Accounting Scholarships for Everyone
- AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship Award
- Goldberg-Miller Public Finance Scholarship
- Internal Auditor Magazine Scholarships
- Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship
- National Society of Accountants Scholarship
Many accounting scholarships are limited to applicants from specific states or schools. This makes it tough for students to find help funding their education. This list of five great scholarship programs for accountants highlights awards that are available for applicants from any part of the country, although some awards are limited to specific specialties in accounting.
Ranking: 20 Best Online Schools for Accounting
1. AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship Award
Can students become CPAs without an undergraduate degree in accounting? Yes, and there’s a scholarship to help non-accounting majors achieve their career goals. The John L. Carey Scholarship provides $5,000 to liberal arts students enrolling in a graduate program to study accounting and become CPAs. The scholarship is non-renewable and requires an essay; qualified applicants will have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership experience and an interest in earning a CPA license.
2. Goldberg-Miller Public Finance Scholarship
This scholarship gives $14,000-$15,000 to one graduate student enrolled full-time in a program that leads to public service. Students can study accounting, non-profit management or public affairs, but they must concentrate on finance in a government role and intend to work in that capacity after graduation. Applicants must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and cannot receive the award more than once. A personal essay and a recommendation from a dean is required for this award.
3. Internal Auditor Magazine Scholarships
CPAs must have strong written communication skills, and the Internal Auditor Magazine wants to help students develop those skills. The magazine offers $1,000 to up to six undergraduate or graduate students. Applicants must submit an essay related to internal auditing and will be judged by the magazine’s advisory committee. Students must be enrolled in a degree program related to internal auditing and cannot win more than once. The committee provides three different prompts throughout the year, and students can answer each prompt to increase their odds of winning the scholarship. The winning essays are published online.
4. Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship
This large accounting scholarship provides $10,000 to one winner and $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000 to three additional winners. The scholarship was founded to honor two gentlemen who were killed during their work as Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE) and CPAs in Pakistan. Applicants must have a strong, demonstrated interest in fraud examination and are highly encouraged to obtain a letter of recommendation from a local CFE. Full-time enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program studying accounting, finance, criminal justice or business is required.
5. National Society of Accountants (NSA) Scholarship
These scholarships for accounting majors from the NSA provide $500 to $2,200 to undergraduate students. These awards are non-renewable and require several essays. Applicants must be a relative of a NSA member; however, applicants can join the NSA to qualify. The society offers discounted memberships for students. Students pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply, making this one of very few scholarships for accounting students at community colleges.
Although every program has its own timeline and requirements, most scholarships are due in the fall. This means students looking to earn accounting scholarships should plan to write essays and collect recommendations in July, August and September.
