Three quarters of Americans (74%) believe accounting courses should be designated as a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education program, according to a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). The AICPA is advocating for legislation to establish the accounting profession as a STEM career pathway and to support long-standing efforts to bring awareness of the opportunities accounting can provide to young people who are considering their future careers.
The Accounting STEM Pursuit Act, which was introduced in both chambers during the last Congress, would enable federal K-12 funding to support accounting education for students from all backgrounds. If enacted, these bills would allow educators to secure STEM funding to teach foundational accounting skills, introducing young students to accounting as a viable career and fostering a workforce that reflects the communities the profession serves.
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The AICPA survey found that more than half (54%) of Americans ages 18-34, and 59% of Americans ages 35-44 believe that students would be more likely to enter an accounting education program if it were designated as a STEM education program.
STEM roles generally provide higher earning potential, with an average salary of $100,900 compared to $55,260 for non-STEM fields. To date, 56 accounting programs have received an official STEM designation from the federal government, enabling schools to broaden their student bodies.
“The role of an accountant has been significantly transformed by technology, which now goes beyond adopting advanced tools to innovating systems that support clients in making better decisions and enhancing service quality,” said AICPA President & CEO Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA. “STEM legislation would highlight the clear and logical integration between accounting and technology – emphasizing the value of accounting professionals, including CPAs, as technological leaders. It would also help expose students from all backgrounds to the profession, strengthening the accounting pipeline and improving access for more students.”
“We urge members of Congress to support STEM legislation to allow students greater access to accounting programs and ensure that the accounting profession is reflective and inclusive of the communities it serves,” continued Koziel.
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