University of San Diego vs UC Irvine for accounting: which is better for internships and recruiting?

For accounting, UC Irvine usually has the edge for recruiting breadth, while USD can be very appealing if you want a smaller program with more individualized attention and strong access to the San Diego business community. UCI benefits from being in Orange County, close to a dense concentration of accounting firms, corporate finance offices, and regional headquarters. USD has good local connections too, but UCI typically offers a wider volume of internship options within commuting distance.

UCI makes the most sense for a student who wants a larger recruiting ecosystem and is comfortable being proactive in a bigger university setting. The Paul Merage School of Business gives accounting students access to business-focused career resources, employer events, and a strong pipeline into public accounting and corporate roles across Orange County, Los Angeles, and nearby markets. For internships during the school year, UCI’s location is a real advantage because there are simply more firms nearby, including Big Four, mid-tier, and many corporate accounting teams.

USD fits a student who learns best in smaller classes, wants easier access to professors, and likes the idea of building relationships in a tighter-knit program. The Knauss School of Business is well regarded, and San Diego does offer accounting internships, especially with regional firms, local offices of larger firms, and companies in biotech, real estate, hospitality, and defense-related sectors. The tradeoff is that the local market is smaller than Orange County plus LA, so the recruiting pool is not as broad.

If your top priority is maximizing internship volume and on-campus recruiting reach specifically for accounting, I would lean UCI. If your priority is a more personal undergraduate experience where networking may feel more relationship-driven and less self-directed, USD has a real case. For pure access to accounting opportunities, though, UCI is typically the stronger platform.