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Accounting
At a Glance
Accounting is the quintessential language of all businesses, making our program the perfect springboard to your successful business career. Gain the skills and knowledge to excel in public, corporate, nonprofit, and government accounting sectors with a dynamic curriculum that integrates accounting theory, practice, research, and tools. Our career-ready graduates are highly employable, and the quality of their preparation is reflected in their high pass rates on the CPA exam.
Undergraduate Program Options
Major
Minors
Accounting Minor
(available only to students in other majors)
Accelerated/Dual-Degree Program Options
Get a jumpstart and enter the workforce with a master’s degree. Accelerated options get you there faster and more affordably through fewer semesters of classes. Dual degrees offer a streamlined path to earning two degrees, often with direct admission to the graduate portion.
Accounting + Accounting and Business Analytics, BS/MS
First-year and transfer applicants may apply to this five-year (4+1) accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program.
Accounting + Management and Organizations, BS/MS
First-year and transfer applicants may apply to this five-year (4+1) accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program.
You’ll Benefit From:
- A close-knit cohort of students and professors through all four years
- Small classes and support from dedicated, accessible faculty
- Connections to Big Four accounting firms and Fortune 500 companies
- Opportunities for well-paid internships that often lead to employment
- Our program’s strong reputation among top public accounting firms
- Faculty scholars who are advancing knowledge in their fields
- Involvement in a wealth of accounting and general student organizations
Careers
As a graduate, you’ll be well prepared for employment in every accounting environment. Typically, 75% of our graduates each year join the public accounting firms. In 2024 alone, 65% went to the Big Four, while others joined regional firms, corporations, nonprofits, or government entities like the FBI, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and the IRS. Some of today’s most exciting opportunities are in forensic accounting, the study of fraudulent financial activity.
Our graduates have an excellent track record of success. Many of our students are recruited or receive job offers after participating in internships. Others go on to earn law degrees or PhDs from some of the nation’s top institutions.
#1 in NJ — and #9 in the nation — for high-paying jobs in marketing (among public universities)
— The Wall Street Journal/Burning Glass Institute, 2023
Outcomes
With a longstanding reputation for preparing exceptional accountants, this program has enabled graduates to achieve remarkable success, including high CPA exam pass rates and a 60%–70% recruitment rate by public accounting firms.
Course Sequence
TCNJ’s accounting program consists of 10 courses that integrate the study of theory and the current practice of accounting with research and computer applications.
The 150-hour requirement for the certified public accountant licensure program provides a pathway for those graduates interested in sitting for the CPA exam. To obtain the necessary credits for licensure at the undergraduate level, you may pursue a second major or minor or take extra electives to round out the program.
You’ll enjoy small classes of no more than 30 students and also have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research projects and to study abroad.
Internships
Internships are the ideal way to gain valuable real-world experience and build your professional network. TCNJ’s proximity to Philadelphia and New York City offers the opportunity to work in two of the largest business centers in the country. Around 70% of our accounting majors complete an internship, and it pays off: Approximately 95% of interns receive job offers from their employers.
We’ll help you find internships at top-tier firms by leveraging our alumni network and the professionals at TCNJ’s Career Center. Once placed, you’ll receive support and mentorship from an internship coordinator within the department.
Our students have completed internships at companies such as Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Johnson & Johnson, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Student Organizations
All student organizations sponsor career-planning and other co-curricular activities.
- Beta Alpha Psi — The International Honorary Organization for Financial Information Students and Professionals
- Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
- National Association of Black Accountants (NABA)
Faculty Expertise
TCNJ faculty are active scholars who conduct ongoing research, making valuable contributions to the fields of auditing, cost, financial accounting, information systems, forensic accounting, and tax.
Opportunities are available to collaborate with faculty on research projects, and students are encouraged to study abroad.
