Resumen
Public perceptions about the quality of business education received at commercial (for-profit) universities, relative to the quality of business education received at publicly supported state universities and private not-for-profit universities are mixed and somewhat controversial (Verschoor, 2011). Relatively little information exists concerning the quality of education received with a bachelor?s degree from a commercial university (U. S. Government Accountability Office, 2011). This research compares average CPA exam pass rates of graduates from three types of higher education institutions: for-profit universities, state sponsored public universities, and private not-for profit universities. Comparing average CPA exam pass rates of graduates of each type of university is one means to assess the quality of accounting education provided by each type of university. Our findings indicate the average CPA exam pass rates of candidates completing their accounting educations at commercial for-profit universities are strikingly lower than those of candidates completing their accounting educations at either publicly supported state schools or at private not-for-profit universities. In addition we find that a much lower fraction of graduates from commercial universities sit for the CPA exam compared to publicly supported state universities and private not-for-profit universities. Together these empirical data suggest if passing the CPA exam is a goal, then the educational path of commercial for-profit accounting education may not be optimal.