AICPA Offers Scholarships, Free Membership to College Students

The American Institute of CPAs has announced that undergraduate and graduate level accounting students may now apply online for scholarships for the 2014-2015 academic year. In addition, the AICPA has created a new scholarship for students who have earned a finance-related associates degree and declared their intent to major in accounting at a four-year college or university.

With recent reports showing that the average student loan debt for a graduating senior is almost $30,000, any help defraying the costs of college is welcome for students – and their parents.

“For more than four decades, the AICPA has offered scholarships to ensure qualified students are able to get education they need to enter the accounting profession,” said Scott Moore – AICPA Director, Student and Professional Pathways.

The AICPA has created a new scholarship for the 2014-2015 academic year. The AICPA Foundation Two-Year Transfer Scholarship provides $1,000 to recipients who have earned an associate’s degree in business, accounting, finance or economics with a declared intent to major in accounting at a four-year college or university.

“The AICPA recognizes that education is not one-size-fits-all, and everyone takes their own path to becoming a CPA. By expanding our scholarship program to provide tuition assistance for students transferring from two-year colleges, we’re acknowledging the hard work of these future CPAs,” said Moore.

The AICPA Foundation Two-Year Transfer Scholarship joins the AICPA/Accountemps Student Scholarship, AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship, and AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students to comprise the AICPA’s Legacy Scholars program.

The program, which was established in 2011, awards recipients with a one-year AICPA scholarship and offers benefits beyond financial assistance. Scholarship recipients perform eight hours of community service per semester, honing professional skills such as leadership, public speaking, and project management. The service activity must relate to accounting, serve the community and be meaningful to the student.

AICPA Legacy Scholars are Student Affiliate Members of the AICPA, which is a free membership option available to all students who are enrolled in school. Each AICPA Legacy Scholar receives a coach who provides guidance on the student’s service project and serves as an advisor for questions related to the profession and the work environment.

The AICPA will award more than 100 scholarships for the 2014-2015 academic year, totaling more than $300,000, to the best and brightest accounting students in the nation. Students can learn more about AICPA scholarships at ThisWayToCPA.com, and apply online no later than Monday, April 1, 2014 at the links below:

“In addition to reviewing the scholarships offered through the AICPA’s Legacy Scholars program, I encourage all students to take advantage of ThisWayToCPA’s National Scholarship Search, which features more than 100 different accounting scholarships,” Moore added.