This overview of accounting schools in New York provides key information that will help you make the right decision for your interests and career goals. New York has numerous universities and colleges, many of which maintain programs that can prepare those interested in accounting to become accountants, auditors, analysts, controllers, and more. Accounting programs in New York afford students flexibility by offering on-campus, online, and hybrid options. Students of all educational and professional backgrounds can find a program to match their career goals.

Table of Contents

Comparison of New York Accounting Schools and Programs

The table below provides detailed information on not-for-profit accounting programs in New York to help you compare your options. Programs that appear in bold text offer hybrid or online options.

SchoolAccreditationAccounting Degree(s)Acceptance Rate10Grad Rate1Avg Net Price1Median Debt*10Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry**10
Adelphi University—BBA-Accounting;
5-Year BBA to MBA: Accounting;
MS-Accounting;
Grad Cert-Accounting		77.5%71%$28,261$25,000$70,089
Alfred University—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting		67.2%60%$25,377$26,000$51,312
Binghamton UniversityAACSBBS-Accounting;
5-Year BS to MS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting: Taxation		44.2%84%$17,881$18,500$77,436
Bryant & Stratton College-Online—BBA-AccountingN.Av.19%$16,388$21,549$30,181
Canisius College—BS-Accounting;
BS-Accounting Systems and Analytics;
BS-Professional Accounting;
5-Year BS to MBA-Accounting;
5-Year BA to MBA-Professional Accounting;
MBA-Professional Accounting		81.5%71%$18,486$24,250$57,447
Cazenovia CollegeIACBEBPS-Management: Accounting67.6%56%$18,413$23,250$47,211
Clarkson University—BS-Financial Information and Analysis: Accounting74.6%76%$31,413$26,000$86,334
College of Mount Saint VincentACBSPBS-Accounting82.1%56%$20,317$25,000$56,282
College of Saint RoseACBSPBS-Accounting: Data Analysis;
BS-Accounting: Finance;
BS-Accounting: Mathematics;
4-Year or 5-Year BS to MS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting		76.3%59%$23,474$24,749$53,474
College of Staten Island CUNY—BS-Accounting: Finance;
BS-Accounting: International Business;
BS-Accounting: Management;
BS-Accounting: Marketing;
Minor-Business Accounting;
5-Year BS to MS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting		N.Av.34%$6,818$14,350$52,241
Columbia University—MS-Accounting and Fundamental Analysis;
PhD-Accounting		4.1%95%$22,058$21,500$97,540
Cornell University—MPS-Management: Accounting;
PhD-Management: Accounting		9.7%95%$26,060$14,000$98,321
CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeAACSBBBA-Accountancy;
5-Year BBA to MS-Accountancy;
5-Year BBA to MS-Taxation;
MBA-Accountancy;
MS-Accountancy;
MS-Taxation;
MS-Taxation: Financial Planning		50.6%74%$3,793$11,512$71,078
CUNY Brooklyn College—BBA-Accounting;
BS-Public Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MS-Business Administration: Accounting;
MS-Accounting		51.4%56%$4,254$11,000$57,665
CUNY Hunter College—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MS-Accounting		45.9%58%$4,586$11,000$58,822
CUNY Lehman College—BA-Accounting;
BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MS-Accounting		57.9%53%$3,220$10,950$52,882
CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeACBSPBS-Accounting85.9%22%$6,852$10,988$42,968
CUNY Queens College—BBA-Accounting: Advanced Accounting;
BBA-Accounting: Business Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MS-Accounting;
MS-Taxation		60.8%55%$4,777$10,298$58,348
CUNY York College—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		67%33%$5,182$11,000$52,325
D’Youville University—Minor-Accounting92%66%$21,755$25,000$61,994
Daemen UniversityIACBEBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		78.4%57%$20,180$22,091$56,958
Elmira College—BS-Accounting: 120-Hour Option;
BS-Accounting: 150-Hour Option;
Minor-Accounting		93.8%65%$26,258$27,000$53,558
Excelsior University—BS-Business: General Accounting;
MBA-Finance and Accounting		N.Av.N.Av.$5,271$13,769$13,769
Fordham University—BS-Public Accounting;
BS-Accounting Information Systems;
BS-Applied Accounting and Finance;
BS-Public Accountancy;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BS-Accounting to MS-Accounting;
5-Year BS-Accounting Information Systems to MS-Accounting;
5-Year BS-Applied Accounting and Finance to MS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting: Accounting, Auditing, and Advisory;
MS-Accounting: Accounting Technology Analytics		58.3%83%$37,583$24,300$78,820
Hartwick College—BS-Accounting;
BS-Accounting: CPA Track;
3-Year BS-Accounting		95.6%57%$22,523$27,000$52,097
Hilbert College—BS-Accounting;
BS-Accounting: CPA Track		92.6%57%$17,216$24,750$44,617
Hofstra UniversityAACSBBBA-Accounting;
BBA-Accounting: CPA Licensure;
Minor-Accounting;
MS-Accounting: Business Analysis & Reporting;
MS-Accounting: Information Systems & Controls		67.8%70%$33,234$23,621$68,703
Houghton University—BS-Accounting;
3-Year BS-Accounting		79.1%65%$24,502$25,250$41,253
Iona University—BBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting		92.6%62%$28,596$25,999$70,388
Ithaca College—BS-Accounting;
BSBA-Corporate Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BS to MS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting: Auditing;
MS-Accounting: Tax		77.7%77%$35,327$24,000$62,403
Keuka CollegeIACBEBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		93.6%50%$27,323$27,000$51,533
Le Moyne College—BS-Business: Accounting;
BS-Accounting: Information Systems;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS-Accounting/MS-Information Systems;
5-Year Integrated BS-Professional Accountancy/MBA		73.4%76%$24,618$23,000$60,174
Long Island University—BS-Accounting;
MBA: Accounting		93.3%47%$22,620$23,577$54,935
Manhattan College—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BS to MBA: Accounting;
MS-Accounting		74.8%77%$27,651$26,000$89,589
Manhattanville College—BA-Accounting;
BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BA/BS-Accounting to MS-Finance		82.9%61%$21,969$25,000$54,461
Marist College—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS-Accounting/MS-Professional Accountancy;
MS-Professional Accountancy		60%82%$37,868$25,000$74,865
Mercy University—BS-General Accounting;
BS-General Accounting: Financial Accounting;
BS-General Accounting: Taxation;
BS-Management Accounting;
BS-Public Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS-Public Accounting/MS-Public Accounting;
MS-Public Accounting		85.8%50%$15,027$19,637$49,429
Molloy UniversityIACBEBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS-Accounting/MBA;
MBA-Accounting		79.3%70%$25,540$27,000$72,153
Mount Saint Mary CollegeIACBEBS-Accounting;
BS-Accounting: Sports Management;
5-Year BS-Accounting to MBA		91.5%62%$22,512$26,007$62,765
Nazareth College—BS-Accounting;
Dual BS-Accounting/Finance;
Minor-Accounting		85.6%73%$30,557$26,038$52,178
New York University—BS-Business: General Accounting;
5-Year BS to MS-Accounting;
MBA: Accounting;
MS-Accounting;
PhD-Accounting		13%87%$50,991$20,500$79,812
Niagara University—BBA-Accounting;
4-Year or 5-Year BBA to MBA-Professional Accountancy;
5-Year BBA to MS-Professional Accountancy;
5-Year BBA-Accounting to MS-Finance;
Minor-Accounting;
Minor-Data Analytics;
Minor-Fraud Examination and Economic Crime;
MBA-Accounting;
MS-Accounting		92.2%70%$18,118$25,475$55,429
Pace UniversityAACSBBBA-Accounting;
BBA-Public Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BBA-Public Accounting+MBA;
5-Year Integrated BBA-Public Accounting+MS-Financial Management;
5-Year Integrated BBA-Public Accounting+MS-Taxation;
MS-Accounting		87.6%59%$30,632$23,250$69,137
Roberts Wesleyan UniversityIACBEBS-Accounting;
5-Year BS-Accounting/MS-Strategic Leadership		87.4%64%$21,710$23,750$47,191
Rochester Institute of Technology—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS-Accounting+MS-Accounting and Analytics;
MBA-Accounting;
MS-Accounting and Analytics;
Grad Cert-Accounting and Financial Analytics		71.4%69%$35,012$26,778$69,250
Siena College—BS-Accounting;
BS-Business: Accounting Theory and Foundations;
4-Year BS to MS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting		82.8%77%$32,810$26,561$71,883
St Bonaventure University—BBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BBA-Accounting to MBA-Professional Accountancy		78.1%71%$25,533$26,000$58,527
St. Francis College—BS-Accounting;
BS-Accounting: CPA;
Minor-Corporate Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS-Accounting/CPA+MS-Professional Accountancy;
MS-Professional Accountancy		85.3%52%$15,481$23,250$57,888
St. John Fisher University—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BS to MBA-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting;
Grad Cert-Accounting		71.1%73%$27,325$23,250$58,703
St. John’s University-New YorkAACSBBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
Fast-Track BS-Accounting/MS Accounting;
Fast-Track BS Accounting/MS Taxation;
Fast-Track BS Accounting/MBA;
MBA-Accounting;
MS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting: Data Analytics;
MS-Accounting: Enterprise Risk Management;
MS-Accounting: Financial Services Reporting;
MS-Accounting: Forensics;
MS-Accounting: Information Systems and Control;
MS-Accounting: Internal Audit;
MS-Accounting: International Financial Reporting;
MS-Accounting: International Taxation;
MS-Accounting: Taxation;
Dual JD/MS-Accounting;
Dual JD/MBA-Accounting		85.1%68%$26,655$25,000$68,177
St. Joseph’s University-New York—BSBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BS to MBA-Accounting;
5-Year BS-Accounting to MS-Management;
MBA-Accounting		79.8%71%$16,186$22,000$60,260
St. Thomas Aquinas CollegeIACBEBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year Dual BS-Accounting/MBA		89.2%56%$18,502$23,198$60,394
State University of New York at New Paltz—BS-Accounting;
5-Year BS-Accounting to MBA-Public Accountancy;
MBA-Public Accountancy		46.1%73%$15,318$18,750$54,978
State University of New York at Oswego—BS-Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS/MBA-Public Accounting;
MBA-Public Accounting		79.7%66%$15,078$20,880$52,421
Stony Brook University—Minor-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting;
MS-Accounting		48.1%78%$16,445$18,228$70,686
SUNY at AlbanyAACSBBS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting;
MS-Forensic Accounting;
MS-Professional Accountancy		68%66%$17,350$19,500$63,760
SUNY at Fredonia—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year BS to MS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting		90.8%62%$15,973$24,250$48,236
SUNY Brockport—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MS-Accounting		75.4%63%$15,384$21,067$44,940
SUNY College at Geneseo—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MS-Accounting		73.9%76%$20,594$19,500$60,136
SUNY College at Old Westbury—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS/MS-Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS/MS-Taxation;
MS-Accounting;
MS-Forensic Accounting;
MS-Taxation;
Grad Cert-Taxation		76.6%48%$6,979$14,997$56,415
SUNY College at Plattsburgh—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
Minor-Forensic Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS-Accounting/MS-Data Analytics and Accounting		68%65%$15,421$21,196$52,309
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill— BBA-Forensic Accounting;
Minor-Forensic Accounting		81%45%$15,944$16,023$42,620
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi—BBA-Accounting88.4%45%$16,625$15,180$46,364
SUNY Empire State CollegeIACBEBS-Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS-Accounting/MBA-Business Management		N.Av.24%$11,557$18,730$49,205
SUNY Oneonta—BS-Accounting69.6%74%$17,594$19,812$53,975
SUNY Polytechnic Institute—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MS-Accounting;
Grad Cert-Forensic Accounting and Valuation		77.3%65%$10,245$17,250$62,275
Syracuse University—BS-Accounting;
BS-General Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
Accelerated BS to MS-Accounting;
MBA-Professional Accounting;
MS-Professional Accounting;
PhD-Accounting/MIS		59.2%82%$43,545$26,000$74,446
Touro University—BS-Accounting: CPA;
BS-Accounting: Managerial;
BS-Business Management Accounting;
BS-Managerial Accounting;
MS-Accounting;
MBA-Forensic Accounting		77%62%$23,038$15,547$47,806
University at BuffaloAACSBBS-Accounting;
5-Year Integrated BS/MS-Accounting;
MS-Accounting		70.1%74%$17,954$19,000$65,856
University of Rochester—MS-Accountancy;
PhD-Accounting		40.6%86%$40,125$21,000$75,226
Utica UniversityACBSPBS-Accounting;
BBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting;
MS-Accounting;
MS-Forensic Accounting		89.4%60%$22,335$22,500$56,291
Wagner CollegeACBSPBS-Business Administration: Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting;
MS-Accounting;
MS/MBA-Accounting		81.7%72%$28,365$25,000$70,488
Yeshiva University—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
MS-Accounting: Business Analysis and Reporting;
MS-Accounting: Information Systems and Controls;
MS-Accounting: Tax Compliance and Planning		62.7%80%$36,807$18,250$67,963

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 New York

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

  • New York University (#20)
  • Syracuse University (#31)
  • Fordham University (#44)
  • Binghamton University (#74)
  • Baruch College (#104)
  • Yeshiva University (#105)
  • Hofstra University (#134)
  • Marist College (#144)
  • SUNY Albany (#157)
  • Ithaca College (#164)
  • Siena College (#172)
  • Manhattan College (#177)
  • Rochester Institute of Technology (#178)
  • University at Buffalo (#195)
  • St John’s University New York (#200)
  • Canisius College (#215)
  • Pace University (#223)
  • Iona College (#249)2

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Accounting Majors 2023

  • Alfred University
  • CUNY Baruch
  • CUNY Brooklyn
  • CUNY Hunter
  • CUNY Queens
  • Cornell University
  • Fordham University
  • Hofstra University
  • Le Moyne College
  • New York University
  • Pace University
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • St. Bonaventure University
  • Siena College3

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

  • New York University (#10 tie)
  • Cornell University (#17)
  • Fordham University (#19 tie)
  • Columbia University (#29 tie)
  • CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College (#40 tie)4

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

  • Syracuse University (#8 tie)
  • Pace University (#44 tie)
  • SUNY Oswego (#79 tie)
  • SUNY College of Technology-Canton (#98 tie)
  • Utica University (#98 tie)
  • St. Joseph’s University (#127 tie)
  • SUNY College of Technology-Delhi (#127 tie)
  • Mercy University (#157 tie)
  • D’Youville University (#170-214)5

US News & World Report’s Best Undergrad Accounting Programs 2022-23

  • New York University (#8)
  • Cornell University (#18)
  • Canisius College (#35 tie)
  • LeMoyne College (#44 tie)
  • Binghamton University (#50 tie)
  • Fordham University (#50 tie)
  • CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College (#57 tie)6

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

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) releases reports including data on candidate performance on the Uniform CPA Exam.11 The following schools had the highest first-time CPA exam pass rates in New York 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 New York being 59%:

  1. Long Island University 88.2%
  2. Canisius College 78.3%
  3. Cornell University 78.3%
  4. Skidmore College 75%
  5. SUNY at Oneonta 70%
  6. Touro University-Flatbush 69.4%

*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 New York with Accounting Degrees

To give you an idea of the breadth and depth of accounting degrees offered in New York, 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

Canisius College

Canisius College Richard J. Wehle School of Business offers an undergraduate degree in Accounting. This Buffalo-based accounting program allows students to choose between a 120-credit-hour Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting, a 120-credit BS in Accounting Systems and Analytics, or a 150-credit BS in Professional Accounting. The BS in Professional Accounting qualifies students to apply for a CPA license in the state of New York and can be completed in five years. Canisius also gives students the option to pursue a BS/Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting or a Bachelor of Arts (BA)/MBA in Professional Accounting. Course titles include Auditing Theory and Practice; Business Organization and Commercial Paper; and Advanced Taxation. Students are given opportunities to gain real-life experience through internships, mentorships, and an office visitation program. The Accounting Society is a student-run program that creates networking events such as Meet the Accountants Night, the Accounting Banquet, and presentations by working professionals.

Fordham University

Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business provides accounting students with multiple career pathways by offering four different Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting degrees: Public Accounting; Public Accountancy; Applied Accounting and Finance; and Accounting Information Systems. Students who want to become Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) can either choose the 150-credit Public Accountancy major, a five-year program designed for CPA licensure, or they have the option to integrate any of the other three majors into a five-year program, allowing them to graduate with both a BS and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Science (MS) degree. Required courses for all four majors include Intermediate Financial Accounting I, Intermediate Financial Accounting II, and Advanced Concepts in Financial Accounting. The Applied Accounting and Finance curriculum includes courses such as Corporate Financial Policy, while the Accounting Information Systems program includes courses such as Database Systems. Accounting can also be added as a Secondary Concentration or a minor to any major. Fordham also offers career services for undergraduate students designed to help them start their careers by offering counseling, workshops, and connections to alumni and important recruiters.

New York University

New York University (NYU) offers a 134-credit Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business with an Accounting Concentration that includes courses in Managerial Accounting; Financial Statement Analysis; and approved Advanced Accounting Electives. This program is designed to introduce students to accounting as an integral part of business and prepare them to enter the workforce or pursue an advanced degree. Students also have the option of completing a joint Bachelor of Science (BS)/Master of Science (MS) in Accounting degree, which meets the educational requirements to apply for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in the state of New York. NYU features two student societies for accounting majors, the Stern Accounting Society and Beta Alpha Psi. The Stern Accounting Society offers visits to accounting firms, visiting speakers, and career advisory panels. Beta Alpha Psi is a fraternity for distinguished accounting students that offers speaking events, mentoring programs, and other networking opportunities.

Graduate Accounting Programs

Columbia University

Columbia University offers a 30-credit Master of Science in Accounting and Fundamental Analysis (MSAFA) which can be completed in three semesters. This STEM-designated accounting program is designed for advanced students focused on building industry skills. MSAFA students take several courses with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Accounting students and are expected to complete a substantial research project that meets the same academic standards as the PhD program. This program aims to prepare students for a career in investments; hedge funds; and consulting through required coursework in fundamental analysis; statistics, finance, and economics; electives; and a substantial research project under a faculty member’s supervision resulting in a thesis. While work experience is not required to apply, it is heavily encouraged and most students have an undergraduate degree in business or economics. Applications are accepted in January for Fall admittance. Columbia’s career center offers individual career counseling, resume building, and networking events.

Cornell University

Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business offers a 30-credit Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Management with an Accounting Specialization that is designed to be completed in one year. This MPS is a STEM-designated program, offering a curriculum that emphasizes analytics and data-driven problem-solving. Students have the ability to customize their degree to their interests by selecting from a large number of graduate electives including courses in finance, strategy, real estate, business analytics, general management, and business law. Cornell graduates applying to the MPS program must have completed either a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Applied Economics and Management, a BS in Hotel Administration, or a Minor in Business (or equivalent). Applicants from outside of Cornell are required to have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university, which must include introductory courses in Financial Accounting; Economics; Statistics; Business or Management; and Finance and Marketing. Applications are accepted in December, January, March, and April. Students interested in careers in research or teaching at the collegiate level can pursue Cornell’s Doctor (PhD) in Management with a field concentration in Accounting.

Online Accounting Programs

State University of New York at Plattsburgh

State University of New York at Plattsburgh (or SUNY Plattsburgh) offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting as a transfer completion program that can be completed fully online. This program is designed for students who already hold an associate’s degree in business or have completed previous coursework in business and accounting. Course titles include Principles of Finance; Accounting Theory and Research; and Strategic Management.This program can help students prepare for Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) certification, as well as other financial certifications, though further education will be required. Under an articulation agreement with SUNY Old Westbury, graduates of the BS in Accounting program who are interested in CPA certification can transfer to an online 30-credit Master of Science (MS) in Accounting program that can be completed in an additional six semesters. SUNY Plattsburgh also has a partnership with International Business Machines (IBM), with many accounting students obtaining internships or job placements there. Students have also gone on to work at PricewaterhouseCoopers; JPMorgan Chase; and Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs.

Utica University

Utica University offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting. This 120-credit degree is a 100% online program with six start dates per year that takes approximately four years to complete. This program gives students a foundation in business along with advanced topics in accounting, including a portion of courses required for the CPA credential. Course titles include Intermediate Accounting, Cost Management, Income Tax Accounting, and Auditing. Students may also choose to pursue Utica’s online Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) degree or Master of Science (MS) in Forensic Accounting degrees, designed for working professionals, which can be completed on a part-time basis in two years. Graduates from Utica’s MSA and MS in Forensic Accounting programs meet the academic requirements for the Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) exam in most states. A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Professional Accounting and an Accounting Minor are also available on the Utica campus.

New York CPA Requirements and Steps

While CPA certification is not required to find employment in the accounting sector, it will expand your qualifications and job opportunities. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of the Professions regulates accounting licensure in the state of New York. In order to sit for the exam in New York, 150 hours of applicable coursework from a New York State Licensure Qualifying Registered Program must be completed. There are five main steps to complete in order to earn a CPA license in New York.

  1. Complete 150 semester hours of college-level education in accounting.
  2. Accumulate the required hours of experience.
  3. Pass the Uniform CPA Examination.
  4. Apply for a license.
  5. Receive a CPA license.

1. Complete 150 semester hours of college-level education in accounting.

Candidates for CPA licensure in New York must complete 150 semester hours of college-level education in either a program that is registered and approved by NYSED; a master’s program in accounting that is accredited by the AACSB; or 150 semester hours that includes a bachelor’s degree and 33 semester hours in accounting, including one course each in:

  • Financial accounting and reporting
  • Auditing and attestation services
  • Cost or managerial accounting
  • Taxation

In addition to the above, at least 36 semester hours in general business coursework are required.

2. Accumulate the required hours of experience.

The Board requires prospective licensees to complete at least one calendar year of full-time experience amounting to at least 35 hours of work per week in accounting, excluding overtime. Candidates may also earn experience through part-time work of at least 20 hours per week across two years. Experience must be gained under the supervision of a licensed CPA. Work experience may be gained working in a public accounting firm, government, private industry, or educational institution. The work experience can be completed working in one of the following areas: accounting, attest, compilation, consultation, financial advising, management advising, or taxation. You can find more information on these requirements on the Board’s website.

3. Pass the Uniform CPA Examination.

New York uses NASBA to administer and score the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Uniform CPA Exam. Candidates who are ready to test should have a transcript submitted directly to NASBA from their educational institution, pay the exam fee, and apply through the NASBA website. Candidates must achieve a passing score of 75 on all four sections of the exam within an 18-month rolling period to qualify for a license. The exam may be taken after completing the first 120 semester hours of study, provided you have completed one course in each of the areas mentioned in step 1. The results of the exam do not expire; however, if the exam was taken more than 10 years ago, 40 more hours of continuing education are required for licensure.

4. Apply for a license.

After receiving notification of a passing score on all four sections of the Uniform CPA exam and meeting all experience and education requirements, candidates may apply for the CPA license. Candidates should pay a first registration and initial licensure fee to the Board and submit the application. Along with their application, they will need to provide proof of education and supervised experience via other forms that can be found on the Board’s website.

5. Receive a CPA license.

Once all application materials are reviewed and approved, the Board will issue candidates a license number. Candidates will be entitled to practice from the effective date of licensure. Candidates may find out if their license has been issued by going to the Board’s online verification site and searching for their name. A license parchment and registration certificate will be mailed within two working days of the effective date of licensure.

CPA License Renewal and Continuing Education Information

Renewals for New York CPA licensees are on a triennial basis and contingent on the completion of at least 24 contact hours of continuing education per calendar year if concentrated in one of the recognized subject areas or 40 contact hours of continuing education per calendar year if combining subject areas. CPAs will also need to complete four hours of professional ethics courses every three calendar years. Additional information can be found on the Board’s website.

Career Opportunities for Accounting Graduates in New York

Home to one of the world’s leading financial districts, Wall Street in New York City, New York offers accounting graduates access to numerous firm headquarters and financial institutions. Many of the country’s top accounting firms are headquartered in New York, including Deloitte, Marcum, and EY. Several large corporations also call New York home and require financially-minded professionals to keep their businesses running. Verizon, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and IBM are four of the largest companies in the state. Whether they choose to work for an accounting firm or another business, accounting graduates should find a plethora of options in New York post-graduation.

New York Accounting Salary and Jobs by Metro Area

Metro AreaAccountants & Auditors Employed12Average Annual Salary12
Albany-Schenectady-Troy4,920$88,730
Binghamton650$79,550
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls5,320$84,130
New York-Newark-Jersey City125,750$114,280
Rochester4,810$85,570
Syracuse2,600$83,760

Additional Resources

Top Accounting Firms for Graduates in New York

  • Deloitte: The largest accounting firm with a presence in New York by revenue, offering recent graduates career opportunities in New York and nationwide.
  • Ernst & Young (EY): A global leader in accounting and consulting services with offices in New York. As a major player in the CPA industry it actively recruits top talent from each year’s graduating class.
  • Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC): PwC employs over 276,000 people in over 157 countries and is one of the largest employers of accounting professionals in New York.

New York Accounting Associations

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. College Factual Best Accounting Schools 2023: https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/rankings/top-ranked/
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges 2023 Edition. Penguin Random House, 2022.
4. US News & World Report’s Best MBA Accounting Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/accounting-rankings
5. US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/bachelors/online-bachelors-business-rankings
6. US News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Accounting Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-accounting
7. Association to Advance College Schools of Business, Accredited Universities and Schools, Business & Accounting: https://www.aacsb.edu/accredited
8. Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, Accredited Schools, Separate Accounting: https://acbspsearch.org/
9. International Accreditation Council for Business Education, Members: https://iacbe.org/accreditation/member-status-information/
10. Department of Education College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data
11. The NASBA Candidate Performance Report, 2019 University Edition: https://nasbareport.com/
12. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, New York: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ny.htm
13. New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions: https://www.op.nysed.gov/certified-public-accountants