According to the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report, BYU’s accounting program is ranked third nationwide.
The program’s allure was reflected in an unusually high number of applicants for the ‘25-’26 academic year.
Part and parcel of that prestige is a reputation among students for being highly rigorous, and there are several things new or prospective students should have in mind to best prepare for success.
John Winder, who recently began the Junior Core as part of the new fall cohort, was relieved to be accepted. He commented on the strain of applying in such a large pool.
“I know this year it was a really, really hard year to even get into the accounting program,” Winder said. According to the Class Profile, 389 of the 689 applicants were accepted, cutting 300 in total. This is up from previous years as applicant numbers have generally increased.
Melissa Larson, BYU accounting program director and professor, commented on how the department is handling a higher quantity of applicants.
“We’re thinking creatively and strategically about ways to allow students to be able to get an accounting degree,” she said.
Though some resources are limited, they are considering stretching them by expanding sections and potentially creating a winter cohort.
While ideas are being considered, she clarified that no official decisions have yet been made as to how to proceed.
For those who do make the cut, the program wastes no time in challenging them. Winder, though he enjoys his classes, clarified that the utmost diligence in studying has been required since week one.
“I have done close to nothing social for the past week and a half,” he said. “I’m in the morning section, so I start at 8 a.m. I got home early on Thursday, and ‘early’ was 7 p.m.”
Larson addressed the idea that the program is especially rigorous by explaining that it reflects the skills students will use as effective and adaptive accountants.
“I would say (rather) than rigorous, it’s intellectually enlarging,” Larson said. “We’re also about lifelong learning, so we need to teach those skills [of] how you’re going to learn for your profession,”
Modeling the program on reality is one way the program shines. Students study real companies, and there’s a heavy emphasis on collaboration, just like in the real accounting world.
Students like Winder are placed in small groups, and they work with those same people on different projects throughout the whole program. Accounting is often viewed as a solitary, soulless pursuit. Larson said it’s anything but, and creative teamwork skills are essential.
Michael Drake, associate dean of the Marriott School and Principles of Accounting (ACC 200) professor, is one of the first faces accounting students see despite not teaching in the program. He challenged the idea that the program is uniquely difficult,
“Lots of programs at BYU are rigorous,” he said. For him, that is not a unique descriptor.
However, he went on to say that the program prepares students for the difficult world that awaits them after college, whether inside or out of the office.
“The rigor helps model the effort that’s needed to be a highly productive employee," Drake said. "That’s also (needed) to be a highly productive disciple (and) human being.”
Regarding the program’s stellar rankings, both Larson and Drake had clear thoughts about what creates the prestige — the students and alumni.
Drake commented on the uniqueness of BYU students, saying, "They're choosing to come because of the mission of BYU … people that choose that, they have certain attributes.”
He and Larson agree that the diligence and gospel focus typical of these students lead to success in the program and later in the workforce, success that brings recruiters back to BYU.
Larson added that “we can’t launch [students] into successful careers … if we don’t have recruiters coming back here.” She encourages all current and future students to recognize that they stand on the shoulders of great alumni and pay it forward.
“As hard as you’ve studied and as hard as you've worked, it’s because of those before you that these recruiters are coming back,” she said.
For those seeking to apply in the coming cycles, Winder clarified that the application is “mostly grade-based.” High grades in the prerequisites, specifically ACC 200 and Principles of Accounting 2 (ACC 310), will give hopeful students a fighting chance.
More information about the accounting program and applications can be found on the program website.