Bradley’s CPA Pass Rate Number One Among Accounting Accredited Programs in Illinois

07/18/2014 12:11 PM

By Lindsay Anderson

Foster College of Business students continue to score high marks on the CPA exam.

According to the data published by NASBA, when compared to other schools in Illinois with AACSB accounting accreditation, Bradley University ranks first in overall CPA exam pass rates for all testing events for 2013 with a pass rate of 59.5 percent. The national average pass rate is 49.4 percent.

The CPA exam has four sections and candidates take one section at a time. Pass rates refer to the number of sections passed divided by the number of sections taken.

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) is significantly involved in administering the CPA exam. One service that NASBA provides is a book of information about CPA exam pass rates by school. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is the premier accrediting body for business schools. 

Bradley University is one of only 180 universities in the world to hold AACSB business accreditation along with an additional specialized AACSB accreditation for accounting programs.

“In the School Performance Book, NASBA provides several different views of CPA exam pass rates,” Dr. Simon Petravick, Department Chair and Professor of Accounting, said. “These include overall pass rate for all testing events, first time pass rates, and first time pass rate for students with an undergraduate degree, and many more.” 

Recent alumni have felt very prepared for the CPA exam as a result of the Accounting Department’s dedicated faculty.

“The Foster College of Business at Bradley University helped me develop the critical skills necessary to prepare and pass the CPA exam,” Accounting 3:2 alum, Anthony Isherwood ’14 said.  “We had specific classes that addressed exam topics like audit, financial, law, and tax. The 3:2 Master of Accounting Program  gave me opportunities to explore my interests and prepare for the challenges in my personal and professional life.”

“The 3:2 Accounting program was a great program all around,” Accounting 3:2 alum, Mike Theusch ’14, said. The professors, coursework and atmosphere all helped me to achieve my goals. Dr. Petravick provided excellent direction, and Dr. Mollie Adams, Assistant Professor of Accounting and MSA Program Coordinator, developed us all into analytic accounting students with a huge amount of potential.”