The state of Texas offers a wide variety of accounting school options for the aspiring accountant. Including what many consider as the single best accounting school in the nation in The University of Texas – Austin.
But not be outdone, here are just a handful of some lesser known options that deliver quality accountants:
- Southwest Texas State University
- McMurray University
- Tarleton State University
- Texas A&M University (several locations)
- The University of Houston
Tips for Choosing the Right Accounting Program
If you’re looking to have a career in accounting, you should know that it’s a very difficult field to enter. Not only is there a lot of competition, the requirements for earning your CPA are very lengthy and exhausting.
A good accounting program will challenge you to understand the most complex concepts of accounting, and the program is only as good as the professors who teach it.
You should research the professors of the programs you are considering and see how their classes are rated. You can check online or you can always try to get into contact with someone who has experienced that program firsthand.
Also, it doesn’t hurt to actually go visit the school and see for yourself what it’s like there. You can contact a faculty member of the program and become better acquainted with what exactly their educational approach is like.
How to Become an Accountant or CPA
Becoming an accountant is not an easy road to take! Each state is different in terms of what they require for getting an accounting license.
The educational requirements are usually such that you would require:
- a total of 150 semester credits
- bachelor’s degree
- a certain number of accounting credits
- certain amount of business credits
Accounting is a program with high grading standards, so only the best make the cut. After you obtain the appropriate education, you must then qualify for the CPA exam.
This exam is known for it’s near impossible standards. Many people do not pass this exam. If you are successful, you must then take an ethics exam.
You would hope that once this exam is finished that you could obtain your license, but you also need experience under your belt.
Only after you meet each and every requirement for licensure, (and probably when you’re about ready to give up) will you become a certified public accountant!
Texas State CPA Requirements
The state of Texas requires that you firstly be of good moral character. If you have a criminal background or spotty records, you may have difficulty in obtaining your license.
You must have a baccalaureate or higher degree from a board-recognized school. You must complete 150 semester credits with 30 being accounting courses. 15 of those credits must be face-to-face courses.
Two semester credits of accounting or tax research and analysis are also required. You must have also completed 24 credits of business courses, of which 2 credit of accounting or business communications are needed.
You will also need to complete a 3 credit ethics course. Afterwards, you need to pass the CPA exam, and you will need at least two years of working experience under the supervision of a CPA or at least one year experience:
- providing service or advice involving accounting
- financial advisory
- tax services
and others as long as you completed the required 150 credits and hold a graduate degree.
Accounting Salaries in Texas
Most people want to know what their earning potential is once they have all of the proper requirements. As of 2012, you can expect to make on average $75,000 per year. That number does not necessarily reflect what you will definitely make, but it is a ballpark range.
Chances are when you begin your career, you will be making less than that, but if you team up with the proper company or even create your own business, you may have a higher salary. Given that Texas offers such good accounting programs, CPAs are sought after and could potentially do very well financially.
| Texas Accounting Jobs | |
|---|---|
| Big4 Accountant | |
| Senior Corporate Accountant | |
| Property Accountant | |
| Tax Accountant | |
| Bookkeeper |
Accounting Program Sneak Peek
The University of Texas (Austin) is not only the best accounting school in Texas, it’s also the best program in the country!
Their program offers a broad spectrum, including interpretation of financial data, management uses of accounting, as well as the use of electronics (such as computers) in handling accounting matters.
The McCombs School Department of Accounting houses some of the most renowned researchers and faculty.
Their mission is to further excellence in accounting to expand and create knowledge through study of theoretical and practical impact and to communicate knowledge of accounting through teaching undergraduate and graduate students, training educators, and interacting with external business and policy-making community.
This school offers bachelors, masters and Ph.D. level courses.The McCombs School has ranked the highest in accounting schools for several years.
Given that this university has scored so high, you can be sure that they have very high standards for their students and only choose the best.
| Texas Accounting Schools | Address |
|---|---|
| Abilene Christian University | 1600 Campus Ct, Abilene, TX 79601 |
| Angelo State University | 2601 W Avenue N, San Angelo, TX 76903 |
| Baylor University | 1311 S 5th St, Waco, TX 76706 |
| Dallas Baptist University | 3000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211 |
| Hardin-Simmons University | 2200 Hickory St, Abilene, TX 79601 |
| Houston Baptist University | 7502 Fondren Rd, Houston, TX 77074 |
| Howard Payne University | 1000 Fisk St, Brownwood, TX 76801 |
| Lamar University | 4400 S M L King Jr Pkwy, Beaumont, TX 77710 |
| McMurry University | 1401 Sayles Blvd, Abilene, TX 79605 |
| Midwestern State University | 3410 Taft Blvd, Wichita Falls, TX 76308 |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | 411 SW 24th St, San Antonio, TX 78207 |
| Prairie View A&M University | 100 University Dr, Prairie View, TX 77446 |
| Sam Houston State University | 1806 Avenue J, Huntsville, TX 77340 |
| Southern Methodist University | Fincher Building, Dallas, TX 75275 |
| Southwest Texas State University | 601 University Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666 |
| Southwestern University | 1001 E University Ave, Georgetown, TX 78626 |
| St. Edward’s University | 3001 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704 |
| St. Mary’s University of San Antonio | 1 Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX 78228 |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | 1936 North St, Nacogdoches, TX 75962 |
| Tarleton State University | 1333 W Washington St, Stephenville, TX 76401 |
| Texas A&M International University | 5201 University Blvd, Laredo, TX 78041 |
| Texas A&M University – Commerce | 2200 Campbell St, Commerce, TX 75428 |
| Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi | 6300 Ocean Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78412 |
| Texas A&M University – Kingsville | 955 University Blvd, Kingsville, TX 78363 |
| Texas Christian University | 2800 S University Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76129 |
| Texas Lutheran University | 1000 W Court St, Seguin, TX 78155 |
| Texas Southern University | 3100 Cleburne St, Houston, TX 77004 |
| Texas Tech University | 2500 Broadway St, Lubbock, TX 79409 |
| Texas Wesleyan University | 1201 Wesleyan St, Fort Worth, TX 76105 |
| Texas Woman’s University | 304 Administration Dr, Denton, TX 76201 |
| Trinity University | 1 Trinity Pl, San Antonio, TX 78212 |
| University of Houston | 4800 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77004 |
| University of Houston – Clear Lake | 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX 77058 |
| University of Houston – Downtown | 1 Main St, Houston, TX 77002 |
| University of Houston – Victoria | 3007 N Ben Wilson St, Victoria, TX 77901 |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 900 College St, Belton, TX 76513 |
| University of North Texas | 1155 Union Cir, Denton, TX 76203 |
| University of St. Thomas – TX | 3800 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006 |
| University of Texas – Pan American | 1201 W University Dr, Edinburg, TX 78539 |
| University of Texas at Arlington | 701 South Nedderman Drive, Arlington, TX 76019 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX 78712 |
| University of Texas at Dallas | 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080 |
| University of Texas at El Paso | 500 W University Ave, El Paso, TX 79902 |
| University of Texas at San Antonio | 1 UTSA Cir, San Antonio, TX 78249 |
| University of Texas of the Permian Basin | 4901 E University Blvd, Odessa, TX 79762 |
| University of the Incarnate Word | 4301 Broadway St, San Antonio, TX 78209 |
| West Texas A&M University | 2501 4th Ave, Canyon, TX 79016 |
| Wiley College | 711 Wiley Ave, Marshall, TX 75670 |
| Community Colleges | Address |
|---|---|
| Alvin Community College | 3110 Mustang Rd, Alvin, TX 77511-4898 |
| Angelina College | Lufkin, TX 75902 |
| Austin Community College District | 5930 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752 |
| Blinn College | 902 College Ave, Brenham, TX 77833 |
| Brazosport College | 500 College Dr, Lake Jackson, TX 77566 |
| Brookhaven College | 3939 Valley View Ln, Dallas, TX 75244-4997 |
| Cedar Valley College | 3030 N Dallas Ave, Lanchaster, TX 75134-3799 |
| College of the Mainland | 1200 Amburn Rd, Texas City, TX 77591 |
| Del Mar College | 101 Baldwin Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78404 |
| Eastfield College | 3737 Motley Dr, Mesquite, TX 75150-2099 |
| El Centro College | 801 Main St, Dallas, TX 75202-3604 |
| El Paso Community College District | El Paso, TX 79998 |
| Galveston College | 4015 Avenue Q, Galveston, TX 77550 |
| Hill College | 112 Lamar Dr, Hillsboro, TX 76645 |
| Houston Community College System- Central College | 1300 Holman, Houston, TX 77004 |
| Houston Community College System-Northeast | Houston, TX 77266-7517 |
| Houston Community College System-Northwest College | 1550 Foxlake Dr, Houston, TX 77084 |
| Houston Community College System-Southwest | 5407 Gulfton St, Houston, TX 77081 |
| Howard College | 1001 Birdwell La, Big Spring, TX 79720 |
| Lee College | 200 Lee Dr, baytown, TX 77522-0818 |
| Lone Star College- Cy Fair | 9191 Barker Cypress Rd, Cypress, TX 77433-1383 |
| Lone Star College- Kingwood | 20000 Kingwood Dr, Kingwood, TX 77339 |
| Lone Star College- Montgomery | 3200 College Park Dr, Conroe, TX 77384 |
| Lone Star College- North Harris | 2700 WW Thorne Dr, Houston, TX 77073 |
| Lone Star College- Tomball | 30555 Tomball Pkwy, Tomball, TX 77375-4036 |
| McLennan Community College | 1400 College Dr, Waco, TX 76708 |
| Midland College | 3600 N Garfield, Midland, TX 79705 |
| Mountain View College | 4849 W Illinois Ave, Dallas, TX 75211-6599 |
| Navarro College | 3200 W 7th Ave, Corsicana, TX 75110 |
| North Central Texas College | 1525 W California St, Gainesville, TX 76240 |
| North Lake College | 5001 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75038-3899 |
| Northeast Texas Community College | Mount Pleasant, TX 75456-1307 |
| Palo Alto College | 1400 W Villaret Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78224-2499 |
| Paris Junior College | 2400 Clarksville St, Paris, TX 75460 |
| Richland College | 12800 Abrams Rd, Dallas, TX 75243-2199 |
| San Antonio College | 1300 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212 |
| South Texas College | 3201 W Pecan Blvd, Mc Allen, TX 78502-9701 |
| St Philip’s College | 1801 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, San Antonio, TX 78203 |
| Tarrant County College- Northeast | 828 Harwood Rd, Hurst, TX 76054 |
| Tarrant County College- Northwest | 4801 Marine Creek Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76179 |
| Tarrant County College- Southeast | 2100 Southeast Pkwy, Arlington, TX 76018-3144 |
| Tarrant County College-South | 5301 Campus Dr, Fort Wroth, TX 76119 |
| Tarrant County College-Trinity River | 300 Trinity Campus Cir, Fort Worth, TX 76102 |
| Texas State Technical College-West Texas | 300 Homer K Taylor Dr, Sweetwater, TX 79556 |
| Tyler Junior College | 1400 E Fifth St, Tyler, TX 75711-9020 |
| Vernon College | 4400 College Dr, Vernon, TX 76384-4092 |
| Victoria College | 2200 E Red River, Victoria, TX 77901 |
Top Ranked Accounting Programs in Texas
University of Texas
Believe it or not, Texas is home to the number one ranked accounting program in the US according to Public Accounting Report 32nd Annual Professors Survey.
The University of Texas at Austin ranked number one overall for the undergraduate, masters and doctoral rankings. It also ranked number one for the undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs that offer over 22 full-time accounting faculty. Texas does very well indeed when it comes to accounting programs.
Texas A&M University ranked number 7 in 2013 (up from number 10 in 2012) for the undergraduate program, number 8 for the masters, and number 10 for the doctoral program, while Texas Tech University and Texas Christian University were runners up.
The University of Texas has consistently scored well in ranking and is among the most respected schools to offer the accounting program.
Texas A&M University
The Public Accounting Report’s 2013 survey of accounting professors ranked the accounting program at Texas A&M as the 7th, 8th and 10th best in the country in the undergraduate, Master’s and doctoral categories respectively.
Ranked 37th nationwide by U.S. News, the Mays Business School at Texas A&M university is a prestigious institution where you can start your accounting career on the right foot.
You can begin your accounting education at the undergraduate level by pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. This program includes a core accounting curriculum as well as courses in auditing, fraud examination, ethics, international accounting and energy accounting. Students may also undertake accounting internships that count towards course credits, while prospective CPAs can take additional courses to fulfill CPA requirements.
Students wishing to qualify for a CPA license can also apply for the Master of Science in Accounting offered by Mays Business School. This non-thesis program combines core and elective courses with opportunities for leadership development. Students can choose between two tracks.
The Assurance Services/Information Management Track covers topics such as auditing, tax, information systems, management, business law, ethics and accounting. The Tax Consulting/Financial Planning track focuses on taxation in addition to accounting and business topics.
Alternatively, accounting students can opt for the Professional Program, a five-year integrated program that combines a BBA in Accounting with a Master of Science in a business major. This program will allow you to sit for the CPA exam as well as specialize in an area such as Taxation or Auditing.
If you are interested in an academic career, you can apply for a PhD in Accounting in order to conduct research in the field.
Through quality education and opportunities offered by internships, student organizations and career services, Texas A&M University accounting students are well placed to start a successful career in accounting.
References:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Certified_Public_Accountant_(CPA)/Salary
https://mays.tamu.edu/acct/
https://mays.tamu.edu/department-of-accounting/
https://maysweb.tamu.edu/maysnet/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/formidable/ACCT-Curriculum-Hbk-201431.pdf
https://mays.tamu.edu/phd-accounting/
https://mays.tamu.edu/acct/ppa/
https://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/texas-am-university-college-station-mays-01216
https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/news/documents/PARSurvey2013-BaruchRankings.pdf