An Initial Placement Research Ranking of U.S. Accounting Doctoral Programs

Abstract

This study evaluates and ranks U.S. accounting doctoral programs on the basis of the research rankings of the initial placement institutions hiring doctoral graduates. This study provides an evaluation and ranking of U.S. accounting doctoral programs based on graduates’ initial placement in U.S. academic institutions. The rankings focus on the accounting research productivity of the initial employer institutions as measured by Chan et al. (2007). Rankings are made based on overall placement, placement in doctoral granting institutions, and placement in AACSB accredited institutions. This study’s findings may be useful to potential doctoral students in evaluating programs. This study’s findings may also be useful to new accounting doctoral graduates and to other accounting academicians considering entering the job market and targeting accounting doctoral granting institutions. Secondarily, hiring institutions may use this study for benchmarking expectations of graduates.