Pleasant weather, breathtaking mountain scenery, beautiful beaches, and dynamic cities make North Carolina an appealing place to study, work, and live. The state has a strong higher education network with 16 institutions in the University of North Carolina system.
North Carolina also offers a compelling economic profile. In 2024, Rich States, Poor States — a project established by the American Legislative Exchange Council — ranked North Carolina fourth among states for its overall economic outlook.
This guide to the best accounting schools in North Carolina highlights opportunities for accounting students and professionals. Dig into the data to help determine whether the Tar Heel State aligns with your career and life plans.
Popular Online Bachelor's in Accounting Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Accounting Schools in NC
| Population | 10,551,162 |
|---|---|
| Climate | Average Annual Temperature: 59.0℉Annual Precipitation: 50.3 inches |
| Major Sports Teams | Carolina Hurricanes, Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC, Charlotte Hornets |
| Number of Higher Learning Institutions | 133 |
| Per Capita Income | $39,616 |
| Fortune 500 Companies | 12 |
| Accountants in North Carolina | 43,100 |
Why Go to College for Accounting in North Carolina?
North Carolina has one of the largest higher education networks in the southern United States. As an accounting student, you can take advantage of a wealth of opportunity — the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that 85 North Carolina colleges offer postsecondary accounting programs.
These schools feature a rich diversity of opportunities to study accounting, including:
Degree and diploma programs
Face-to-face, online, and hybrid programs
Double majors and specializations
North Carolina also ranks well for affordability, especially at public institutions where average tuition rates fall well below national norms. The cost of living in North Carolina is also below the national average, according to 2024 data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.
Multiple North Carolina organizations work to reduce schooling costs through scholarship and grant programs. These include funding opportunities from the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (NCICU), among others. The state government also supports North Carolina's higher education network with investment initiatives at the institutional level.
You can enter a strong job market as a North Carolina accounting graduate. Each of the Big Four accounting firms maintains a presence in the state, and North Carolina has an excellent long-term job outlook for accountants and auditors.
Education Statistics for North Carolina
North Carolina's higher education system offers choice and affordability through two-year and four-year institutions. The state government backs the system with above-average higher education appropriations.
Furthermore, the state's well-educated workforce exceeds national averages for the percentage of the population with an associate or bachelor's degree. North Carolina residents also earn graduate or professional degrees at rates closely approaching the nationwide mean.
| Higher Education Statistics | North Carolina Data | National Data |
|---|---|---|
| Four-Year Colleges | 71 | 2,488 |
| Two-Year Colleges | 62 | 1,234 |
| Students Enrolled in Distance Education | 58.3% | 53.2% |
| Postsecondary Education Appropriations per Full-Time Student | $12,961 | $11,040 |
| Tax Revenue Allocated to Higher Education | $18,262 | $18,301 |
| Adults Over 25 With an Associate Degree | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Adults Over 25 With a Bachelor's Degree | 21.8% | 21.3% |
| Adults Over 25 With a Graduate Degree | 12.9% | 13.7% |
Accreditation for North Carolina Schools
Institutional and programmatic accreditation may both apply to accounting degrees. Institutional accreditation covers an entire school, and you should consider it mandatory since it assures that the institution meets or exceeds acceptable standards.
Programmatic accreditation applies only to particular departments or programs. It is optional but often functions as an endorsement of exceptional academic quality.
Before recent changes in the higher education accreditation system, North Carolina colleges were usually accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Today, SACSCOC remains a major accreditor of the best accounting schools in NC.
Delivery Formats for an Accounting Degree in North Carolina
Your accounting program delivery format options include traditional face-to-face programs, fully online programs, and hybrid programs that blend both modalities. As the data in the table below indicates, North Carolina students engage with all three delivery options at healthy rates, with a higher-than-average proportion continuing to pursue campus-only learning.
The following sections explore the defining features and relative advantages of each format option. Carefully consider your choice, as it can profoundly affect your educational outcome and costs.
On-Campus Programs
North Carolina's beautiful campuses and excellent networking opportunities highlight leading reasons to consider face-to-face learning. If you prefer a traditional college experience or feel more comfortable learning in physical classrooms, this might be the right path for you.
Online Programs
Online learning provides a level of flexibility that traditional programs cannot offer. Many of the best accounting schools in NC offer asynchronous learning models that allow you to attend virtual classes on your own schedule. Some schools also offer tuition breaks to fully online students.
If you are balancing school with outside commitments like work or do not wish to physically relocate, consider online learning.
Hybrid Programs
Hybrid programs blend the networking and engagement advantages of the traditional campus experience with the convenience and flexibility of the virtual classroom. This option is more popular than pursuing a fully online education among North Carolina college students.
Paying for Your Accounting Degree
Students at public colleges in North Carolina enjoy tuition rates that fall below national averages, even for out-of-state degree-seekers. The state's private colleges tend to charge above-average tuition rates, but many also offer extensive in-house financial aid that can significantly reduce the out-of-pocket net price of attendance.
In either case, you may need additional funding to meet your education costs. Start by searching for scholarships and grants from external providers, including organizations like the CNFC and the NCICU.
As a last resort, you can also use federal or private loans. The links below connect to additional resources you can explore if you need financial aid:
In-State Versus Out-of-State Tuition
Most public colleges have tiered tuition rates, with in-state students paying less than out-of-state learners. However, many states participate in reciprocity agreements that extend in-state tuition rates to non-residents in regional jurisdictions.
The Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common Market (ACM) is the tuition reciprocity organization for the southern United States. North Carolina withdrew from the ACM in 2011, ending its participation.
Fortunately, North Carolina's four-year public institutions charge out-of-state tuition rates that fall 22% below the national average.
Cost of Living in North Carolina
Local living costs can significantly affect your education budget, especially regarding housing, food, and utilities. As of April 2025, North Carolina's cost of living falls just below the national average, according to World Population Review.
World Population Review assigns North Carolina an overall cost of living index score of 97.8 on a 100-point scale to represent the national average, resulting in living costs of about 2.2% below the nationwide average.
Careers for Accounting Graduates in North Carolina
In addition to the Big Four accounting firms and 12 Fortune 500 companies, North Carolina hosts a dynamic landscape of corporate employers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Small businesses comprise the majority of the state's SMEs, representing 99.6% of all North Carolina businesses and employing 44.5% of its workforce.
SMEs routinely hire accountants internally or as contractors to manage their financial tracking, reporting, and tax obligations. Larger corporate employers are another very strong source of employment for North Carolina's accounting professionals.
Overall, Projections Central anticipates 11.1% job growth for accountants and auditors in North Carolina from 2022-2032. The state projects to add 5,210 new accounting jobs during that period to complement an expected 4,300 average annual openings.
The sections below explore North Carolina's accounting job market, highlighting popular career paths and exploring employment levels and pay rates relative to national averages.
Popular Accounting Careers in North Carolina
Accounting Clerk
Accounting clerks track and record financial transactions, update accounting database entries, ensure the accuracy of financial data, and contribute to accounting reports. Technological innovation continues to change this career path, affecting overall demand but creating opportunities for forward-thinking professionals who develop analytical insights.
Job Outlook in North Carolina (2023-33): -0.1%
Financial Manager
Financial managers work to align business activities with their organizations' short-term and long-term financial goals. They help guide organizational investment and capital deployment decisions, monitor and analyze the results of those decisions, and supervise junior members of internal finance teams. North Carolina's job market looks poised to add many financial managers in the near future.
Job Outlook in North Carolina (2023-33): +22.7%
Personal Financial Advisor
These advisors help individuals plan for their financial futures, guiding their selection of investments, insurance, and other financial products. They also offer personalized strategic insights and financial advice, applying specialized tax knowledge to their clients' advantage. This accounting-adjacent career path is projected to see explosive growth potential in North Carolina.
Job Outlook in North Carolina (2023-33): +23.5%
North Carolina Employment Trends
| Job Availability | North Carolina | National |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Employment | 46,940 | 1,538,400 |
| 2032 Projected Employment | 52,150 | 1,605,800 |
| Projected Job Growth, 2022-32 | +11.1% | +4.4% |
| Career | North Carolina Employment | North Carolina Average Annual Salary | National Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping and Auditing Clerks | 51,370 | $46,410 | $49,580 |
| Credit Counselors | 550 | $54,080 | $53,440 |
| Payroll Clerks | 4,150 | $50,310 | $54,690 |
| Career | North Carolina Employment | North Carolina Average Annual Salary | National Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compliance Officers | 8,480 | $77,530 | $80,190 |
| Cost Estimators | 6,900 | $68,920 | $79,520 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | 2,410 | $65,730 | $76,110 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 19,250 | $94,570 | $109,710 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors | 1,200 | $65,560 | $65,370 |
| Tax Preparers | 2,220 | $58,200 | $58,160 |
| Career | North Carolina Employment | North Carolina Average Annual Salary | National Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 43,100 | $90,870 | $90,780 |
| Budget Analysts | 1,650 | $81,210 | $90,880 |
| Financial Analysts | 10,490 | $104,610 | $112,950 |
| Financial Managers | 21,870 | $168,610 | $174,820 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | 14,500 | $137,240 | $150,670 |
North Carolina businesses employ accountants and auditors in large numbers. While salaries for accountants and adjacent professional specializations tend to lag slightly behind national averages, North Carolina offers cost of living advantages, allowing workers to stretch their income a bit more.
The state's 2022-2032 employment growth projections for accountants and auditors also dramatically outpace the national average. This expansion could lead to employers having to fill many vacancies and a limited talent pool from which to draw.
If you plan to pursue higher-paid roles, consider a master's degree in accounting. As the data above indicates, accounting careers that prefer or require a graduate degree tend to pay significantly more.
North Carolina Requirements for Certified Public Accountants
The certified public accountant (CPA) career path is popular with accounting graduates, and the best accounting schools in NC can help you meet the educational requirements for a CPA license in North Carolina. These requirements vary in every state, but the checklist below highlights the main standards endorsed by the North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners.
A bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration
A total of 150 semester credits or the equivalent, including at least 24 semester credits in at least eight of 10 business-related fields of study approved by the Board
At least one year of work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed CPA or four years of experience in general accounting or as a college-level accounting instructor
Completion of a Board-approved course in North Carolina accountancy law
Passing scores on all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination
Good moral character
U.S. citizenship, or declared intent to become a U.S. citizen
Questions About Accounting in North Carolina
Yes – North Carolina State University offers prestigious accounting programs, especially at the graduate level. Accounting.com ranked NC State's online master's in accounting fourth in the United States for 2025.
