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Updated:May. 9, 2025
By Big 4 Accounting Firms
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Accounting Schools in Florida

florida accounting programs

Accounting is a sought after field for many people and Florida is certainly no exception. In the state of Florida, there are over twenty programs to choose from. All areas of the state are covered if you want to study accounting there.

  • The University of Tampa
  • University of North Florida
  • University of South Florida
  • University of Miami
  • Florida State University
  • St. Leo University
  • Jacksonville University
  • Florida Memorial University

What to Look for in Schooling

As with any important life decision, you would not take your choice of school lightly. It’s so important to research schools before choosing one. The university nearest your house may be the most convenient, but it may not necessarily be the right fit for you.

Firstly, you should check out the school’s website and find out what kind of programs they offer. They will likely list the number of credits their courses are and whether or not they offer prep for the CPA exam.

Find out who their faculty is comprised of and if they are any good. There are websites that give ratings of professors and the programs. Also, you may want to actually visit the school and talk to someone on staff.

If you’re lucky, you may be put in touch with an alumnus who went through the program. They can tell you exactly what the experience at that school is like. It’s not enough to look over a brochure and decide right then and there that you are going to apply there. Look over as many options as you can until you find exactly what you’re looking for.

CPA Roadmap

If you are hoping to one day become a certified public accountant, you have a very long but rewarding road ahead of you.

Most states have very strict rules and standards for licensing accountants, so your first step is getting the educational requirements. Most states now require that you have at least a 150 credit undergraduate degree. That degree must have a certain number of accounting courses as well as business courses.

Once you have completed your bachelor’s degree, you will have to qualify for the CPA exam. This exam is extremely difficult, so make sure that you have covered every complex financial concept in your studies. It has a low pass rate, so only the very best students get through to the next requirement: an ethics exam.

After these exams are successfully completed, you will require a certain number of hours of experience under your belt. Every state has its own requirements.

What Do You Need to be a CPA in Florida

In order to qualify for your CPA license in Florida, you must have completed 150 semester hours or 200 quarter hours.

You must have:

  • 36 semester or 54 quarter hours of upper division accounting
  • 39 semester hours or 58 quarter hours of upper division general business courses

You must study:

  • taxation
  • auditing
  • financial
  • accounting information systems

Be sure to research exactly what courses are required and find out if your desired program covers those requirements. The state of Florida requires that in addition to completing the CPA exam, you must also have at least one year of work experience, verified by a licensed CPA.

Florida Accounting Salary (avg)
National Accounting Salary (avg)
$53,000
$57,000

High Earning Florida Accountants

Most people are eager to learn their earning potential before choosing their career path. In Florida, on average a licensed certified public accountant makes around $75,000 per year.

Also, take into account the number of years of experience, the schooling, and the rigorous testing needed to even get licensure. You likely will not make that much to begin with, however if you join a strong team or start your own business, you can certainly earn that much or more.

Florida Accounting Jobs
Average Salary
Big4 Accountant
$69,000
Senior Corporate Accountant
$64,000
Property Accountant
$46,000
Tax Accountant
$53,000
Bookkeeper
$36,000

Accounting Program Sneak Peek

Florida accounting training

University of Florida scores highest of all the accounting programs offered in Florida. Its program is within the Fisher School of Accounting, which is a part of the Warrington College of Business Administration.

This program is quite well known and consistently scores rather high overall in accounting programs across the country. With bachelors, masters, Ph.D. level programs, this school offers all levels to a student seeking their eventual CPA licence.

Students are advised that if they are seeking their CPA, they will need to enter the 3/2 program which is an integrated, five year 150-hour program in which you will earn your BSAc as well as your MAcc. This program ensures that you will fulfill the requirements for taking the CPA exam.

University of Florida seems to be the best choice for accounting schools in Florida, in terms of the program they offer, as well as the impressive faculty.

Be sure to speak with someone on staff about what exactly you will need in order to apply for a spot. Best of luck on your journey and may you pass that CPA exam with flying colors!

Florida Universities


Barry University11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161
Bethune-Cookman University640 Dr Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
City College9300 S Dadeland Blvd #200, Miami, FL 33156
Flagler College74 King St, St Augustine, FL 32084
Florida A&M UniversityTallahassee, FL 32307
Florida Atlantic University777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33431
Florida Gulf Coast University10501 FGCU Blvd S, Fort Myers, FL 33965
Florida International University11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33174
Florida Memorial University15800 NW 42nd Ave, Miami Gardens, FL 33054
Florida Southern College111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801
Florida State University600 W College Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32306
Jacksonville University2800 University Blvd N, Jacksonville, FL 32211
Nova Southeastern University3301 College Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
St. Leo University33701 Florida 52, St Leo, FL 33525
St. Thomas University – FL16401 NW 37 Ave, Miami Gardens, FL 33054
Stetson University421 N Woodland Blvd, DeLand, FL 32723
University of Central Florida4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, FL 32816
University of FloridaGainesville, FL 32611
University of Miami1320 S. Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables, FL 33124
University of North Florida1 University of North Fl Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32224
University of South Florida4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620
University of Tampa401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606
University of West Florida11000 University Pkwy, Pensacola, FL 32514

Florida Community Colleges


Broward College111 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Chipola College3094 Indian Cir, Marianna, FL 32446
College of Central Florida3001 SW College Rd, Ocala, FL 34474-4415
Daytona State College1200 International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32120-2811
Eastern Florida State College1519 Clearlake Rd, Cocoa, FL 32922-6597
Florida Gateway College149 SE College Pl, Lake City, FL 32025-2007
Florida SouthWestern State College8099 College Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33906
Florida State College at Jacksonville501 W State St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Florida State College at Jacksonville-Downtown101 West State St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Florida State College at Jacksonville-Open Campus601 W State St, Room 414 URC, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Gulf Coast Community College5230 W Hwy 98, Panama City, FL 32401
Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa, FL 33606
Indian River State College3209 Virginia Ave, Fort Pierce, FL 34981-5596
Miami Dade College300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33132
North Florida Community College325 NW Turner Davis Dr, Madison, FL 32340
Palm Beach State College4200 Congress Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33461-4796
Pasco-Hernando State College10230 Ridge Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34654
Pensacola State College1000 College Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32504
Polk State College999 Avenue H, NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881-4299
Santa Fe College3000 NW 83rd St, Gainsville, FL 32606
South Florida State College600 W College Dr, Avon Park, FL 33825
St Petersburg CollegeSaint Petersburg, FL 33733-3489
Tallahassee Community College444 Appleyard Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32304
Valencia CollegeOrlando, FL 32802

Top Ranked Accounting Programs in Florida

Florida State University

In the 32nd Annual Professors Survey of 2013, University of Florida ranked number nine (down from number eight in 2012) in the top twenty five undergraduate program. It also ranked number thirteen (down from number ten in 2012) in the top twenty five masters program. It ranked number nineteen (down from number 18 in 2012) in the top twenty five doctoral programs in the US.

Florida State University placed on the runners up list for the undergraduate program, and the masters program. Out of the twenty five undergraduate schools with 22+ full time accounting faculty, University of Florida ranked seven. Of the twenty five undergraduate programs with fifteen or fewer full time accounting faculty, it was a tie between University of South Florida and University of North Florida for 22nd place.

Overall, it appears that University of Florida has the highest scoring in Florida, however the survey shows a slight dip in the rating. The Warrington College of Business Administration within University of Florida is ranked number twenty in Accounting Degree Review’s 30 Best Accounting Schools for Undergraduates list.

University of Miami

At the University of Miami’s School of Business Administration you can choose between four accounting degree programs. Ranked 48th among national universities and 96th among graduate business schools by U.S. News, this AACSB-accredited school can equip you with all the tools you need to make it as an accountant.
Undergraduate students at the University of Miami may choose between a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Accounting (BBA) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting (BSBA).

If you wish to fulfill CPA requirements, you can complete the required additional 30 credits through a Master’s degree in Accounting (with a focus on assurance or corporate accounting) or a Master of Science in Taxation. You can also complete one of these graduate degrees via an accelerated track that will allow you to sit for the CPA exam within 4.5 years.

Finally, if your goal is to join the academia, you can apply for a PhD in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.

Barry University

Barry University ranks 252nd in the U.S. News High School Counselor Rankings. While it does not shine out in national rankings, the AACSB-accredited Andreas School of Business offers a good array of choices to prospective accountants, including an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, a Master in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration.

Undergraduate students can pursue the Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Accounting, while prospective CPAs can meet the CPA educational requirements by completing the Master of Science in Accounting. Merit scholarships are available for outstanding students applying for the Master of Science degree.

The Andreas School of Business program prides itself on a focus on employability, with a wide range of societies to provide you with extracurricular experience. The Business Experience events organized by the school will allow you to network with major business leaders. This makes Barry University a good alternative to consider if you wish to study accounting in Miami.

References:

https://www.bus.miami.edu/faculty-and-research/academic-departments/accounting/index.html
https://www.bus.miami.edu/graduate-programs/specialized-masters/accounting-accelerated/index.html
https://bus.miami.edu/phd-programs/curriculum/accounting/index.html
https://education-portal.com/articles/Top_School_for_an_Accounting_Degree_-_Miami_FL.html
https://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/university-of-miami-01051
https://www.bus.miami.edu/explore-the-school/about-the-school%20/index.html
https://www.barry.edu/business/about-the-school/aacsb-accreditation.html
https://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/barry-university-132471/overall-rankings
https://www.barry.edu/business-undergraduate/https://www.barry.edu/accounting/

Table of Contents

  1. What to Look for in Schooling
  2. CPA Roadmap
  3. What Do You Need to be a CPA in Florida
  4. High Earning Florida Accountants
  5. Accounting Program Sneak Peek
  6. Florida Universities
  7. Florida Community Colleges
  8. Top Ranked Accounting Programs in Florida
    1. Florida State University
    2. University of Miami
    3. Barry University

Accountant Training

  • 50 Best Accounting Schools
  • Top 25 Accounting Certifications
  • Top 20 Firms in The World
  • Accounting Internships 101
  • Top 10 US Accounting Firms
  • How to Become an Accountant
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