Accounting Schools in Kansas

Accounting schools in Kansas offer a broad array of programs to match the needs and interests of students from diverse backgrounds. These programs can prepare you for a career in a range of accounting roles, such as public accountant, controller, tax accountant, and auditor. Accounting programs range from broad undergraduate degrees to specialized graduate degrees, and students can choose from different specializations, tracks, and electives. Continue reading below to find out more information about school rankings, career outlooks for accounting graduates, and professional accounting licensure in the state of Kansas.

Quick Facts

• 35 not-for-profit colleges and universities offer an accounting degree program in Kansas.¹
• 5 schools offer a certificate in accounting.¹
• 13 schools offer an associate’s degree in accounting.¹
• 22 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in accounting.¹
• 14 schools offer a graduate degree in accounting.¹
• 2 schools ranked in College Factual’s Best Accounting Schools 2023.²
• No schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges for Accounting Majors 2023.³
• No programs ranked in US News & World Report’s Best MBA Accounting Programs 2023.⁴
• 5 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023.⁵
• No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Undergrad Accounting Programs 2022-2023.⁶
• 3 schools are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in Business and Accounting.⁷
• 9 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 Kansas Accounting Schools and Programs

The table below provides detailed information on not-for-profit accounting programs in Kansas 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 Kansas 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 Kansas

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

• Kansas State University (#122)
• University of Kansas (#132)²

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

• Kansas State University (#24 tie)
• Wichita State University (#44 tie)
• Baker University (#127 tie)
• Friends University (#141 tie)
• Southwestern College (#141 tie)⁵

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 Kansas 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 Kansas being 58.6%:

1. University of Kansas 76.0%
2. Washburn University 73.3%
3. Kansas State University 70.2%
4. Emporia State University 63.6%
5. Pittsburg State University 56.3%
6. Fort Hays State University 50.0%

*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 Kansas with Accounting Degrees

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

Friends University

Students at Friends University can pursue an ACBSP-accredited Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting. This degree provides a foundation for a career in accounting, and the coursework emphasizes accounting knowledge as well as leadership and management skills. Students learn accounting and business theory and also how to apply this knowledge to decision-making and critical analysis. The core curriculum covers taxation, auditing, cost management, and research. All students learn how to research, prepare, and communicate financial data from an accounting perspective. Graduates from this program frequently go on to pursue the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation or further graduate study to achieve the CPA designation. Undergraduates working on their BS in Accounting can enroll in the 4+1 Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s program, which allows them to complete both their BS in Accounting and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting in five years. The MBA in Accounting can also be completed online as a stand-alone degree.

University of Kansas

The University of Kansas (KU) offers an AACSB-accredited Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) degree in Accounting. The curriculum focuses on the skills needed for a successful career in the accounting industry. Students start with a broad business foundation before moving on to specialized accounting courses. KU also offers a variety of elective courses, including Introduction to Taxation, Introduction to Auditing, and Current Topics in Accounting. These electives make it possible for students to focus their degree on personal interests while meeting graduation requirements in the standard four-year timeframe. Many students complete an internship prior to graduation, and KU also provides additional networking and professional development opportunities. Graduates from this program can go on to work in academia, government, industry, and public accounting, or pursue further graduate studies. For those interested in CPA licensure, an on-campus Master of Accountancy (MAcc) is available.

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Graduate Accounting Programs

Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University (FHSU) offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with 15 specialization options, including an on-campus Accounting concentration. This MBA program and concentration is open to both business and non-business undergraduates, and foundation courses are not required regardless of the applicant’s degree. The MBA in Accounting consists of 33 credits, 24 of which cover core business classes and nine of which are concentration courses. Accounting concentration courses include CPA Problems, Advanced Tax Procedure, and Advanced Accounting. While the Accounting concentration of the MBA program is only available on campus, students do have the option to enroll on either a part-time or full-time basis. Full-time students can complete the MBA program in as little as two years, and FHSU students currently working on their Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting can opt for the 4+1 Accelerated program to complete both their BBA and MBA in a total of five years.

University of Kansas

At the University of Kansas (KU), students can earn an AACSB-accredited Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree. This program is open to those with or without academic accounting backgrounds. Accounting undergrads can complete this graduate degree in as little as a year, while non-accounting undergraduates can finish it in a year and a half to two years. The curriculum focuses on the skills needed to succeed in the accounting profession as well as the subjects covered by the educational requirements for CPA licensure. Students can take advantage of experiential learning opportunities by completing short-term study abroad programs or volunteering in the local community. The MAcc program offers four different specialty tracks, all of which consist of the 30 required credits to meet the educational requirements for CPA licensure. Choosing between concentrations in Advisory/Consulting Services, Assurance (Audit), Corporate, or Tax, students can tailor their degree to advance their career interests. Graduates can go on to work in international public accounting firms, regional and local public accounting firms, industry, and government. KU also offers a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Business with an Accounting concentration for those interested in a career in academia.

Online Accounting Programs

Emporia State University

Students can earn a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) entirely online through Emporia State University (ESU). This graduate degree is made up of accelerated seven-week courses that can be completed in as few as 12 months. Students follow a curriculum of advanced courses in taxation, management accounting, budgeting and pricing, and tax accounting. ESU emphasizes the application of accounting theory in business strategy, financial reporting, and decision-making skills needed for their careers. The 30 credits of the MAcc degree are split evenly between five required three-credit courses and five accounting elective courses. This degree meets the educational requirements for CPA licensure in most states, and many graduates choose to sit for the examination. The MAcc degree prepares graduates for roles in public accounting, internal auditing, controllership, forensic accounting, and many other positions in the accounting industry. There are six start dates throughout the year.

Kansas State University

The College of Business Administration at Kansas State University (KSU) offers an AACSB-accredited Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree that can be completed on campus or 100% online. This one-year graduate program teaches students the advanced accounting knowledge needed to succeed in the industry. The curriculum includes a few core classes, but most of the courses in the program are electives. Depending on their career goals and areas of interest, students can choose from electives such as Fraud and Forensics, International Accounting, Merger and Acquisition Taxation, and Advanced Management Accounting. Those hoping to further specialize their degree can choose from four MAcc concentrations: Controllership & Business Advisory; Controllership & Applied Analytics; Public Accounting & Business Advisory; or Public Accounting & Applied Analytics. Students can also supplement their coursework with experiential learning opportunities, from internships to study abroad programs. For post-graduation opportunities, students can take advantage of a large alumni network and university connections with corporate partners. Undergraduate students in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Accounting program at KSU can enroll in the MAcc program and apply some academic credit to both degrees.

University of Saint Mary

The University of Saint Mary (USM) offers two online IACBE-accredited accounting programs through its campus: a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an Accounting emphasis. The BS in Accounting covers a wide range of accounting topics, including accounting principles, auditing, taxation, cost management, regulatory reporting, and analytics. Both online and on-campus students have opportunities for experiential learning through internships in the Kansas City area. The MBA in Accounting consists of 33 credits and allows those with an undergraduate degree in a related field to meet the educational requirements for CPA licensure. In addition to courses such as Forensic Accounting, International Accounting, and Data Analysis for Decision Making, the accounting concentration includes two classes centered on CPA preparation. Depending on undergraduate coursework, the online MBA in Accounting can be completed in one to two years.

Wichita State University

At the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University (WSU), students can earn an AACSB-accredited Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting. This program is available on campus or entirely online, and is ideal for those interested in further graduate study in accounting and a career in the field. Undergraduate students are required to take courses such as Data Analytics for Accounting, Cost Accounting, Taxation of Business Entities, and Principles of Auditing. They study how to measure costs, perform business analysis, prepare budgets, and do business and tax planning. Through this coursework, students learn the accounting skills necessary to make business decisions in the real world. Wichita State also offers an on-campus Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree with an optional Accounting Information Systems concentration.

Kansas CPA Requirements

The Kansas Board of Accountancy (the Board) requires that CPA candidates hold a bachelor’s degree from an approved college or university with a concentration in accounting. In addition, they must have completed 150 semester hours, including 42 semester hours in general education and business studies, 11 semester hours in written and oral communications, and 30 semester credit hours in accounting theory and practice courses. Included in these 30 semester hours in accounting theory, the Board requires a number of specific accounting courses to sit for the Uniform CPA exam, including a US income tax course, an intermediate or higher level accounting systems course, and a data analytics for business or accounting course (beginning January 2024). Many students pursue a master’s degree in accounting to meet the educational requirements and prepare for the CPA examination, though a master’s degree is not required. After passing the examination, applicants must complete at least 2,000 hours of work in public accounting that is verified by a licensed CPA. Those who have met all the application conditions can then apply for CPA licensure, and practicing CPAs must fulfill continuing professional education (CPE) hours to maintain their licensure.

Career Opportunities for Accounting Graduates in Kansas

There are many opportunities for Kansas accounting grads to start their own accounting firms or work in public, private, or government accounting. Graduates may find opportunities with large CPA firms or with other firms around the state. BT & Co., P.A., with offices in Topeka, Grant Thornton, and Wichita, is one of the biggest CPA firms in Kansas. Other large companies, such as aerospace company Spirit AeroSystems and Koch Industries, are based in the state and may have positions for accounting graduates with financial expertise. Students can find opportunities to work in local businesses or start their own, and Kansas is also home to many different governmental or nonprofit agencies. Those with accounting degrees may find many different opportunities to work in accounting roles after graduation.

Kansas Accounting Salary and Jobs by Metro Area