Setting an all-time program record, the Harbert College of Business Master of Accountancy (MAcc) Class of 2018 achieved a 98 percent pass rate on the Business Environments and Concepts (BEC) section of the CPA Exam during spring semester.

The Auburn MAcc curriculum is designed to enable students to sit for all four parts of the CPA Exam before graduation. The 2018 results on the other three sections of the CPA Exam were exceptional as well with an 81 percent on Financial (FAR), 81 percent on Audit (AUD), and a 79 percent on Regulation (REG), compared to the national percent passing rates of 42 percent, 49 percent, and 56 percent respectively.

Since incorporating the CPA Exam into the curriculum 14 years ago, the Auburn MAcc program has experienced an average pass rate of 85 percent across all four parts of the CPA Exam, far exceeding the national percent passing average of 48 percent during this same time period.

“The Auburn MAcc program’s outstanding CPA Exam pass rates are possible for three reasons,” said Amy Murphy, Director of Graduate Accounting Programs. “We have outstanding faculty who provide our students with an excellent educational background; our students are smart, hard-working, and dedicated; and we have exceptional employers who hire our students and provide the Becker CPA Review course as an employee benefit. Many of our students would not be able to afford the review course without this additional support.”

The Auburn MAcc program consistently ranks among the best programs nationwide. U.S. News and World Report ranked the Auburn MAcc program No. 6 in the country among the Best Online Graduate Business Programs for 2018. This is the fourth consecutive top 10 ranking for the Master of Accountancy.