Nevada’s colleges and universities offer various programs for students looking to earn a degree or certificate in accounting. The following guide to accounting schools in Nevada is designed to help you understand and compare your options to find the school that best fits your schedule and career goals. Read on below to find out more about school rankings in Nevada, different curricula offered by various schools, and career outlooks in the accounting industry in the state.

Table of Contents

Comparison of Nevada Accounting Schools and Programs

The table below provides detailed information on not-for-profit accounting programs in Nevada to help you compare your options. Programs that appear in bold text offer hybrid or online options.

SchoolAccreditationAccounting Degree(s)Acceptance Rate10Grad Rate1Avg Net Price1Median Debt*10Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry**10
University of Nevada-Las VegasAACSBBSBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
UG Cert-Internal Audit;
MSA;
Grad Cert-Internal Audit		83.5%47%$13,159$19,450$53,363
University of Nevada-RenoAACSBBS-Accounting;
BS-Accounting and Information Systems;
Minor-Accounting;
MAcc;
MBA-Accounting
MBA-Accounting: Finance
MBA-Accounting: Tax		88.2%62%$16,670$18,922$59,167

Table Notes:
*Median Debt: The median debt is the cumulative federal loan debt, excluding PLUS loans, at the time of graduation for students who completed an undergraduate program (certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree) as reported by College Scorecard for academic year 2020-2021 based on ​​National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) data.
**Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry: Median earnings are the middle value of earnings, at which half earned more and half earned less, measured 10 years (2020-2021) after the first year of study (2010-2011) for all students, institution-wide, who received federal loans and who are employed but not enrolled in school. Note that this value includes those who completed their program of study as well as those who discontinued study without receiving an award.

Top-Ranked Accounting Schools in Nevada

College rankings can be a useful tool to measure the overall reputation of a school or program. Weighing multiple rankings when evaluating your college choices can be helpful because different publishers may use different ranking factors in their methodologies. While the best program for your goals may rely on a combination of factors not typically considered in overall rankings, such as location or funding, seeing a program ranked on multiple lists can be a strong indication of reputation and academic quality.

College Factual’s Best Accounting Schools 2023

  • University of Nevada-Las Vegas (#203)
  • University of Nevada-Reno (#214)2

Highest First-Time CPA Exam Pass Rate with a Bachelor’s Degree

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) releases a report including data on candidate performance on the Uniform CPA Exam.11 The following schools had the highest first-time CPA exam pass rates in Nevada in 2019 (the most recent report available*) for candidates with a bachelor’s degree, with the overall pass rate for first-time test-takers in Nevada being 59.5%:

  1. University of Nevada Reno 56.1%
  2. University of Nevada Las Vegas 52.8%

*As NASBA makes significant changes to the CPA Exam as part of the CPA Evolution initiative, new candidate score reports by state are not anticipated until at least mid-2024.

Schools in Nevada with Accounting Degrees

To give you an idea of the breadth and depth of accounting degrees offered in Nevada, we have profiled select programs below. Be sure to visit the websites of programs of interest for more detailed information on courses, admissions requirements and deadlines, and faculty.

Undergraduate Accounting Programs

University of Nevada Las Vegas

At the Lee Business School at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), students can complete an AACSB-accredited Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Accounting. Students follow a curriculum that blends both accounting fundamentals and practical application. Coursework emphasizes accounting theory in the context of analytical decision-making in business as well as accounting and business information technology. Students frequently work in teams and complete collaborative projects, developing communication and management skills. UNLV also focuses on experiential learning opportunities, providing students with the chance to complete internships at CPA firms, industry, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. This focus allows students to develop real-world skills and professional connections before graduating and take this experience with them as they pursue different career opportunities.

University of Nevada Reno

Students at the University of Nevada Reno (UNR) can earn an AACSB-accredited Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting or a BS in Accounting & Information Systems. Both programs emphasize the theory and application of accounting subjects, preparing students for the many different roles accountants play in the business world. The curriculum starts with general education classes and then moves to the business core and accounting specialization courses. The core courses cover relevant topics in public, industrial, managerial, and government accounting. Those who choose to enroll in the Accounting and Information Systems major can pursue technology-based positions in managerial or financial accounting, systems consulting, electronic auditing, and forensic accounting. Accounting graduates can pursue entry-level accounting positions, start their own businesses, or continue advanced graduate studies. For those seeking CPA licensure, UNR has two graduate accounting programs; the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an emphasis in Accounting.

Graduate Accounting Programs

University of Nevada Las Vegas

Students at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) can complete an AACSB-accredited Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) degree through the Lee Business School. The graduate program prepares students to work in taxation, public accounting, managerial or corporate accounting, and government. The MSA takes one to two years to complete, and can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. Those with non-accounting undergraduate backgrounds are welcome to apply, but will need to complete some prerequisites before formally beginning the program. The curriculum builds on accounting basics to teach students advanced, applicable accounting knowledge. Students learn about topics in the accounting field that are required for CPA licensure as well as new industry and business trends. Students are encouraged to work collaboratively in teams. Graduate students at UNLV who are interested in internal audit have the opportunity to add an Internal Audit Certificate to their degree.

Online Accounting Programs

University of Nevada Reno

The College of Business at the University of Nevada Reno (UNR) offers an AACSB-accredited Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree that can be completed either on-campus or entirely online. This graduate degree is ideal for those interested in pursuing the CPA designation and an accounting career in the private or public sector. Students gain an advanced but broad business foundation, learning about the functional business knowledge needed to succeed in the field. In addition to technical and professional accounting skills, students also learn teamwork, leadership, and communication strategies. Coursework focuses on current and industry-relevant techniques used in tax planning, auditing, and financial reporting as well as technological trends in information systems. This program is open to students with and without academic accounting backgrounds, but those without an undergraduate accounting degree must complete 18 credits of Background track courses before moving on to the core curriculum.

Nevada CPA Requirements and Steps

The Nevada State Board of Accountancy (the Board) requires that CPA candidates have at least a bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting or the equivalent coursework. There are seven main steps to complete in order to earn a CPA license in Nevada.

  1. Complete at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
  2. Accumulate the required hours of experience.
  3. Complete the AICPA ethics course and exam.
  4. Apply for and pass the Uniform CPA Examination.
  5. Pass a background check.
  6. Apply for a license.
  7. Receive a license.

1. Complete a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Nevada CPA candidates must complete at least 120 semester hours of college education with a major in accounting to qualify for a license, including the award of a bachelor’s degree. The major in accounting must include 27 credit hours consisting of the following subjects:

  • Accounting electives (nine semester hours)
  • Auditing (three semester hours)
  • Business law (three semester hours)
  • Cost accounting (three semester hours)
  • Federal income tax (three semester hours)
  • Financial accounting (six semester hours)

The 120 semester hours must also include 24 semester hours of business courses in topics not listed above. The subjects that will qualify for this requirement are:

  • Behavior of organizations
  • Business finance
  • Business law
  • Data analytics
  • Data interrogation techniques
  • Digital acumen in accounting
  • Economics
  • Ethics in business
  • Information systems
  • Legal and social environment
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Oral communication
  • Quantitative applications in business
  • Statistics

2. Accumulate the required hours of experience.

The experience required to qualify for a Nevada CPA license depends on the candidate’s experience. Candidates with a master’s degree or 150 credit hours including a major in accounting must complete one year or 2,000 hours of experience. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in accounting must complete two years or 4,000 hours of experience. Experience earned must be supervised and verified by a licensed CPA. For more information on the experience requirement, see the Board’s website.

3. Complete the AICPA ethics course and exam.

The Board has adopted the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Professional Ethics self-study course and exam to meet its Rules of Professional Conduct requirement. Candidates can order the course through the AICPA website. The course and exam must be passed with a score of 90% or higher.

4. Apply for and pass the Uniform CPA Examination.

Candidates who have completed a bachelor’s degree and all required accounting coursework may apply to take AICPA’s Uniform CPA Exam. Candidates may apply to the Board using its online examination portal or the paper application form. After the application is reviewed and approved, candidates must pay the testing fees to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), who administers the exam. At that point, candidates will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS) with instructions on how to sit for the exam. Candidates must pass all four sections of the exam with a score of 75 or better within a 30-month rolling period.

5. Pass a background check.

The Board requires that all prospective CPAs undergo a fingerprint-based background check. This background check must be completed either on light blue civil applicant cards (requested directly from the Board) or using LiveScan electronic fingerprinting. The completed cards or LiveScan receipt should be included with the candidate’s submitted license application. You can find more information on the Board’s website.

6. Apply for a license.

After all of the above requirements have been met, candidates may submit the application and all necessary documents to the Board. The Application for CPA Certification Nevada Examinee form is provided for applicants who took the Uniform CPA Exam in Nevada.

7. Receive a license.

Once the application is submitted and approved, the Board will send an approval letter by mail containing the license number. Once the license number has been received, the applicant may begin practicing as a CPA. CPAs may order wallet cards or wall certificates through NASBA.

CPA License Renewal and Continuing Professional Education Information

Once licensed, CPAs in Nevada must renew their license annually by December 31. Nevada CPAs must complete 40 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) per calendar year. Two of these hours must be in professional ethics. CPAs who have participated in audit, compilation, or attestation in the past 12 months must complete eight hours of CPE that focuses on accounting and auditing. You can find additional information on the Board’s website.

Career Opportunities for Accounting Graduates in Nevada

There are many possible career paths for accounting program graduates in Nevada. Graduates may find opportunities to work with large corporations such as Southwest Gas Corporation or Sierra Health Services. Nevada’s gaming industry employs a vast number of accounting and tax experts, and Nevada grads can work in the tourism industry in metropolitan areas like Las Vegas and Reno. Others may choose to start their own accounting firms or work in small, regional businesses. Accounting graduates can also pursue public accounting positions in government or nonprofit agencies in Nevada.

Nevada Accounting Salary and Jobs by Metro Area

Metro AreaAccountants & Auditors Employed12Average Annual Salary12
Carson City260$70,560
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise5,110$67,230
Reno1,390$75,630

Additional Resources

Top Accounting Firms for Graduates in Nevada

  • Swarts & Swarts: One of the top CPA firms in Las Vegas, with a range of financial, litigation, and advisory tailored to the needs of clients across Southern Nevada, the US, and foreign jurisdictions.
  • Clifton Larson Allen (CLA): CLA has offices in Las Vegas, Reno, and nationwide, and focuses on offering wealth advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services to private businesses.
  • EideBailly: One of the largest CPA firms in Nevada, Eide Bailey offers a full suite of accounting, tax, and consulting services to clients in a wide swath of industries.

Nevada Accounting Associations

  • Nevada Society of CPAs (NVCPA): Formed in 1947, the NVCPA works to support and unite Nevada CPAs by offering CPE and networking opportunities, public advocacy, and career resources to its members.
  • The Association of Government Accountants (AGA)-Northern Nevada Chapter: The AGA works to promote government transparency and accountability by supporting members with leadership and networking opportunities; professional development resources; and scholarships. The Northern Nevada Chapter serves members throughout the state.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. College Factual Best Accounting Schools 2023: https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/rankings/top-ranked/
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges 2023 Edition. Penguin Random House, 2022.
4. US News & World Report’s Best MBA Accounting Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/accounting-rankings
5. US News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs 2023: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/bachelors/online-bachelors-business-rankings
6. US News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Accounting Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-accounting
7. Association to Advance College Schools of Business, Accredited Universities and Schools, Business & Accounting: https://www.aacsb.edu/accredited
8. Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, Accredited Schools, Separate Accounting: https://acbspsearch.org/
9. International Accreditation Council for Business Education, Members: https://iacbe.org/accreditation/member-status-information/
10. Department of Education College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
11. The NASBA Candidate Performance Report, 2019 University Edition: https://nasbareport.com/
12. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Nevada: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nv.htm
13. Nevada State Board of Accountancy: https://nvboav7prod.glsuite.us/GLSuiteWeb/Clients/NVBOA/Private/index.aspx