Accounting, B.S.B.A.

The accounting major offered by Saint Louis University's Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business will help you develop strong technical and professional accounting skills, including communication, problem-solving, application of AI and analytical skills.

Accounting is the language of business decision-making and is a primary means of organizational communication. The accountant’s role has changed substantially over the past decade. Today, accountants are actively involved in analyzing and interpreting financial data and work with other executives in decision-making and problem-solving activities.

Through my involvement in SLU's accounting program, I have built meaningful relationships both personally and professionally with my peers and professors. I am incredibly grateful for the education I received both inside and outside of the classroom, and I can confidently say my time at SLU has fully prepared me to embark on my career." ⁠—Alexis Dunn, Class of 2025

SLU's accounting graduates have a long history of success on the CPA exam, with pass rates exceeding both the Missouri and national averages. Many of our graduates have passed all parts of this critical exam on their first attempt. 

Students may also choose to pursue an accounting minor in addition to their chosen major.

Curriculum Overview

SLU students may choose to graduate from the accounting program with the 120-credit bachelor's degree; however, those who plan to be licensed after taking the CPA examination may be required to complete 150 college credits in some states.

Students may accumulate the 150 required credits in several ways:

• Complete 150 credits at the undergraduate level (often by pursuing a double major).
• Complete the 120-credit bachelor's degree and complete the 30-credit Master of Accounting degree sequentially.
• Complete the Accounting, B.S.B.A. to Accounting, M.Acc. Accelerated Program, which enables you to complete both the undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting in four and a half years (minimum 135 credit hours).

The Department of Accounting also offers an Accounting Scholars Program for qualified incoming freshmen.

Co-op³/Internships/Student Organizations

In today's competitive business environment, gaining career-related experience before graduation is imperative. Recognizing this necessity, the Chaifetz School of Business launched a novel approach to cooperative education called Co-op³, enabling students to work full time for six months while simultaneously earning course credit and income to pay for college. Students engage in executive leadership training with their Co-op³ supervisor and practice their new humanistic leadership skills while on the job. Undergraduate accounting students have the opportunity to work a full-time, busy-season accounting internship in their final semester and remain on track for graduation. St. Louis' metropolitan location provides numerous internship opportunities, allowing students to gain career-related work experience while applying classroom knowledge to practice. Most internships are paid, and students may opt to earn academic credit. SLU's accounting students have interned with a wide variety of organizations, including public accounting firms, Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions and governmental agencies. Whether or not a student chooses to earn course credit, the Chaifetz School of Business encourages all students to participate in at least one co-op or internship (or more!) to enhance their academic studies, understand the business world, develop business relationships and build work experience.

The Saint Louis University chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international scholastic and professional honor society for financial information professionals, provides a vital link between students and the accounting profession. Each semester, the chapter connects students with numerous guest speakers from various disciplines and industries. In addition, membership offers students opportunities to establish networking relationships with potential employers. 

Careers

In a survey of SLU's most recent accounting graduates, 100% reported they were either employed or attending graduate school within six months of their graduation. They join a global network of nearly 20,000 alumni from the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business. Accounting graduates from the Chaifetz School have earned employment with public accounting firms, including the Big 4, as well as with prestigious corporate organizations such as Accenture and Boeing.

Possible career paths for graduates with an undergraduate degree in accounting from SLU include:

• Advisory consultant
• Auditor
• Budget analyst
• Consultant
• Corporate accountant
• FBI agent
• Financial planner
• Forensic accountant
• IRS agent
• Risk management consultant
• Tax professional

Admission Requirements

Begin Your Application

Saint Louis University also accepts the Common Application and the Coalition Application.

Freshman

All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary criterion in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.

To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, the applicant must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test. 

Transfer

Applicants must be graduates of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED or HiSET.

An official high school transcript and official test scores are required only of those students who have attempted fewer than 24 transferable semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit. Those having completed 24 credits or more of college credit need only submit a transcript from previously attended college(s).

Transfer students must have at least a cumulative 2.70 GPA to be admitted to the accounting program and a 2.50 GPA for all other majors. In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University.

International Applicants

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students, along with the following:

• You must demonstrate English Language proficiency.
• All academic records must include an English translation. An official course-by-course transcript evaluation may be required and accepted.

Tuition 

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2025, 99.6% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $517 million in aid University-wide.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Feb. 1.

For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Accreditation

Saint Louis University's Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the premier business school accrediting body. Achieving AACSB accreditation ensures continuous quality improvement in the learning environment through enhancements to the curriculum, instructional resources, student selection, career planning and placement and the intellectual contributions and qualifications of the faculty.

Approximately 5% of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation. The accounting program is also separately accredited by the AACSB; fewer than 200 schools have earned this distinction.

1. Graduates will have the ability to apply relevant accounting standards for financial reporting purposes and apply the appropriate tax laws for planning and compliance issues.
2. Graduates will be able to recognize and evaluate areas of risk in operations, decision making and information technology.
3. Graduates will be able to apply analytical and quantitative techniques to analyze accounting-related issues.
4. Graduates will be able to effectively communicate in both oral and written forms.
5. Graduates will be able to make professional and ethical judgments and demonstrate professional conduct and demeanor.

Eighteen credits in addition to ACCT 2200 Financial Accounting (3 cr) and ACCT 2220 Accounting for Decision Making (3 cr), which are taken as business Common Body of Knowledge requirements.

Accounting students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in all courses used to fulfill major requirements and a minimum 2.70 cumulative SLU GPA is a prerequisite for all 3000 and 4000 level accounting courses. (All courses are three credits.) 

*

In addition to completing lower and upper division coursework in all areas of business, each student typically selects a business major before or during the first semester of the junior year. 18 major-specific credit hours are required as determined by the appropriate department. To broaden their expertise, students may complete more than one major in business, or a major and a minor in business.  Outside of the Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), however, a maximum of one business course (3 credit hours) may be used to fulfill requirements in two business majors/minors.

‡

General electives may be selected from any area of study within the University, giving the student the opportunity to diversify their experiences.  Students should consider University Undergraduate CORE attribute requirements when selecting electives. Students are encouraged to consider ACCT 4200 Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics (3 cr) as an elective.

Continuation Standards

Accounting students who have commenced their major coursework will be on program probation if their cumulative SLU grade point average (GPA) falls below a 2.70. Students will have one semester to increase their cumulative SLU GPA to a 2.70; if not, students will not be allowed to register for 3000 or 4000 level accounting courses.

Students pursuing a business major or minor (excluding accounting) will be placed on program probation if their grade point average in major- or minor-specific courses falls below 2.0. Students on probation will have one semester to raise this GPA to at least 2.0. Failure to do so will result in a restriction preventing enrollment in 3000- or 4000-level major-specific courses.

Students pursuing an accounting major will be placed on program probation if their cumulative Saint Louis University GPA falls below 2.70 after completing their first upper-level accounting course. Students on probation will have one semester to raise their cumulative GPA to at least 2.70. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a restriction preventing enrollment in 3000- or 4000-level accounting courses. In addition, accounting students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all upper-level accounting courses to graduate.

For more information regarding academic standing and dismissal from the University, see University Academic Policies and Procedures.

Public Accounting Concentration

Consulting and Advisory Concentration

This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.

Roadmap notes:

• This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
• Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
• Course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

B.S.B.A. Accounting

B.S.B.A. Accounting, Public Accounting Concentration

B.S.B.A. Accounting, Consulting and Advisory Concentration

¹

Must complete in the first 36 credit hours at SLU.

²

Must complete in the first 60 credit hours at SLU.

³

Must take second semester sophomore year unless studying abroad.

⁴

Must have SLU cumulative GPA of 2.7.

⁶

Must have completed all other Business Common Body of Knowledge courses.

⁷

Students are encouraged to take ACCT 4200 Accounting Data Analytics as an elective.

2+SLU programs provide a guided pathway for students transferring from a partner institution. 

• Accounting, B.S.B.A. (Jeffco 2+SLU)
• Accounting, B.S.B.A. (MAC 2+SLU)
• Accounting, B.S.B.A. (STLCC+SLU)

For questions about undergraduate business programs, please email slubiz@slu.edu or call 314-977-3800.