Accounting Schools in Georgia

Georgia Accounting Schools

Georgia Board of Accountancy237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31217-3858
Phone: 478-207-2440
Fax: 478-314-9119
Email: dmickler@sos.state.ga.us

As long as successful public and private businesses exist, there will always be a need for accountants. Students who study in Georgia to become accountants expect rigorous course work and excellent preparation for exciting careers in accounting. Some universities within the Georgia network of post secondary schools rank among the top in the nation for accounting. Here are some of the topics covered within these institutions.

  • accounting standards
  • cost and budgeting
  • financial statement formulation
  • income tax accounting
  • risk management
  • auditing

Accounting Classes

At least one of Georgia’s public universities ranks among the top ten accounting degree program providers in the country, and this is largely based upon results from student certified public accounting exam scores as well as faculty research and publication efforts. Students enrolled in many of the accounting academic programs in Georgia have to pass rigid requirements to officially become an accounting major. Some of these prerequisites include a business school related entrance examination, successful completion of basic accounting courses, an accounting test that covers topics from the basic accounting courses, and a concisely written statement of purpose outlining one’s interest in the field of accounting.

Standard accounting degree programs include specialty accounting courses as well as carefully selected business courses from other concentration areas. The benefit of having accounting faculty members who are especially attuned to the latest in accounting research and application is that course curricula often reflect growing sectors within the career field. For instance, skills relating to forensic accounting and fraud detection are in high demand, and experts project that this demand will continue growing over the years. Some Georgia universities that recognize this trend have incorporated forensic accounting courses within their standard accounting degree program offerings.

Total Accounting Schools: 91
Total Accounting Students: 38,346
Average Tuition: $8,294
Average Scholarship Package: $3,334
Average Grant Amount: $6,817
Average Classroom Size: 19 Students
Online Accounting Programs: 68
Average Online Tuition: $7,239
Online Undergraduate Programs: 66
Online Graduate Programs: 29
Top Accounting Schools:University of Georgia
Berry College
Mercer University
Largest Accounting School:University of Georgia
• 5,482 Students Currently Attending
Cheapest Accounting School:Columbus Technical College
• $2,168 Annual Tuition Charges
School With Largest Financial Aid Packages:Mercer University
• $20,551 Average Financial Aid Award

Salary and Job Outlook for Accountants in Georgia

Outstanding job growth continues to mark the accounting profession in Georgia. Between 2018 and 2028, the state projects that accountant jobs will increase by 21%—that’s more than five times the national projected growth rate of 4% during this time. During this ten-year period leading to 2028, Georgia expects to see about 4,880 annual job openings for accountants due to a combination of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.

As of May 2020, accountants in Georgia earned an average salary of $73,940, which is in line with the national average of $73,560. The top earners in Georgia (90th percentile), which largely represent accountants with graduate degrees, senior-level titles, and the coveted CPA designation, earned about $133,410 as of May 2020. The metro areas of Columbus (GA-AL) and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell are home to some of the highest paid accountants in the state. Top earners here (90th percentile) earned about $141,160 and $141,280, respectively, as of May 2020.

These salary stats feature only base salaries and do not include salary incentives like stock options and bonuses that are commonplace in this profession.

Georgia continues to attract a variety of businesses to its state, which means job opportunities for talented accountants who support those businesses. Several Fortune 500 companies across industries like food and beverage, communications, and information technology require the services of accountants in Georgia. Some popular job positions include:

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.