Is Accounting a STEM Degree? Types of STEM Accounting Degrees

Accounting isn't officially classified as a STEM field by the federal government, at least not yet, but that answer comes with some important nuance. A growing number of individual accounting programs have found ways to earn STEM designation anyway, and understanding how that works can matter a lot if you're weighing program options, especially as an international student.

This article breaks down exactly where accounting stands on STEM classification today, how some programs earn the designation despite the broader field not qualifying, and eight types of accounting-related degrees that currently carry STEM status. Whether you're chasing the practical benefits of STEM designation or just curious about where accounting fits in the STEM conversation, this overview covers what you need to know.

Is Accounting a STEM Degree?

Under current federal rules, standard accounting degrees are not classified as STEM. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security maintains a STEM Designated Degree Program List built around specific Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes, and the standard accounting CIP code, 52.0301, isn't on that list, despite years of advocacy from the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and dozens of state CPA societies pushing for its inclusion.

That advocacy effort has been active for years, with the AICPA and more than 50 state CPA societies formally petitioning DHS multiple times, most recently in 2025, to add accounting to the STEM list under the "Technology" category. Congress has also seen bipartisan legislation, including the Accounting STEM Pursuit Act, aimed at recognizing accounting as a STEM subject, though that legislation focuses on K-12 education rather than directly changing DHS's higher education CIP designations. As of now, standard accounting remains outside the official federal STEM classification, even though the case for including it continues to gain traction.

How Some Accounting Programs Earn STEM Designation Anyway

Despite the standard accounting CIP code falling outside DHS's STEM list, individual schools have found a workaround by classifying their accounting programs under a different, already-approved STEM CIP code instead. Codes like Management Science, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, and Computer and Information Systems Security have all been used successfully by accounting programs that can demonstrate their curriculum genuinely fits those categories, usually by building in substantial coursework in data analytics, programming, and quantitative methods.

This approach has mostly taken hold at the graduate level, where dozens of Master of Accountancy and Master of Science in Accounting programs have restructured their curricula and reclassified under one of these alternative codes to earn STEM status. Bachelor's-level STEM designation remains far rarer, with only a small handful of undergraduate accounting programs, including those at the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business, having successfully made the change so far.

Types of STEM Accounting Degrees

The programs below represent the most common ways accounting degrees currently achieve STEM status. Each one blends core accounting coursework with enough technical, quantitative, or data-focused content to qualify under an approved STEM CIP code.

1. MS in Accounting Analytics

Some schools have restructured their master's in accounting into a dedicated Accounting Analytics degree, weaving data analytics, programming, and statistical methods directly into the core accounting curriculum rather than offering them as electives. These programs typically classify under a quantitative methods CIP code, since the curriculum genuinely centers on using data tools to solve accounting problems rather than treating analytics as an add-on.

Graduates of these programs learn to apply tools like SQL, R, or Python to tasks like audit sampling, fraud detection, and financial statement analysis, giving them a skill set that overlaps meaningfully with data analyst roles. This type of program tends to appeal to students who want their accounting credential to signal genuine technical fluency, not just familiarity with spreadsheet software.

2. MS in Accounting and Business Analytics

A close cousin to the accounting analytics degree, this program type combines a full accounting curriculum with a broader business analytics component, covering topics like predictive modeling, business intelligence, and data visualization alongside standard auditing and tax coursework. The broader analytics framing can appeal to students who want technical skills that transfer beyond accounting specifically, into roles in business intelligence or corporate strategy.

Programs using this structure often draw enrollment from both traditional accounting students and career changers coming from data-adjacent fields who want a credential that bridges both worlds. Because the curriculum leans heavily on quantitative coursework, these programs are among the more common accounting-adjacent degrees to successfully earn STEM classification.

3. Master of Accountancy With a Quantitative Track

Rather than rebranding the entire degree, some schools offer a standard Master of Accountancy (MAcc) with an optional quantitative or STEM-designated track, letting students choose whether to pursue the technical coursework needed for STEM classification. This structure gives students flexibility, since not every MAcc student wants or needs the additional technical coursework a STEM track requires.

Students who choose the quantitative track typically take additional coursework in statistics, data management, or accounting information systems beyond what the standard MAcc requires. This option suits students who want the traditional MAcc credential and CPA-track coursework but also want the option of STEM classification if it fits their goals.

4. Accounting Information Systems (AIS) Degrees

Accounting Information Systems programs sit at the intersection of accounting and information technology, training students to design, implement, and audit the technology systems organizations use to manage financial data. Because this degree type is fundamentally built around systems and technology rather than accounting alone, it more naturally aligns with STEM-approved CIP codes like Computer and Information Systems Security.

Coursework typically covers database management, systems auditing, cybersecurity fundamentals, and enterprise resource planning software, alongside core accounting principles. Graduates often move into roles like IT auditor or systems accountant, positions that specifically require this blend of accounting knowledge and technical systems expertise.

5. STEM-Designated MS in Taxation

A smaller number of schools have also extended STEM designation to their graduate tax programs, restructuring the curriculum to include substantial data analytics or technology coursework alongside traditional tax law and compliance material. This is a less common path than STEM-designated general accounting or analytics degrees, since tax coursework doesn't always lend itself as naturally to a quantitative CIP code.

Programs that pursue this path typically emphasize how technology is reshaping tax practice, covering topics like tax data analytics, automation tools, and technology-driven compliance work. Students interested in specializing in tax while also wanting the practical benefits of STEM classification should specifically confirm which schools offer this less common combination.

6. Management Science-Coded Accounting Programs

Some accounting programs achieve STEM status simply by classifying under the Management Science or Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods CIP codes, categories that were already DHS-approved for STEM before accounting programs began using them. This route doesn't necessarily require rebranding the degree's name to include "analytics," since the reclassification happens at the administrative CIP code level rather than in the program's public-facing title.

Because the underlying degree may still be marketed as a standard Master of Accountancy or MS in Accounting, prospective students sometimes don't realize a program carries STEM status unless they specifically ask or check the official CIP code listed on their I-20 form. This makes it worth confirming STEM status directly with a program rather than assuming based on the degree title alone.

7. STEM-Designated Bachelor's in Accounting

Bachelor's-level STEM designation remains rare, but a small number of undergraduate accounting programs have successfully reclassified, giving students the benefit of STEM status starting at the very first accounting credential they earn. These programs typically integrate significant data analytics and technology coursework throughout all four years rather than concentrating it into a single graduate year.

Because so few schools currently offer this option, prospective students specifically seeking a STEM-designated bachelor's in accounting have a much narrower list of programs to choose from compared to the graduate level. This scarcity is likely to shift over time as more schools pursue STEM designation across all degree levels, particularly if federal legislation eventually formalizes accounting's STEM status more broadly.

8. Combined Accounting and Data Science Degrees

Rather than modifying a traditional accounting degree, some schools have built entirely new combined degrees that pair accounting with a formal data science or computer science curriculum from the ground up. These programs typically classify under a data science or computer science CIP code rather than an accounting-adjacent one, since the curriculum genuinely spans both disciplines in depth.

Graduates of these combined programs often pursue roles that blend financial and technical expertise more evenly than a traditional accounting degree would prepare them for, including positions in fintech, accounting technology consulting, or financial data engineering. This path suits students who want deep technical training alongside their accounting foundation, rather than accounting with technology coursework layered on top.

Why STEM Designation Matters

STEM designation carries real, practical benefits beyond the classification itself. Here's a look at the most significant ones.

• Extended OPT for international students: International students on an F-1 visa who complete a STEM-designated program can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, letting them work in the U.S. considerably longer after graduation than the standard 12-month OPT period allows.
• Access to STEM-specific funding: Some scholarships, grants, and institutional funding sources are restricted to STEM-designated programs, opening doors to financial support that traditional accounting students can't access.
• Signal of technical rigor: A STEM designation tells employers and prospective students that a program's curriculum includes meaningful technical and quantitative coursework, not just traditional accounting theory.
• Competitive enrollment advantage: As accounting programs nationally have seen declining enrollment, schools have found that STEM designation, along with the technology-forward curriculum it requires, helps attract students who might otherwise choose a different major.

How to Find Out if a Program Is STEM-Designated

Since STEM status depends on a program's specific CIP code rather than its public-facing degree title, it's worth confirming directly rather than assuming based on how a program markets itself. A school's admissions or international student office can tell you the exact CIP code associated with a given program and whether it appears on the current DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.

International students in particular should confirm this information will appear correctly on their Form I-20 before enrolling, since STEM OPT eligibility depends specifically on that documented CIP code. It's also worth asking directly whether a program offers an optional STEM track or requires all students to complete the STEM-qualifying coursework, since some programs, as covered above, only extend STEM classification to students who choose a specific concentration.

The Push to Make All Accounting STEM

The AICPA, alongside the American Accounting Association, NASBA, and dozens of state CPA societies, has spent years formally advocating for DHS to add the standard accounting CIP code to the STEM Designated Degree Program List. Their argument centers on how much the accounting profession itself has shifted toward technology, citing widespread use of tools like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation in modern audit and tax work as evidence that accounting already functions as a STEM field in practice, even without the official designation.

Separately, bipartisan federal legislation, including the Accounting STEM Pursuit Act introduced in the House in 2025, aims to formally recognize accounting as a STEM subject at the K-12 level, which advocates see as a step toward broader recognition, even though it doesn't directly change higher education CIP classifications. Whether or not standard accounting eventually earns official STEM status, the ongoing push reflects a genuine shift in how the profession views itself, and prospective students should expect more programs to pursue individual STEM designation as this conversation continues.

Career Outlook for Accounting Graduates

Regardless of whether a specific program carries STEM designation, graduates of accounting degrees most commonly move into roles as accountants and auditors, a field with a median annual wage of $81,680, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with employment for accountants and auditors projected to grow 5% through 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. That demand reflects the profession's continued relevance across public accounting, corporate finance, and government, even as the field's day-to-day work grows increasingly technology-driven.

Graduates of STEM-designated programs specifically, particularly those with strong data analytics training, are often well positioned for high-paying accounting roles that blend traditional accounting responsibilities with technology-focused work, including accounting information systems analyst and data-focused audit roles. That technical skill set can be a meaningful differentiator in a job market where employers increasingly expect accounting graduates to be comfortable with data tools beyond spreadsheets.

FAQs About STEM Accounting Degrees

These are some of the questions people most often ask while researching STEM designation in accounting. Working through the answers can help clarify where a specific program stands.

Is a Bachelor's in Accounting Considered STEM?

In most cases, no, since the standard accounting CIP code isn't on the DHS STEM list and only a small number of undergraduate programs have successfully reclassified under an alternative STEM-approved code. Students specifically seeking a STEM-designated bachelor's in accounting currently have a limited number of schools to choose from, though that list may grow over time.

Does STEM Designation Affect CPA Eligibility?

No, STEM designation and CPA licensure requirements are entirely separate systems, and a program's STEM status has no bearing on whether its coursework satisfies your state's accounting credit hour requirements. It's worth confirming CPA-track coursework alignment and STEM status separately when evaluating a program, since a school could offer strength in one area without the other.

Do I Need a STEM-Designated Accounting Degree to Get a Good Job?

No, the vast majority of successful accounting careers are built on non-STEM-designated degrees, since STEM status is a specific federal classification rather than a general marker of program quality. STEM designation matters most for international students who need the extended OPT period, or for students who specifically want a curriculum heavy in data analytics and technology.

Will All Accounting Programs Eventually Be Classified as STEM?

It's possible, given the sustained advocacy from the AICPA, state CPA societies, and other accounting organizations, but there's no guarantee or firm timeline for that outcome. In the meantime, individual programs will likely continue pursuing STEM designation on their own through alternative CIP codes rather than waiting for a broader federal policy change.

Does a STEM-Designated Accounting Program Cost More?

Not inherently, though STEM-designated programs sometimes carry a somewhat heavier course load due to the additional technical coursework required, which could affect total tuition depending on how a school prices credits. It's worth comparing the specific credit requirements and costs of a STEM-designated program against a traditional equivalent before assuming one costs meaningfully more than the other.

Explore Accounting Degree Programs

Whether or not STEM designation matters for your specific goals, understanding how it works can help you make a more informed choice between accounting programs. Browse programs through Learn.org and connect directly with schools to get personalized information on curriculum, CIP codes, and STEM designation status.