Best Accounting Schools in Pennsylvania

A key economic engine of the Northeast region, Pennsylvania offers dynamic career opportunities to accounting graduates. Yet, like many other states, Pennsylvania has grappled with an accounting talent shortage in recent years as the number of retirements outpace the new professionals in the field.

State lawmakers have taken action: In July 2025, Pennsylvania passed a law modernizing its licensing requirements for certified public accountants (CPAs). The changes introduced new, flexible pathways to CPA licensure that make the profession more accessible while also protecting its integrity.

These factors have created a favorable landscape for accounting in PA. See where a Pennsylvania accounting degree could take you in this guide.

If you want to study accounting in PA, you’ll have plenty of schools to choose from: Pennsylvania ranks fourth among all states with 178 recognized degree-granting institutions, trailing only California, New York, and Texas. As of July 2025, the National Center for Education Statistics reports that 103 of these schools offer degree programs in accounting.

Recognizing the high cost of college, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency operates multiple financial aid programs that make a postsecondary education more attainable and affordable, including:

Accounting graduates in Pennsylvania enter a job market where their skills are in demand and salaries are competitive. A 2023 Philadelphia Inquirer analysis found that 62% of the state’s mid-size accounting firms increased their salary offers to new hires, while 71% offered higher-than-usual raises to established accountants.

Pennsylvania has some of the most higher education institutions compared to other states. However, its educational attainment rates are only average, and initiatives like the Grow PA higher education reform program seek to jump-start progress.

The data below also shows that Pennsylvania students engage with online learning at rates that fall well below national averages. This indicates a preference for traditional learning, with beautiful campuses and vibrant social scenes enhancing the appeal of in-person programs.

Attending an accredited higher education institution is important to ensure your academic credits are recognized and qualify for federal financial aid.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is Pennsylvania’s primary institutional accrediting agency. When researching colleges, look for school-wide accreditation from MSCHE or another recognized regional accreditor.

You can also seek programmatic accreditations from organizations like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business or the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. These are not mandatory, but they indicate that a program meets academic and industry standards.

With more than 100 colleges offering accounting degrees in Pennsylvania, you will have access to various program formats. These primarily include traditional campus-based programs, 100% online programs, and hybrid learning models that combine in-person and online courses.

Each method offers unique advantages and drawbacks. To determine which program format is right for you, consider your learning preferences and needs.

Traditional learning offers less flexibility but more opportunities to network, engage with peers and faculty, and utilize campus-based resources.

Pennsylvania college students participate in fully campus-based learning at one of the highest rates of any state.

Fully online accounting programs — especially those with asynchronous courses — maximize your flexibility. If you thrive as an independent learner and need to customize your schedule or balance school with outside commitments, it might be the best match.

However, consider the downsides: You may have less direct access to instructors and fewer networking opportunities.

Hybrid programs integrate the flexibility of online learning with the social and networking advantages of campus-based attendance. They do not maximize the respective advantages of fully online and face-to-face formats, but they can strike a solid balance if you want the best of both worlds.

The numbers leave no doubt: College is expensive in Pennsylvania. Typical costs exceed national averages at every type of institution, sometimes significantly.

When seeking financial aid to fund your study of accounting in PA, look first to non-repayable sources, like scholarships and grants. You can also consider studying part time or enrolling in an online program you can complete while you maintain employment.

As a last resort, consider federal or private loans, but keep your borrowing to a minimum to reduce your school debt.

Pennsylvania is one of only a few states that does not participate in any interstate tuition reciprocity agreements. These agreements usually extend discounted tuition rates and other financial perks to out-of-state students from neighboring or regional jurisdictions.

However, Pennsylvania does offer some financial aid programs to non-resident students. For example, the Grow PA Tuition Waiver Program helps out-of-state students in high-demand fields meet their tuition costs. As of 2025, more than 460 academic majors or programs — including multiple accounting-related fields — qualify for the benefit.

Pennsylvania’s cost of living varies, with major urban centers tending to be significantly more expensive. However, overall, the state ranks below the national average.

Pennsylvania’s cost-of-living index has an overall score of 97.5 on a scale using a baseline of 100 as the national average. This means Pennsylvania is 2.5% less expensive on average than the typical U.S. state.

Utilities and transportation costs were higher than average, though. Keep this in mind as you build your budget, especially if you plan to study on campus.

Pennsylvania has evolved beyond its historical status as an industrial powerhouse, developing highly advanced professional services, healthcare, biomedical research, and information technology industries. Accounting graduates can seek roles with corporate employers in these and other industries or with corporate employers and small businesses. They can also establish themselves as independent professionals.

Each of the Big Four accounting firms maintains physical offices in Pennsylvania, with some having multiple locations within the state. A 2022 analysis by the New York State Society of CPAs found that from 2019 to 2022, the Big Four firms hired more graduates than any other employer except Amazon.

You will also have the option of working in large, dynamic metropolitan centers like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, or seeking opportunities in smaller cities with a slower pace of living.

Labor market analysts project that Pennsylvania’s rate of accounting job growth will keep pace with national averages from 2022 to 32.

Accounting graduates often go on to pursue CPA licensure or other accounting and auditing roles. However, degrees at all levels can also lead to other career paths.

Consider these alternative options:

Payroll clerks compile the financial data used to issue payments to employees and contractors. Automation is poised to negatively impact this profession’s growth rates in the coming years.

Job Outlook in Pennsylvania (2022-32): -16.1%

Tax preparers are highly qualified specialists who help individual and business taxpayers calculate their tax liabilities and file accurate, compliant returns. In Pennsylvania, tax preparers earn salaries that exceed national averages. It is one of very few accounting-related occupations that offers this favorable financial profile in Pennsylvania.

Job Outlook in Pennsylvania (2022-32): +2.6%

Personal financial advisors help individuals and households create and implement financial plans. They offer advice on topics like savings and investment strategies, insurance, and financial diversification. Advisors also guide clients to suitable financial products and services. Pennsylvania has very favorable growth projections for this specialization.

Job Outlook in Pennsylvania (2022-32): +10.8%

From a job access perspective, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting can enhance your long-term employment prospects in Pennsylvania. The career paths available to candidates with these degrees pay higher average salaries, and generally have stronger projected growth rates.

A master’s degree can maximize your earning potential. Recommended for advanced careers in accounting, finance, and financial management, a graduate accounting degree could support your entry to Pennsylvania-based career paths with average annual salaries in the six-figure range.

All states, including Pennsylvania, have their own CPA licensure requirements. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy handles CPA licensing in the Keystone State.

You have three options for meeting Pennsylvania’s educational requirements:

If you choose the 150-credit or master’s degree pathway, you will also need one year (1,600 hours) or qualifying professional experience. This requirement doubles to two years or 3,200 hours if you follow the 120-credit bachelor’s degree pathway.

In addition, you must pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination within a rolling 30-month period to qualify for your license.

Explore in further detail with Pennsylvania’s State Board of Accountancy.