Accounting Schools in Connecticut

Connecticut’s colleges and universities offer an array of accounting programs, including programs in general accounting as well as programs in specialties such as forensic accounting and financial operations. Students can choose from undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs that offer many different concentrations. This guide to accounting schools in Connecticut provides essential information about your options for pursuing an accounting degree in the state. Continue reading below to learn more about accounting school rankings, professional certifications, and career outlooks in Connecticut.

Quick Facts

• 25 not-for-profit colleges and universities offer an accounting degree program in Connecticut.¹
• 13 schools offer a certificate in accounting.¹
• 11 schools offer an associate’s degree in accounting.¹
• 13 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in accounting.¹
• 12 schools offer a graduate degree in accounting.¹
• 6 schools ranked in College Factual’s Best Accounting Schools 2023.²
• 1 school ranked in the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges for Accounting Majors 2023.³
• 2 programs ranked in US News & World Report’s Best MBA Accounting Programs 2023.⁴
• 1 school ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023.⁵
• 1 school ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Undergrad Accounting Programs 2022-2023.⁶
• 2 schools are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in Business and Accounting.⁷
• 2 schools have accounting programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).⁸
• 1 school has accounting programs accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).⁹

Comparison of Connecticut Accounting Schools and Programs

The table below provides detailed information on not-for-profit accounting programs in Connecticut to help you compare your options. Programs that appear in bold text offer hybrid or online options. For further school statistics, including median SAT, ACT, and GMAT scores, see the tables on our Connecticut business schools page, which break out information at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Table Notes:
*Median Debt: The median debt is the cumulative federal loan debt, excluding PLUS loans, at the time of graduation for students who completed an undergraduate program (certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree) as reported by College Scorecard for academic year 2020-2021 based on ​​National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) data.
**Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry: Median earnings are the middle value of earnings, at which half earned more and half earned less, measured 10 years (2020-2021) after the first year of study (2010-2011) for all students, institution-wide, who received federal loans and who are employed but not enrolled in school. Note that this value includes those who completed their program of study as well as those who discontinued study without receiving an award.

Top-Ranked Accounting Schools in Connecticut

College rankings can be a useful tool to measure the overall reputation of a school or program. Weighing multiple rankings when evaluating your college choices can be helpful because different publishers may use different ranking factors in their methodologies. While the best program for your goals may rely on a combination of factors not typically considered in overall rankings, such as location or funding, seeing a program ranked on multiple lists can be a strong indication of reputation and academic quality.

College Factual’s Best Accounting Schools 2023

• Fairfield University (#28)
• University of Connecticut (#40)
• Quinnipiac University (#117)
• Sacred Heart University (#119)
• University of Hartford (#217)
• Central Connecticut State University (#220)²

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Accounting Majors 2023

• Fairfield University³

US News & World Report’s Best MBA Accounting Programs 2023

• Fairfield University (#26 tie)
• Yale University (#40 tie)⁴

US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023

• Albertus Magnus College (#170-214)⁵

US News & World Report’s Best Undergrad Accounting Programs 2022-2023

• Fairfield University (#39 tie)⁶

Highest First-Time CPA Exam Pass Rate with a Bachelor’s Degree

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) releases a report including data on candidate performance on the Uniform CPA Exam.¹¹ The following schools had the highest first-time CPA exam pass rates in Connecticut in 2019 (the most recent report available*) for candidates with a bachelor’s degree, with the overall pass rate for first-time test-takers in Connecticut being 56.4%:

1. University of Connecticut 67.8%
2. Central Connecticut State University 58.1%
3. Fairfield University 56.5%
4. Western Connecticut State University 55.6%
5. Southern Connecticut State University 53.5%
6. Quinnipiac University 48.6%

*As NASBA makes significant changes to the CPA Exam as part of the CPA Evolution initiative, new candidate score reports by state are not anticipated until at least mid-2024.

Schools in Connecticut with Accounting Degrees

To give you an idea of the breadth and depth of accounting degrees offered in Connecticut, we have profiled select programs below. Be sure to visit the websites of programs of interest for more detailed information on courses, admissions requirements and deadlines, and faculty.

Undergraduate Accounting Programs

Central Connecticut State University

At Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), students can earn an AACSB-accredited Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting. This program is designed for those interested in pursuing advanced graduate study or working in public, corporate, or governmental accounting. Students complete a core curriculum that includes courses in financial reporting, auditing, taxation, cost management, budgeting, and accounting information systems. These fundamental courses emphasize how to use accounting information to control, strategize, and make decisions for organizations. Students can also choose from electives that match their career interests, such as Fraud Examination, Advanced Business Law, Fundamentals of Corporate Taxation, or Personal Financial Planning. All coursework focuses on critical thinking skills, communication, and ethical and social responsibility in the field. CCSU also offers two accelerated graduate accounting programs that incorporate the BS in Accounting: one with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and one with a Master of Science (MS) in Accounting. Both programs can be completed in five years and prepare graduates to meet the educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam.

Sacred Heart University

Students at Sacred Heart University can earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting. This program emphasizes the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to understand financial information. Students learn how to these skills in analyzing financial statements, complying with industry regulations, and making business financial decisions. Required courses include Managerial Accounting and Control; Auditing, Legal and Ethical Business; and Principles of Marketing. Experiential learning opportunities are also available through the Accounting Club, networking events, and volunteering in the community during tax season. Graduates go on to work in fields such as public accounting, financial analysis, auditing, and investing.

University of Connecticut

The School of Business at the University of Connecticut (UConn) offers an AACSB-accredited Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting. Through courses such as Principles of Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting, Federal Income Taxes, and Assurance Services, students learn how to analyze and interpret accounting information. UConn emphasizes the use of financial information in managerial and investment decisions, and students develop leadership skills through team projects and experiential learning opportunities. Summer and winter internship opportunities are available, and students can search for positions in tax, assurance services, or financial analysis. The School of Business also offers an online Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program for those interested in pursuing the CPA designation.

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Graduate Accounting Programs

Fairfield University

The Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University offers a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) degree. This program is cohort-based, and must be attended on a full-time basis, allowing students to graduate in less than a year. The curriculum is designed to both meet the educational requirements for the CPA licensure and teach advanced professional skills needed in the field. Specialized tracks in Assurance, Business Analytics, or Taxation are available, but all students take fundamental courses that emphasize critical thinking, data analysis, communication, and leadership skills. The curriculum also includes time off to take the CPA examination and complete a paid internship. Graduates can take advantage of the alumni network or Career Planning Center to pursue employment opportunities, and many go on to work in private accounting or CPA firms as accountants, audit associates, or tax associates.

Quinnipiac University

Students at Quinnipiac University can earn an AACSB-accredited Master of Science (MS) in Accounting that can be completed in as little as 10 months. Graduate students learn both accounting theory and practical, advanced skills needed in for-profit and not-for-profit business and government. The core coursework is 18 credit hours and includes Information Assurance; Strategic Management Control Systems; Advanced Federal Income Taxation; and Tax Research. Students can then choose their electives for the remaining 12 hours from courses such as Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination; Predictive Business Analytics; and Data Mining for Competitive Advantage. A concentration in Business Analytics is also available for those looking to further specialize their degree. Quinnipiac encourages students to pursue internships and networking opportunities through recruiters or alumni. Students without an academic accounting background may need to complete some prerequisites before beginning the graduate program. Those already at Quinnipiac for their undergraduate studies can apply for the 3+1 Accelerated Dual Degree to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting in just four years.

Online and Hybrid Accounting Programs

Albertus Magnus College

The Tagliatela School of Business and Leadership at Albertus Magnus College offers both an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting and a Master of Science (MS) in Accounting, both of which are IACBE-accredited. The BS in Accounting consists of 54 major credits: 21 required core credits and 33 elective credits. While required courses, including Financial Accounting, Business Law, and Managerial Accounting, focus on the basics of professional accounting, elective courses like Business Spreadsheet Development and Corporate Financial Management allow students to further specialize their degree to complement their interests. For those interested in CPA licensure, the online MS in Accounting provides the 30 additional credits necessary to meet the 150-credit requirement for those with an accounting or business undergraduate degree. The MS in Accounting can be taken entirely online or in a FLEX format, which is a combination of online and in-person classes. Regardless of format, the accelerated nature of this degree allows most students to graduate in as little as a year while only taking one or two classes at a time.

University of Hartford

At the Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford (UHart), students can earn a Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation (MSAT) entirely online. This program is designed for those interested in a career in taxation or accounting in private, public, government, or not-for-profit organizations. The online degree consists of 10 seven-week courses and can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis, with completion ranging from seven months to up to five years. Many part-time, working professional students take the spring tax season semester off and still complete their degree in about two years. UHart offers two academic tracks, Financial and Assurance Services or Taxation, as well as numerous electives. The curriculum fulfills the educational requirements for CPA licensure, and many graduates go on to work in management or leadership roles in accounting firms and businesses.

Connecticut CPA Requirements

The Connecticut State Board of Accountancy (the Board) requires that CPA applicants complete 150 semester hours and at least a bachelor’s degree from a college or university that is accredited from an approved regional accrediting organization. 36 of the semester hours must be accounting courses, 30 semester hours must be economics or business administration courses, 60 hours must be in general education, and 24 hours can be in any subject area. Graduates who fulfill these requirements can sit for the Uniform CPA examination. Applicants must pass all four parts of the Uniform CPA Examination with a 75 or better, and all four sections must be completed within 18 months. After passing the examination, candidates must complete two years, or 104 weeks, of work experience in the accounting field that has been verified by a licensed CPA. After all conditions are met, applicants can apply for licensure, and they must maintain this licensure by completing continued professional education (CPE) hours.

Career Opportunities for Accounting Graduates in Connecticut

Accounting graduates can choose from many different career paths in Connecticut. Many choose to open their own public accounting practice, work as a consultant, or manage the finances of local or statewide businesses. Others can pursue positions with major Connecticut accounting firms such as BlumShapiro, Marcum LLP, and Whittlesey. Corporations like Unilever and Bic Corporation are based in the state and may have available accounting positions. For those interested in public accounting, government jobs may be available in the state government, public school system, state treasury, IRS, FBI, and armed forces. Graduates with accounting degrees in Connecticut may find many opportunities all over the state or in the major cities of Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, and Bridgeport.

Connecticut Accounting Salary and Jobs by Metro Area