Ashland University

What you'll study

The curriculum pairs a broad business foundation with concentrated accounting courses. Sample courses described by year include:

• First year: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, Information Technology, Introduction to Management, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics.
• Second year: Intermediate Accounting I & II, Financial Management, Business Spreadsheets, Principles of Marketing, Introductory Statistics, Accounting Internship or elective.
• Third year: Cost Management, Federal Income Taxation of Business or accounting elective, Business Communications, Business Law I, Federal Income Taxation of Individuals or elective.
• Fourth year: Auditing, Operations Management, Senior Seminar, Senior Assessment and accounting electives.

The program emphasizes small class sizes, faculty and practitioner instruction, internships, hands-on projects, student chapter events, national competitions and networking activities such as an annual “Meet the Accountant Night.”

Entry requirements

The published page does not list specific general admission requirements for the accounting major beyond applying to Ashland University. Additional scholarship eligibility (see below) specifies GPA criteria for applicants. For full admission procedures consult the Office of Admissions.

Career prospects

Accounting graduates from Ashland are prepared for roles across industries; typical positions listed include corporate financial analyst, auditor, forensic accountant, tax advisor, valuation expert, IRS criminal investigator, controller and chief financial officer. Employers that have hired AU accounting graduates include public accounting firms (Ernst & Young, KPMG, Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers and regional firms), government employers (Internal Revenue Service, State of Ohio Auditor's Office), corporations (The J.M. Smucker Company, Huntington Bank, Westfield Insurance) and regional accounting firms. The program notes a Bureau of Labor Statistics projection of 6% growth for accountant and auditor positions over the next decade and references an average accounting-related earnings figure of around $80,000 per year.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The Dean's Scholarship for new first-time and transfer students in Accounting, Finance and Sport Management offers a merit-based renewable award of $1,500 that stacks with other merit awards; applicants need admission to an eligible program and a cumulative (high-school or transfer) GPA of 3.5, and renewal requires a 3.0 GPA. Application involves a formal essay and interview and priority consideration has an April 1 deadline. After applying to Ashland, admitted students receive a link to apply via their status page. Contact the Office of Admissions for additional funding options.