December 3, 2008 – The undergraduate accounting program at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business is ranked No. 24 in the country, according to the results of the 27th Annual Survey of Accounting Professors conducted by the Public Accounting Report (PAR).

“This is the first time that we’ve made the Top 25,” said Robert D. Allen, director of the School of Accounting in the David Eccles School of Business. “This accomplishment is particularly significant due to our size; we have considerably fewer accounting students than many of the other ranked programs.”

According to Allen, larger programs are generally better known because faculty at other universities have greater opportunities for contact with their graduates. The David Eccles School has 354 students enrolled as undergraduate accounting majors.

“The ranking is a testament to the quality of our faculty and alumni.” Allen said.  “As our programs continue to grow, we expect to attain more recognition.”
    
The David Eccles School of Business received honorable mention for its undergraduate program in 2007 and its doctoral program in 2007 and 2008.  

The PAR survey asks accounting professors which programs consistently turn out students capable of some day attaining partner status. More than 1,550 accounting educators responded this year, according to PAR.

Other Top 25 public institutions include the universities of Texas, Illinois, Georgia and Wisconsin. Among the private schools are Brigham Young University and Norte Dame
    
With emphasis on interdisciplinary education and experiential learning, the David Eccles School of Business has programs in entrepreneurship, technology innovation and venture capital management. It launched the country’s largest student-run venture capital fund with $18.3 million, and the Association of University Technology Officers ranks the school second in the country (following MIT) in taking university-generated technology to market.

Since its establishment in 1917, the David Eccles School of Business has continued to lead in business education. Some 3,500 students are enrolled in its undergraduate, graduate and executive degree programs as well as joint MBA programs in architecture, law and health administration. Ranked by The Wall Street Journal among the world’s top 100 business schools, it is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.