Accounting

Go beyond numbers when you pursue your degree in Accounting at Drake. While we help you hone your technical skills for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and the profession, we also emphasize communication, writing, and presentation skills—a carefully crafted combination that enhances your competitive edge for life after school.

You'll be taking accounting courses as a first-year student—an opportunity not found in most accounting programs. From day one, you’ll have at least one course in the major every semester. And those courses are taught by expert faculty—CPAs and Ph.D.s (some even have both) will tap into their professional and academic experience to give you an exceptional education.

You’ll also have the option to expand your studies with a unique joint major, pairing accounting with any other discipline within the College of Business and Public Administration. Or you can consider studying abroad or completing an internship (or three) at one of the major companies located in Des Moines.

About the Accounting Program

Accounting is frequently referred to as the “language of business.”  Every organization, large and small, needs accountants.   Accounting careers include financial reporting, auditing, taxation, financial advising, business consulting, data analysis, forensics, and law enforcement. Accountants work for public accounting firms, private industry, non-profits, and the government. 

Drake University’s School of Accounting offers both undergraduate (BSBA) and graduate (MAcc) degree programs designed to prepare you for a successful professional accounting career. Combined with a prime location, outstanding faculty, and a leading edge curriculum, the Drake School of Accounting provides its students with the tools for long-term success.

The Drake University School of Accounting is unique for the following:

• Strong interaction with the Des Moines accounting community, including all of the “Big 4” accounting firms, local Fortune 500 firms, and government agencies
• Student placement rate over 90%
• Nationally recognized success on the CPA Examination
• Dedicated faculty with both advanced degrees and professional certification
• Extensive experiential learning opportunities through internships, student organizations, and service learning
• Strong focus on both communication skills and data analysis
• Students begin accounting coursework in their first semester
• Opportunity to pursue a joint major combining accounting with another business discipline

Mission

The Drake University School of Accounting, a private mid-western institution, offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs that prepare students to be analytical and articulate accounting professionals.