Is Accounting a STEM Major?

Business is the most popular category of majors among undergraduate students, and accounting is the major of 1 in 8 business students, according to spring 2025 data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Yet even this high volume of students may not be enough to meet the expected future demand for accounting professionals. 

Professionals in the accounting field need strong analytical and critical thinking skills. Accountants also need technical skills to be able to create financial documents and manage financial records. 

Degree programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are designed to help students develop the analytical and technical skills required for in-demand roles. Business degree majors such as accounting are not always considered STEM majors. But a data-driven accounting major can be considered a STEM major under the U.S. government’s STEM Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT) Extension program, which can qualify international students for work visa extensions.

What Is a STEM Major?

Professionals in many STEM fields are in demand and earn high wages. For example, STEM occupations had a median annual salary of $103,580 in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In contrast, non-STEM occupations had a median salary of $48,000.

Similarly, STEM occupations are projected to grow 8.1% between 2024 and 2034, while non-STEM occupations are projected to grow just 2.7%, according to the BLS. 

Pursuing a degree in a STEM major prepares students for careers in these in-demand fields. Common STEM majors include:

• Science: Biology, chemistry, physics
• Technology: Computer science, information technology, informatics
• Engineering: Civil engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering
• Math: Mathematics, statistics, actuarial science

STEM degree programs emphasize critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Many of these programs help students develop practical skills and prepare for focused career paths. 

A degree program’s STEM designation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) impacts the visa process for international students who graduate from the program. International students who earn a STEM-designated degree qualify for a longer work visa to gain professional experience.

Is accounting a STEM major? Traditionally, accounting has been classified as a business major, and is therefore generally not considered a STEM major. However, the field’s increased reliance on analytics and technology have earned some accounting programs a STEM designation. 

What Does an Accounting Degree Program Entail?

Accounting degree programs can provide students with the professional knowledge and accounting skills they need to work as an accountant or auditor. Students enrolled in an accounting degree program learn how to create and analyze financial reports. They also master the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), financial reporting regulations, and accounting information systems. 

Common undergraduate accounting program courses cover topics that include financial accounting, cost management, financial reporting, and auditing. At the graduate level, accounting students can specialize in an area such as tax accounting, accounting analytics, or general accounting. 

With an accounting degree, graduates can pursue work in a number of different types of roles, including as a financial accountant, management accountant, or auditor. A master’s in accounting program prepares students to become licensed as a certified public accountant (CPA).

Benefits of Choosing an Accounting Major

What are the benefits of earning a degree in accounting? Accounting majors develop practical, career-focused skills in financial reporting and analysis. In addition, an accounting degree program prepares students for high-paying roles in a growing field.

Career Training for in-Demand Roles

The number of students majoring in accounting and pursuing CPA licensure has dropped in the past 30 years, according to Ernst & Young. In particular, the number of candidates for the CPA exam dropped nearly 50% from 1990 to 2021, according to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. 

Yet demand for accounting professionals continues to grow. The number of accountant and auditor jobs will increase 5% from 2024 to 2034, according to BLS projections, which represents faster than average growth. More than 124,000 job openings are expected to be available for accountants and auditors annually during this period. 

Economic growth and the complexity of financial regulations are driving demand for accounting professionals. Earning an accounting degree prepares individuals to meet this demand. 

High Earning Potential 

The median annual salary for accountants and auditors was $81,680 in May 2024, according to BLS data. The finance and insurance industries generally paid these professionals the most. The highest-paid accountants earned over $141,000. 

While a bachelor’s degree meets the minimum education requirement for many accounting positions, earning a master’s degree can help professionals boost their salaries. Accountants with a master’s degree qualify for CPA licensure, which can open the door to higher-paying roles.

Long-Term Career Benefits

Accounting professionals’ career stability and comfortable lifestyle ranked as the top reason for choosing an accounting career among students surveyed for Ernst & Young’s 2023 report on accounting professionals of the future.

In addition, 79% of students surveyed agreed that a career in accounting will have long-term benefits. And 34% said that an accounting degree can lead to leadership opportunities outside of the accounting field. 

STEM-Designated Programs

Not all accounting programs offer STEM-designated degrees. But a growing number of programs are pursuing the STEM designation in recognition of their emphasis on analytical skills. A STEM-designated accounting degree program enables students to develop data analytics and business intelligence competencies, which can help them pursue data-driven roles in accounting when they graduate. 

International students in particular can benefit from choosing a STEM-designated program. International students who enroll in a STEM OPT Extension program qualify for a work visa extension of 24 months. 

Enroll in the STEM-Designated Accounting Master’s at Bryant University

Bryant University offers a Master of Science in Accounting that holds a STEM designation. The program’s emphasis on data-driven analysis and accounting analytics helps graduates stand out in the job market. International students can qualify for a 24-month visa extension by attending Bryant’s accounting master’s program.

Accounting master’s students choose a program track in analytics, tax, or general accounting. The program fully prepares students to take the CPA exam, and Bryant consistently reports above-average CPA exam pass rates. Bryant accounting graduates also have a 100% career placement rate. 

Bryant offers several other STEM-designated degrees, including a Master of Science in Data Science & AI, a Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics and AI, and a One-Year MBA with a concentration in business analytics.

Contact Bryant to learn more about the Master of Science in Accounting program.