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Top 10 Best PhD in Accounting Programs

Accounting is an abstract subject dealing with numbers and calculations. Personal finance requires strong attention to detail — imagine the meticulousness necessary to achieve a PhD in accounting! Prepare for a few years of mathematical and statistical study, and toning your analytical skills. The program offers a bright future, opening vast career possibilities  and excellent job prospects.

A booming field, accounting roles for financial managers are estimated to grow by 17%  from 2020 to 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This represents a much higher growth rate than the average for all professions.

Let’s explore the best accounting PhD programs so you can prepare for the next step in your finance career!

Table of Contents

Best PhD in Accounting Programs

The university of texas at austin, mccombs school of business.

PhD in Accounting

The University of Texas at Austin was ranked number one in the country for Accounting PhD programs by the US World & News Public Accounting Report . The University’s McCombs School offers one of the top accounting doctoral programs that welcomes students with diverse disciplines such as economics, mathematics , finance, and engineering.

• Specializations: Financial accounting, managerial accounting, auditing, and taxation.
• Duration : 5 years
• Delivery : On-campus
• Tuition : $1,000 per credit
• Financial aid:  Grants, loans, assistantships, and fellowships
• Acceptance rate : 32%
• Location : Austin, TX

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Gies College of Business

PhD in Accountancy

The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is renowned for its top-notch accounting faculty, boasting a high accounting PhD programs ranking by the BYU Accounting Faculty Research Rankings . Out of all the best PhD accounting programs, this one emphasizes productivity and results the most while valuing quality student placements to give you real-world work experience.

• Courses : Mathematical statistics, probability theory, and constructs in accounting research.
• Credits : 96
• Tuition : $652 per credit
• Financial aid : Fellowships, teaching/research assistantships, and tuition waivers
• Acceptance rate : 63.3%
• Location : Champaign, IL

Stanford University, Graduate School of Business

Stanford is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, with 19 institutes encouraging interdisciplinary learning and a $1.69 billion  sponsored research budget. It offers one of the country’s top accounting PhD programs, emphasizing both empirical and analytical research. Moreover, its balanced curriculum gives equal importance to coursework, research, and teaching.

• Courses : Financial reporting & management control, empirical accounting research, and microeconomic analysis.
• Duration : 4-5 years
• Tuition : Refer tuition page
• Financial aid:  Grants, scholarships, fellowships, and research/teaching assistantships
• Acceptance rate: 5.2%
• Location : Stanford, CA

New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business

The Stern School of Business of NYU offers one of the world’s most well-known accounting doctorate programs. The program allows students to study with other schools within the university along with Stern.

• Courses : Empirical research in financial accounting, microeconomic theory, and regression & multivariate analysis.
• Duration : 4 years
• Financial aid:  Fellowships and research/teaching assistantships
• Acceptance rate:  21.1%
• Location : New York City, NY

University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School

The University of Pennsylvania and Wharton School are world-renowned names in education. The school’s PhD in accounting program allows students to study with neighboring departments to gain exposure to other fields and innovative ideas from a wide range of disciplines.

• Courses : Empirical design in accounting research and advanced statistical inference.
• Course units:  16
• Financial aid : Full fellowships
• Acceptance rate : 9%
• Location : Philadelphia, PA

The University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Stephen M. Ross School of Business

The University of Michigan is a prestigious higher learning institution and one of the best public schools in the country. Its PhD in accounting program encourages extensive collaboration between students and faculty in combined research opportunities.

• Courses : Contemporary accounting issues, pre-candidacy dissertation, and candidacy dissertation.
• Financial aid:  Full funding and graduate assistantships
• Acceptance rate:  26%
• Location : Ann Arbor, MI

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

PhD Accounting Information & Management

Northwestern University’s Kellogg School is one of the oldest business schools in the world and has made major contributions to business, management, and marketing fields. It offers an information-focused accounting doctorate program with research scope for subjects like information intermediaries in capital markets, properties, and transformations in the information environment of companies.

• Courses : Research in accounting theory, empirical research in accounting, and special topics in empirical accounting research.
• Duration : 5.5 years
• Tuition : $13,085 per quarter
• Financial aid : Scholarships, fellowships, and teaching/research assistantships
• Acceptance rate:  9.3%
• Location : Evanston, IL

The University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business is known for its eminent faculty delivering groundbreaking research in accounting. This PhD offers doctoral candidates the freedom to explore their own research interests. They also get the opportunity to perform collaborative scholarly work with faculty members.

• Tuition : $66,096 per three quarters ($32,400 for fifth year)
• Financial aid : Grants, teaching/research assistantships, and fellowships
• Acceptance rate:  7.3%
• Location : Chicago, IL

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Kenan Flagler Business School

UNC at Chapel Hill is the flagship university of the University of North Carolina system. It’s known as a Public Ivy school, offering a high-quality curriculum taught by renowned faculty. UNC’s Kenan Flagler Business School is world-famous, supporting research in international accounting, accounting information in capital markets, and accounting standard-setting.

• Courses : Empirical accounting research, managerial accounting, and tax research.
• Credits : 48-61
• Financial aid:  Teaching fellowship, research/teaching assistantships, and tuition waivers
• Acceptance rate:  25%
• Location : Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The University of Mississippi, Patterson School of Accountancy

The University of Mississippi’s Patterson School is entirely dedicated to accounting studies. Its PhD in accounting program aims to develop scholars with a strong foundation in the historical background of accounting and expert research skills.

• Courses : Contemporary accounting theory, and financial accounting, auditing & accounting information systems research.
• Credits : 77
• Tuition : $504 per credit hour
• Financial aid:  Scholarships, fellowships
• Acceptance rate:  88%
• Location : University, Mississippi

What Do You Need to Get a PhD in Accounting?

Generally, you only need a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related discipline to apply for a PhD program in accounting. Very few programs require a master’s qualification.

The exact requirements vary depending on the program, but you’ll usually need to submit the following to the selection committee:

• GRE or GMAT scores
• Undergraduate transcripts
• Personal essay or research proposal
• Recommendation letters
• Academic resume

Always check specific program requirements for colleges you’re interested in, and contact academic advisors in advance to verify. The top accounting PhD programs can be pretty competitive, so it’s best to carve out ample time to prepare a solid application!

Preparing for an Accounting Doctorate Program

Besides accounting, your PhD program will cover in-depth study of other subjects like economics and statistics. Our advice? Do some background preparation on these subjects, either through self-study or a foundational course.

Additionally, you should prepare yourself for serious research. Unlike undergraduate research, which typically aims to summarize existing knowledge, the goal of a PhD is to make new discoveries. Finally, you should brush up on your teaching skills because your PhD will likely involve giving seminars or tutoring undergraduate students.

Things to Consider When Choosing an Accounting PhD Program

Choosing an accounting PhD program is an individual decision. The right choice depends on various factors that can differ widely depending on the person.

However, here are a few factors that are relevant to practically everyone:

• Budget – What is the cost of tuition and other fees? What financial aid is available?
• Specializations   – What disciplines are offered under the program, and what are the faculty’s areas of expertise? How do these match your passions and career goals?
• Program reputation – Is the school well-known? What accreditations does it have?
• Delivery method  – Is the program offered on-campus, online, or in a hybrid format?
• Location – If you need to attend classes in person, even occasionally, how easy is it for you to get to campus?

Why Get a Doctorate in Accounting?

If you’re proficient with analytical and mathematical skills, a PhD in accounting can help you secure some of the highest-paying jobs in finance and economics. In these roles, you’ll apply the theoretical concepts you studied during your doctorate to solve real market problems, or transfer your knowledge to the next generation by teaching.

Jobs and Salaries for Doctors of Accounting

A doctorate in accounting can qualify you for a range of exciting and high-level roles in the finance sector.

Here are just some of the roles you’ll be eligible for once you’ve completed your PhD in Accounting, with the median annual salary for each:

• Associate Professor in Accounting ( $80,799 )
• Financial Manager ( $95,518 )
• Finance Director ( $115,603 )
• Analyst/Advisor ( $62,924 )
• Senior Financial Analyst ( $83,091 )

For more on job opportunities in the sector, take a look at our guide to the top 10 best jobs for MBA graduates .

What is the Average Cost of PhD Accounting Programs?

The cost of a PhD in accounting can vary greatly depending on the program and school. Remember, the total cost includes not only tuition, but also living expenses, fees and other study expenses.

Generally, prestigious private universities cost more, while public universities offer lower tuition and fees. Additionally, state residents pay less tuition and fees for state universities than non-resident students. Considering all these factors, the total cost for a doctorate in accounting could be anything from around  $10,000 to $70,000 per year.

Wrapping Up

A PhD in accounting will qualify you for some of the best job opportunities in the business and commercial world today. Alternatively, after graduation you could pursue a career in higher education, either in research or as a professor. With experts predicting an increase in accounting job opportunities in the sector in the coming years, the future looks bright for graduates with a doctorate in accounting.

For more on the best courses in finance and accounting, take a look at our guides to the best Master’s in Accounting , the best online MBA Programs , and the top 20 online PhD programs in 2022 .

What Does a PhD in Accounting Do?

With a PhD in accounting, you can work as a professor, consultant, financial manager, analyst, researcher, or one of many high-level jobs in the accounting field.

Can You Get a Doctorate in Accounting?

Yes. Many universities offer doctorate in accounting programs. As long as you meet the eligibility criteria (usually an undergraduate degree in a related field) and present a strong application, you can start your doctorate in accounting.

How Hard is a PhD in Accounting?

Like with any PhD, you need to have a high level of dedication, self-discipline and the ability to conduct strong research to earn a doctorate in accounting. You will also need to demonstrate strong writing, analytical, and presentation skills.

Can an Accountant Have a PhD?

You don’t need a PhD to work as an accountant. Depending on the role, most accountants either have a bachelor’s or a master’s in accounting . However, an accountant who wants to further their career or research in academia may choose to get a PhD in the field.

Do You Need a PhD to Teach Accounting?

A PhD is not typically required to teach accounting in certain settings, such as a community college. However, if you have one, you’ll have a lot more teaching options, including more lucrative positions at universities.

Lisa Marlin

Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.

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Our doctoral program in the accounting field offers broadly based, interdisciplinary training that develops the student’s skills in conducting both analytical and empirical research.

Emphasis is placed on developing a conceptual framework and set of skills for addressing questions broadly related to accounting information. While issues of financial reporting, managerial accounting, corporate governance and taxation are the ultimate concern, special emphasis is given to applying basic knowledge of economics, decision theory, and statistical inference to accounting issues.

Spectrum of Interests and Research Methods

Faculty research represents a broad spectrum of interests and research methods:

• Empirical and analytical research on the relation between accounting information and capital market behavior examines the characteristics of accounting amounts, the effect of accounting disclosures on the capital market, the role of analysts as information intermediaries, and the effects of management discretion. Issues examined also include the impact of financial information on stock and option prices, earnings response coefficients, market microstructure, earnings management, voluntary disclosures, and the effect of changes in accounting standards and disclosure requirements.
• Problems of information asymmetries among management, investors, and others are currently under study. This research investigates, analytically and empirically, the structure of incentive systems and monitoring systems under conditions of information asymmetry. Research on moral hazard, adverse selection, risk sharing, and signaling is incorporated into this work.
• Other ongoing projects include research on the economic effects of auditing and regulation of accounting information, and analysis of tax-induced incentive problems in organizations.
• Additional topics of faculty interest include analytical and empirical research on productivity measurement, accounting for quality, activity-based costing for operations and marketing, and strategic costing and pricing.

Preparation and Qualifications

It is desirable for students to have a solid understanding of applied microeconomic theory, econometrics and mathematics (linear algebra, real analysis, optimization, probability theory) prior to the start of the program. Adequate computer programming skills (e.g. Matlab, SAS, STAT, Python) are necessary in coursework. A traditional accounting background such as CPA is not required.

Faculty in Accounting

Christopher s. armstrong, jung ho choi, george foster, brandon gipper, ron kasznik, john d. kepler, jinhwan kim, rebecca lester, iván marinovic, maureen mcnichols, joseph d. piotroski, kevin smith, emeriti faculty, mary e. barth, william h. beaver, david f. larcker, charles m. c. lee, stefan j. reichelstein, recent publications in accounting, fraudulent financial reporting and the consequences for employees, corporate carbon accounting: balance sheets and flow statements, firm boundaries and voluntary disclosure, recent insights by stanford business, your company is on a high-growth list it may not be there next year., how corporate “diversity washers” spin investors, new data on the quality of esg audits catches regulators’ attention.

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ACCOUNTING PhD

The nation’s top accounting program.

Texas McCombs boasts the most prestigious accounting doctoral program in the country and has graduated more than 300 PhD students since its inception in 1934. Are you ready for the best?

Your Future In Accounting

• PhD Program
• Why McCombs
• Department of Accounting

ACADEMIC LIFE AT McCOMBS

Mentorship and practice, application deadline.

The application deadline for the Accounting Doctoral Program is December 15.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

If you are a practicing accountant, these topical areas will be familiar to you. However, we welcome students with backgrounds in Mathematics, Economics, Engineering, Finance, Psychology, or other disciplines to apply. We can remedy any lack of accounting knowledge through additional coursework. Most students enter our accounting doctoral program with some knowledge in these areas:

Financial Accounting

Financial accounting researchers are interested in the use of accounting information by investors, creditors, analysts, and other decision-makers. We are also interested in the preparation of accounting information by managers who may respond to economic incentives and use discretion to manage earnings. Finally, we are also interested in the regulation of accounting information by standard setters and other regulators who are evaluating the relevance and reliability of current and potential accounting information.

Auditing researchers are interested in questions of independence, governance, compliance, auditing processes, and biases. This research helps global standard-setters and regulators adopt standards and policies that protect the integrity of our accounting information. 

Managerial accounting research topics include optimal employee compensation and governance, using information for efficiency management, motivating creativity, etc.

Taxation research covers economic incentives, transfer pricing, compliance with tax enforcement, multistate taxation, and numerous topics about accounting for income taxation, where tax rules overlap with financial reporting standards.

RANKINGS & RESEARCH

Academic leadership, research methodologies.

When you earn a doctorate, most of your time is spent developing deep expertise in research methods. Accounting researchers use three main approaches. In all cases, your doctoral studies will involve a firm grounding in statistics and typically a choice of either economics or psychology as an additional foundation.

Archival research involves the statistical analysis of historical data to examine relevant research questions based on economic theory for its predictions. Thus, archival research requires a strong background in statistics and economics, which we provide through rigorous coursework in the business school and the economics department.

Experimental

Experimental or survey methods are commonly used to obtain data to conduct what is broadly known as behavioral research. Behavioral research relies on psychology for its theories. Because this research is interested in what people do and why they do it, it is often necessary to conduct controlled experiments or survey participants. Using experiment or survey methods, researchers in accounting and finance have provided compelling alternative explanations where economic theories fall short.

Analytical research uses quantitative mathematical models to explain and predict behavior. This research is grounded in game theory from economics. Students wanting to conduct analytical research should have even stronger mathematical backgrounds than other applicants. We will design a program of study that builds on those initial strengths with additional coursework in mathematics and economics.

GET READY TO APPLY

Preparation and qualifications, career placement, the world needs you, career destinations.

The primary goal of the Texas McCombs PhD program is to prepare students for exceptional academic careers. Over the last five years, McCombs Accounting PhD alumni have excelled at top institutions globally.

Recent Graduate Placements

Rui Silva | 2024 | University of Washington

Mandy Ellison | 2024 | Texas State University

Minjae Kim | 2024 | Analysis Group (Industry)

Laura Kettell | 2023 | University of Colorado at Boulder

Abhi Ramchandni | 2023 | University of Hawaii

Anthony Welsch | 2023 | University of Chicago

Jesse Chan   |  2022  |  Boston University

Cassie Mongold   |  2022  |  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ryan Hess   |  2021  |  Stanford University (postdoc); Oklahoma State University

Ryan Ballestero   |  2021  |  Kent State University

Dan Rimkus   |  2021  |  University of Florida (October 2021 graduation)

Shannon Garavaglia  |  2020  |  University of Pittsburgh

Jakob Infuehr  |  2019  |  University of Southern Denmark

Antonis Kartapanis  |  2019  |  Texas A&M University

Kristen Valentine   |  2019  |  University of Georgia

Colin Koutney   |  2018  |  George Mason University

Zheng Leitter  |  2018  |  Nanyang Technological University

Brian Monsen   |  2018  |  The Ohio State University

Xinyu Zhang   |  2018  |  Cornell University

Current Students and *Job Market Candidates

Mary adenle, yiying chen*, dorothy dickmann*, kenzie feinberg, michael gonari, read hadfield, nathan herrmann, sean kemsley, kaitlyn kroeger*, jingpei shi, cindi teasley, albert wang, frequently asked questions, how long does the program take.

This is a full-time, in-residence (i.e., in-person) program of coursework and research which usually takes four to five years to complete.

When is the application deadline? What is the timeline for reviewing applications?

Our deadline is December 15 th for admission starting the following fall. The admissions committee will begin reviewing applications shortly after this deadline, so it is in your best interest to make sure all required materials have been submitted by that date. We typically start virtual interviews in January, with campus flyouts for a small group of applicants starting in late January or February.

How many students do you admit per year?

We usually receive about 80 applications each year and are likely to admit two or three students to begin in the following fall term.

What kind of background do I need to be admitted to the program?

Students come from a variety of backgrounds, with some entering the program immediately after their undergraduate degree, others with their degree and work/research experience, and some with work/research experience and a master’s degree. Because our students come from various backgrounds and the competition in the applicant pool changes from year to year, it is difficult to determine the likelihood of acceptance without viewing the strength of your application as a whole compared to the pool of fellow applicants.

How do you evaluate applicants?

The admissions committee takes a holistic approach to admissions. We consider factors such as: intellectual curiosity, reasoning ability, writing ability, quantitative skills, institutional knowledge, work experience, research experience, familiarity with the academic accounting literature, knowledge of what a PhD entails, and insights from recommendation letters.

What kind of math background do I need for an accounting Ph.D.?

Many successful applicants will have already begun taking some math refresher courses, such as engineering calculus I and II and linear/matrix algebra. The longer it has been since these quantitative tools have been used, the harder the doctoral coursework will be. The initial doctoral classes typically also include students in finance and economics, and they typically enter their doctoral programs straight from rigorous quantitative master's degrees.

Will I need a TOEFL score?

For applicants who have completed their undergraduate degree in a country where English is not the primary language, a TOEFL score will be a necessary part of the application. This is a university-wide requirement and is necessary even if a graduate degree has been completed from an accredited university in the United States.  TOEFL scores over two years old will not be accepted. A list of TOEFL-exempt countries can be found on the UT Austin Graduate School website.

Do I need to take the GMAT or GRE? Can this requirement be waived?

For all applicants, the Department requires a GMAT or GRE test score. This requirement cannot be waived. Scores over five years old will not be accepted.

Can the application fee be waived?

The application fee is charged by the Graduate School, which does offer fee waivers for financial hardships for domestic applicants. There are no waivers for international students. Please see the Graduate School website for more details.

Do you offer financial support to Ph.D. students? Do I have to pay tuition?

Financial assistance is offered to all students admitted to the doctoral program and includes fellowship payments as well as a 20-hour teaching assistant/research assistant appointment. This appointment covers the cost of tuition and also provides health insurance coverage. 

The financial support we provide is competitive with other top PhD programs in the U.S. 

ARE YOU READY TO CHANGE THE WORLD?

The Texas McCombs Doctoral Program is seeking individuals who are interested in transforming the global marketplace. Are you one of these future thought leaders?

About / Departments

Department of Accounting | Ph.D. Overview

Ph.d. overview.

• Stern’s accounting faculty has a wide range of research interests and continuously publishes works in all major academic accounting research journals such as the Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of Accounting and Economics, the Accounting Review, the Review of Accounting Studies, and Contemporary Accounting Research. Furthermore, Stern’s accounting faculty has published in such major Finance journals as the Journal of Finance, the Journal of Financial Economics, and the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis.
• The Department boasts a large and diverse body of Ph.D. students, who assist faculty with research projects early on in their doctoral program and often become co-authors to papers published in prestigious accounting journals.
• The admissions process is a rigorous one and important criteria are: an interest in doing research and teaching in accounting, strong quantitative skills, and an ability to communicate effectively. There are no formal education requirements  other than possession of a bachelor's degree - an MBA is not required.
• The quality of our Ph.D. program (ranked 7th in the United States by U.S. News and World Report) manifests itself by, among other things, our success in placing our graduates.

Click here to learn more about the PhD admissions process.

Accounting, Ph.D. Program Coordinators

NYU Stern Henry Kaufman Management Center 44 West 4th Street Suite No. 10-77 Phone:  212-998-0025 Email: [email protected]

Xiaojing Meng

NYU Stern Henry Kaufman Management Center 44 West 4th Street Suite No. 10-84 Phone:  212-992-6812 Email:   [email protected]

Explore Stern PhD

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PhD Program

Wharton’s Ph.D. program in Accounting trains students to be successful academic researchers. To this end, the program is designed to provide students with opportunities to learn to develop their own research ideas and to learn to implement appropriate research methods. Students learn these skills through rigorous coursework, as well as mentoring relationships and often research projects with faculty members that provide “on-the-job” training. When a student completes the program, he or she will have a dissertation and other publishable research in progress that can credibly communicate to the academic community the student’s skills and potential for future success as a researcher.

For examples of joint work between students and faculty, Click here . For student placements since 1999, Click here .

About the Program Find out more about the Accounting admission requirements.

Course Information View the Accounting course requirements.

Course Schedule View the Accounting course schedules.

Current Students View a list of our current Accounting PhD students.

Sample Plan of Study

PhD Accounting Program Coordinator Luzi Hail Stephen J. Heyman Professor, Professor of Accounting 1319 Steinberg Hall-Dietrich Hall Philadelphia, PA 19104-6365 Phone: (215) 898-8205 E-mail: [email protected]

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Wharton’s doctoral program in Accounting takes a multidisciplinary approach (including economics, operations management, and statistics) to meet the needs of today’s complex markets, integrating finance and economics with broader perspectives on organizational issues and the corporate regulatory environment.

The Accounting PhD program trains students to do rigorous research in accounting, a specialized area of financial economics. The program is highly analytical and quantitative. We look for strong undergraduate preparation in microeconomics and mathematics, while some prior accounting or finance training at the undergraduate or graduate level is an advantage. Institutional understanding of how accounting information is used by capital market participants and/or within firms is useful and best obtained through relevant work experience, but is not required of applicants.

Close working relationships with faculty members provide an excellent learning experience while at Wharton and can continue throughout the student’s career. Our program provides students with opportunities to interact with faculty and get started on relevant research early in the program. Required research elements include the accounting workshop colloquium, the first-year research assistantship, and the first and second year summer research papers.

For more information on courses and sample plan of study, please visit the University Graduate Catalog .

Get the Details.

Visit the Accounting Department website for details on program requirements and courses. Read faculty and student research and bios to see what you can do with an Accounting PhD.

• Doctoral Programs

The PhD specialization in Accounting prepares students to become accounting scholars engaged in research and teaching at the highest levels in the general areas of financial information and contracting within and across organizations. 

Yale SOM’s specialization in accounting is designed to develop strong theoretical and empirical skills. There is a heavy emphasis on original research to form a base for sustained scholarship. Co-authored research, with both faculty and fellow PhD students, is encouraged and supported.

Yale’s accounting program is small (matriculating one to two students each year), and involves informal and spontaneous frequent interactions with faculty. The program maintains a 1:1 faculty-to-student ratio. Students interact with emerging research in a host of ways, from conferences held on campus to weekly seminars where faculty and fellow PhD students present and discuss their work.

Candidates tend to pursue a broad range of research interests, helped by courses in accounting as well as in various areas of management, Department of Economics, Yale Law School, and other parts of the University. They develop fruitful relationships with other Ph.d. students, especially from the Finance PhD program.

Examples of research submitted as dissertations by students in the program:

• Intended Benefits and Unintended Consequences of Improved Performance Disclosure
• Asymmetric Inefficiency in Market Response to Non-earnings 8-K Information
• Real Earnings Management in Nonprofit Organizations
• How Does More Frequent Reporting Reduce Information Asymmetry?
• Real Earnings Management in the Financial Industry
• Accruals and price crashes
• Customer-base concentration: Implications for firm performance and capital markets
• The Treatment of Special Items in Determining CEO Cash Compensation
• Strategic Decentralization, Bargaining, and Transfer Pricing in Supply Chain Efficiency
• Keynesian Beauty Contest, Accounting Disclosure, and Market Efficiency
• Labor Unions and Management’s Incentive to Signal Declining Profitability
• Investor Expectations, Earnings Management, and Asset Prices
• Limiting Outside Directors' Liability through Charter Provisions: An Empirical Analysis
• Nickels Not Pennies: Explanations and Implications of Granularity in Analysts’ EPS Forecasts
• Auditor’s Pre-Negotiation Information, Accuracy of Financial Reports and Consulting Services
• Taxes, Debt, and Firm Value: New Evidence

Examples of research co-authored with faculty and other students:

Publications.

• Management of reported and forecast EPS, investor responses, and research implications (Management Science
• Placebo Tests of Conditional Conservatism (The Accounting Review)
• Orphans Deserve Attention: Financial Reporting in the Missing Months When Corporations Change Fiscal Year (The Accounting Review)
• Why do EPS forecast error and dispersion not vary with scale? Implications for analyst and managerial behavior (Journal of Accounting Research)
• More Evidence of Bias in the Differential Timeliness Measure of Conditional Conservatism (The Accounting Review)
• The Effect of Litigation Risk on Management Earnings Forecasts (Contemporary Accounting Research)
• Friction in Related Party Trade when a Rival is also a Customer (Management Science)
• The Joint Determination of Audit Fees, Non-audit Fees and Abnormal Accruals (Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting)

Working Papers

• Rethinking Determinants of Trading Volume at Earnings Announcements
• Auditor Change Disclosures as Signals of Earnings Management and Risk
• Individual Investor Overextrapolation
• The Value and Information Effects of Initial Loan Contract Strictness
• The Information Quality Effect of Accruals-Based Benchmark Beating: Evidence from the CDS Market
• On the Contemporaneous Reporting of Income Increasing and Income Decreasing Special Items: Initial Evidence
• Conditional conservatism: the case of goodwill impairments under SFAS 142
• The power of firm fundamentals in explaining stock returns

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Accounting in United States

Why Study Accounting in United States

• Studying Accounting in United States is a great choice, as there are 43 universities that offer PhD degrees on our portal.
• Over 957,000 international students choose United States for their studies, which suggests you’ll enjoy a vibrant and culturally diverse learning experience and make friends from all over the world.
• We counted 127 affordable PhD degrees in United States , allowing you to access quality higher education without breaking the bank. Moreover, there are 299 available scholarships you can apply to.

38  Accounting PhDs in United States

Accounting and Information Systems The Accounting and Information Systems program of the University of Wisconsin Madison prepares individuals for... University of Wisconsin Madison Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Accounting Accounting is one of seven majors offered through Florida State University College of Business’ Ph.D. in... Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida, United States

Accounting Information and Management The Accounting Information and Management doctoral program at Northwestern University trains students in... Kellogg School of Management Evanston, Illinois, United States

Accounting The doctoral program in Accounting at Emory University examines the production and use of information through... Goizueta Business School Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Study in United States

The United States is home to some of the most prestigious universities and colleges in the world. With over 150 universities featured in international rankings, the U.S. has some of the best business schools, medical schools, and engineering schools. Universities and colleges in the U.S. are well known for academic flexibility and ways to customize your study experience with optional studies and extracurricular activities. Depending on where you will be studying, you will be able to visit iconic places like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Goldengate Bridge, The Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Disney's Magic Kingdom Park, and much more.

Is United States the right place for you?

Take the test and find out which country is your best fit.

Explore your Accounting degree

Accounting is the foundation of informed decision-making in business. As a student, you'll master recording, analysing, and communicating financial data. It's not just numbers; it's about portraying a company's financial health. Specialisations like Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Tax Accounting, Auditing, and Forensic Accounting offer diverse career paths. Courses cover financial analysis, cost management, taxation, and more. Accountants need analytical skills, attention to detail, ethics, and communication abilities. Career options include Chartered Accountant, Tax Advisor, Auditor, Forensic Accountant, and Financial Analyst, promising stability and growth.

Is Accounting the best for you?

Take the test and find out if Accounting is the right path for you.

Accounting Scholarships and Financial Aid in United States

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PhD in Accounting: Help Fill a Shortage of Accountant Professors

You may not have known there is a doctoral-level degree in accounting. However, there are doctoral degrees in most fields, giving you the option to pursue the highest possible degree level in your academic area of study, including a PhD in Accounting. Accounting is a complex field that is often offered as a major or an area of focus in business school. Most students who pursue a Master’s Degrere in Accounting are already accountants with experience in public accounting and research. They may also be experienced business professionals with a master’s degree in the business world, such as a master of business administration (MBA). 

This is a competitive doctoral-level degree for talented accountants who are truly passionate about pursuing a career in accounting research, consulting, or teaching.

Find your bootcamp match

What is accounting.

Most people think of accountants as the people who do their taxes. Though some accountants, tax accountants, do spend their time helping individuals and corporations with their taxes, accounting goes far beyond these tax-related duties. The accounting field is actually a growing and highly in-demand academic field. Accounting focuses on recording financial transactions and sorting and summarizing them into reports and analyses. Academic accounting is a field that incorporates related subfields like econometrics, statistics, finance, and theory. 

Why Get a PhD in Accounting?

A PhD in Accounting is an excellent degree choice if you are truly committed to the field of accounting and interested in accounting theory. This is because accounting research is often theoretical in nature and like accounting, requires strong analytical and mathematical abilities.  Accounting doctoral students are interested in pursuing theoretical concepts of accounting and applying them to real markets. Some of the country’s best business schools offer master’s degree programs in accounting.

If such a program sounds interesting to you, read on for more information on what you can expect as a PhD accounting student. 

PhD in Accounting Components

Before considering specific programs in-depth, it’s a good idea to look into what most programs require and include. These are competitive, advanced-level degree programs for strong and dedicated students. Each program will have a slightly different set of curriculum requirements and may have different concentration offerings. Here is a general summary of what you should expect.

Application Requirements

When applying to any PhD program, students typically start their search process by researching program faculty members. This is because PhD programs are so rooted in the doctoral thesis, which requires extensive 1:1 advising and mentorship from an academic advisor and faculty members.  One of the most important aspects of your application is a proven academic track record in accounting, math, economics, and finance. Programs require bachelor’s degrees, at a minimum. If you have a Master’s Degree in Accounting and/or are a certified public accountant, you will be a more competitive applicant. Several years of work experience in the field can really help applicants gain entry to their desired program.

Applicants will also be required to submit GRE or GMAT exam scores. Because many doctoral accounting programs are run through business schools, the GMAT is sometimes required.

PhD in Accounting Curriculum

Most universities offer doctoral programs in accounting through their schools of business. For example, one of the best-known programs of its kind is part of Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  PhD programs in accounting can take approximately four to seven years to complete, depending on your thesis project and its time requirements. Programs start with foundational coursework that prepares students for the final years of dissertation work. Here are some common courses accounting students can expect to see at the PhD level:

• Research Methods
• Capital Market Research
• Statistical Analysis 
• Quantitative Methods for Accounting
• Econometrics
• Managerial Accounting
• Theories in Accounting

Most PhD programs prepare students for careers as academics, accounting professors, and expert consultants. For this reason, most programs require that students complete teaching practicums as part of the degree process. Students take the important core accounting classes, they develop as researchers, and they learn how to teach.

Concentrations and Dissertations for an Accounting PhD

You will likely choose an accounting concentration within your doctoral program. Some common concentrations are:

• Public Accounting
• Forensic Accounting
• Accounting Information Systems

Regardless of the concentration you choose, you will pursue a major research project as a doctoral student. This research project is commonly called a doctoral dissertation. It is the culmination of several years of research under the mentorship of a faculty advisor. 

It typically results in a published paper and possibly in presentations at conferences and professional organizations. For academics in colleges and universities in the United States, the doctoral dissertation is the first major opportunity to embark on a publishable, in-depth research project. 

Top PhD in Accounting Programs

You should now have a better understanding now of what an accounting PhD entails. Therefore, let’s now take a look at some specific programs. It’s important to note that there is no shortage of programs. In fact, there are 536 different doctoral programs in accounting in the US alone. That said, some programs are much stronger and more competitive than others. 

Below is a list of some of the best PhD accounting programs in the United States. 

Stanford University

The PhD in Accounting at Stanford in Palo Alto, California, is one of the strongest programs in the country. The program requires students to enter with a solid academic foundation in microeconomic theory, econometrics, and math. It also requires students to have basic computer programming skills in programs like STATA, Python, and SAS. After a couple of years of initial coursework, students move on to practicum experiences in teaching and researching before focusing on their dissertation work. 

University of Pennsylvania

The Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania’s school of business, offers a top-notch program that focuses on analytics. Graduates of the program are prepared to dedicate their academic and professional careers to financial and economic research. 

The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor

Michigan’s flagship state institution offers an extremely competitive PhD program in accounting, only accepting one to three applicants per year. Students can expect to be fully funded for five years and complete the program in as much time. Students can also expect to spend their first two years on focused research into investor relations, managerial investments, and cash holding. 

University of Chicago

The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and the Accounting Research Center host this exclusive PhD program in accounting. This program is all about flexibility, allowing its students to cater their program according to their interest in an array of different specializations. Courses offered include econometrics, price theory, finance, and economic modeling. This program consistently produces top graduates who go on to become experts in the field. 

The University of Texas at Austin

Out of all of the programs listed here, the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas offers, by some accounts, offers the top PhD in Accounting program in the country. According to the Public Accounting Report of 2019, it is the #1 program in the nation. 

The Texas McCombs PhD, as the program is officially called, stands apart with distinguished faculty and extremely rigorous preparation for academic life. The program prepares students by helping them develop their research and writing skills and by making them highly competitive when entering the job market or the academic world of accounting. 

Career Outlook With a PhD in Accounting

There is a shortage of accounting professors in the US. This is great news for someone considering the terminal degree in accounting: a doctoral degree. With a PhD in Accounting, you can help fill this shortage and you will be in high demand.  Actually, some students who would have typically stopped their studies with a Master’s Degree in Accounting have decided to continue on to a PhD in Accounting because of the job security the degree offers. Universities need to fill vacancies for accounting professors. This also means that they are willing to pay higher-than-average business faculty salaries to hire and retain accounting professors. The average starting salary for accounting professors under the age of 45 is $101,000.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall accounting field is predicted to see faster-than-average growth between 2019 and 2029.

Should You Get Your PhD in Accounting?

The career outlook alone should be enough to help you answer this question. The answer to this question might be yes, if:

• You are passionate about accounting and accounting theory
• You have a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or a related field
• You have some professional experience in the accounting or finance sector
• You are interested in being a university professor in accounting
• You love research

With excellent job security and very comfortable pay, accounting professors can enjoy successful careers. If you’re excited about pursuing this career track, use this article as a guide to launch your PhD in Accounting program research. 

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

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PhD in Accounting

• PhD in Behavioral Science
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Chicago Booth has one of the preeminent PhD accounting programs. Our faculty conduct groundbreaking scholarly work, and our graduates have played a central role in the evolution of modern accounting research.

As a PhD student in accounting at Booth, you’ll have the freedom to explore and cultivate your research interests from day one—wherever they lead.

You’ll join a collaborative research community and work with prominent scholars whose groundbreaking research is recognized for its impact on the academic literature, accounting practice and policymaking, securities regulation, and elsewhere. In addition to your stipend, you may apply for research and conference travel funding from our research centers and the Stevens Doctoral Program. In research workshops and conferences, you’ll present your work and hear about the work of fellow researchers. 

Our Distinguished Accounting Faculty

As measured by research productivity and impact, Chicago Booth has one of the best accounting faculty groups in the world. The group includes Philip G. Berger, Hans B. Christensen, Merle Erickson, Christian Leuz, Michael Minnis, Valeri Nikolaev, Haresh Sapra, Douglas J. Skinner, and Abbie J. Smith, as well as an outstanding group of research-active junior faculty. The school is committed to maintaining the quality of this group.

These distinguished scholars are also teachers and mentors who will advise you, coauthor papers with you, supervise your thesis, help you find an outstanding job, and serve as colleagues throughout your career.

Philip G. Berger

Wallman Family Professor of Accounting

Hans B. Christensen

Chookaszian Family Professor of Accounting and David G. Booth Faculty Fellow

Anna Costello

Jeffrey Breakenridge Keller Professor of Accounting

Merle Erickson

Professor of Accounting

Joao Granja

Associate Professor of Accounting and Jane and Basil Vasiliou Faculty Scholar

Christian Leuz

Charles F. Pohl Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting and Finance

Bradford Levy

Assistant Professor of Accounting

Charles McClure

Associate Professor of Accounting

Michael Minnis

Deputy Dean for Faculty and Fuji Bank and Heller Professor of Accounting

Maximilian Muhn

Valeri Nikolaev

James H. Lorie Professor of Accounting and FMC Faculty Scholar

Madhav Rajan

Dean and George Pratt Shultz Professor of Accounting

Thomas Rauter

Amoray Riggs-Cragun

Assistant Professor of Accounting and Kathryn and Grant Swick Faculty Scholar

Delphine Samuels

Associate Professor of Accounting and James S. Kemper Faculty Scholar

Haresh Sapra

Charles T. Horngren Professor of Accounting

Douglas J. Skinner

Sidney Davidson Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting

Abbie J. Smith

Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting

Christopher Stewart

Assistant Professor of Accounting and Fama Faculty Fellow

Associate Professor of Accounting and Kathryn and Grant Swick Faculty Scholar

Anthony Welsch

Anastasia A Zakolyukina

Alumni success.

The American Accounting Association periodically awards a prize for seminal contributions to the accounting literature. Graduates of the PhD Accounting Program are regular winners of this prestigious prize.

Our PhD graduates in accounting go on to faculty positions  at some of the world's most prestigious institutions.

Kalash Jain, MBA '23, PhD '23

Assistant Professor of Business, Accounting Division Columbia Business School, Columbia University His research examines the impact of information processing frictions and investor decision making on asset prices and firm investment. His dissertation area is in accounting.

Sinja Leonelli, MBA '23, PhD '23

Assistant Professor of Accounting Stern School of Business, New York University Sinja's research primarily examines misconduct reporting, regulation and enforcement, and the use of ESG information by stakeholders such as regulators, employees, and consumers. Her dissertation area is in accounting.

Shirley Lu, MBA ’21, PhD ’21 

Assistant Professor of Business Administration Harvard Business School, Harvard University Shirley Lu studies Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure, with a focus on climate change and gender diversity. Her dissertation area is in accounting.

Spotlight on Research

Chicago Booth Review frequently highlights the work of accounting PhD students, faculty, and alumni.

One Way Discrimination Creeps into the Supply Chain

A Q&A with Chicago Booth’s Anna Costello about how the pandemic affected which suppliers got paid on time.

AI Reads between the Lines to Discover Corporate Risk

“Corporate risk exposures are often subtly implied in conference call discussions rather than explicitly stated,” write Chicago Booth PhD student Alex G. Kim and Booth’s Maximilian Muhn and Valeri Nikolaev.

Civilization is Based on Accounting

A Q&A with Chicago Booth’s Ray Ball on accounting’s past and future.

Financial Data Privacy Could Help Fight Poverty

Historical data can shape future outcomes, helping to determine whether a prospective borrower has access to a home, car, or other opportunities, write University of Utah’s Mark Jansen, Chicago Booth PhD student Fabian Nagel, and Booth’s Constantine Yannelis and Anthony Lee Zhang.

A Network of Support

Doctoral students at Booth have access to the resources of several research centers  that offer funding for student work, host workshops and conferences, and foster a strong research community.

The Chookaszian Accounting Research Center The Chookaszian Accounting Research Center coordinates accounting research at Chicago Booth and hosts research brown bags and workshops. It also publishes the Journal of Accounting Research , one of the top accounting research journals in the world.

George J. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State Dedicated to examining issues at the intersection of politics and the economy, the Stigler Center supports research in the political, economic, and cultural obstacles to better working markets.

Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation Chicago Booth’s destination for people committed to tackling social and environmental problems, the Rustandy Center supports the work of PhD students and others who are focused on transforming the social sector.

Inside the Student Experience

For Andrew Sutherland, PhD ’13, coauthoring research with Booth faculty was a highlight of the Stevens Program.

Video Transcript

Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 00:09 In accounting, there's tons and tons of research on these big public firms that have an army of investor relations people and they constant disclosing things. That's where most of the research was happening, but there's this whole other half of the economy, these private firms, that we didn't really know a lot about. We didn't know a lot about how they got credit. What was interesting to me is that a lot of time, firms are able to get credit without even providing any financial statements or any information whatsoever to the bank. The reason they're able to get credit is that they have a credit score. So in other words, the information is coming, not from the form itself, but from another bank who had dealt with them in the past. What really struck me was there wasn't really a lot of research out there on this information channel. That's when I decided I wanted to learn a little bit more about what this reporting channel does to contract and help firms get credit and how it changes banks' incentives to lend.

Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 01:01 Basically, the firms that have a good credit record or a long track record of borrowing successfully were the ones that were able to shop around. We would think that's a good thing, that giving firms more choice about who to borrow from kind of increases social welfare, you get better matching between lenders and firms. Kind of the dark side is that the firms that have had payment trouble that have defaulted or missed some payments on loans sort of get shut out of the credit part. You have a harder time starting any new relationships with outside lenders. That's kind of a cost.

Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 01:34 The second cost is that information sharing changes the game for lenders. So, if participating in this credit bureau basically allows outside lenders to pick off the firms that are doing better, then that destroys the incentive for lenders to kind of invest in relationships to begin with. That's sort of the second dark side of information sharing, if you will.

Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 01:54 So, I coauthor on a number of projects with the junior faculty member here named Mike Minnis. I probably talked to Mike more than I talk to my wife. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But, I mean, as a PhD student, there's only so much you can learn in class, and having a faculty member to work with that's kind of gone through the ropes and understands the review process, that's done something on their own, it gives you a really good opportunity to learn. That's something, I think that was absolutely instrumental in my success

Current Accounting Students

PhD students in accounting come to Chicago Booth with a wide range of interests and goals. Recent dissertations have focused on everything from machine learning to the impact of fiscal monitoring, and graduates have gone on to positions at some of the world’s preeminent institutions, including Columbia Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Current Students

Esteban Espinoza Aburto Carolina Maia Silva Araujo Samuel Chang Jonas Dalmazzo Jewel Evans Lingyu (Laura) Gu Yanzi (Yvonne) Han Grant Hayes Maria Khrakovsky Alex Kim Ginha Kim Andrew McKinley Pietro Ramella Subhradip Sarker Jizhou Wang Hanbyul Yoon

Program Expectations and Requirements

The Stevens Doctoral Program at Chicago Booth is a full-time program. Students generally complete the majority of coursework and examination requirements within the first two years of studies and begin work on their dissertation during the third year. For details, see General Examination Requirements by Area in the Stevens Program Guidebook below.

Download the 2023-2024 Guidebook!

• Undergraduate
• Master of Accounting
• Full Time MBA
• Evening Executive MBA
• Weekend Executive MBA
• Charlotte Executive MBA

PhD in Accounting

Accounting and UNC Kenan-Flagler’s international reputation makes us one of world’s top academic centers of innovative accounting thought and research. We are widely recognized as a leading center of research on financial reporting, tax, international accounting, accounting standard setting, managerial accounting, and the role of accounting information in decision making.

We pride ourselves on frequent and successful student-faculty collaboration and encourage our students to work with, and seek advice, from every one of our faculty. We believe this frequent interaction with our faculty, who themselves work in many diverse areas, creates well-rounded graduates who can think creatively and deeply about important problems.

Typical Course Schedule by Year

• Seminar in Empirical Accounting Research
• Seminar in Corporate Governance
• Students in Accounting are required to complete two semesters of Statistics/Econometrics and select the level at which they qualify.
• Many Accounting students select Corporate Finance Theory I & II taught by our Finance faculty.
• Microeconomics
• Capital Markets – your first and second year
• A research paper is required for presentation and critique during the fall semester of your second year.
• Seminar in Corporate Finance: Financial Economics and Asset Pricing
• Seminar in Managerial Accounting (may be completed your first or second year.)
• Investment Finance
• Game Theory
• Econometrics
• Professional Communication Skills
• Seminar in Executing Research
• Comprehensive written examination which covers all of the Accounting courses you take in your first two years of the PhD Program
• An oral presentation of your current research
• Secure an advisor prior to your third year.  Historically, students and advisors have gravitated towards one another naturally as we ensure students and faculty frequently interact. However, we will assign an advisor based on student and faculty preferences and interest, if necessary.
• Full-time research
• With consent of your advisor, you may attend/participate or present at external national or international conferences after your second year, which are frequently done by our PhD students.
• Your Dissertation and Oral Defense are expected prior to the end of your fifth year.
• Preparing for the job market
• You may take any elective course offered by UNC Kenan-Flagler or other UNC (or Duke) departments with guidance from your advisor.

View our current Accounting PhD students .

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Ph.D. in Accounting

Program information.

The doctoral program at the KU School of Business prepares students for research and teaching careers at major universities. As a doctoral student in accounting, you will have the opportunity to work with internationally known faculty members on a variety of research projects.

The program includes a combination of coursework, faculty mentoring and hands-on experience in both teaching and research. Students have access to a wide variety of databases and the small size of the program ensures extensive faculty and student interaction. The program is flexible, with some students leaving in four years and some staying for a fifth year.

KU accounting faculty are ranked No. 1 in audit archival and all audit research contributions over the past six and 12 years, and in the top 15 in archival research across all topics — and our doctoral program graduates are ranked in the top 5 in archival audit research, according to Brigham Young University’s 2021 accounting rankings . Recent doctoral student placements include Clemson University, Kansas State University, Iowa State University, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Arkansas.

Faculty research interests include the economics of the auditing profession; dynamics of the auditor-client relationship; the impact of regulation on auditors and clients; the causes and consequences of financial reporting failures; voluntary disclosure; information intermediaries; corporate governance; the design of control systems and compensation packages; and many other topics.

Application deadlines

Priority: December 15

Final: January 10

• Application requirements

As a doctoral accounting, you will have the opportunity to work with internationally known faculty members on a variety of research projects. The small size of the program ensures extensive faculty and student interaction.

Part of our mission is to develop effective teachers. To that end, all doctoral students are required to teach at least two sections as independent instructors. The school and university prepare and reward doctoral students for excellence in teaching through various programs and awards.

Program details

Key components.

Find an overview of key components of the program, including details about expectations and major research projects.

View degree requirements and a detailed list of courses in the KU Academic Catalog .

Please note:

A course that is not being offered within a reasonable timeframe, or a course in which a student can demonstrate competence may be, with the approval of the area group and the doctoral team, replaced with another course.

Area-specific core requirements may be changed subject to the approval of the area group and the Ph.D. team.

A minimum of 15 courses, plus FIN 901, BUS 902 and BUS 903 are required for the completion of the degree.

Requirements

Area of concentration.

Most students admitted in accounting typically will select that area as their concentration. However, an aspirant, with the assistance of his or her faculty advisor and the area faculty, may propose an interdisciplinary area of concentration. The aspirant must take at least five advanced courses in the area of concentration. These courses may include those offered outside the School of Business.

Supporting areas

Coursework in the area of concentration is supplemented and strengthened by study in one or two supporting areas. A supporting area is one that supplements and complements the area of concentration. The aspirant will satisfy the supporting area requirement by taking at least four advanced courses in the supporting areas (at least two courses in each of two supporting areas, or at least four courses in one supporting area). Courses recommended for preparation for the qualifiers may not be included in satisfying the supporting area requirement.

Research methodology

For successful qualifier assessment, the student's program of study should include adequate preparation in research methodology.

Coursework and research

Comprehensive exams and research

Dissertation and job market

Year 5 (if necessary)

Program faculty.

• Associate Professor
• Accounting academic area

• Area Director, Accounting
• Deloitte Professor

• Assistant Professor

• C.A. Scupin Professor

• Jack and Shirley Howard Mid-Career Professor

• Larry D. Horner/KPMG Professor

• Interim Dean
• Stanley P. Porter Professor
• School of Business administration
• Dean's Office

• Doctoral Coordinator, Accounting
• Doctoral program

Doctoral accounting students

• Ph.D. Candidate

• Ph.D. Student

2024 Best Accounting Doctor's Degree Schools

Choosing a great accounting school for your doctor's degree, overall quality is a must, average early-career salaries, other factors we consider, one size does not fit all, best schools for doctorate students to study accounting in the united states, 10 top schools for a doctorate in accounting, accounting by region.

Other Rankings

Best associate degrees in accounting, best master's degrees in accounting, best value in accounting, best for non-traditional students in accounting, best online in accounting, most popular online in accounting, best bachelor's degrees in accounting, best overall in accounting, highest paid grads in accounting, best for veterans in accounting, most popular in accounting, most focused in accounting, rankings in majors related to accounting, accounting concentrations.

Most Popular Related Majors

Notes and References

Popular reports, compare your school options.

• Harvard Business School →
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PhD Programs

• Accounting & Management
• Business Economics
• Health Policy (Management)
• Organizational Behavior
• Technology & Operations Management

Students in our PhD programs are encouraged from day one to think of this experience as their first job in business academia—a training ground for a challenging and rewarding career generating rigorous, relevant research that influences practice.

Our doctoral students work with faculty and access resources throughout HBS and Harvard University. The PhD program curriculum requires coursework at HBS and other Harvard discipline departments, and with HBS and Harvard faculty on advisory committees. Faculty throughout Harvard guide the programs through their participation on advisory committees.

How do I know which program is right for me?

There are many paths, but we are one HBS. Our PhD students draw on diverse personal and professional backgrounds to pursue an ever-expanding range of research topics. Explore more here about each program’s requirements & curriculum, read student profiles for each discipline as well as student research , and placement information.

The PhD in Business Administration grounds students in the disciplinary theories and research methods that form the foundation of an academic career. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program has four areas of study: Accounting and Management , Marketing , Strategy , and Technology and Operations Management . All areas of study involve roughly two years of coursework culminating in a field exam. The remaining years of the program are spent conducting independent research, working on co-authored publications, and writing the dissertation. Students join these programs from a wide range of backgrounds, from consulting to engineering. Many applicants possess liberal arts degrees, as there is not a requirement to possess a business degree before joining the program

The PhD in Business Economics provides students the opportunity to study in both Harvard’s world-class Economics Department and Harvard Business School. Throughout the program, coursework includes exploration of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, probability and statistics, and econometrics. While some students join the Business Economics program directly from undergraduate or masters programs, others have worked in economic consulting firms or as research assistants at universities or intergovernmental organizations.

The PhD program in Health Policy (Management) is rooted in data-driven research on the managerial, operational, and strategic issues facing a wide range of organizations. Coursework includes the study of microeconomic theory, management, research methods, and statistics. The backgrounds of students in this program are quite varied, with some coming from public health or the healthcare industry, while others arrive at the program with a background in disciplinary research

The PhD program in Organizational Behavior offers two tracks: either a micro or macro approach. In the micro track, students focus on the study of interpersonal relationships within organizations and the effects that groups have on individuals. Students in the macro track use sociological methods to examine organizations, groups, and markets as a whole, including topics such as the influence of individuals on organizational change, or the relationship between social missions and financial objectives. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program includes core disciplinary training in sociology or psychology, as well as additional coursework in organizational behavior.

Accounting & Management  

Business economics  , health policy (management)  , marketing  , organizational behavior  , strategy  , technology & operations management  .

Best in Class

USC Marshall’s Vice Dean for Undergraduate Programs Introduces new emphases to deepen student experience.

Marshall Develops DEI Leadership Training

Strategic DEI content, built around faculty expertise, now informs all graduate students at orientation.

Rankings Rise

Two USC Marshall online graduate programs recognized in national rankings.

• UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

USC Marshall School of Business is one of the world’s leading global undergraduate business programs. Our courses of study in Business Administration or Accounting allow students to combine in-depth knowledge of the theory and practice of business with a solid foundation in the liberal arts.

BS Artificial Intelligence for Business (BUAI)

In partnership with the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the AI for Business joint-degree program brings together the expertise of two of the top business and engineering schools in the country to create a new generation of technically-savvy business leaders.

BS Business of Cinematic Arts (BCA)

Students in the John H. Mitchell Business of Cinematic Arts Program (BCA) earn a joint degree recognized by the Marshall School of Business and the School of Cinematic Arts. Program-specific courses, internships, and networking give BCA students the competitive edge as business leaders in the entertainment industry.

World Bachelor in Business (WBB)

Three world-class universities. Three continents. Three degrees. One unparalleled experience.

Embrace your unlimited potential by choosing a singular program that prepares you for a multitude of possibilities. You’ll gain admission to three top business schools in three international commercial hubs that are also cultural hotspots.

You’ll join a select group of brilliant and daring peers while building a network, skillset and portfolio of experience that set you up for a dynamic future.

BS Business Administration (BUAD)

USC Marshall leads the way in business educations as a top-ranked four-year business school housed at a leading private research institution. Undergraduate students are immersed in the University's foundation of "breadth with depth,” with a core curriculum that encompasses all of the major cornerstones of business.

BS Accounting (ACCT)

USC Leventhal provides undergraduate students with the tools and resources they need to succeed. Our program is recognized for the immersive experience it offers accounting students. Graduates leave the program not only as qualified accountants, but as well-rounded professionals. Our students enter careers in accounting, finance, data analytics and more. Leventhal resides within the Marshall School of Business, which provides our students opportunities to interact with the top-notch faculty at Marshall.

Progressive Degrees (PDP)

Undergraduate students can utilize the PDP pathway to add a Masters of Science degree to deepen their education starting junior year. This pathway reduces the number of units needed to complete an MS degree, in some cases by as much as 1/3rd, allowing completion within one additional year depending on the program and individual student course plans.

Global Fluency + Leadership

LINC and GLP are first - of - their - kind international experiences available to first-year USC  Marshall students.  USC Marshall’s unique  WORLD BACHELOR IN BUSINESS (WBB)   program  focuses on developing global leaders and  is the only 4 - year, 3 - continent, 3 - degree program in  the world.

Leaders in Entrepreneurship

USC Marshall is home to the nation’s first integrated entrepreneurship program. Our students learn a mindset that sets them apart and better positions them to make a positive difference in the world. Read more about the LLOYD GREIF CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES and BRITTINGHAM SOCIAL ENTERPRISE LAB .

Hands-On Experience

The USC Marshall EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CENTER (ELC) is the nation's first applied learning program to employ professional trainers to design and conduct simulations and workshops for undergraduates.

Elite Entertainment Opportunity

USC Marshall is the only school offering a Business and Cinematic Arts program in conjunction with the No. 1 film school in the world.

MBA PROGRAMS

USC Marshall's top-ranked MBA programs attract students from across the globe for a hands-on graduate business education that translates to professional success.

Full-Time MBA (FTMBA)

A comprehensive MBA program to sharpen business fundamentals, technological fluency, and leadership skills while expanding their professional network to transform their career.

Executive MBA (EMBA)

A part-time, two-year MBA program preparing senior-level professionals for executive leadership. Curriculum focuses on business strategy, complex problem-solving in real-world contexts, and managerial best practices.

Part-Time MBA (MBA.PM)

A flexible, part-time MBA program for working professionals to enhance business fundamentals with diverse electives for customized learning about business and leadership on the global stage.

One-Year MBA (IBEAR)

An accelerated full-time, one-year MBA program with international focus for highly experienced mid-career professionals.

Online MBA (OMBA)

Top-ranked, online MBA program with thematically-integrated curriculum delivered through self paced, asynchronous coursework and real-time interactive sessions.

SPECIALIZED MASTERS

Focused, flexible, and foundational.

Our specialized masters programs give you critical skills and experience to put you on the fast track to career advancement.

MS Business Administration (MSBUSAD)

The Master of Science in Business Administration (MSBUSAD) is designed to provide those who have completed a traditional MBA with an opportunity to pursue further study in an area of specialization subsequent to successfully completing the Master of Business Administration (MBA). The degree is only available to those holding an MBA degree.

MS Business Analytics (MSBA)

• Top 5 MSBA program
• STEM certified
• Case Competitions with real-world challenges

MS Entrepreneurship + Innovation (MSEI)

• Can be completed in 12 months
• Learn how to start and grow a new venture
• Eligible to enter venture competitions

ACCOUNTING MASTERS

The Leventhal School of Accounting is consistently ranked among the top accounting schools in the nation. Spanning more than two decades, the school's outstanding reputation for excellence is a tribute to its faculty, staff, students, and alumni

Master of Accounting (MAcc)

The MAcc program provides students opportunities to apply accounting and business knowledge to cases and situations that develop technical knowledge plus skills in research, analysis, and communication. This graduate degree helps ensure success in public accounting, private industry, auditing, assurance services, advisory services, consulting and strategic finance.

Master of Business Taxation (MBT)

The Jennifer and James R. Parks Master of Business Taxation (MBT) program provides an in-depth specialization in taxation and analytical skills designed to prepare students for a successful career in the tax field. Intended for today’s professionals using technology and data tools in applying the breadth of tax law and regulations, the program provides students with the technical, analytical, and communication skills necessary to assist clients large and small.

Master of Business Taxation for Working Professionals (MBT.WP)

For fully employed tax professionals who are ready to deepen and broaden their knowledge of taxation and learn research techniques critical to success as a professional. Minimum one-year tax-related experience required for MBT.WP program.

We train highly motivated and intellectually curious students to become research scholars and experts in a variety of business disciplines. Our flexible program, rigorous courses of study, and mentorship experiences with top-rated faculty prepare our students to become professors at some of the top business schools in the world.

Accounting PhD Program

The Accounting PhD program includes research focused on several accounting disciplines, including Financial, Managerial, and Auditing and Corporate Governance Accounting.

Data Sciences + Operations PhD Program

Operations Management studies how firms organize their resources and recurring activities in order to be competitive in cost, price, responsiveness and quality. The field stresses quantitative techniques ranging from applied probability to optimization and game theory.

Finance PhD Program

The finance Ph.D. program is designed to prepare students for academic careers in financial economics. Financial economics is the study of how individuals and firms raise and invest resources, and how financial assets are priced. Specific topics in asset pricing include the determinants of asset returns, pricing of risk, behavior of investors, and trading mechanisms. Specific topics in corporate finance include capital structure, payout policy, financial intermediation, internal capital markets, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance.

Management + Organization PhD Program

MOR research includes the study of human behavior in organizational settings, the design of organizational structures and the relationship of organizations to their environments. MOR research draws on the basic disciplines of psychology, sociology and economics to investigate research questions in three general areas: organizational behavior, organizational theory and strategic management.

Marketing PhD Program

Marketing is an interdisciplinary field that examines the interactions of consumers and businesses in the marketplace. Academic research in marketing draws upon theories and methodology from a wide variety of fields, including psychology, sociology, mathematics, statistics, and economics. Faculty members in Marshall’s marketing department represent numerous theoretical backgrounds and substantive interests. As mentors, they encourage students to identify their own interests and develop the analytic and methodological skills to pursue their own research questions.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATES

With cutting-edge certificate programs across a broad range of business disciplines. USC Marshall offers a unique perspective on how to thrive in a dynamic economy.

Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics

Students gain the skills to analyze large and unstructured data sets to make business decisions based on data.

Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis and Valuation

The theories and practice of financial accounting, financial analysis, valuation, credit analysis, and financial instruments to better understand and develop strategic financial decisions.

Graduate Certificate in Management Studies

An opportunity to pursue further studies at the USC Marshall after completing one year at an accredited MBA program.

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

Executive education.

Career-changing experiences start here. Explore opportunities to develop the skills that can take you and your company to the next level.

Marshall Executive Education delivers open-enrollment short courses and custom programs in humanistic leadership, strategy, communication, finance, innovation and more for a diverse group of business professionals and companies in a variety of industries.

• VISIT THE EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SITE

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