The Best Bachelor's in Accounting Programs in Iowa for 2027

Iowa State University teaches accounting through the Ivy College of Business, which says its accounting program holds AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting. The page highlights a master of accounting 4+1 option that lets students finish a bachelor's degree in four years and a master's with one more year. Students can join the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, earn credit as IRS-certified volunteers, and prepare returns for about eight weeks at two hours a week after passing IRS exams. A Beta Alpha Psi chapter connects students with firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, John Deere, Ernst & Young and Principal Financial Group. Career coordinators help with internships. The school reports an average accounting starting salary of $65,716 and an average internship wage of $23.66 for 2025 graduates.

Federal data shows a 75% graduation rate and an 89% admit rate. In-state tuition is $9,252 and out-of-state tuition is $27,346. The program earns a Program Score of 81 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a large public university with hands-on tax experience and a built-in route to a master's degree for the CPA path. The university enrolls about 30,400 students.

Luther College offers an accounting major within its Economics, Accounting, and Management Department, set inside a liberal arts curriculum. The department page says accounting students learn to analyze and evaluate information to support decision making using critical thinking and ethics, research and apply accounting knowledge to business situations, work in teams, and communicate in writing and in oral presentations. The department also offers majors in economics, management and marketing, which gives accounting students classmates and electives across related business fields. Faculty are described as providing personal attention and career planning support. Students can find jobs and internships through Handshake and the Career Center, and the page says employers and government agencies visit campus to recruit seniors for permanent positions and internships.

Federal data shows a 71% graduation rate and a 72% admit rate. Tuition is $51,140, the same for in-state and out-of-state students because Luther is a private nonprofit. The program earns a Program Score of 80.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want accounting taught with an emphasis on ethics and communication at a small residential college of about 1,400 students, rather than in a large business school.

Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, houses its accounting major in the Department of Business Administration, Accounting and Economics. Students take courses across the main accounting areas, which the page lists as auditing, financial accounting, managerial and cost accounting, and tax accounting, so they can see which fits their goals. The college says more than 80 percent of its business, accounting and economics majors complete at least one internship or field experience before graduating, and that students work on projects with real clients. Because CPA candidates need 150 semester hours, the page says faculty plan schedules so students can reach the credits without a fifth year, using the 4-4-1 calendar. It also outlines paths toward the CMA, CIA, CFA and CGFM credentials.

Wartburg graduates 64% of its students and admits 76% of applicants. Tuition is $25,000 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program holds a Program Score of 77.1 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a small-college accounting program with client projects, internships and early attention to the 150-hour CPA requirement.

St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting taught on campus. The degree totals 120 credits: 36 general education, 36 core business, 27 accounting and 21 elective credits, plus one internship. Students can transfer up to 90 credits. The school says the program prepares graduates to sit for the CPA exam or to work for businesses of any size. Coursework covers the full accounting cycle, the statement of cash flows, SEC reporting requirements and hands-on tax return preparation. The page also describes a service learning class and internship placements with public accounting firms and large employers, and says classes in McMullen Hall are set up to mimic workplace settings.

St. Ambrose graduates 61% of its students and admits 77% of applicants, so entry is open to most applicants but finishing takes steady effort. In-state and out-of-state tuition are the same at $36,378, as a private nonprofit school. The program earns a Program Score of 76.1 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a structured four-year campus experience with internship experience built into the degree and a clear route toward CPA study.

Central College's accounting program leads to a B.S. and prepares students for the Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant exams. The school reports nearly 100% of majors graduate in four years, with average classes of 15 to 20 students. Every accounting student completes at least one relevant internship, and the college connects students with more than 500 internship sites. Students gain client-facing experience in a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance clinic, where they prepare and review actual tax returns. Advanced courses cover data analytics, fraud examination and auditing, along with relational databases and accounting information systems.

Federal figures show a 66% graduation rate and an 86% admit rate at Central. Tuition is $20,988 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 75.5 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a small-class accounting major with built-in tax practice and internships, aimed at public accounting, corporate, government or nonprofit work. The school credits its CPA result to a size-adjusted comparison, so treat that ranking as the school's own claim.

Northwestern College offers an accounting major designed to be completed in four years. The college says its accounting students consistently score among the best in Iowa on the CPA exam, and that licensed CPAs on the faculty have helped students place well. Major courses include principles of accounting, income tax, auditing and business law. Related minors include accounting, business administration, economics, entrepreneurship, leadership studies, nonprofit management and project management. The business programs are accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education. Students can join the Business Club or the Investment Club, whose members manage $250,000 of the college endowment. The page lists alumni at Eide Bailly, EY, BerganKDV and McGowan, Hurst, Clark and Smith, and says the program is rooted in a Christian mission.

Federal data shows a 66% graduation rate and an 80% admit rate. Tuition is $36,400, the same for in-state and out-of-state students because Northwestern is a private nonprofit. The program earns a Program Score of 71 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a four-year, CPA-oriented accounting degree at a small faith-based college of about 1,700 students, with hands-on investing experience through the club.

Loras College offers a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting through the Noonan School of Business, Engineering and Innovation. The college says students can complete the 150 credit hours required for the CPA exam, a double major or minor, an internship and study abroad, all within four years. The degree prepares students for the CPA, CMA and CIA. Internships can be taken for academic credit or non-credit in the fall, spring or summer, with host organizations listed including the City of Dubuque, John Deere, RSM, Eide Bailly, Heartland Financial and the FDIC. Course highlights include Accounting Research and Analysis, Advanced Financial Accounting, which covers business combinations and consolidated statements, and a Data Analysis course using spreadsheet and database software.

Federal data shows a 68% graduation rate and a 100% admit rate. Tuition is $37,912, the same for in-state and out-of-state students because Loras is a private nonprofit. The program earns a Program Score of 69.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a small college of about 1,200 students, a clear route to the 150-hour CPA requirement, and the chance to add a second major such as business analytics or financial planning.

William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, offers an accounting major with two options. General Accounting is for students who want to do accounting work inside a firm. Public Accounting is for students who want to serve the public as record keepers, auditors, tax preparers or financial planners. Both options teach Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and a required Business Ethics course and other major courses ask students to work through ethical dilemmas. The page lists bookkeeper, cost accountant, credit analysis manager, tax accountant, auditor and cost estimator as roles for graduates. Internships are encouraged but not required, with past employers including Mahaska Health Partnership, Musco Sports Lighting and Hunt and Associates. The Business Club adds field trips and a spring excursion to a major city.

William Penn graduates 33% of its students and admits 52% of applicants. Tuition is $29,750 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 67.2 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. The low graduation rate is worth weighing. The program fits students who want a small campus, a choice between corporate and public practice, and an ethics-heavy curriculum.