STEM designation for accounting has strong support

The AICPA and state societies have pledged strong support for accounting education programs to gain STEM status, and the idea also has backing from the majority of respondents in a new survey.

A recent Harris Poll of nearly 2,100 adults found that 74% believe accounting courses should be designated as a part of the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education program.

The AICPA is advocating for legislation to establish the accounting profession as a STEM career pathway to bring awareness to the career opportunities accounting can provide. More than half of survey respondents between ages 18–34 (54%) and ages 35–44 (59%) said students would be more likely to enter an accounting education program if it were designated as a STEM education program.

“The role of an accountant has been significantly transformed by technology, which now goes beyond adopting advanced tools to innovating systems that support clients in making better decisions and enhancing service quality,” AICPA President & CEO Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, said in a news release. “STEM legislation would highlight the clear and logical integration between accounting and technology — emphasizing the value of accounting professionals, including CPAs, as technological leaders. It would also help expose students from all backgrounds to the profession, strengthening the accounting pipeline and improving access for more students.”

According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publication, 2023 data revealed that the annual mean wage for STEM occupations was $108,330, compared with $58,720 for non-STEM occupations.

The Accounting STEM Pursuit Act, which has been introduced in both chambers of Congress, would enable federal K-12 funding to support accounting education for students from all backgrounds. If enacted, the bills would allow educators to secure STEM funding to teach foundational accounting skills, introducing young students to accounting as a viable career and fostering a workforce that reflects the communities the profession serves, the news release said.

“We urge members of Congress to support STEM legislation to allow students greater access to accounting programs and ensure that the accounting profession is reflective and inclusive of the communities it serves,” Koziel said.

For more information, visit the AICPA’s STEM resource page.

— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Bryan Strickland at Bryan.Strickland@aicpa-cima.com.