Baylor University Accounting Students Rank Nationally in CPA Pass Rates

November 10, 2011

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Baylor University's accounting program is one of the best in the country, according to the results for first-time candidates of the 2010 Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam released by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).

Baylor graduate students ranked No. 6 in the nation for overall pass rate for first time candidates, with 86.6 percent passing. On individual sections, Baylor ranked No. 5 in the nation on the auditing section with a pass rate of 81 percent, No. 3 in the nation on the financial accounting and reporting section with a pass rate of 90 percent and No. 7 in the nation on the regulation section with a pass rate of 77.3 percent.

Graduate students also achieved the highest overall pass rate in Texas and the highest average score in Texas, a score of 81.1.

"These test results clearly indicate that Baylor educates some of the finest CPAs in the country today," said Dr. Charles Davis, accounting department chair and Walter Plumhoff Professor of Accounting at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business. "Our long history of excellence in accounting education has enabled our grads to achieve positions of leadership in organizations throughout the country."

Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., NASBA serves as a forum for the nation's state boards of accountancy, which administer the CPA exam, license more than 650,000 certified public accountants and regulate the practice of public accountancy in the United States. NASBA began gathering data on CPA exam candidates in 1982 and has published reports on performance since 1985.

The Baylor department of accounting and business law of the Hankamer School of Business provides a curriculum that has a strong technical accounting foundation, but also develops written and oral communication skills, teamwork skills, time management skills and critical thinking skills. The department offers bachelor of business administration (BBA), master of accountancy (MAcc) and master of taxation (MTax) degrees and has developed combined BBA/MAcc and BBA/MTax degrees to provide the required 150 hours to sit for the CPA exam in Texas and most other states.
About Hankamer School of Business
Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business provides a rigorous academic experience, consisting of classroom and hands-on learning, guided by Christian commitment and a global perspective. Recognized nationally for several programs, including Entrepreneurship and Accounting, the school offers 24 undergraduate and 13 graduate areas of study. Visit www.baylor.edu/business and follow on Twitter.
by Katy McDowall, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805