Accounting Grads Rank Among the Best in NYS

BUFFALO, NY – Canisius University alumni, who graduated with bachelor’s degrees in accounting and sat for the 2010 CPA exam cycle, tied for the highest pass rate percentage (70 percent) in New York State on the auditing portion of the exam, according to the National Association of the State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). This same group also had the second highest pass rate percentage (69.6 percent) in New York State on the financial accounting and reporting section of the CPA exam. Overall, Canisius alumni, who graduated with bachelor’s degrees in accounting and sat for the 2010 CPA exam cycle, ranked third in New York State, with a 70 percent pass rate. 

Those Canisius alumni who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the college and sat for the 2010 CPA exam also scored well, according to the NASBA rankings. Graduate and undergraduate alumni had the second highest pass rate percentage on the financial accounting and reporting (72.4 percent) portion of the exam; and the third highest pass rate percentage on the auditing portion of the exam. This same group also ranked third, overall, in New York State, with a 69.5 percent pass rate. All results are based on schools that had 20 or more candidates sit for the first time for the sections of the exam.

“Graduates of the Canisius University Accounting Program consistently rank among the best in the state, based on CPA exam pass rates,” says Joseph B. O’Donnell, PhD, CPA, CISA, chair of the Department of Accounting. “The exceptional knowledge and dedication of our accounting faculty, the high quality of our curriculum and the rigorous program standards equates to successful graduates who are heavily recruited by employers.” 

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.