We do CPA review differently – that’s why UNI is no. 1
We do CPA review differently – that’s why UNI is no. 1
At the Wilson College of Business, CPA preparation is a decades-long tradition of excellence. This preparation isn’t an afterthought. It’s built into the foundation of the accounting program. That approach helped propel the University of Northern Iowa to the No. 1 spot in the nation for CPA exam success, according to Accounting Today.
This national achievement is driven by UNI’s rigorous curriculum and an "all-hands-on-deck" support system that guides students from their first day on campus to their final exam.
UNI’s results are driven by a curriculum designed around the exam from day one, reinforced through rigorous coursework and culminating in a focused, faculty-led CPA review that prepares students to pass.
Here’s how we do it.
Built into the Curriculum
UNI integrates foundational CPA concepts into its standard accounting coursework. The goal is to develop high-level accountants first, with the CPA designation following as a natural professional standard.
The CPA journey culminates in a final semester of three intensive, three-credit courses specifically designed to tackle each of the four sections of the exam. At this stage, students are mostly reinforcing what they’ve already studied.
"It’s a continuum of learning," said David Deeds, associate professor of practice in accounting, EY faculty fellow and CPA review coordinator. "There is a reason we call it a CPA review, not CPA ‘learn it for the first time.’ Rigor in all your major classes leading up to the exam is key."
Entering the Workforce Ahead of the Curve
The primary differentiator for UNI graduates is timing. While most accounting graduates across the country must balance a 40-hour work week with late-night study sessions to obtain a CPA, the majority of UNI students leave campus with all four parts of the exam already passed.
One of the primary benefits is that when our students leave campus after that final semester, they have passed all four parts, or they are in a very good position to finish passing all four parts of the CPA exam. That’s unusual nationally.
By clearing a key career hurdle early, UNI graduates can focus entirely on their professional growth and personal futures when they begin work. Our accounting program has a 100% placement rate — and many students land jobs a full year before they graduate.
A Culture of Support
UNI places a heavy emphasis on student support. Long before the exam, the Wilson College of Business advisors work with students to develop a "plan of study." Faculty meet with candidates to provide a preview of CPA requirements, maintaining constant contact through winter break so students hit the ground running when it’s time to take the exam.
Beyond the classroom, student organizations, like the UNI Accounting Club, provide a network of practicing professionals, offering students real-world perspectives and the confidence to succeed.
All these pieces come together at the Wilson College of Business to create an environment for CPA success and graduates who are career-ready.
"When students come to campus, there is such a well-established process and expectation for the CPA, and it puts them in the right mindset," Deeds said. "The CPA process is very challenging, but very rewarding. Success on the exam is not a single event at UNI. It's an ecosystem."
Apply to UNI’s Accounting Program and start your path to CPA success.
