Number-crunch your way to the top with one of the best Doctorate in Accounting degrees.
Do you have a bachelor's degree in accounting but feel like there's more to the field than tax audits and payroll? Are you an educator at heart with a love for numbers? Did you secretly love your accounting theory classes in your MBA degree?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you might want to consider getting a PhD in Accounting. You've found the perfect place to start your journey toward the highest possible degree in the field of accounting.
Accredited Online College Programs
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What kind of doctorate in accounting should you get?
Like any PhD program, the doctorate is reserved for the few brave souls who have a passion (some would call it an obsession) with research and writing. So don't be fooled! You'll still be working with numbers, but accounting theory and research dominate the curriculums for most of these programs.
Most of the schools on our list follow a similar layout for their PhD programs in Accounting. Over the span of 4 to 6 years, you'll complete:
1-2 years of coursework
1-2 semesters of teaching fellowships
1-2 major research papers
Dissertation
If you're looking for a more flexible program that fits your specific needs, we've also identified the Best Online Doctorate's in Accounting Degrees.
How much money do people make with a doctorate in accounting?
Once you've successfully defended your dissertation, your career options look optimistic. Most graduates go on to become college professors of accounting. If that's your goal, you can look forward to making around $97,000 or more per year, according to Payscale.com.
The beauty of accounting as a field is that it's always in demand. No matter the economy, no matter the state of politics, we'll always need you brainiacs to figure out better systems of transactions, or solve loopholes in tax laws, or improve the quality of financial reporting.
For those very reasons, the demand for accountants is on the rise and expected to increase by 10% between now and 2026. The need for business educators is also growing at an amazing rate of 15% by 2022. All the hard work and late-night studying will be worth it! We promise!
Learn more about accounting degree salaries.
What are the requirements for a doctorate in accounting?
The application process for most of these programs is actually quite simple!Other than an official GMAT or GRE score and your undergraduate transcripts, most schools don't find it absolutely necessary that you have an MBA or even years of experience at an accounting firm.
When it comes down to it, the most important requirement is solid research and writing skills. Well, that and a passion for expanding the field of accounting. As long as you know (and appreciate!) the difference between the practice of accounting and accounting research, you'll do just fine in any of these programs.
Learn more about the requirements for a career in accounting.
What are the best Doctorate in Accounting programs?
If you're ready to take the plunge, this list of the 10 Best Doctorate's in Accounting degrees will get you well on your way.
Our team of data analysts formed an exhaustive methodology by gathering each Doctorate in Accounting program in the nation and comparing their reputation, graduation rates, retention rates, affordability, and the early salaries of graduates. Our sources and information come straight from program websites, as well as PayScale, U.S. News & World Report, and The National Center for Education Statistics.
In the end, we came up with 10 amazing programs that offer the finest education and research opportunities in accounting. You really can't go wrong with any of them!
Explore PhD in Accounting Programs
See our rankings methodology page.
