UB School of Management grads crush CPA exam

By Jacqueline Molik Ghosen

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Once again, accounting graduates from the University at Buffalo School of Management are No. 1 in CPA exam performance among the ten largest accounting programs in New York State.

According to the 2014 National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Uniform CPA Examination Candidate Performance publication, released last month, UB School of Management graduates had a pass rate of over 68.3%, significantly higher than the average of 55% for all jurisdictions and 55.5% statewide.

UB’s pass rate increased for the third consecutive year and is over 9% higher than the next contender in the largest school category, the University at Albany.

In addition, among the state’s ten largest programs, UB School of Management graduates scored highest on each of the three sections that focus on topics taught in accounting classes, and second, just behind Fordham, in the Business Environment and Concepts section, covering economics, finance and technology.

Across Western New York schools, regardless of size, the UB School of Management was a close second to Geneseo.

Among large national universities, the UB School of Management ranked 12th, ahead of such schools as the University of Illinois, Ohio State University and Penn State, and up from 24th just three years ago.

“These results are a true reflection of the high quality of our accounting programs and the caliber of our students,” says Arjang Assad, dean of the School of Management.

The high success rate comes at a great value as well. The Accounting Degree Review ranked the UB School of Management No. 13 nationwide on the “30 Most Affordable Residential Master’s Programs in Accounting for 2015.” UB was the only school in the state to make the list.

The UB School of Management is recognized for its emphasis on real-world learning, community and economic impact, and the global perspective of its faculty, students and alumni. The school also has been ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek, the Financial Times, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report for the quality of its programs and the return on investment it provides its graduates. For more information about the UB School of Management, visit mgt.buffalo.edu.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB’s nearly 30,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.