Accounting Degree Programs – University of Texas at Austin

The accounting degree programs at Texas University (McCombs School of Business) - specifically the Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) - have been consistently ranked as the number one accountancy course over many years by various publications (US News & Public Accounting Report). 

Why? It’s a big call but there are some very persuasive facts that justify the MPA’s ranking as one of the dominant programs out there. 

The following facts have been taken from the McCombs School of business accounting department website:

  • Over four years from 2007 to 2010, UT Austin students completing the MPA program have averaged a CPA (Certified Public Accounting) pass rate of 76% – that’s compared to the state average of around 52% and the national average of 42.5%
  • Before graduating, 93% of MPA students have secured job positions


  • Students have been recruited by several hundred employers right across the spectrum from the Big Four (accounting firms), Government, Fortune 500 companies and not-for profit enterprises
  • The average starting salary for the 2010 class was over $52,000

These are very impressive statistics for any accounting degree program. Let’s take a look at the various accounting degree programs that Texas University offers.

Bachelor of Business Administration (Accounting Major)

First up is the undergraduate program. Although one of the highest ranked accounting degree programs you can see on their website that there’s not a huge deal of information about it. The major focus is elsewhere….

Traditional MPA (Master in Professional Accounting)

The Texas MPA is designed for those students who have completed a bachelor’s degree from any course (i.e. not just accountancy) and sets you on the road to pursuing accounting as your chosen profession. 

Specifically, most people taking the MPA will be looking to take their CPA exams and will need to work with their academic advisor’s to make sure that they are eligible for the state they want to live in once they've graduated. 

Integrated MPA

Now this is for the dedicated accountants amongst us who really know from the off (like we did) that accountancy was the profession for you.

This is a five year course – and at the end of you could be in a rather envious position as you’ll have three feathers in your cap:

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

The Master In Professional Accounting (MPA)

You may be eligible to sit the CPA exam without further work – depending on your state of course

ECON-MPA

Let’s not forget our economic degree friends out there. 

Many students don’t want to take an accounting degree straight up and opt for economics firstly. And then secondly head into our accounting world.

And the ECON-MPA provides this great option. Like the Integrated MPA, this a five year course that gives you:

  • The B.A. degree in Economics
  • The MPA
  • Eligibility for the CPA test

The University of Texas at Austin’s History, Rankings & Alumni

OK, so now you know all about the accounting courses let’s give you some background about the university itself. 

  • It’s the flagship state university in Texas of the University of Texas System.
  • The idea for a public university in Texas was conceived as early as 1827, however, it wasn’t until fifty six years later in 1883 that the University of Texas finally opened its doors.
  • The state research university is one of eight original Public Ivy schools, public educational institutions that had ‘the look and feel of an Ivy League university’.
  • As of 2010, University of Texas enrolled more than 38,000 undergraduates and almost 13,000 post graduate students.
  • All 50,000 plus students, the 5th highest number of enrollees in a single campus for that year, were handled efficiently by around 16,700 members of the administrative and academic staff.
  • The school also boasts of having the biggest schools in the whole country with a campus size of 431 acres. The university is so large that it houses twelve colleges with the College of Liberal Arts being the biggest.
  • It also has the first ever presidential library found inside a university campus, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
  • The University of Texas at Austin ranks 76th best university in the world according to U.S. News and World Report. They also rank UT at number 45 in the same list, but this time in the United States only. It also ranked the 13th best public university in 2011.
  • Among UT’s highly regarded and constant high ranking graduate programs are:
  • School of Architecture (second best undergraduate business program for 2012)
  • McCombs School of Business (seventh in 2010)
  • Cockrell School of Engineering (ninth best undergraduate engineering program in 2009)
  • College of Fine Arts
  • School of Social Work
  • College of Education
  • School of Nursing
  • College of Pharmacy

Famous Alumni

Texas alumni, Former Longhorns, are active in almost all fields like politics, sports, arts and science:

Politics

  • In the government, around 30 alumni have been part of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.
  • The White House itself has seen a share of Texas alumni with former first ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Laura Bush

Sporting Achievements

  • Sport is where the Longhorns are also known for aside from having the best educational standards in the country.
  • The likes of Roger Clemens, Burt Hooton, and Cat Osterman once hit homeruns on Texas’ diamonds 
  • The best basketball players to ever come out of Austin might as well be Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Chris Mihm
  • Other athletic departments have produced stars among the many talented Longhorns. Some of which have produced various medals from international competitions like Sanya Richards Gold Medal for the 4x400 relay during the 2004 Olympics and 5-time Olympic medalist and gymnast Mary Lou Retton

Arts

  • John Maxwell Coetze was the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003 while Rick Riordan penned Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Kane Chronicles.
  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Janis Joplin, opera singer Mary Dunleavy, Golden Globe winner Jayne Mansfield, and musician-songwriter Roy Robinson are also former Longhorns
  • Directors Wes Anderson and Robert Rodriguez plus artists Farrah Fawcett, Renee Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey, Owen Wilson and Eli Wallach all hailed from the University of Texas at Austin.

Summing Up The University of Texas Accounting Degree Programs

So now you’re up to speed about the accounting degree programs at the McCombs School of Business. It’s all about that Master in Professional Accounting and the CPA course that it sets you on. But don’t kid yourself on. It will be tough. Very tough. But if you’re up to the challenge it will put you right at the top of the pile of accountants.