The undergraduate accounting program at The University of Texas at Austin is good. Well, it’s better than good. It’s the best. U.S. News & World Report released its annual undergraduate school rankings, and the accounting program at the McCombs School of Business topped the list at No. 1 for the 14th consecutive year. As a peek into how we’ve secured this unwavering consistency, here are the top five reasons UT Austin’s accounting program continues to lead in being the top choice for students and faculty members alike.
1. Esteemed award-winning faculty.
Our students continuously cite their top reason for pursuing accounting at UT Austin as our accomplished faculty. Not only are our faculty members some of the nation’s best researchers and innovators, they are also passionate about their discipline and have written many of the accounting textbooks used by students today. Our undergraduate accounting faculty members provide our students with the support they need to succeed. We have a student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 9-to-1!
2. Learn more than just how to crunch numbers.
The innovative accounting curriculum offered at the McCombs School of Business focuses on how to use accounting as a communication tool in real business scenarios. Core classes teach students the language of business and prepare them to make sound business decisions.
Students are also encouraged to tailor their program to their career goals by taking courses outside of the core accounting curriculum. We offer courses in healthcare accounting, petroleum accounting, financial planning and wealth management, and a tax practicum course. Students exit our program with the technical and strategic skills to become leaders in their field.
3. Pursue a master’s degree simultaneously.
A majority of our undergraduate students decide to take advantage of our integrated Master in Professional Accounting program (iMPA), which allows undergraduates at the junior level to begin taking graduate courses to count toward a MPA degree. The benefits of this? Students can take grad level classes at undergrad tuition rates, they qualify to sit for the CPA exam, and they earn a master’s degree in just one additional school year!
4. Hardworking and high-achieving students.
Our students are the heart of everything we do. Their dedication and dream-big attitudes catapult them into becoming agile accounting leaders. Our students take classes, collaborate and learn with some of the best and brightest minds in the world.
“The time that students spend with their peers working on class assignments elevates classroom discussions to go beyond assigned material and raises out-of-the-box questions. In addition, recruiters tell us that our students are very well prepared for job interviews and day one job assignments,” said Robert Freeman, a professor of accounting at UT.
5. Strong network of professionals and frequent recruiting events.
Earning a degree from the McCombs School of Business immediately adds students to a long-standing world network of professional alumni. Before earning that coveted diploma, students have access to career services and recruitment events, ensuring they land the job of their dreams.
These reasons have made it easier to attract and recruit the best faculty members and students, making our accounting program stronger and more prestigious every year. Oh, and how could we forget, accounting students also look great in burnt orange. Hook ’em!