Undergraduate accounting enrolment in the US rose in spring 2026, widening the lead over business-related majors, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) said, citing data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Centre.
The data showed that enrolment in four-year accounting courses increased by 8.9% to 205,180 students in spring 2026, a third consecutive year-over-year increase.
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Across all undergraduate accounting pathways – including community colleges and other providers – enrolment grew by 5.7% in spring 2026.
By contrast, overall undergraduate enrolment across all majors increased by 1.3%, the same rate recorded for business, management and marketing degrees, according to the Clearinghouse Enrolment Insights: Final Spring Enrolment Trends report.
The latest gain follows increases of 12.7% in spring 2025 and 4.8% in spring 2024 for undergraduate accounting programmes.
AICPA public accounting CEO Susan Coffey said: “This is the third straight year we have seen increases, so accounting is really showing momentum right now among students – but it is more than just enrolment data.
“We are seeing strong interest in the new CPA [certified public accountant] 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.”
As per the clearinghouse data, total undergraduate accounting enrolment across institution types reached 281,992 students in 2026, up from 266,868 in 2025.
This covers four-year universities, community colleges and mainly associate-degree institutions.
Two-year and related undergraduate accounting programmes saw a 3.2% decline in enrolment, down to 64,900 students.
Separately, CPA Exam participation has strengthened.
In 2025, the number of first-time CPA Exam candidates reached its highest level since 2018, excluding the temporary surge in 2023 ahead of the new exam format.
The AICPA noted that it is working with educators, employers and professional bodies to build the accounting talent pipeline and develop skills through initiatives such as the Professional Ready Initiative.
Recently, the AICPA and the CIMA rolled out the Rise2040 initiative to examine how the profession will evolve.
