Augustana University accounting graduates who took the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination for the first time in 2023 had the highest pass rate in South Dakota and the sixth-highest in the nation. This is according to the latest data released by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).

Among its first-time test takers, Augustana alumni led the way in the state in 2023 — earning an average Uniform CPA Exam pass rate of 84.8%, compared to the state’s 61.3% and national rate of 54.3%. Augustana’s average score was 84.7, compared to the state average of 76.4 and national average of 72.

Out of 793 institutions with 10 or more  reported candidates, Augustana was ranked No. 6 nationally among first-time test-takers in 2023. Augustana was also ranked No. 4 out of 259 small institutions in the nation, which consists of programs with 10-20 reported candidates taking the test for the first time.

“These scores are telling of the students we have at Augustana and how hard they work. The rigor they endure during the program transpires into great success in- and outside of the classroom — success on their CPA exams and in their careers, where they lead rewarding and fulfilling lives serving others,” Augustana Associate Professor of Business Administration Angela Olson.

To become a licensed CPA at the time these scores were reported, a graduate first had to pass the Uniform CPA Examination. The CPA Exam consisted of four 4-hour sections, including Auditing & Attestation (AUD), Business Environment & Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR) and Regulation (REG). Graduates had to pass all four sections within 18 months — earning a minimum score of 75 on each section.

Beginning in 2024, the BEC section was removed from the CPA Exam and its most essential topics are strategically distributed across the other sections where its content is deemed most relevant.

Laura Hybertson, Augustana Associate Professor of Accounting and Director of the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) Program, said, “The changes to the CPA exam provided us with the opportunity to take a closer look at Augustana’s MPA curriculum. We worked with our alumni in the industry to ensure the program was meeting employer needs, as well as covering the new CPA exam topics. The combination of industry insight and curriculum adjustments will ensure that AU continues to be a leader in the industry as MPA students and alumni are recruited by local, national and even global firms.”

This is not the first time Augustana has been nationally recognized for its CPA Exam pass rate. In 2020, the university ranked No. 1 among all 721 institutions and No. 1 among 234 small institutions when its graduates took the test for the first time.

For more information about the accounting major at Augustana, visit augie.edu/accounting. To learn more about the Augustana MPA Program, visit augie.edu/MPA.