CPA exam pass rates exceed expectations and UNT records

The UNT Department of Accounting has a reputation for preparing its students for success. Now, the most recent release of CPA exam pass rates serves as a clear indicator that students are even more ready to launch their careers than ever before.

In 2017, UNT students held an 81.8% pass rate for those taking the CPA exam with an advanced degree. In 2016, this rate was only 47.9%, which represents a drastic increase of more than 30 percentage points, year-over-year.

“Students are increasingly beginning to think that it’s expected that they pass all four parts of the exam before starting their full-time jobs,” said Don and Donna Millican Chair in Accounting Dr. Ananth Seetharaman.

One example of such success comes from recent graduate Daniel Gerleman, who passed all four parts of his exam before beginning his full-time job with KPMG (where he also began interning in 2017).

Students opting to take the exam for the first time within one year of graduation could be one of the reasons for this sudden surge in success. Exams within that timeframe saw 15 percentage points higher than those who waited longer to take the exam.

Students taking the Auditing section of the CPA exam also did particularly well, with an 80% pass rate, ranking them among the top schools in the state of Texas.

The UNT accounting program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and continues to set the bar high for its students in preparing them for their professional careers. In addition to unprecedented CPA exam pass rates, rigorous coursework, resume assistance, student organizations, networking events and mock interviews all play a significant role in student success.