For the second year in a row, accounting professors from across the country rated NIU’s undergraduate program seventh in the nation.

Among graduate programs, NIU placed 10th, moving up six spots from the previous poll.

“This is very satisfying for our whole faculty who work very hard and are really committed to their jobs,” said Greg Carnes, a chairman of the accountancy department. “When validation from an outside organization provides recognition for our efforts, it is very satisfying.”

The ranking is determined by a survey conducted annually by the Public Accounting Report, which asks full-time accounting faculty the top five accounting programs they would recommend to someone considering the accounting profession.

“Our undergraduate program has been ranked in the top 20 programs in the last 15 years,” Carnes said. “The longevity of being there for so many years gives people confidence that NIU has a good program.”

The graduate program is a relative newcomer to the list. It first made the top 20 last year, entering the rankings at 16th.

NIU is one of the smallest schools ranked on the list and sits ahead of five Big Ten institutions.

NIU also has excellent support from alumni and from firms that recruit accounting students, Carnes said.

“It takes a long time to develop a quality reputation, but it comes down to how well the students do once they leave the program.”