Should I choose Arizona State University or the University of South Carolina for an accounting major?

For accounting specifically, Arizona State University has a stronger overall reputation and infrastructure. ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business is especially well known in business fields, has a large alumni network, and sits in the Phoenix metro area, which gives students access to a broad range of internships during the school year. If you want a bigger business ecosystem and a school that is very visible to employers across multiple markets, ASU is likely the more advantageous pick.

ASU tends to fit students who want scale, flexibility, and lots of recruiting activity. W. P. Carey is large and well resourced, so students who are proactive can find many pathways into public accounting, corporate accounting, and related finance roles. Being in a major metro area matters for accounting because internships often turn into full-time offers, and Phoenix gives you more nearby options without needing to leave campus for an entire summer.

South Carolina makes more sense for a student who wants a somewhat more traditional SEC-campus feel and expects to build a career mainly in the Southeast. The Darla Moore School of Business is respected, and it can absolutely place students into solid accounting roles, especially for those targeting South Carolina, Charlotte, Atlanta, and nearby markets. If your long-term goals are regional and you like the idea of a college town capital city with strong school spirit, USC can be a very good fit.

The practical question is where you want your recruiting base to be. ASU gives you wider geographic reach and a deeper local market right around campus, while South Carolina is appealing if you already know you want to stay tied to the Southeast. For most students choosing strictly on accounting opportunity, I’d lean Arizona State unless South Carolina is significantly cheaper or a much better personal fit.