What Can You Do With a Major in Accounting? What Are Career Options and Salaries?
You’re thinking about your future and interested in studying accounting. You like working with numbers and being in a field with consistently strong hiring and advancement. Maybe you’re interested in working your way up the corporate ladder, learning managerial and leadership skills. You also like the idea of providing a service that helps organizations and governments function better.
So, if you major in accounting, what can you do with it? What types of jobs can you find, and what kind of salaries do those jobs pay?
The good news is that accounting is a great major — one that prepares you for a variety of jobs that are in demand.
Career Outcomes for Accounting Majors
When students graduate Stonehill College's Meehan School of Business with a B.S.B.A. in Accounting, they are prepared for any number of challenging careers in a wide range of responsible positions in business, government and nonprofit organizations. Majors receive a broad-based liberal arts foundation and a solid core of business courses.
Companies that employ our accounting graduates often say their decision was based on our students’ wide portfolio of skills.
Professions for Accounting Majors
Stonehill accounting majors have gone on to begin work in a variety of careers.
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Controller
- Accounting manager
- Internal auditor
- Forensic accountant
After graduation, Stonehill accounting majors have gone on to work for local, regional and national employers, including:
- Bank of America
- Brigham & Women’s Hospital
- Citizens Bank
- DELL
- Deloitte
- Ernst & Young
- John Hancock
- KPMG
- The Kraft Group – Gillette Stadium
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- State Farm Insurance
- Silicon Valley Bank
- State Street Bank
- U.S. Marshals Service
- Wells Fargo International
Strong Career Preparation for CPAs
Stonehill College offers many options for accounting majors who have a desire to advance their academic careers and professional standing as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Primary Affiliates
The following schools have established strong links with Stonehill College, allowing Stonehill students to enroll in their Master of Science in Accountancy programs to complete the required 150 credits in order to be eligible for the CPA designation:
- University of Notre Dame: Guarantees a maximum of two MSA seats each academic year for two Stonehill accounting majors.
- Northeastern University: Allows Stonehill accounting graduates to apply to their MSA program without taking the GMAT.
Other Affiliates
In addition to the above list, Stonehill College accounting graduates have successfully earned MSA degrees at the following schools:
- Bentley University
- Boston College
- Bryant University
- Bridgewater State University
- Fairfield University
- Providence College
- Suffolk University
- University of San Diego
- University of Connecticut
- University of Massachusetts
The Stonehill Accounting program provided me with the skills necessary to pass the CPA exam. During my four years, Stonehill presented me with numerous opportunities that helped me grow into a business professional and leader.
Why Accounting Majors Have a Bright Future in Today's Job Market
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted 7% job growth in the accounting field over the next decade.
The BLS is part of the U.S. Department of Labor. It measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes and productivity in the U.S. economy. It is a great resource for understanding what a job pays as well as how large or small the demand for that job will be in the future.
Salaries and Outlooks for Accounting Majors
Here is what the BLS has to say about some — but certainly not all — of the positions that accounting majors go into.
| Position | Median Salary as of March 2022 | Job Outlook/Growth 2020-2030 |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Auditor | $73,560 | 7% (As fast as average) |
| Budget Analyst | $78,970 | 5% (Slower than average) |
| Financial Analyst | $83,660 | 6% (As fast as average) |
| Financial Examiner | $81,430 | 18% (Much faster than average) |
| Note: BLS may update salaries and projections | ||
With a major in accounting — what can’t you do?
Majoring in accounting at Stonehill equips you with skills that will serve you well, wherever your career may take you. You’ll hone your communication, problem solving and critical thinking skills throughout the program, and graduate knowing that you’re qualified to enter a variety of postgraduate opportunities. With those skills as a base, accounting majors can go pretty much anywhere!