Future students take note: UNI’s accounting program just got another top recognition
Future students take note: UNI’s accounting program just got another top recognition
When students come to the Wilson College of Business for accounting, they know they are getting the best of the best for faculty support, curriculum and job opportunities. That’s because for more than 30 years, the Wilson College of Business at the University of Northern Iowa has maintained accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Now the college is the first in the world to obtain supplemental accounting accreditation through an accelerated path, a three-year process that has taken all other schools seven years. The accelerated pathway proves the program is at the top when it comes to preparing tomorrow’s business advisors.
And current UNI students are weighing in: “I think it gives the program more legitimacy,” said Josiah Laddusaw, who just graduated after triple majoring in accounting, finance and economics. He will begin his Master of Accounting in the fall.
A key driver behind the UNI accounting program’s success is its dedicated faculty, rigorous curriculum and integrated CPA review program, which provide students with the foundation for exceptional performance on the Certified Public Accountant exam. UNI ranks first in the nation for CPA pass rate success according to AccountingToday. Students preparing to graduate with either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting participate in an integrated CPA review program, which has consistently yielded impressive results for this rigorous four-part exam. In fact, Wilson students outperform peers from the next best school by an average of 20 percentage points.
“When I was in high school, I knew UNI had a really good program for the CPA,” said Laddusaw. “That was the big selling point. I asked myself what was going to help me complete such a rigorous exam and give me the highest chance of passing all four parts. I knew it was getting my Master of Accounting at UNI with their integrated CPA review.”
Mackenzie McCartan just completed CPA review and graduated with her Master of Accounting.
“There's a lot of studying in the accounting program, especially in the CPA review,” she said. “That rigor is only going to help when you get into a professional setting and that first busy season where everybody's kind of trying to learn the ropes of working that many hours a week. UNI really sets you up well by structuring its program in a way that mimics that and prepares you to work in that setting.”
When AACSB came to UNI to review the Wilson College of Business for accounting accreditation, several things stood out. The team highlighted the high-caliber students and the intentional faculty-student relationships.
Faculty engagement has long been a tradition in the Wilson College of Business. Laddusaw grew up hearing stories from his uncle, a CPA and UNI accounting grad, about being mentored by Tim Lindquist, professor in the accounting program. These stories came to life years later when Laddusaw also became a UNI accounting student. Lindquist is still a professor, and regularly grabs lunch with Josiah throughout the semester.
“The opportunities are unmatched with the amount of time and resources faculty invest in the accounting students and the ways they develop accounting students to get them into successful careers,” said Laddusaw.
One way students remain engaged within the accounting program is by participating in the Accounting Club, which hosts events throughout the academic year. Representatives from all of the Big Four accounting firms as well as other major employers attend these events to recruit students for internships and full-time employment. The supplemental AACSB accounting accreditation is yet another mark of prestige for the accounting program, showing employers the value of recruiting UNI grads.
“Being able to actually talk with the professionals before I was in an interview setting was huge because it calmed me down and I got some great advice,” said McCartan. “Whenever firms are at UNI recruiting, they have all hit on the point that they love UNI accounting students, they have hired a ton of them and they do recognize the UNI accounting program for how well it prepares students.”
McCartan credits the Accounting Club with helping her secure a full-time position with EY in Minneapolis after graduation. Laddusaw has interned at two of the Big Four accounting firms and has another internship with RSM US (the fifth biggest firm) this summer. He credits networking opportunities provided through the Accounting Club with helping him get each of these professional experiences.
“I would recommend UNI’s accounting program to anyone because of its track record,” said Laddusaw. “It's undeniably good.”
