Accounting Schools in California

California Accounting Schools

California Board of Accountancy2000 Evergreen Street – Suite 250
Sacramento, CA 95815-3832
Phone: 916-263-3680
Fax: 916-263-3674
Email: pbowers@cba.ca.gov

For those who partake in an accounting program, you will be prepared to take the CPA exam, as well as work in the private industry, higher education, nonprofit organizations and various government entities. The curriculum is composed of theory and practice, but it also consists of a solid core in liberal arts, business related classes and intensive work within the accounting field. Students are not only prepared for taking the examination, but they are extremely successful in doing so.

Accountants will perform a number of essential services for business owners and individuals. They perform a number of different tasks in a number of different settings. They are the ones who will compile all of the detailed records for the transactions in the business, perform audits, prepare financial statements and prepare tax returns amongst other job duties. Depending on the situation, they may also be the ones who are responsible for analyzing financial information and providing businesses with consulting services. You can expect to take classes in auditing, taxation, intermediate accounting, business law, economics, communications, principles of accounting, ethics, technology and value and many others. Your electives are solely up to you, but you will be focusing on accounting and business in its entirety.

Total Accounting Schools: 253
Total Accounting Students: 64,004
Average Tuition: $8,920
Average Scholarship Package: $4,399
Average Grant Amount: $5,998
Average Classroom Size: 23 Students
Online Accounting Programs: 169
Average Online Tuition: $7,227
Online Undergraduate Programs: 159
Online Graduate Programs: 39
Top Accounting Schools:University of Southern California
Scripps College
Claremont McKenna College
Largest Accounting School:University of California – Los Angeles
• 5,825 Students Currently Attending
Cheapest Accounting School:College of the Siskiyous
• $573 Annual Tuition Charges
School With Largest Financial Aid Packages:Scripps College
• $29,790 Average Financial Aid Award

Salary and Job Outlook for Accountants in California

The accounting field in California continues to grow at an impressive clip. Between 2018 and 2028, the number of California accountants is projected to grow by 8%, which is twice the national projected growth rate of this profession during this time. During the ten-year period leading to 2028, the state expects to see about 17,650 job openings every year due to combination of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.

As of May 2020, accountants in California earned an average salary of $79,030, which is about $6,000 more than the national average. The highest paid accountants in California (90th percentile) earned about $135,410 during this time. To earn a top salary in California, you’ll likely need a graduate degree in accounting like a master’s in accounting, extensive experience, and industry credentials like the CPA designation.

Accountants in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward and the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro areas were among the top earners in the 90th percentile, at $155,820 and $163,300, respectively. Note that these statistics reveal base salaries only and do not account for salary incentives like bonuses and stock options that are commonplace in this profession, particularly among those in senior and executives accounting roles.

To be effective in the field of accounting, you’ll need a number of distinct skills:

  • Problem Solving
  • Organized
  • Critical Thinking
  • Efficiency
  • Numerical Computation
  • Interpreting and Analyzing Data
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Computer Literate
  • Systemizing Skills
  • Ability to Work Independently
  • Logical Thinking

May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market data for accountants and auditors represents state data, not school-specific information.

Job growth projections for 2018-2028 sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored O*Net database represents state data, not school-specific information.

Conditions in your area may vary. Data Accessed May 2021.