Accounting graduates from PFW among top 6% nationally for first-time pass rates on CPA exam

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—An assessment of aspiring certified public accountants conducted by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) has found graduates of Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Department of Accounting in the Doermer School of Business to be succeeding at a much higher rate than most of their counterparts nationwide when taking the CPA exam for the first time.

According to the NASBA’s most recent findings, the first-time pass rate for accounting graduates from Purdue Fort Wayne placed their alma mater in the top 6 percent, and 48th overall, among all schools in the US with at least 10 candidates. For medium-sized programs, those with 21 to 60 candidates, Purdue Fort Wayne ranked 12th in the nation for first-time pass rates on the CPA exam.

“The pride we all share in reaching this level of achievement is underscored by the knowledge that these impressive results have been consistent over time,” said Ronald L. Elsenbaumer, chancellor of Purdue Fort Wayne. “I applaud the hard work of our students and the excellent tutelage from our faculty.”

NASBA publishes its findings annually in a report titled Candidate Performance on the Uniform CPA Examination. The most recent rankings also placed Purdue Fort Wayne second among all universities in Indiana. Candidates from the University of Notre Dame had the highest first-time pass rate on the CPA exam during the 2018 assessment period.

Purdue Fort Wayne’s accounting alumni had a 75.9 percent pass rate and an average score of 78.6 during 2018, according to the NASBA. The nationwide first-time pass rate was 57.5 percent.

“Compared to all accounting programs in the US, regardless of size, this achievement provides a testament to the high-quality education that can be attained at Purdue Fort Wayne,” said Janet Papiernik, associate professor of accounting and chair of the Department of Accounting. “The faculty and staff of the Department of Accounting and the Doermer School of Business are very proud of our students and their academic achievements.”

The Department of Accounting offers an undergraduate degree and a postbaccalaureate certificate in accounting. The postbaccalaureate certificate is open to anyone who holds an undergraduate degree in any field.

For more information, please contact Kathy Pollock, associate professor of accounting, at [email protected] or 260-481-5751.

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