Accounting is a popular and potentially lucrative field, and students interested in pursuing it as a career will be able to find a number of scholarships that can help reduce their educational costs. Students should be aware that because accounting is such a popular major that there will be a large amount of competition for all awards and scholarships. This should not be a deterrent from application, however, as there are many awards out there to choose from.

Each scholarship will have different requirements of students. A majority will stipulate that students must be enrolled full-time in college and must have declared officially that they are an accounting major. Minority specific scholarships will require students to come from certain backgrounds, and state and local scholarships will likely ask for proof of residency. Students can expect to submit essays or statements of purpose to qualify for many of the awards.

Students will find accounting scholarships available to them at both the national and state levels and through a variety of organizations and accounting groups. The National Society of Accountants offers yearly awards to the general student population, and students can find local chapters and related accounting societies that offer similar awards at the state and community level. For instance, the Society of CPAs offers scholarships through each of its state organizations in amounts from $500 to $2,000 depending on the location.

Because there are so many scholarships out there for accounting students, most will be able to find scholarships or award programs that suit them both on a general and more specific level. For minority groups, there are a number of specialty accounting scholarships available. The American Society of Women Accountants and the National Association of Black Accountants both offer annual awards for students enrolled full-time in an accounting program.

Accounting Scholarships

• American
  Society of Woman Accountants: Award amounts and number vary for undergraduate
  and graduate level students.
• National Society of Accountants:
  $500 to $1,000 awarded to 30 undergraduate students each year.
• AICPA Scholarship
  for Minority Accounting Students: $1,500 to $5,000 is awarded to 137 minority
  students nationwide.
• National
  Association of Black Accountants: $500 to $6,000 is given to 40-70 African
  American students who are members of the NABA.
• Educational Foundation for Women
  in Accounting: $2,000 to $16,000 over four years is given to a limited
  number of women who demonstrate financial need.
• Derek
  Hughes/NAPSLO Educational Foundation: $2,000 for 10-12 students majoring
  in accounting or finance or a related field.
• AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship: $5,000
  to 10 students enrolled in a graduate level CPA preparation program.
• AICPA Accountemps Student Scholarship:
  $2,500 to 5 undergraduate or graduate level students meeting GPA requirements.
• Central Intelligence Agency Undergraduate Scholarship
  Program: Up to $18,000 to a varying number of students majoring in accounting
  and select other fields.
• HSF-ALPA Scholarship: $1,250 to $10,000
  to students of Hispanic heritage who are majoring in accounting.