Accounting Schools in Virginia

CNBC named Virginia the country’s top state for business in 2024, so Virginia has much to offer emerging accounting professionals. The state’s diverse economy and close proximity to the nation’s capital make it a hotbed of corporate and industrial activity.

Notably, Virginia has also taken action to make advanced accounting careers more accessible. In February 2025, the state adopted an alternate licensing pathway for certified public accountants (CPAs), one that does not require 30 additional credits beyond a standard bachelor’s degree.

This state-specific guide highlights data and trends to help you compare accounting schools in Virginia. Use it to inform your research as you consider career paths and destinations.

Virginia has a rich higher education history. Hosting some of the oldest colleges in the United States, Virginia has grown to include an array of public and private institutions. At least 25 Virginia colleges offer bachelor’s programs in accounting, connecting students to promising careers through a statewide effort to attract more young people to accounting professions.

These efforts include regulatory reforms intended to make CPA licensure easier to obtain: Effective January 1, 2026, Virginia will no longer require every CPA candidate to earn 150 credits of college education. Instead, they can follow an alternate Virginia CPA pathway available to applicants with a standard 120-credit bachelor’s degree. Few states offer this option.

To help learners meet Virginia’s higher-than-average tuition costs, the state’s government operates multiple financial aid programs. These include scholarships and grants available on the basis of need or merit.

Many accounting schools in Virginia also connect students directly to potential employers through internships, practicum placements, career fairs, and recruitment programs. By attending a Virginia college or university, you will have direct access to these and other networking and employment opportunities.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) recognizes 100 degree-granting institutions in Virginia, which serve a population of about 8.6 million people. This per-capita rate exceeds those found in multiple states with similar population sizes, which has helped Virginia build a well-educated workforce.

High rates of educational attainment are particularly visible among professionals who hold advanced degrees. The proportion of Virginia’s population with a graduate degree is 4.4 percentage points higher than the national rate.

As you research accounting schools in Virginia, pay close attention to both institutional and programmatic accreditation. Institutional accreditation applies to a school as a whole, while programmatic accreditation covers specific academic departments or degree programs.

Both forms of accreditation signal high quality, but institutional accreditation is particularly important, as it ensures the recognition and transferability of your academic credits. Though it appeals to some students and employers, programmatic accreditation remains optional for most fields.

Look for institutional accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). While 2020 reforms opened Virginia schools to other accreditors, SACSCOC has historically been the state’s primary institutional accrediting agency and maintains an active presence throughout Virginia.

Major programmatic accreditors for accounting programs include AACSB and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Accounting schools in Virginia offer degree programs in on-campus, online, and hybrid formats that blend face-to-face and distance models. As you can see in the table below, Virginia students enroll in fully online programs at a rate higher than the national averages. This data may suggest Virginia colleges and universities do a particularly good job of engaging their virtual learners.

Learning format can significantly impact your student experience. Consequently, carefully evaluate the merits and limitations of each option as you compare accounting schools in Virginia. The subsections below introduce key considerations for each learning modality.

Campus-based accounting programs can be a good match if you value the traditional social experience of college, or if face-to-face formats align more naturally with your learning style. Attending a face-to-face program also offers networking advantages not readily available to online students, potentially enhancing its value as you move into your career.

Online accounting schools in Virginia deliver their courses remotely, using synchronous real-time formats or asynchronous classes with prerecorded lectures. Both options deliver a degree of scheduling flexibility not available to campus-based students, with asynchronous models offering maximum scheduling freedom.

If you thrive as an independent learner, or if you need to balance school with daytime commitments, consider studying online.

Hybrid programs include both face-to-face and online learning components. At some schools, this includes a mix of in-person and virtual coursework, while others combine fully online classes with on-campus orientations and residencies. Research each hybrid program’s requirements to understand their expectations.

With the notable exception of private institutions, Virginia’s higher education costs exceed national averages. If you need help paying for your accounting degree, start by looking for nonrepayable aid, including scholarships, fellowships, and grants. These funding sources directly lower your education costs without creating debt.

From there, you can pay out of pocket or work while you study to help meet your educational costs. Federal and private loans are also available, but keep your usage of loans to a minimum, as they require repayment with interest.

Browse a complete list of federal and state financial aid programs available in Virginia, and explore the links below for more financial aid information:

Relative to other states, Virginia’s average tuition for public colleges and universities is high — especially for out-of-state students, who on average pay almost $10,000 more than the average nonresident public school attendee nationwide.

If you live in one of the 15 other states with membership in the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), you may qualify for reduced or in-state tuition rates at Virginia public institutions. Because Virginia participates in the Academic Common Market (ACM) tuition reciprocity program, students from other member states can receive this discount.

Approximately 2,200 undergraduate and graduate programs throughout SREB member states participate in the ACM. Search for participating programs to identify accounting schools in Virginia that offer tuition reciprocity.

According to 2024 World Population Review data, Virginia’s cost of living aligns almost perfectly with the national average. Virginia scored 100.7 on a cost-of-living index scale that uses 100 as its baseline. This score means that Virginia is only about 0.7% more expensive than the average U.S. locale.

However, note that Virginia’s housing and healthcare costs are somewhat higher than average. In 2024, Virginia posted scores of 104.5 and 105, respectively, for these metrics.

Accountants are well-represented in Virginia’s thriving professional services industry. Businesses operating in other industries also hire accounting graduates in many different capacities. Examples of these industries include:

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership also says Virginia has the third-largest technology workforce of any U.S. state, creating another strong source of well-paid employment for accounting specialists.

Furthermore, all of the Big Four accounting firms have a physical presence in Virginia, and some maintain multiple locations within the state. These large international companies commonly recruit talented accounting graduates to join their workforces.

These factors, along with Virginia’s business-friendly reputation, combine to make the state an appealing place to build your accounting career. The following sections explore the professional paths you can follow in Virginia once you complete your accounting degree.

The following careers are leading sources of employment for Virginia accounting professionals. They represent a cross-section of the many possibilities open to candidates with associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in accounting.

Bookkeepers track and record financial transactions, usually with specialized accounting software. These entry-level positions are a good way to gain experience that can help you transition into advanced accounting roles. You can also make a career of bookkeeping, especially if you build analytical skills and earn a bookkeeping certification.

Job Outlook in Virginia (2022-32): -5.3%

Compliance officers ensure their employers meet all legal and regulatory requirements that apply to their business activities. In accounting and finance, these professionals primarily focus on reporting standards, internal controls, and risk management. Employers often prefer to hire compliance officers with role-specific experience, so you can target this as a position to transition into as your career advances.

Job Outlook in Virginia (2022-32): +7.1%

CPAs are licensed accounting specialists with advanced financial reporting, tracking, and analytical skills. They typically perform a combination of technical and advisory duties. Virginia CPA requirements have recently changed to make this profession more accessible as the state seeks to draw more emerging professionals to this career path.

Job Outlook in Virginia (2022-32): +6.1%

Virginia accounting professionals generally earn salaries that align with national averages for their professions. Some roles pay higher-than-average wages in Virginia, while others pay slightly less than their national median salaries.

To maximize your earning potential, consider upgrading your education with a master’s degree in accounting. Employers may prefer candidates with master’s degrees when filling vacancies for Virginia’s top-paying accounting-related roles.

A master’s degree can also help you access accounting careers with excellent growth potential. For example, Projections Central anticipates Virginia job growth of +15.7% for financial managers, +12.6% for personal financial advisors, and +9.4% for financial analysts from 2022 to 2032.

Like other U.S. jurisdictions, Virginia maintains its own CPA license criteria. In February 2025, the state added a third licensure pathway, becoming one of only a handful of states that no longer firmly requires 150 credits of postsecondary education.

The three pathways include:

Regardless of the path you pursue, your postsecondary coursework must include at least 24 semester credits of nonintroductory accounting coursework, and at least 24 semester credits of business coursework. All pathways also require you to pass the Uniform CPA Examination to become a Virginia CPA. For more information, consult the Virginia Board of Accountancy.