Gies College of Business’ undergraduate accounting program is ranked #1 in the nation, in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. This is the second strong accountancy ranking from US News, as Gies’ graduate accounting program is ranked #3 in the nation. These rankings are based on surveys of deans and senior faculty members of business programs around the country. Those voters nominate up to 15 of the best programs in a number of business specialty areas.

“We have one of the world’s premier accountancy programs, and I’m happy to see that excellence reflected in the rankings,” said W. Brooke Elliott, Josef and Margot Lakonishok Professor in Business and Dean. “Our outstanding faculty, dedicated learners, and extremely engaged alumni make Gies Business an ideal destination for anyone who wants to build a purpose-driven career in accounting or business more broadly.”

The Department of Accountancy at Gies Business has long been known for its emphasis on blending theory with real-world practice, and the undergraduate accountancy major is no exception. Our partnerships with leading accounting firms enrich the program’s curriculum, giving learners unique opportunities to explore their options, lean into their strengths, and pursue rewarding careers. Professionals from leading accounting firms visit our classrooms, mentor our students, and actively recruit our graduates.  The program teaches in-demand data analytics skills that set learners up for success in leadership roles and future graduate studies. Action learning projects give students the chance to apply what they’re learning toward real client projects, and community service opportunities like the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program teach learners the importance of giving back.

The comprehensive design of the Gies Business accounting major pays off in a big way for learners: the average starting salary of our graduates is $78,477, and in 2023–2024, 98% of accountancy students found jobs or attended graduate school within six months of graduation.

Gies Business has been at the forefront of accountancy education for more than 100 years. As one of the nation’s first accountancy programs, Gies boasts a proud history of innovation, advocacy, and excellence. Gies granted the nation’s first PhD in accounting in 1936; hosted the first international conference of accounting education in 1961; and launched Project Discovery, a revolutionary projects-based curriculum, in 1997. For the past century, Gies has been the home to some of the world’s top scholars, corporate CFOs, and multiple National Accounting Hall of Fame inductees.

In addition to the recognition for undergraduate accounting, Gies’ faculty are also recognized as some of the best in the world. Last fall, Gies Business came out on top in the two primary rankings of accounting research scholarship by Brigham Young University. The Department earned the #1 spot in the overall research and publications rankings and the #1 ranking in the Relevance of Accounting Research (ROAR). The research and publications rankings are determined not just on the volume of research but also on research appearing in leading journals in the field.

“Our success in accountancy is a true team effort. It begins with the best faculty and staff in the world, who prepare our students for meaningful careers and create a life-changing experience at Gies,” said Michael Donohoe, Irwin Jecha Distinguished Professor in Accountancy and head of the Department of Accountancy. “Those students become accomplished graduates who return as alumni to speak in classes, mentor students, and hire our graduates. We have a proud culture of giving back and moving forward with excellence and purpose.”

Including accounting’s #1 ranking, Gies ranked among the nation’s Top 20 in eight specialty areas:

• Accounting #1
• Marketing #9
• Insurance/Risk Management #9
• Management #12
• Finance #15
• Management Information Systems #17
• Supply Chain #18
• Analytics #19

Fifty eight percent of Gies accountancy students in Fall 2025 are double majoring with another area of business. The vast majority of that group are pairing Gies’ #1 accounting education with another Top 20 specialty area – with Finance being the most popular double major with Accountancy.

Gies Business ranks #12 in nation, #6 public business school by US News

Gies Business is ranked #12 in the nation and #6 among all public business school in the latest undergraduate rankings by U.S. News & World Report. This continues Gies Business’ longstanding legacy of ranking in the Top 20 of all business schools and Top 10 among public schools

These rankings are based on surveys of deans and senior faculty members of the 500+ AACSB-accredited business programs around the country.

Gies Business employs more than 220 of the world’s best faculty members – a 45% increase over the last 10 years. These faculty publish more than 200 papers annually and hold more than 275 leadership service roles or editorial board positions in the world’s top journals. Many more Gies faculty bring decades of industry experience to the classroom, where they mentor talented students and help set them on their path to discovering their purpose.

That pursuit of purpose is reflected in the success of Gies Business graduates. Ninety-six percent of Gies’ Class of 2024 secured a successful first destination – either employed or continuing their education in graduate school. Those graduates earn an average starting salary of more than $76,000.

In addition to outstanding faculty, a big piece of Gies students’ success is thanks to the College’s commitment to experiential learning. Every Gies undergraduate student participates in at least one real client project, where they can take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to a real-world problem. In fact, 94% of Gies students report improved ability to solve problems, work in a team, and tell their story – and 95% believe they have a better story to tell recruiters, thanks to their experiential learning projects.

“Our students here at Gies Business are truly amazing,” said Tiffany White, associate dean of undergraduate programs and professor of business administration. “I’ve had the privilege of getting to know thousands of students during my time here; they are some of the most dedicated, hard-working, and driven students you’ll ever see. That’s a big part of their career success, and I’m so proud to see that reflected in our success in the rankings.”