Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Accountants And Auditors
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Miami Dade College, Valencia Community College, Broward College, and State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Florida International, City College, City College, and City College Branch Campus.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider City College Branch Campus.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Florida A&M, Miami Dade College, Florida International, and Saint Thomas University.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider College of Business and Technology-Hialeah Campus, College of Business and Technology-Flagler Campus, Nova Southeastern, and Barry.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Hobe Sound Bible College, The University of Tampa, Florida Institute of Technology, and Northwood University Florida.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Clearwater Christian, Hobe Sound Bible College, Stetson University, and Webber International University.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Miami, University of Florida, Florida State, and Central Florida.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Florida International, Florida Memorial University, University of South Florida-Main Campus, and University of Florida.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Stetson University, Hobe Sound Bible College, University of Miami, and Florida A&M.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Pasco Hernando College • New Port Richey, FL
Studying Accounting (completion in 1979)
• 5/1/2011
"The experience of school was very positive. I liked my classmates, and liked my instructors. I enjoyed the atmosphere."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | In today's work environment, a degree is a must. If a person is serious about a career, and does not get sidetracked, this is a great experience. If I could do it over again, I would. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school was a local college. It was what I could afford. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The students I attended with were friends, so I enjoyed my classmates. I thought my instructors were very good teachers, and were approachable. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | I attended school more than 5 years ago. I assume you do not want any input. |
| How Difficult | 8 | You get what you give. If I wanted to be successful in my classes, I had to study. I feel I got the education I worker for. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We were expected to read our assignments and be prepared for class discussion. We were all given a project, and our instructor guided us step by step. Our instructor was available during non class hours. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | When I attended school, many of these options were not available. Basically, a list of required courses were given, and whatever fit your schedule was what choices one had. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | At the time I attended class, resources were up to date. Computers were not something readily available, but the media center was used a lot. As mentioned, instructors were accessible. |
| Social Life | 8 | I enjoyed school. I participated in activities and met good people. |
| Placement Services | 5 | The school did have some contacts with local businesses. They would make an introduction, but because it was a small college, placement help was limited. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I did not use the support system much that the school offered. I created my own study group. |
University Of South Florida • Tampa, FL
Studying Accounting (completion in 2006)
• 7/7/2011
"Overall I was very pleased with my experience at USF. However, as stated above, it did lack a certain ambiance."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | USF provides great academic training. Overall, you will be prepared for your career if you make it through the accounting program there. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Many employers nationwide are aware of the prestige of an accounting degree from USF. They teach you what you need to know and they do it well. |
| Program Quality | 10 | USF has a great faculty and great facilities. They teach you what you need to know for the career you are preparing for. |
| Instruction | 10 | They teach subjects based on knowledge of exams that will be required to continue your career. I was very well prepared for the CPA exam. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The accounting program is very complex. Ever changing rules and regulations require well trained professors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Much of the program was centered on reading and comprehending rules and regulations. There were hands on calculations done as well. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | If I was unable to sign up for a class that I needed, I was generally able to get in anyway. Professors are interested in teaching students that want to learn. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | There are multiple campuses in the Tampa area. There are libraries, study rooms, and computer labs located in both Tampa and St. Petersburg. |
| Social Life | 4 | USF is primarily a commuter school. Tampa is such a large city in which to have a college, so I feel it lacks the "college town" feel. |
| Placement Services | 8 | USF provides many on campus options for career placement. They also have a very user friendly website. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The alumni network in Tampa is a very large and prominent group. You can walk into any firm in the area and be more likely than not to find USF alumni. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Accounting (completion in 1984)
• 7/8/2011
"I was more than adequately prepared for my professional career as an accountant especially in technical expertise. That education got me in the door to build my professional knowledge and skills making me now not only an excellent accountant, but a business leader."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | As I said above, I was well prepared technically and professionally by my education. Further, it is a fun school with a dedicated community. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Warrington is one of the best business schools. Especially in my regional network, I find that I have been adequately prepared and I am widely respected. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I have a great network of professionals that have also graduated from my school within my profession. It is also a well respected school with an excellent national reputation. |
| Instruction | 9 | I was able to streamline my Bachelor's into my Master's and be fully educated within 5 years. The professors were all very knowledgeable and had extensive experience working in professional settings before teaching. |
| How Difficult | 7 | My courses were certainly challenging. However, after trying a number of areas of studies, I found accounting just made sense. I was really interested in the organizing and balancing of finances, etc. so I was willing to put in the extra work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think as a product of the time, the school was more focused on book learning. Today, with computer resources and such, students have the opportunity to learn in a variety of ways. I know the school now offers summer internship placements for students to gain professional experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | At the time, I thought that the scheduling was excellent for my schedule. However, I was a full time student and did not have a need for flexibility. I think now there are the typical evening and summer courses as well as online options. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | When I was a student, I felt that I had the resources necessary to complete my degree. The faculty and staff were very supportive and there was an extensive library just for use by accounting majors. |
| Social Life | 8 | If you love football, UF is great. There is a huge community surrounding sports. From that comes a lot of social opportunities and school spirit. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Right after graduating, I was placed at PW, one of the major national firms. This then gave me the experience I needed to later start my own firm. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Despite the fact that I live in a different state now, I still regularly interact with other alumni from my school in my professional and personal life. If I need to, I can draw on this network for professional support, recommendations, etc. |
University Of South Florida • Tampa, FL
Studying Accounting (completion in 2007)
• 9/13/2011
"It wasn't the worst, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend the school either."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | Maybe | It really depends on the personality of the person and what they like to do. This can be a very independent work. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Not many people think of business when they think of USF. |
| Program Quality | 7 | USF is good at preparing you for your career, just lacking in assistance while attending school. |
| Instruction | 8 | I wish that I had instructors with real life experience and a willingness to help their students. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Common sense and attention to detail are the most important things to succeed in accounting. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I learned from the book, no real life training. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I have taken classes in the day, at night, and online. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | They have a wide variety of tech centers and computers, just not enough for the students who need them. |
| Social Life | 1 | I never attended a social event at school. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I struggled to find a job on my own, my school did not help me. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I am not a member of the alumni assoc. |
University Of South Florida • Tampa, FL
Studying Accounting (completion in 2002)
• 11/3/2011
"I was able to get the credits I needed to get my license. That was my main goal, and USF made the process easy."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The costs are high, but the education is good. Upon graduating, you are ready to start your career with a good foundation of knowledge. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | At the time of my attendance, the accounting program was ranked in the top ten of the country. It was also considered the best school for accounting in the state. |
| Program Quality | 8 | USF is a great school, but the cost of tuition is high. It's also a commuter school, so campus life isn't as fun as traditional colleges. |
| Instruction | 10 | All of the instructors were industry professionals. Most of the time, their curriculum was taken from old CPA exam material. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Accounting is one of the most challenging of the business degrees. There is a lot of work and study required outside of the classroom. In addition, the exams are very difficult. You will rarely see a multiple choice exam in an accounting class. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The accounting program is mostly book learning, although there are some occasional projects that involve doing books for a fictitious company. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I worked full time while attending school, so my only availability was nights and weekends. I was able to take all of the classes I needed without a problem. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | All equipment was up to date. All professors had office hours or were able to help over the phone or through email. |
| Social Life | 5 | The athletic events were always fun, but there weren't many social events. Most of the students did not live on campus, so social events suffered. |
| Placement Services | I cannot give an accurate rating on this topic. This school offered job placement programs, but I was already employed, so I never used any of those services. | |
| Alumni Network | I cannot give an accurate rating on this issue. The alumni association reaches out to me often, but I have never had any involvement with them. |
Webster University • Merritt Island, FL
Studying MBA And MA (completion in 2011)
• 11/10/2011
"I was satisfied; it has helped me in my profession."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, it is a good fit for working adults. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Webster has a good reputation in the community for reaching out to adults who wish to continue their education. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Some of the instructors at the site where I attended had difficulty with the material. |
| Instruction | 7 | Some of the instructors at the site where I attended had difficulty with the material. But the material was related to the area industry. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The MBA and MA programs were in an adult learning (after hours) environment. The course load was, in some cases, lowered. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The mix was overall good. But it did vary from course to course. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Each program from day one has a guide and sequence that can start at any time. In addition, with online classes, the student can pick up courses when needed. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They make a good attempt to provide facilities and resources. |
| Social Life | 6 | Even though with adult learning the sole purpose is not social, I have and continue to have contact with some classmates. |
| Placement Services | 4 | The local campus in Merritt Island doesn't have job placement assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | They attempt to have an alumni network. But it is ineffective. |
Florida Atlantic University • Boca Raton, FL
Studying Business Management (completion in 2013)
• 2/3/2012
"The school spirit was topnotch and it was a pleasure to go there. The degree I earned was worthwhile and I know I will continue to enhance my skills from the base I've now learned."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school is very hands on and wants students to excel. There will be a lot of quality people guiding you along the way. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Many professors are successful career-goers who were successful in their fields. They are highly acclaimed people who have great reputations. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The director of the department is top rated. I was guided in the right direction and appreciate the support I had. |
| Instruction | 7 | I feel a lot of the curriculum was unnecessary. The general ed classes were fillers, and some of the major courses were voids in the learning process. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The professors were very intrigued with what they taught and therefore wanted us to succeed. They didn't want to just hand us our degrees - we really had to work hard for it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Depending on the professor, it was a tossup between book and hands on. Fortunately, I had a good mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | The availability of courses determines the flexibility of courses. Some courses are not always available at convenient times. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school put a lot of emphasis on aesthetics. Presentation to the public and interest to not-yet-enrolled students is a main focus. |
| Social Life | 8 | I loved the school spirit and support of others. Students there are going through the same thing you are - earning a degree - and the energy to help all succeed was high. |
| Placement Services | 10 | My school has its own career center that has many resources for the students. Also, my professor can guarantee a 99% placement upon graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | My university has a very supportive alumni base. Alumni donate and lend their expertise in many areas of study. |
Tallahassee Community College • Tallahassee, FL
Studying Mathematics (completion in 2011)
• 2/20/2012
"I graduated top of my class and I came away with a lot of knowledge. I would definitely go back and do it all over."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommend it. They have a lot to offer people majoring in mathematics. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | TCC's reputation is stellar. They have a lot of people succeed there. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Tallahassee Community College is great for math majors. Their teachers are perfect. |
| Instruction | 7 | The teachers are amazing at TCC. They care and explain things so great that it's hard not to understand. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Math is easy for me, so I flew through my classes, including non-math classes, which the teachers are just as good in. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some classes are very book oriented, but some classes are more hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | It is very easy at TCC to schedule your classes. They offer a variety of times for classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Their campus is well stocked with all the resources we need. The library is especially grand. |
| Social Life | 7 | I made a lot of friends at TCC. It's easy to meet people who share similar interests as you there. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They didn't help me find a job. I found one through a friend. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | It is a community college, so the alumni program is not the best. Most people transfer out before they graduate. |
University Of North Florida • Jacksonville, FL
Studying Accounting (completion in 2008)
• 2/24/2012
"It was a good experience. I don't think a big state school would have been right for me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I did it and turned out great. I'm now studying for my CPA, to take the next step. UNF did great for helping me out with that. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | They have a great business school. It's been known as a commuter program (offices send their employees there). |
| Program Quality | 10 | UNF gave me the tools I needed, both scholastically and socially, to succeed. Scholastically, the program was challenging, yet fair. |
| Instruction | 7 | The coursework was always relevant. However, at times, they would get adjuncts or newer professors who didn't know how to teach well. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Hours of homework. Difficult tests. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a good mix of both, except when it was a new professor. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | It was really convenient to take the classes you needed. However, the capstone course was a bit restrictive on the schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | We got a new library right before I left (it was under construction while I was a student, and it was nice when it was complete). All other facilities were nice. We even hosted the 2012 Republican Debate in FL. |
| Social Life | 9 | I was a founding father of my fraternity, so the social aspect was always there for me. Athletics---still waiting on football. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I didn't use the job placement services, because I always had work. However, they did have fairs and brought in employers in the area. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Being in Texas, it's hard to stay connected. Every quarter, I get a magazine letting me know the happenings of the alumni and current students. |
University Of Miami • Coral Gables, FL
Studying Accounting (completion in 2008)
• 3/4/2012
"I loved my school and I am very proud of it. It provided an excellent education and a great social experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school is fun, challenging, and exciting. I would recommend it to others based on the education and career services offered. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The location of the school and the football program overshadow the academic excellence. However, those familiar with the school know it is a great institution. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It provided all of the classes I needed for an undergraduate degree. It prepared me for the CPA and to enroll in a Master's program. |
| Instruction | 8 | Teachers had relevant experience to share. Teachers were available to help students. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The coursework was challenging, but not overwhelming. The teachers were available to help students when needed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were some case studies, however, learning was generally from text books. There were no projects that included outside/professional resources. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There were generally at least two choices for each class each semester. There were no online options, and you could not take classes related to your major abroad. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The business school had it's own library, computer lab, and study areas. The classrooms were set up similar to board rooms to provide a real-life scenario. |
| Social Life | 10 | The school provided great events and services. The athletic programs were very popular and there was much support and school spirit amongst the students. |
| Placement Services | 9 | The career center on campus brings in a wide variety of companies for on-campus interviews. There are several career fairs throughout the year, including an accounting specific career fair. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | There is a national alumni network, however, some areas are more involved than others. There are few networking events to help new graduates meet others in their profession. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Finance (completion in 2008)
• 3/8/2012
"I liked the campus and atmosphere. I would recommend to anyone."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a highly respected school. Helped me find a good career. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Very well respected. I think it is the best. |
| Program Quality | 7 | It was well balanced. Provided networking opportunities. |
| Instruction | 7 | It prepared me for many situations. It was adequate. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I did not have to study intensely. I enjoyed the material. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Had the best of both worlds. It was a mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Able to choose classes easily. Did not have a problem at all. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They were helpful with all problems. Did not have problem asking questions. |
| Social Life | 6 | Many people attended. Easy to make friends and network. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Helpful, if you have a decent resume. You need to be personable. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | Easy to network. I have made a lot of friends. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Decision & Information Sciences (completion in 2008)
• 3/11/2012
"The most important thing is my degree got me a great job. It might not necessarily be because of the degree, but it certainly was because of the school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Definitely, because UF is a great academic school. A lot of big companies will recruit from UF. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | DIS is not as prestigious as an MBA. That is the main problem with the degree, although everyone who graduates from DIS usually gets a great job. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program was pretty good. The teachers were knowledgeable and they were very helpful. |
| Instruction | 5 | It was good overall, but they didn't do a great job of preparing us for any particular job. They did a good job of spanning a lot of subjects, though. |
| How Difficult | 8 | There were some classes that were very difficult and some that were very easy. Overall, I would say it was a little tougher than average. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a mix, but there was probably more book learning. The reason for this I think is because we had to cover a large amount of topics. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Not very flexible in the master's program, but that is to be expected. Since it was a smaller program, it was tough to have online classes or weekend classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | We had fabulous master's program study areas that were quiet. We had just about everything we needed to succeed. |
| Social Life | 7 | It was OK, not too great. I went to school with a lot of anti social people. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Career services assistance is good, although it could be better, I think. Job placement is high, but I think that's just because big firms recruit from good schools like UF. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Support and networking is great at my company. We have a group at our firm that stays in touch that we went to school with. |
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