CPA Success Index: Ranking the nation's top collegiate accounting programs

The CPA Success Index was created in 2020 as a more comprehensive metric to evaluate how well collegiate accounting programs prepare students to pass all four sections of the CPA exam within the critical 18-month window. Over the years, this index has become a trusted benchmark for identifying programs that consistently produce CPA-ready graduates.

Unlike NASBA's single-section pass rate, the CPA Success Index estimates students' likelihood of completing the entire exam based on first-time section pass rates, adjusted for the 18-month timeframe. The CPA Success Index is computed using the number of sections candidates passed on the first attempt in the preceding 12 months, grossing up that value to 18 months using the school's average first-time pass rate, and then dividing that value by the total number of sections, four.

This updated ranking incorporates data from the 2023 edition of NASBA's Candidate Performance on the Uniform CPA Examination book, which was released in late 2024. As with previous rankings, our analysis only reviews programs with greater than 20 candidates to ensure enough data points to adequately evaluate program performance. 

Current top 10 CPA Success Index rankings

Based on NASBA's most recently reported data from 2023, the top 10 accounting programs in the CPA Success Index are:

1. University of Northern Iowa – Success Index: 1.000 (51 candidates)
2. Texas A&M University – Success Index: 0.802 (369 candidates)
3. University of Texas - Austin – Success Index: 0.722 (340 candidates)
4. University of Virginia – Success Index: 0.718 (71 candidates)
5. Brigham Young University – Success Index: 0.716 (285 candidates)
6. Washington and Lee University – Success Index: 0.716 (22 candidates)
7. University of Wisconsin - Madison – Success Index: 0.688 (187 candidates)
8. Baylor University – Success Index: 0.686 (240 candidates)
9. University of Kansas – Success Index: 0.680 (134 candidates)
10. Georgetown University – Success Index: 0.653 (27 candidates)

Programs with consistent success over time

When comparing the latest rankings to previous reports, several programs stand out for their consistent performance. These four programs appear in the Top 10 in each of our CPA Success Rankings: 

• Texas A&M University: A recurring top performer, Texas A&M benefits from its five-year integrated Professional Program in Accounting. 
• University of Texas - Austin: This program has consistently ranked among the top schools, reflecting its robust accounting curriculum and exam preparation. 
• University of Northern Iowa: Northern Iowa offers a unique and integrated faculty-led and for-credit CPA review program. 
• University of Kansas: Kansas demonstrates sustained excellence through integrated coursework and focused CPA exam strategies.

The CPA Success Index continues to highlight institutions that not only prepare students academically but also provide the necessary support to ensure they succeed in passing the CPA exam. These institutions serve as examples of how academic structure, focused preparation and student support can bridge the CPA gap and help graduates successfully navigate the CPA exam.

The average CPA Success Index for the 529 universities with greater than 20 candidates is .33 (the index is .30 for all schools in the NASBA report). For prospective accounting students and employers, these rankings offer valuable insights into programs that deliver on their promise of CPA readiness. As the accounting profession continues to face workforce shortages, the success of candidates remains essential for addressing the CPA pipeline challenges of the future.

The top 40

To be consistent with NASBA's annual ranking of the top 40 universities on the single-part pass rate, we list the top 40 schools for CPA success in the table for all programs with greater than 20 candidates and split by program size, medium and large.