University of Iowa Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting: 2027 Review

Score

64.5 of 100

Cost (20%)

3.4 of 10

Graduate Earnings (20%)

8.2 of 10

Completion (15%)

7.9 of 10

Flexibility (15%)

0.0 of 10

Credential Alignment (10%)

10.0 of 10

Track Record (10%)

10.0 of 10

Program Reputation (10%)

9.4 of 10

Credits

120

Format

On Campus

Time to Finish

48 months

Accreditation

AACSB (confirmed on the official list)

AACSB Accounting

Accounting accreditation listed by AACSB

See exactly how we score on the methodology page. We checked the school's figures on October 8, 2026.

Iowa builds writing into every required accounting course, so you practice audit memos, tax documents and client letters alongside the technical work. A certified public accountant (CPA) Track and a Corporate Accounting Track split the major, and one extra year adds a Master of Accountancy.

The Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa offers the Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in Iowa City. You'll take classes on campus. Tippie has held AACSB accreditation since 1923.

• Future auditors who want the CPA Track, which keeps you on course for the CPA requirements.
• Students who lean toward analytics and finance, since the Corporate Accounting Track adds Financial Statement Analysis to your plan.
• Strong writers and nervous presenters, because you'll get a writing, presentation or visual communication part in every required accounting course.
• Students who want a master's fast: start with 15 or more completed credits and add one year to earn both the BBA and the MAc. You also skip standardized tests as an Iowa accounting major.

Accounting courses start in year two. Income Measurement and Asset Valuation covers how revenue, expenses and assets get recorded in published reports. Valuation of Financial Claims covers liabilities, equity and the cash flow statement. Introduction to Taxation covers income tax for individual taxpayers and businesses.

Accounting Systems and Analytics has you solve problems with Python and databases. Auditing shows you audit standards, ethics and liability. Electives include Cybersecurity and Tax Practicum, run through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), where you prepare returns for real clients. Every BBA student also completes a Tippie RISE experience: faculty research, an internship course, study abroad or an experiential course.

The BBA takes 120 semester hours and eight semesters on the catalog sample plan. The MAc takes 30 more semester hours, and the full-time version can be finished in as little as one year. If you transfer, you must earn 45 semester hours at Iowa after admission to the BBA program. Each state requires 150 semester hours to become a licensed CPA, so the MAc year fits that need.

The price is about $1,046 per credit, based on the annual out-of-state tuition the school reports. Up to 60 transfer semester hours from a community college can shorten the time you pay Iowa rates.

It's an on-campus program in Iowa City. You apply to Tippie during your second year while finishing prerequisites, or enter through Direct Admission. Some advanced courses run one term only: Advanced Financial Accounting in spring and Advanced Tax Topics in fall.

Tippie is AACSB accredited. The CPA Track prepares you for the CPA exam. The college reports a 72% first-time CPA exam pass rate for 2025, based on National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) data. The Professional Accounting Seminar introduces the CPA exam and other professional certificates.

Where this degree can lead: Accounting Degree Jobs.

A recent Iowa accounting graduate told Fortune in 2026 that they haven't met another accounting graduate who can't find a job. Fortune also reported that 95% of the class of 2025 accounting graduates secured a job or continued their education.

A Tippie accounting student featured by the college says the program built the confidence to talk through their work with a chief financial officer. Students reviewing the university on Niche describe professors as approachable and invested in student success. The college says more than 120 employers hire Tippie-trained accountants in a given year, including Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC.

• When should I choose between the CPA Track and the Corporate Accounting Track?
• How do I plan the accelerated MAc year so I reach 150 semester hours?
• Which Tippie RISE option fits an accounting major best: VITA, an internship course or faculty research?

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