GMercyU's Accounting Program Ranks 14th in the Nation
Gwynedd Mercy University announced today that it ranked 14th in the nation for CPA exam pass rates among similar-sized schools, and its students pass the exam at a 27% higher rate than the national average. According to data released by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASABA), GMercyU graduates - most of whom participated in the CPA-Track Accounting Program -had a 2016 CPA exam pass rate of 73.3 percent for all parts of the test, compared to the national average of 56 percent.
Accounting Professor Carlo Silvesti knows GMercyU's accounting program is top-notch. Big-name accounting firms know it too, and they've hired several graduates of the program in recent years.
"One thing that's been driving the success of our program is students who sit for the CPA exam complete 150 program hours here, and they do it in just four years," Professor Silvesti said. "We urge students to take the exam as soon as they graduate because they're so well prepared."
Preparing students to sit for the CPA exam is no small feat, especially with the changes to the exam that are underway, Professor Silvesti said.
The exam will soon be more focused on critical thinking.
"The exam is not going to be just multiple choice," he added. "A percentage of it will require students to interpret information and determine how to handle it."
One of the ways GMercyU ensures its students are prepared for the exam and successful accounting careers is the recognition that accounting and auditing regulations are updated and changed constantly. To combat this, Professor Silvesti supplements course textbooks by bringing in representatives from local accounting firms to discuss any recent changes to accounting regulations with his students. Students also are members of the local chapter of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), and regularly have the opportunity to pursue internships and gain other real-world experience before graduating.
The list of employers for the Class of 2017 CPA-Track Accounting program graduates includes Marcum, Deloitte, and PricewaterhouseCoopers, among others.