Accounting Major
The major in accounting provides students with the general business and accounting knowledge necessary to succeed in professional accounting and business roles. Students will develop strong communication, technical, and interpersonal skills necessary to solve complex problems in dynamic, unstructured settings. Many Accounting majors enhance their education through extracurricular activities, internships, and involvement in organizations such as the University of Pittsburgh Accounting Association.
Career Options for Accounting Majors
An accounting degree opens doors across virtually every industry — from Fortune 500 corporations and Big Four public accounting firms to hospitals, government agencies, nonprofits, and tech startups. Every organization that manages money needs accounting professionals, which means your degree travels with you no matter where your interests take you. The roles available span an impressive range: auditor, tax advisor, forensic accountant, financial analyst, internal auditor, controller, compliance officer, chief financial officer, and more. With a job placement rate of over 98%, our accounting graduates consistently land roles that put their skills to work from day one.
Accounting is also one of the most powerful launching pads into senior leadership. More CFOs at Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies majored in accounting as undergraduates than any other single major, and nearly 40% of sitting CFOs hold a CPA license. The most common path to these positions runs through public accounting. Whether at a Big Four firm or a regional practice, most Pitt accounting graduates begin their careers at public accounting firms and use that early experience to build the technical expertise and broad business judgment that organizations look for in their future leaders.
