Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Based on the latest published results, Mississippi State accounting graduates lead the state in pass rates for the certified public accounting examination.
Danny P. Hollingsworth, the university's School of Accountancy director, said the recently published National State Boards of Public Accountancy report for 2004 also shows MSU graduates exceeding the national average passing percentage.
Hollingsworth, who additionally holds the school's H. Devon Graham Endowed Professorship, said 8.2 percent of MSU graduates with either bachelor's or master's degrees passed all parts of the uniform CPA exam.
"The national average for all students was 6.1 percent, while the average for all students from Mississippi universities was 4 percent," Hollingsworth said.
He said among states ranked in the top 10 according to the 2004 pass-rate figures, Iowa was first with 18.3 percent, while Kansas was 10th with 10 percent.
"In 2004, the CPA exam format and reporting of results changed considerably, which makes the percentages non-comparable to prior years," Hollingsworth explained. "However, our records verify that MSU students consistently have had a high pass rate."
Hollingsworth said he attributed the continuing history of high scores to "the hard work and dedication of both our students and faculty to meet the demands of the curriculum."
He added: "We also are proud of the fact that Mississippi State accounting graduates continue to hold executive positions in major national and international corporations, accounting and consulting firms."
The School of Accountancy is a unit of the College of Business and Industry, one of the South's oldest collegiate business programs.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For additional information, contact Dr. Hollingsworth at (662) 325-3710 or dhollingsworth@cobilan.msstate.edu.