Majors - Template
Help drive future business decisions by preparing and interpreting financial information
All business decisions impact and are impacted by "the numbers." Accountants work with individuals, small businesses, large corporations and everything in between–including government agencies and non-profits–to keep their finances in check. UNI's accounting program is dedicated to your success beyond your college years, which is why it's been recognized as one of the best programs in the country.
For CPA
Success
Ranked second in the “Best Regional Universities (Midwest)” according to US News & World Report’s 2020.
Career
Placement
Ranked second in the “Best Regional Universities (Midwest)” according to US News & World Report’s 2020.
AACSB
Accredited
Earn your MBA from a university that’s accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International.
CPA or Non-CPA Track
While junior-level accountants might handle the more general accounting tasks, senior-level Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are typically more involved in guiding big picture financial decision making for their entire company. The benefits that come with being a CPA include increased trust, opportunity and financial reward–some of which are not standard with a general accounting degree.
Non-CPA track accounting majors can work in several different positions in a variety of companies without CPA certification. As an accountant, you can work for big and small businesses, school districts and various non-profit and government organizations. There are many executives, vice presidents and CFOs in Fortune 500 companies who are not CPAs.
A Top 3 Program for CPA Exam Pass Rate
The CPA exam consists of four parts. A student must pass all four parts to become a CPA. Before the digital age, students were required to take all parts of the exam over two days, which provided clear pass/fail statistics. Today, the test is given online with flexibility on when students sit for each part. Each part is scored separately, but students still must pass all four parts to be licensed.
Due to the exam’s flexibility, many students who start the CPA exam never finish it, delaying their CPA licensing progress. CPA review courses that are taken the final semester at UNI lead to the majority of our students completing and passing the CPA exam before their first day of employment.
The CPA Success Index ranks the University of Northern Iowa as one of the best schools in the nation for students who want to pass the CPA exam.
Accounting Careers
University of Northern Iowa’s accounting program will arm you with the skills to collect, analyze and interpret financial data so you can efficiently communicate the impact with decision-makers within the organization. Careers in accounting include:
- Corporate Accountant
- IRS Accountant
- Non-Profit Accountant
- Chief Financial Officer
- Auditor
- Government Accountant
- Controller/Comptroller
- Budget Analyst
- FBI Agent
- Forensic Accountant
- Entertainment Accountant
- Sports Accountant
Accounting Courses
UNI is nationally known as a top institution for CPA professionals because we tie professional-level exam preparation into the curriculum. If you plan to practice as a CPA you’ll be responsible for completing a predetermined amount of semester hours. Iowa and most states require 150 credit hours to become a CPA. Typical CPA and non-CPA career track courses include:
- Principles of Financial Accounting
- Intermediate Accounting
- Accounting Information Systems
- Income Tax
- Auditing
- Legal Concepts for Accountants
- Government and Not-for-Profit Accounting
- Business Policy & Strategy
- CPA Review courses
VITA Tax Assistance
Each year, UNI accounting students prepare hundreds of tax returns free. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program was established by the Internal Revenue Service to help those who may find it difficult to pay for tax preparation services. Certified volunteers receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. The UNI accounting department staffs a site to serve members of the Cedar Valley community.