Accounting Grads Rank 4th Nationally on CPA Exam

BUFFALO, NY – Canisius University alumni, who graduated with bachelor’s degrees in accounting and were first time test candidates for the 2011 CPA exam cycle, had the fourth highest overall pass rate percentage (77.8 percent) for Medium Programs (institutions with 21 – 60 candidates) in the United States, according to the National Association of the State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). This same group also had the highest overall pass rate percentage in New York State for Medium Programs. 

The results are similarly impressive for Canisius alumni who earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the college and sat for the 2011 CPA exam. For Medium Programs, this group ranked 13th in the United States and second in New York State in overall pass rate percentage (68 percent). Graduate and undergraduate alumni also had the highest pass rate percentage (70 percent) in New York State on the financial accounting and reporting portion of the exam; the second highest pass rate percentage in New York State on the business environment and concepts (80 percent) portion of the CPA exam, as well as the auditing portion (63 percent) portion. This group earned the third highest pass rate percentage on the regulation (60 percent) portion. Section rankings are based on schools that had 21 to 60 candidates sit for the first time for the sections of the exam.

“In the past 22 years, graduates of the Canisius University Accounting Program have achieved top-five national rankings for overall exam and section pass rates, and frequently led the state in the percentage of students passing parts of the CPA exam or the exam, overall,” says Joseph B. O’Donnell, PhD, CPA, CISA, chair of the Department of Accounting. “These results are the culmination of the excellent faculty, strong curriculum and real-world experiences that students encounter in the Canisius Accounting Program, and are what ultimately put our accounting graduates in high demand amongst employers, not only in Western New York but nationally as well.”

The Department of Accounting is part of the Richard J. Wehle School of Business, which is accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Canisius University is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.