Accredited accounting programs have qualified faculty members that make intellectual contributions to learning, research and the accounting practice in the form of peer reviewed journal articles, faculty research seminars, scholarly books, etc. As an example, the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University houses 11 business research centers and has a faculty that is widely published in academic journals and textbooks.
Accredited accounting programs must have a curriculum that is consistent with the responsibilities of professional accountants in the current business environment and prepares students to participate in that environment. Accountants are commonly employed at varying levels of management as financial accountants, financial analysts, controllers, auditors or tax accountants. Courses in accredited accounting programs that equip students with the introductory level of knowledge for such employment include financial accounting, financial reporting, audit and assurance Services and federal taxation. Although course titles might differ by institution, course descriptions are standard for most accredited accounting programs.
Accredited accounting programs provide the academic support necessary to produce high-quality graduates. As an example, the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University has a program referred to as "Academic Cohorts." The program groups, or "clusters," a group of 19 students together in their core classes, which allows students to build relationships with peers. First-year students also must enroll in the course WPC 101: The ASU Experience that prepares them to succeed academically and is taken with the same students from their Academic Cohort. First-year students also are expected to enroll in a workshop where an academic adviser assists the student in deciding on a course and program that meets the student's career goals.
The cost of an accredited accounting program varies by institution. Annual tuition and fees at the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University is an average of $6,000 for state residents and $18,000 for nonresidents as of 2011. The annual tuition cost for attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is an average of $14,000 for state residents and $28,000 for nonresidents as of 2011. CollegBoard estimates the average tuition cost is $9,000 for for public universities and $35,000 for private universities as of 2011.