Scholarships for Accounting Students

Some providers restrict scholarship eligibility to accounting majors, but majors like mathematics, statistics, and actuarial science may also qualify if you demonstrate a commitment to launching an accounting career. You can also find funding programs specifically for learners pursuing specialized degrees in areas like auditing, forensic accounting, or management accounting.

For example, the Academic Research Grant Program from the directory below provides funding to students performing management accounting research. Similarly, the PCAOB Scholars Program offers financial awards to emerging auditors -- especially those from historically underrepresented populations.

Other programs, such as the Doctoral Scholars Program from the directory below, help to fund accounting students at specific program or degree levels. These scholarships begin at the accounting certificate level, proceeding through the associate degree and bachelor's degree levels, and continue into scholarships for students in accounting master's programs.

Doctoral programs in accounting are relatively rare, but they tend to offer a broader set of funding opportunities including scholarships, research grants, and academic stipends.

Your enrollment status could also lead to unique scholarship opportunities. Students who choose to study part time or online often do so because they need to balance work and school to pay for their education. Recognizing this, scholarship providers operate need-based funding programs for eligible learners.

If you work, you should also check to see if your employer offers tuition reimbursement or other funding programs to employees who attend college part time. Employers can provide as much as $5,250 in tax-free education assistance, or more if the education relates directly to your job.

Along similar lines, some scholarships specifically support transfer students. As an example from the directory below, the TACTYC Scholarships program offers funding to degree-seekers transitioning from two-year junior colleges to four-year institutions.

The accounting profession continues to become more diverse, thanks in part to scholarship programs geared toward students from historically underrepresented groups. Examples of these groups include women, members of racial or ethnic minorities, and people in the LGBTQ+ community.

Many providers award scholarships to applicants from diverse backgrounds. The directory below includes many examples, including the AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students, the American Dream Scholarship for women, and the EFWA Global Undergraduate Scholarship for non-U.S. citizens.

Scholarships are often designed to reward military personnel for their service. Depending on the provider, you may qualify as an active-duty serviceperson, reservist, veteran, direct family member, or emerging service professional.

While the directory below does not include any accounting scholarships specifically for military students, you can connect with funding opportunities by following this link:

Corporate donors commonly operate scholarship programs, with financial services and certified public accounting (CPA) firms ranking among the most common providers of accounting scholarships.

Some major corporations offer generous awards. For example, the Deloitte Foundation Accounting Scholars Program, which is listed in the directory below, provides funding for one academic year of tuition costs.

You can also search for education funding from other Big Four accounting firms, such as KPMG's Future Leaders Program.

Some nonprofit organizations earmark a portion of their funding for accounting scholarships. While corporate scholarships generally intend to advance the provider's branding objectives while doubling as recruitment tools, nonprofit providers more commonly offer awards aligned with their organizational mission. The NABA Foundation Scholarships, listed below, are excellent examples.

Philanthropic foundations, such as the award from the Stuart Cameron McLeod Society featured in the directory below, also fall into this category.

Accounting societies, institutes, and professional organizations frequently offer need-based and merit-based scholarships to accounting students. For instance, the directory below includes many awards from the AICPA Foundation, a 100-year-old career development organization aligned with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

In some cases, providers require recipients to have or obtain membership in their organization. This could involve membership fees and other expenses, so research requirements carefully before preparing an application.

Some providers design government-specific accounting scholarships to attract learners planning careers in the public sector. According to May 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the government is the third largest employer of accountants and auditors in the United States.

The Frank L. Greathouse Government Accounting Scholarship from the directory below is an excellent example of a government-specific scholarship. Founded in 1987, this scholarship awards $10,000 to an accounting student with a dedicated commitment to a public-sector career.

Scholarship providers may restrict eligibility to applicants from a specific location or geographic area. In some cases, location-based criteria overlap with other categories, such as scholarships from accounting societies and scholarships for diverse learners. These policies are generally designed to ensure the education funding has a tangible local impact.

While the directory below mainly focuses on scholarships open to a national applicant base, you can and should search for location-based programs designed for accounting students in your state, county, or municipality.

You can also seek accounting scholarships that are only available for students or alumni of specific high schools or colleges. Providers may offer these funding programs to both current and prospective accounting students.

The directory below does not feature any school-specific scholarships. However, you should check with the financial aid office at the institution where you study or plan to study to see what scholarships they offer.