Accounting undergraduate enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities showed strong growth in spring 2026 and continued to surpass the performance of business-related fields of study in aggregate, according to the American Institute of CPAs, citing recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Accounting enrollment at four-year undergraduate programs rose 8.9% to 205,180 this spring, the third consecutive year-over-year increase.
Overall, accounting undergraduate enrollment, including community colleges and other programs, rose 5.7% year over year during the spring 2026 semester.
Accounting’s increase compares to 1.3% for enrollment across all majors, according to data from the research center’s Clearinghouse Enrollment Insights: Final Spring Enrollment Trends. Overall growth for undergraduate enrollment in business, management, and marketing majors also came in at 1.3% this spring.
This most recent increase in undergraduates within accounting programs follows a 12.7% rise in spring 2025 and a 4.8% increase in spring 2024.
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“This is the third straight year we’ve seen increases, so accounting is really showing momentum right now among students,” Susan Coffey, the AICPA’s CEO of public accounting, said in a statement on June 9. “But it’s more than just enrollment data. We’re seeing strong interest in the new CPA exam, rising entry-level pay within firms and finance teams, and more buzz in general about accounting as a great career choice for students and young professionals. The word is getting out.”
Among the highlights from the clearinghouse’s most recent data:
- Total undergraduate accounting enrollment in 2026 was 281,992 students, compared to 266,868 last year. That includes enrollment at four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, and hybrid institutions that primarily offer associate’s degrees.
- Accounting enrollment at two-year and related undergraduate programs fell 3.2% to 64,900.
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center report didn’t include data on master’s program enrollment by major.
Photo credit: Katelyn Perry/Unsplash
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