AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship

Award Amount
Application deadline
Awarded By:

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

Number of Awards & Eligibility: Five awards offered annually.
In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:
  1. This award is for U.S. students.
  2. Must pursue a graduate-level degree in an accounting-related major (one which will allow the student to sit for the CPA exam). The applicant must not be actively participating in a graduate accounting program at the time of application. The applicant must plan to pursue the CPA licensure but not presently be a CPA.
  3. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (green card holder).
  4. Must have been accepted to or enrolled in a public or private, not-for-profit (501(c)) four-year college or university located in the U.S. states or territories for the full 2016-2017 academic year. The business program must be accredited by the AACSB and/or ACBSP. Exceptions to this policy may be granted but are not guaranteed; the student should contact AICPA if he/she is unsure of his/her eligibility.
  5. Must enroll as a full-time student (nine semester hours or equivalent) for the coming academic year. Please note: An exception may be granted if the student plans to participate in an internship program.

In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

Description: This award is open to U.S. students who have been accepted into a graduate program in accounting that will allow students to sit for the CPA exam. Students must have obtained a liberal arts (i.e., non-business) undergraduate degree prior to entering the graduate program.

Application requirements for the AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship are:

  • Application form
  • Resume
  • Contact info. for references (2)
Additional Information: This award is part of the AICPA Legacy Scholarship program. The AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship program provides financial assistance to liberal arts and non-business degree holders who are pursuing both graduate studies in accounting and the CPA licensure. These awards are intended to encourage students with little or no previous accounting education to consider professional accounting careers. All students must meet the following criteria: have some financial need (i.e., not already be receiving a full or partial scholarship(s) that covers or exceeds one’s educational expenses); have obtained a liberal arts or other non-business undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States prior to enrolling in a graduate accounting program; and not have earned more than 12 credits in accounting or business during his/her undergraduate program. Awards will be announced on Aug. 1. Students selected to receive an AICPA Legacy Scholarship award must participate in the AICPA Legacy Scholars program which includes performing at least eight hours of community service per semester to advocate for the CPA profession. Through their community service efforts, AICPA Legacy Scholars enhance their leadership and communication skills by building relationships with both aspiring and seasoned CPAs. AICPA staff and their family members are not eligible to receive this scholarship.

Award Amount: $5,000 annually, non-renewable. Past recipients cannot reapply.Scholarship aid may be used only for the payment of expenses that directly relate to obtaining an accounting education (e.g., tuition, fees, room and board, and/or books and materials only). Scholarship payments are sent directly to the student's financial aid office on behalf of the student at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.  The total dollars awarded for this scholarship is $25,000.

Deadline Information:

Deadline for this scholarship is Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Deadline Information:

Deadline for this scholarship is Wednesday, March 1, 2023

The application deadline date has not yet been finalized for this year, but is expected to remain the same as last year. The deadline date shown here is tentative based on last year's date. Please check back in December for a refreshed application deadline date. Applications are available online from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) website. The student must apply via the AICPA online application system. The student will be required to create an account with his/her email address if he/she does not already have an AICPA account. If the student is not currently an AICPA student affiliate member, he/she will be prompted to submit a membership application prior to accessing the scholarship information. Membership is at no cost; additional membership information is available online at www.thiswaytocpa.com/aicpa-student-membership. Applications must be submitted by the deadline date.
About American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA):
Contact Information: Samantha Mitchell (AICPA) or Meaghan Toon (R+M on behalf of AICPA), Scholarship Manager
Address: 220 Leigh Farm Road Durham, North Carolina 27707

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