Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Accounting Degree

The School of Business accounting program will prepare you for leadership with a career in managerial, public or governmental accounting. While the majority of services offered by accounting in public practice consists of auditing services, the recent growth of fields include tax and business consulting, business valuations, litigation support, forensic accounting, and fraud examination. Our program offers students exceptional career outcomes, has a moniker for distinction and allows students to begin sitting for their CPA exam their senior year.

Exceptional Accounting Career Outcomes

Average starting salaries for 2024 Marian Accounting graduates is $61,472 with an average signing bonus of $4,000. Our accounting graduates work for firms such as BKD, Blue & Co., CliftonLarsonAllen, Ernst & Young, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, RSM, and Somerset.

Rachel Kassing ‘21, Greg Fulling '22, and Zivan Myahardt '25 have been nationally recognized by Poets&Quants for Undergrads as Best & Brightest Accounting Majors.

Indiana CPA Society 2023 Winners: The Indiana CPA Society is pleased to announce the winners and finalists for the 2023 INCPAS Awards honoring outstanding CPAs and related professionals in Indiana.

• Advocacy Award: Donna Niesen, CPA, Partner Katz, Sapper, & Miller
• Women to Watch Award: Mary H. Riggle, CPA, CGMA, Partner, Donovan, CPAs
• Emerging Leader Finalist: Madeline Kurcz, Assistant Professor of Accounting

Press Release: Indiana CPA Society honors 28 award winners and finalists at 2023 CPA Celebration

What makes our degree in accounting distinctive?

• Internship program: 100% of our accounting majors complete an internship. Our program offers you flexibility as you can complete your internship as a 3 to 12 credit hour course. Either way, you’ll walk away with great experience, new networks, and often, your first job offer!
• Faculty advising: Receive one-on-one advising from an accounting faculty member who will create a customized academic plan for you and help support your success.
• Experiential Learning opportunities are part of the course work in all of our accounting courses. Opportunities can range from preparing tax returns using industry recognized tax software, to presenting with your peers on accounting cases in our accounting program capstone course, to gaining experience by completing an internship with a public accounting firm – you will learn by doing!
• Professional Mentors: Our alumni care deeply about your success. Connect with your mentor and discover more about the profession of accounting.
• Becker CPA Exam Review is part of Marian’s accounting curriculum and is available at no additional cost to you. With focused content, integrated tools, and three study formats (live, live online, and self-study), Becker will help you succeed as a future CPA.
• Professional Accounting Organizations: As a student, you will have the opportunity to join the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Indiana CPA Society (INCPAS) which will connect you to accounting professionals. 

What will you study?

Accounting is the bedrock upon which business is built. Accountants analyze relationships between business decisions, operations, and bottom-line profitability. They provide answers to financial questions about when to expand a company, when to downsize, or when to invest more capital. They also know how to manage risk, maximize efficiency, and ensure compliance with state and federal laws. 

To earn the 128-credit Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree at Marian, you’ll complete at least 72 credits of business courses including 39 credits of business core courses and 33 credits of required accounting and finance courses. 

If you want to complete the 150-hour accounting program, you will have a variety of options for completing the additional credits. You’ll work closely with your academic advisor to develop a personal plan of study. Among the required courses you’ll complete are:

• FIN 111:  Personal Finance
• ACC 210: Principles of Accounting I
• ACC 211: Principles of Accounting II
• FIN 311: Advanced Managerial Finance
• ACC 320: Intermediate Financial Accounting I
• AIM 320: Business Decision Making
• ACC 321: Intermediate Financial Accounting II
• ACC 430: Tax Accounting
• ACC 431: Advanced Tax Accounting
• ACC 440: Auditing
• ACC 455: Cases in Accounting and Finance          

For more details, review our Undergraduate Course Catalog or download these sample four-year plan of study and course checklist.

Sample Four-Year Plan and Checklist

Indiana CPA Educational Foundation Scholarship (2024)

Congratulations to Macie Hadley, Jessica Luna-Tovar, and Alejandra Ruesga Garcia for achieving the Indiana CPA Educational Foundation Scholarship. This scholarship provides financial assistance to Indiana CPA Society (INCPAS) student members pursuing their accounting degree and entry into the CPA profession.

Indiana CPA Society Awards $21,500 in 2023-24 Scholarships

The CPA Exam

While licensure requirements vary by state, Indiana requires first-time exam candidates to have at least 120 credit hours from an accredited college or university to begin taking parts of the CPA exam through the American Institute of CPAs. Marian University’s accounting credits are accepted by the Indiana Board of Accountancy for its Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and the Institute of Management Accountants for its Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam.

What is your career outlook for accountants?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for accountants is expected to grow by 10 percent through 2026.