|
|
LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas School of Business ranks among the top 10 public universities for the percentage of graduates who pass the difficult Certified Management Accountant examination and who pass it on their first attempt.
KU ranks seventh in the percentage of public school graduates passing the exam and ninth among public school students passing it the first time. The Institute of Certified Management Accountants compiled the pass rates, including information from more than 1,100 schools that had students sitting for the exam. To be considered for the report, schools had to have at least 10 CMA exam completers.
Joining KU in the top 10 are the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago.
"It's a testimony to the breadth of education in our program and the caliber of our students," said Paul Mason, associate director of accounting and information systems and a lecturer in accounting at the KU business school. "Students tend to take the CMA exam after they graduate. These are students who have graduated from KU, left here, tackled the exam on their own and passed. They couldn't have done that without a broad-based education."
Mason said that the CMA exam focuses primarily on managerial accounting for industry, rather than public accounting. The exam is similar to the Certified Public Accountant examination. CMA is the second most recognized credential in the financial world after the CPA. The exam has four parts, given over two days.
"It is just as difficult as a CPA," said Mason, who holds both certifications. "Nationally the pass rate, like that of the CPA, is very low. Obviously our graduates are dedicated and serious and their education at KU is serving them."
KU ranks 19th overall for pass rates when public and private school rankings are combined. The top 20 includes Columbia University, Rice University, Harvard University, Boston University, Cornell University, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Notre Dame. KU ranks above the College of William and Mary, Tulane University and Northwestern, among others.
"This reflects well on our accounting program and the way we prepare our students for work in the world of business," said William L. Fuerst, dean of the business school. "The high quality of our faculty and students is helping to ensure that our graduates succeed in the kinds of certifications and exams that employers value. It is proof that we're developing business-minded individuals at the business school."
The KU School of Business offers undergraduate and graduate programs. Restricted admissions and class sizes enable students to work closely with faculty and allow mentoring, scholarship and independent study programs. The school also boasts some of the best international programs in the country.
-30-