AICPA Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program 

Applications are invited for the Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Foundation. In order to apply, there are steps to follow and we are going to provide that step for you. 

Basically, program sponsors have pledged to help fill the shortage of accounting teachers by providing funds for the ADS program and encouraging members of their organizations to consider joining the accounting faculty. They are the catalysts for positive change.

Hence, applicants with a minimum of three years of professional accounting experience or who earned an undergraduate and/or master’s degree in accounting are eligible to apply for this accounting Ph.D. scholarship.

About AICPA

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Foundation is the country’s largest professional association for CPAs. It has more than 418,000 members, and room for one more.

Founded in 1887, the AICPA represents the CPA profession nationally regarding rule-making and standard-setting and serves as an advocate before legislative bodies, public interest groups, and other professional organizations.

Know about the Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program

The Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program was created by the biggest accounting firms, in conjunction with the AICPA Foundation, to advocate for an increased number of accounting professors with real-world experience in audit and tax.

It is our belief that professionals with recent public accounting experience can add significant value to the university experience by obtaining their doctorate degrees and transitioning into an academic faculty role.

As an accounting professor, you will go on to teach and research, mentor the next generation of students, and help shape our profession’s future.

The accounting Ph.D. program provides financial assistance to individuals with recent public accounting experience in audit or tax to earn a doctorate in accounting with an emphasis in audit or tax. Through the scholarship, the AICPA Foundation will be awarded a total $40,000 award.

Eligibility for the Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program

To be eligible, the applicant must meet all the following requirements:

  • CPA required
  • Have a minimum of three years of professional accounting experience. A portion of that experience is within the last three years at the time of enrollment
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident (green card holder)
  • Earned an undergraduate and/or master’s degree in accounting
  • A GMAT score of 650 or higher (must be less than 5 years old)
  • You will apply to an ADS Participating University to pursue a Ph.D. in accounting with a concentration in audit or tax
  • Candidates agree to teach and research, in audit or tax, at a U.S. AACSB accredited university upon graduation

Scholarship Level/Field

The AICPA Ph.D. scholarship is available for students who are pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree in the field of Accounting. 

You can access more Accounting scholarships through this link.


Host Nationality

The Scholarship is hosted in the USA. If you are an international student and you desire to study in the USA.

Check out the best scholarships obtainable for study in USA


Eligible Nationality

The AICPA Ph.D. program is available for students from the USA. 

Read also if you wish to study outside your home country Simple and Detailed Answers about Applying and Winning a Scholarship.

Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program Benefits

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Ph.D. scholarship will award the winning candidates a $40,000 award.

Scholarship Number

The number of offers was not specified.


Application Procedures

The application process requires completing our online application.

This includes answering an eligibility questionnaire, submitting three letters of recommendation, unofficial transcripts, unofficial GMAT / GRE test scores, and a one-page written essay.

Furthermore, Letters of recommendation will be sent by the authors directly to the ADS program by email.

Unofficial transcripts and GMAT scores are accepted by the ADS program and will be verified by participating ADS universities.

However, applicants must begin to obtain reference letters, transcripts, and GMAT score report from the beginning. If the test is over five years old, the candidate must make arrangements immediately to resume GMAT.

To begin applying, visit the ThisWayToCPA website to create your free account.

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Once this step is completed, using the username and password created, the applicants will follow the Apply link located at the top right of the program description page.

Join Here

You must save this link. Applicants can save their progress and return by following the same link to modify their application until it closes on September 6.

You can contact them at [email protected] if you have any questions or need help with the application process.

For More Information Click Below:

Scholarship Link


Selection Process:

The selection of ADS fellows is a two-step process.

First, they evaluate applications based on their academic and professional results and the potential of a PhD in accounting success.

Applicants whose profiles they consider competitive for admission to various doctoral programs in accounting will get an invitation to a one-day orientation conference.

After participating in the conference, they request that applicants confirms their commitment to applying for a PhD in accounting at one or more participating universities.

The selection committee then selects the ADS fellows from the rest of the applicants.

Application Deadline:

Applications for the Scholarship must be received by September 6th of every year.

However, for 2023, the Open Date: Feb 15, 2021, Close Date: Sep 06, 2021, Close Time: 11:59 a.m.


Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program FAQs

Schools that offer this scholarship

The program is administered by the AICPA Foundation, a 50l(c) (3) nonprofit entity. 
Arizona State University
City University of New York – Baruch College
Bentley University
Drexel University
Emory University
Louisiana State University
Michigan State University
Ohio State University
Oklahoma State University
Temple University
Texas A&M University
Texas Tech University
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Florida
University of Houston
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts – Amherst
University of Mississippi
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of North Carolina
University of North Texas
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Texas-San Antonio
The University of Texas at Austin
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech

Why won’t my school offer this scholarship?

Most likely the school does not have a recent track record of producing Ph. D.s who take positions at universities that produce a meaningful number of graduates for the profession. A second reason is the school may not have the faculty capacity to add incremental slots in tax or auditing. 

Absolutely.  Remember each school has a limited number of incremental slots, with most having just one.  You need to be flexible.
Begin the process immediately after being notified of the ADS Program Scholar selection committee’s decision.  

Is the application form for all schools the same?

No.  Each school has its own application form.  You must submit official transcripts and GMAT scores.  Our submission would not qualify as “official.”
To let the schools start recruiting you early!! Remember, the competition is good!!  

How is the school selected?

Yes. However, you will be considered by the Selection Committee as a new applicant. You may retake the GMAT or GRE and submit an official new score without filing a new application.  
You are encouraged to apply to any doctoral program of your choice for a university-funded slot. 

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