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Northern Illinois University

NIU Office of Public Affairs


News Release

Contact: Joe King, Office of Public Affairs
(815) 753-4299

March 15, 2005

NIU among top 10 in CPA pass rate

DeKALB, Ill -- The Northern Illinois University Department of Accountancy announced this week that graduates of the NIU CPA Review program placed among the top 10 in the nation for their pass rate on the May 2003 Uniform Certified Public Accountant's Exam.

Students from the NIU program posted a pass rate of 61.5 overall – ninth best in the nation — and 84.6 percent on the portion of the test devoted to auditing – fifth best in the nation. By comparison, the overall pass rate for students taking the May 2003 exam was 21.4 percent overall and 33.2 percent for auditing.

NIU was the only Illinois university to place in the top 10, where it was joined by schools such as the University of Iowa, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wake Forest and the University of Florida.

“We have ranked in the top 10 listing many times, but we have always been joined by other Illinois universities. This is the first year we stand alone,” noted Debra Hopkins, director of the NIU CPA Review.

News of the outstanding pass rate performance rounds out a year of honors for the NIU Department of Accountancy. The department's undergraduate program was ranked 10 th in the nation by the Public Accounting Report and was rated 25 th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

Placing among the top 10 in CPA pass rates is a particularly satisfying honor for the program, says NIU Chair of Accounting Greg Carnes.

“One reason the CPA credential has such high respect is because it is very difficult to attain, and NIU students have proven by their strong performance that they are among the best in the nation.”

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