If you wish to study for an accounting degree in Oklahoma, you can choose between over 40 institutions offering undergraduate and graduate programs.
Among these, the Collins School of Business at the University of Tulsa offers top quality education in accounting, ranked 96th best nationwide in the US News top of business schools.
Moreover, the 2013 Public Accounting Report survey of accounting professors rated Oklahoma State University as 4th best small institution at the undergraduate level, with the University of Oklahoma ranked 10th in the same category and 14th at the Master’s level.
Without acquiring outstanding national recognition, Oklahoma schools can prepare you for success if you are motivated in mastering accounting skills.
Tips for Choosing the Right Accounting Program
As an accountant, you will have great responsibility in analyzing and reporting financial statements and you will need a wide range of skills in the fields of accounting, business and economics.
Choosing the degree program that can teach you these skills and maximize your employability is thus an important decision that you should carefully consider.
Succeeding as an accountant is not easy. This is why you should look for a challenging, rigorous program with an AACBS or state accountancy board accreditation that can give you an edge in your career.
National awards and positive student evaluations are an indicator of the quality of a course and its instructors, while the academic effectiveness of the program can be judged by its CPA exam pass rate.
A comprehensive and advanced curriculum that also offers opportunities for hands-on experience can provide you with highly employable skills.
It is equally important to look at the career opportunities offered by an accounting program. You should research graduate employment rates as well as accounting firms that are known to target the school.
Look for academic excellence alongside networking and placement opportunities and you are sure to start your career at an advantage.
How to Become an Accountant or CPA
A successful career as an accountant starts with a good university degree program.
Knowledge in the fields of:
- finances
- taxation
- auditing
- business
will open doors for you in the future, and the links you create during your studies might determine your employment status after graduation.
If you want to work as an accountant, you will need to hold a four-year Bachelor’s degree in accounting.
However, if you are aiming for a wider range of professional opportunities, you can apply for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. In order to do so, you will have to meet additional educational and experience requirements.
Firstly, you will need to earn 150 semester credits, usually translated as five years of study in the field of accounting. This will qualify you to take the notoriously difficult CPA exam.
After you have passed all four sections of the exam, you will have to acquire one year of accounting experience and to pass an ethics examination in order to be eligible for a CPA license.
As a licensed CPA, you can work in the private or public sector or at different government levels and you can join a CPA society in the state where you are licensed.
While preparing for this career can be challenging, working as an accountant will offer you many possibilities for professional development.
Oklahoma CPA Requirements
Before you can sit for the CPA exam in Oklahoma, you need to hold at least a baccalaureate and to have completed 150 semester hours.
These must include 30 hours in accounting above introductory level and 9 hours in upper division business courses. A minimum of 76 hours must be upper division.
You are also required to be a resident of Oklahoma immediately prior to applying for the qualification.
In order to apply for a CPA license, you will also need to have acquired 1,800 hours of accounting experience. An additional requirement is a score of at least 90% on the AICPA ethics examination or the completion of an equivalent ethics course of at least 8 hours.
Accounting Salaries in Oklahoma
Oklahoma does not stand out in terms of accounting pay levels, with a mean annual wage for accountants and auditors of approximately $60,780 in 2013.
This is almost $5,000 lower than the national average. The number of accountants working in Oklahoma is decreasing and the employment level in this field is average.
However, the variability in pay in this profession can reach 130% and salaries can increase significantly with experience.
The field of accounting offers plenty of opportunity for success in the public, corporate, governmental and non-profit sectors and the importance of accounting skills is steadily rising in a changing business world.
| Oklahoma Accounting Jobs | |
|---|---|
| Big4 Accountant | |
| Senior Corporate Accountant | |
| Property Accountant | |
| Tax Accountant | |
| Bookkeeper |
Accounting Program Sneak Peek
The Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University presents students with a highly regarded accounting program.
Students may pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting, a Master of Science in Accounting and a PhD in Accounting.
The Spears School’s accounting curriculum aims to equip students with a broad range of skills, as well as with in-depth knowledge of advanced topics in accounting.
Taught by experienced instructors who have earned either a PhD or a DBA and who are licensed CPAs or CMAs, the program is AACBS-accredited and highly ranked by the 2013 PAR survey.
Moreover, graduates of the Spears School achieved the highest first-time CPA exam pass rate in Oklahoma in 2013 – 76%, much higher than the national average.
The school’s academic effectiveness is complemented by excellent professional opportunities provided through internships, student organizations such as Beta Alpha Psi and networking with major recruiters.
Alumni of the accounting program at the Spears School have been known to work for “Big Four” companies such as Deloitte, Ernst & Young and KPMG.
| Oklahoma Accounting Schools | Address |
|---|---|
| Cameron University | 2800 W Gore Blvd, Lawton, OK 73505 |
| East Central University | 1100 E 14th St, Ada, OK 74820 |
| Langston University | 701 Sammy Davis Jr Dr, Langston, OK 73050 |
| Northeastern State University | 600 N Grand Ave, Tahlequah, OK 74464 |
| Oklahoma Baptist University | 500 W University St, Shawnee, OK 74804 |
| Oklahoma Christian University | 2501 E Memorial Rd, Edmond, OK 73136 |
| Oklahoma City University | 2501 N Blackwelder Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73106 |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State University | 323 Eagle Blvd, Goodwell, OK 73939 |
| Oklahoma State University | Stillwater, OK 74074 |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State University | 1405 N 4th Ave, Durant, OK 74701 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 6729 NW 39th Expy, Bethany, OK 73008 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University | 100 E Campus Dr, Weatherford, OK 73096 |
| University of Central Oklahoma | 100 N University Dr, Edmond, OK 73034 |
| University of Oklahoma | 660 Parrington Oval, Norman, OK 73019 |
| University of Tulsa | 800 S Tucker Dr, Tulsa, OK 74104 |
| Community Colleges | Address |
|---|---|
| Eastern Oklahoma State College | 1301 W Main, Wilburton, OK 74578 |
| Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College | 200 I St, NE, Miami, OK 74354 |
| Oklahoma City Community College | 7777 S May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73159 |
| Redlands Community College | 1300 S Country Club Rd, El Reno, OK 73036-5304 |
| Seminole State College | 2701 Boren Blvd, Seminole, OK 74868 |
| Tulsa Community College | 6111 E Skelly Dr, Tulsa, OK 74135 |
Top Ranked Accounting Program in Oklahoma
The University of Tulsa’s Collins College of Business offers a certificate in accounting for entry-level positions, as well as an accounting major and a Master of Accountancy degree.
The school’s curriculum provides a broad education together with the specific skills necessary in accounting.
This flexible program allows you to meet the requirements for taking the CPA exam in different ways – by completing a single-major or a double-major undergraduate degree, or alternatively by earning an additional graduate degree.
What is more, exceptional students have the ability to begin studying for the Master of Accountancy degree while still in their undergraduate years.
Designed to help students prepare for the CPA exam, the accounting department at the Collins College also focuses on students’ employability.
Businessweek reports a 98% rate of graduate employment for this school, with salaries averaging $56,000. Great facilities and opportunities for hands-on learning enhance the effectiveness of the accounting program at the University of Tulsa.
References
https://www.accountingcoach.com/careers/colleges-universities-accounting-degrees
https://www.accountingcoach.com/careers/cpa-requirements
https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/news/documents/PARSurvey2013-BaruchRankings.pdf
https://www.bls.gov/oes/2013/may/oes_ok.htm
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm#(1)
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Certified_Public_Accountant_(CPA)/Salary
https://www.mastersinaccounting.info/oklahoma/
https://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/undergraduate_mba_profiles/tulsa.html
https://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/university-of-tulsa-collins-01183
https://www.educationnews.org/career-index/accounting-schools-in-oklahoma/
https://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/oklahoma-state-university-spears-01181
https://www.ok.gov/oab_web/documents/Applicant%20and%20Candidate%20Handbook%20for%20Print%20(Final%20Sent).pdf
https://spears.okstate.edu/accounting/alumni/distinguished/
https://spears.okstate.edu/accounting/