2026 Best Value Accounting Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Accounting doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 2085 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Accounting Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Anderson University Indiana earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Anderson, IN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,240. Typical Accounting student debt is $27,401. Median earnings reach $48,899 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Anderson University Indiana admits about 79% of applicants. Get the full Anderson University Indiana report
You'll get strong value at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Austin, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Graduates carry a median of $19,462 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $75,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 27% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full The University Of Texas At Austin report
Capella University came in at #3 on this year's best-value Accounting ranking in the United States. Set in Minneapolis, MN, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,400. Typical Accounting student debt is $30,795. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,189 ten years after entry. Set against $30,795 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Capella University
A rank of #4 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values in the United States. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. University Of Pennsylvania alumni report median earnings of $111,371 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Pennsylvania
Out of the 2085 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #5 spot. Set in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Students borrow a median of $20,707 to complete their Accounting program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,403 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,707 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Columbia
Washington State University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Pullman, WA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, while out-of-state students pay about $29,950. The median Accounting program debt is $25,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,905. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 87% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Washington State University
Michigan State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Accounting schools. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Michigan State University Accounting students take on a median of $23,250 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $67,253. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 85% of those who apply are admitted. More on Michigan State University
Georgia State University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Georgia State University is a public school based in Atlanta, GA. Students from in state pay about $8,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Georgia State University Accounting students take on a median of $25,500 in debt. Georgia State University alumni report median earnings of $47,384 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia State University admits about 55% of applicants. More on Georgia State University
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public school based in Baton Rouge, LA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,954, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College Accounting students take on a median of $19,600 in debt. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College alumni report median earnings of $61,251 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,600 median debt. About 73% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College profile
The University Of Alabama landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. The University Of Alabama is a public school based in Tuscaloosa, AL. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. The median Accounting program debt is $23,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,221. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted. Get the full The University Of Alabama report
University Of Oregon placed #11 among the best-value Accounting schools in the United States. Located in Eugene, OR, University Of Oregon is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,320, while out-of-state students pay about $42,516. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete their Accounting program here. Median earnings reach $61,324 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. See the full University Of Oregon profile
The University Of Texas At San Antonio placed #12 among the best-value Accounting schools in the United States. Set in San Antonio, TX, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Typical Accounting student debt is $20,647. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $57,131. Set against $20,647 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants. More on The University Of Texas At San Antonio
Aims Community College placed #13 among the best-value Accounting schools in the United States. Get the full Aims Community College report
Brigham Young University Hawaii offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. See the full Brigham Young University Hawaii profile
Buena Vista University offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. More on Buena Vista University
Dakota College At Bottineau came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full Dakota College At Bottineau profile
Huntington University offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. See the full Huntington University profile
Kirkwood Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Accounting schools. See the full Kirkwood Community College profile
Lake Michigan College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Accounting schools. Read more about Lake Michigan College
Mount St Marys University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Accounting schools. Read more about Mount St Marys University
Ohio University Zanesville Campus came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Ohio University Zanesville Campus report
Southern Oregon University placed #22 among the best-value Accounting schools in the United States. Read the full report on Southern Oregon University
Strayer University Pennsylvania offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Strayer University Pennsylvania
The College Of Westchester ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Accounting schools. Read more about The College Of Westchester
University Of St Francis came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of St Francis report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Accounting Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
College Of Marin
College Of Marin came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on College Of Marin
Concordia University Wisconsin placed #27 among the best-value Accounting schools in the United States. See the full Concordia University Wisconsin profile
Devry University Ohio came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Devry University Ohio
Nashville State Community College came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. More on Nashville State Community College
Rasmussen College North Dakota offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full Rasmussen College North Dakota report
Saint Michaels College placed #31 among the best-value Accounting schools in the United States. Get the full Saint Michaels College report
San Antonio College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about San Antonio College
San Jose State University landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. More on San Jose State University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. More on Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
Southwest Baptist University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. More on Southwest Baptist University
Tacoma Community College placed #36 among the best-value Accounting schools in the United States. See the full Tacoma Community College profile
University Of Baltimore came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Baltimore
Woodland Community College placed #38 among the best-value Accounting schools in the United States. See the full Woodland Community College profile
California State University Sacramento placed #39 among the best-value Accounting schools in the United States. Get the full California State University Sacramento report
Computer Tutor Business And Technical Institute came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Computer Tutor Business And Technical Institute report
Eastern Mennonite University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Accounting schools. Read the full report on Eastern Mennonite University
Edison State Community College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Accounting schools. Read the full report on Edison State Community College
Monroe Community College landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Monroe Community College profile
North Iowa Area Community College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Accounting schools. More on North Iowa Area Community College
Ohio University Southern Campus ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Accounting schools. Read the full report on Ohio University Southern Campus
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Read more about Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach
Roberts Wesleyan College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. See the full Roberts Wesleyan College profile
Simpson College
Simpson College placed #48 among the best-value Accounting schools in the United States. More on Simpson College
Umpqua Community College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Umpqua Community College report
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point report
Related Accounting Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Accounting Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Accounting Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Accounting Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Accounting Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Accounting Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Accounting Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 2085 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).