Fisher School the No. 10 best accounting program in the nation
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Fisher School of Accounting’s undergraduate program was named the tenth best undergraduate accounting program among schools in the United States in U.S. News & World Report’s “2023 Best Colleges” edition released Monday.
In the same ranking, for the second year in a row, the University of Florida was named among the top five public research universities in the nation. The No. 5 recognition reaffirms UF’s status as an academic powerhouse in research, innovation, educational excellence, student outcomes and technology transfer.
Among U.S. public universities, the Fisher School is ranked as the No. 5 best program, rising two spots from last year. The Fisher School continues to be the No. 1 ranked undergraduate accounting program in the state of Florida by U.S. News & World Report.
“Excellence is at the center of everything we do at the Fisher School,” said Gary McGill, Senior Associate Dean of the Warrington College of Business, Director of the Fisher School of Accounting and J. Roy Duggan Professor. “We are committed to improving the profession through producing future professional and academic leaders, creating influential research and engaging with the global professional community.”
The Fisher School’s ranking, heavily based on its reputation as one of the best accounting schools in the nation, stems from its excellence in student quality, academic rigor and career outcomes. Of the most recent class of graduating class of undergraduate students, most plan to continue to a graduate degree in accounting or law, and those not continuing their education report full employment. The University of Florida is also the top school in the state for the pass rate of first-time CPA Exam test takers, with 93% of students passing the exam.
As partner at Deloitte and the lead university partner for Deloitte’s relationship with the University of Florida, Robert Tache (BSAc ’88, MAcc ’89) knows the quality of students coming out of the school. It’s why UF is such an important place for Deloitte when hiring accounting graduates.
“UF is a big priority for us,” Tache said. “It has a great reputation and graduates incredible students who go on to have successful careers.”
For current student Sam Salvati (BSAc, MAcc ’23), the Fisher School has played an integral role in his academic success. Salvati is a recipient of the 2022-23 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) academic scholarship and has completed an internship with Ernst & Young, where he plans to return for a full-time role after graduation.
“The Fisher School has been nothing but exceptional in guiding me through rigorous accounting courses and preparing me for a career,” Salvati said. “I am very grateful for the professors and counselors I have had at this school. The Fisher School’s program has more than prepared me for a successful accounting career and future.”
To calculate these rankings, U.S. News surveyed deans and senior faculty members at each of the 516 undergraduate business programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in the spring and early summer of 2022. Specifically, U.S. News asked deans and senior faculty to nominate up to 15 of the best programs among each specialty area, including accounting. A school had to receive seven or more top-15 nominations in a specific specialty area to be included on the list.
