Vermont’s colleges and universities offer several programs in accounting, from general accounting to advanced programs focused on CPA licensure. This overview of accounting schools in Vermont will help you find a program that matches your skills and career goals. As an alternative to traditional accounting programs, some students find that online accounting schools are a more convenient and efficient way to earn a degree to support their accounting careers.

Table of Contents

Comparison of Vermont Accounting Schools and Programs

The table below provides detailed information on not-for-profit accounting programs in Vermont 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 Entry10
Champlain CollegeACBSPBS-Accounting;
BS-Accounting (Accelerated);
UG Cert-Accounting;
UG Cert-Accounting: Advanced;
UG Cert-Accounting: Cost;
UG Cert-Accounting: Forensic;
MBA-Accounting;
Grad Cert-Accounting		62.4%64%$35,133$26,814$64,456
Norwich UniversityACBSPBS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		86.8%61%$24,501$25,000$65,540
Saint Michael’s College—BS-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting		85.9%74%$27,700$26,922$67,947
Vermont State University—BSBA-Accounting;
MBA-Accounting		83.2%47%$11,952$15,000$50,331
University of Vermont—BSBA-Accounting;
Minor-Accounting;
Accelerated BSBA/MAcc;
MAcc;
MAcc-Auditing and Financial Reporting;
MAcc-Federal Taxation: Compliance and Planning;
MAcc-Sustainability Reporting and Assurance		63.5%76%$21,849$20,951$62,778

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.

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 Vermont 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 Vermont being 53.8%:

  1. University of Vermont 76.7%
  2. Champlain College 42.1%
  3. Saint Michael’s College 37.5%

*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 Vermont with Accounting Degrees

To give you an idea of the breadth and depth of accounting degrees offered in Vermont, 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.

Graduate Accounting Programs

Vermont State University

Vermont State University (Vermont State) offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Accounting that prepares students for high-level accounting careers and CPA licensure. This program focuses on public accounting, ethics, auditing, risk management, and taxation. Students learn critical thinking and in-depth research skills to solve complex accounting problems. Concentration-specific courses include Taxation of Business Entities; Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting; and Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics. Students with a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than business or accounting must complete prerequisite coursework. The Vermont State MBA-Accounting can be completed in person or online.

University of Vermont

The Grossman School of Business at the University of Vermont (UVM) offers a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) that prepares students for CPA licensure. While developing professional writing and presentation skills, students learn about auditing, tax research, and financial reporting. Students gain an understanding of US and international financial reporting standards to prepare them for careers in both domestic and international business. Required coursework includes CPA Law and Accounting Research, Regulations, and Ethics. In addition to the general MAcc, graduate students can choose from one of three concentrations to specialize their degree; Auditing and Financial Reporting; Federal Taxation: Compliance and Planning; and Sustainability Reporting and Assurance. Full-time students with all of the necessary prerequisites can complete the UVM accounting master’s degree in as little as two semesters, while those without an accounting degree take an average of two years to earn their degree. An accelerated program is also offered to undergraduate students completing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) at UVM.

Online Accounting Programs

Champlain College

At Champlain College, students can pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Accounting Specialization that can be completed 100% online. The accounting specialization provides graduates with the means to solve business problems and integrate and analyze financial statements to drive business decisions. Students complete 24 credit hours in the core MBA curriculum, which includes courses such as Organization Analysis and Finance and Technology as a Disruptive Force. Students also complete eight credit hours in accounting specialization courses like Financial Accounting Essentials, Management/Cost Accounting Essentials, and Business Analysis Using Financial Statements. The 33 credit hours required for the degree can be completed in as few as six eight-week terms. Graduates are prepared to work as CPAs and in specialized areas such as audit and tax accounting.

Vermont CPA Requirements and Steps

The Vermont Board of Public Accountancy (the Board) of the Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) oversees the process for becoming a Certified Public Accountant in the state. Applicants must complete 150 semester hours, 42 of which must be accounting related. There are six main steps to complete in order to earn a CPA license in Vermont.

  1. Complete 150 semester hours of college-level education in accounting.
  2. Accumulate the required hours of experience.
  3. Complete a four-hour ethics course and exam.
  4. Pass the Uniform CPA Examination.
  5. Apply for a license.
  6. Receive a license.

1. Complete 150 semester hours of college-level education in accounting.

Prospective Vermont CPAs must first complete at least 150 semester hours of education that includes the award of at least a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 42 semester hours of accounting, auditing, and related coursework.

2. Accumulate the required hours of experience.

The Vermont Board of Public Accountancy requires CPA applicants to complete at least one year of accounting experience. The work experience must be supervised by a currently licensed CPA and include 500 hours of attest work and 200 hours of auditing work, as well as non-routine accounting experience. Qualifying hours cannot be from more than four years before taking the Uniform CPA Exam, or more than four years after passing the exam.

3. Complete a four-hour ethics course and exam.

An approved four-hour course in professional ethics must be passed, which may be based on Vermont law or the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Code of Conduct.

4. Pass the Uniform CPA Examination.

The AICPA Uniform CPA Exam is a license requirement for CPAs in all 50 states. The Vermont Board of Public Accountancy uses the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to process applications to the Uniform CPA Exam. Prospective licensees who are ready to take the exam may begin the application process through the NASBA website. All four sections of the exam must be passed within a 30-month rolling period. In Vermont, students who do not yet have a bachelor’s degree and who have not yet met the 150-hour requirement for licensure may sit for the CPA Exam as long as they have completed at least 120 hours of college-level education with 30 semester hours of coursework including:

  • At least six hours in financial accounting beyond the introductory level
  • At least three semester hours in auditing
  • At least three semester hours in US income tax
  • At least three semester hours in US business law

5. Apply for a license.

Once a candidate has passed the Uniform CPA Exam and the Board has received the candidate’s scores from NASBA, the candidate can apply for a license through the Board’s website. Candidates will need to include the Supervised Experience Form along with their application. Note that applicants must apply for a license within four years of passing the Uniform CPA Exam.

6. Receive a license.

After all the above steps have been completed and the Board has received the application and exam scores, applicants will receive their CPA license to practice in Vermont.

CPA License Renewal and Continuing Education Information

After obtaining a license, Vermont CPAs must complete 80 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) during each biennial renewal period, and four of these hours must be in ethics. You can find additional information on the Board’s website.

Career Opportunities for Accounting Graduates in Vermont

Vermont’s diverse business community allows ample opportunities for accounting graduates. Ski resorts are a major industry in Vermont, with companies such as Killington Grand Resort Hotel, Jay Peak Resort, and Vail Resorts being major employers in the state. Burton Snowboards is also headquartered in Burlington, Vermont. Other large employers in Vermont include IBM, Interconnect, and GE Aviation. Several banks and healthcare businesses in the state may also need professional accountants. CPAs with an entrepreneurial spirit may choose to open their own private accounting practice.

Vermont Accounting Salary and Jobs by Metro Area

Metro AreaAccountants & Auditors Employed12Average Annual Salary12
Burlington-South Burlington890$89,470
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area590$78,660
Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area740$74,600

Additional Resources

Top Accounting Firms for Graduates in Vermont

Vermont Accounting Associations

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, Vermont: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_vt.htm
13. Vermont Board of Public Accountancy: https://sos.vermont.gov/accountancy/