareness of Job Demand: 56% of students were aware of the growing demand for accountants, which influenced their decision to major in accounting
Some of the programs underway within the accounting profession to build the future workforce include:
- Various efforts to help address the time and cost of education and initial licensure through scholarships and additional paths to licensure. AICPA and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) recently approved changes to the Uniform Accountancy Act model legislative framework to align with the laws recently adopted in certain states introducing a bachelor’s degree path to CPA licensure
- The Center for Audit Quality’s Accounting+ campaign showcasing accounting career opportunities
- Efforts by the American Accounting Association (AAA) in conjunction with the Future Accountants Sponsoring Organizations (FASO) to ignite interest in the major and the career path through innovations in the classroom, collaboration with high schools and community colleges and branding activities. The AAA Foundation will also host the Two-Year Bridge Symposium at select locations across the country in November. The events, sponsored by the Center for Audit Quality, the Deloitte Foundation, the EY Foundation, KPMG, and PwC, will connect students at two-year colleges with professionals, resources, and career pathways in accounting
- Work by employers to address starting salaries, provide advancement opportunities, enhance culture, and increase clarity on career paths in light of competition for talent from other majors, including finance
- The Accounting Opportunities Experience program, through which volunteers supported by their state CPA societies, delivered more than 1,000 presentations to 40,000 students last year touting the stability of accounting jobs and the broad array of available career paths
- The National Pipeline Advisory Group’s push for more balanced narratives about the profession by asking people to sign the Pipeline Pledge and connect with students to share their career experiences
- Initiatives by CPA firms, the AICPA, NASBA, state societies, colleges, state boards of accountancy, and others to provide greater support for candidates taking the CPA Exam
Thanks for reading CPA Practice Advisor!
Subscribe Already registered? Log In
Need more information? Read the FAQs
