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Auditor Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an auditor. Auditors usually study accounting, business, or finance. 55% of auditors hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 45,966 real auditor resumes to see exactly what auditor education sections show.
The most common colleges for auditors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online auditor courses to help get the education required to be an auditor.
There are certain auditor certifications that you should consider. These auditor certifications include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).
What education do you need to become an auditor?
What degree do you need to be an auditor?
- Bachelor's, 55%
- Associate, 15%
- High School Diploma, 13%
- Master's, 9%
- Other Degrees, 8%
What should I major in to become an auditor?
- Accounting, 33%
- Business, 27%
- Finance, 6%
- Criminal Justice, 3%
- Other Majors, 31%
Most common colleges for auditors
Auditor Common College  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 23.90% |
| Strayer University | 5.45% |
| DeVry University | 5.36% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 4.60% |
| Ohio State University | 4.50% |
Best majors for auditors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accounting | 32.7% |
| 2 | Business | 27.1% |
| 3 | Finance | 5.7% |
| 4 | Criminal Justice | 3.3% |
| 5 | Health Care Administration | 3.1% |
Best colleges for auditors
The best colleges for auditors are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston University.
An auditor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for auditors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become auditors.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
20 best online courses for auditors
Advertising Disclosure
1. Audit - Financial Statement
Master the Art of Auditing Financial Statements: In-Depth Analysis, Techniques, and Real-World Case Studies...
2. Bank Reconciliations & Cash Internal Controls
Mastering Internal Controls and Cash Management: Safeguarding Business Assets and Ensuring Financial Accuracy...
3. Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Part 3 - Full Study Course
Full study course and instructor support for the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Part 3...
4. Payroll Accounting: Laws, Calculations, and Journal Entries
Master the complex world of payroll with practical examples, legislation insights, and comprehensive problems...
5. Internal Controls - Design, Implementation and Monitoring
Become a compliance specialist, maintain strong internal controls for SOX or FCPA, prepare for internal & external audit...
6. ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor
ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Internal Auditor...
7. Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Part 1 - Full Study Course
Full study course and instructor support for the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Part 1...
8. Lead Auditor Tools for a Professional Internal Audit
Be a Pro Internal Auditor. This is the only course with 1-on-1 online meeting with the instructor & e-mail support...
9. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement
Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...
10. Financial Accounting - Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals
Mastering Special Journals and Subsidiary Ledgers: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlined Accounting Practices...
Top 10 most affordable universities for auditors
The most affordable schools for auditors are SUNY Farmingdale, baruch college of the city university of new york, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for auditors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for auditors.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
2. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,262
Cost of Attendance
14,046
3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,942
Cost of Attendance
14,469
U
5. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for auditors
The hardest universities for auditors to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston University.
Some great schools for auditors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for auditors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
20%
SAT Average
1,419
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for auditors
The easiest schools for auditors to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an auditor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for auditors.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
82%
SAT Average
983
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
4. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
100%
SAT Average
1,072
5. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
994
Average auditor salary by education level
| Auditor education level | Auditor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $64,382 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $56,845 |
| Doctorate Degree | $67,550 |
Auditor Education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025