What ATAR Do You Need for Accounting?
The 2026 cut-offs for every major accounting pathway — and the accreditation secret that makes a 65 ATAR degree professionally equal to a 96.
Last updated: July 2026 · Reviewed against current university admission data
The ATAR needed to study accounting in Australia ranges from roughly 60.00 to 96.00 for 2026 entry, depending on which degree you use to get there. Accounting is usually studied as a major within a Bachelor of Commerce or Business: UNSW Commerce requires around 96.00 and Melbourne 92.00, while UTS Business sits near 85.00, Macquarie around 80.00, RMIT around 70.00 and QUT, Griffith and UniSA from 60.00–66.00. Critically, nearly every university accounting major is accredited by CPA Australia and CA ANZ — meaning the professional qualification you ultimately earn is identical regardless of your entry ATAR.
The Accreditation Secret: Why Your ATAR Matters Less in Accounting
Accounting is unusual among high-status professions: the real qualification isn’t your degree — it’s your CPA (Certified Practising Accountant) or CA (Chartered Accountant) designation, earned after graduation through professional programs and mentored work experience. Your degree simply needs to be accredited by CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants ANZ to unlock that pathway.
And here’s the part most Year 12 students never hear: almost every accounting major at every Australian university is accredited by both bodies. A Griffith graduate with a 62 entry ATAR and a UNSW graduate with a 96 sit the exact same CA program, and once both hold the designation, the playing field levels dramatically. This makes accounting one of the most genuinely accessible professional careers in Australia.
Always confirm on the university’s page that your specific major is accredited by CPA Australia and CA ANZ, and that it covers the full set of required competency areas. A general ‘business’ major with only a few accounting electives will leave you short and force you to take conversion units later. The tables below list programs whose accounting majors carry standard accreditation.
Accounting ATAR Requirements by University (2026)
Because accounting is a major inside commerce and business degrees, the entry score is set by the host degree. High-end context is in our commerce guide and UNSW requirements page.
| University | Degree | Indicative ATAR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNSW | B. Commerce (Accounting) | ~96.00 | Top-30 globally for accounting & finance; strongest Big 4 pipeline. |
| University of Sydney | B. Commerce (Accounting) | ~95.00 | Prestige option with heavy professional-services recruiting. |
| University of Melbourne | B. Commerce (Accounting) | 92.00 | Guaranteed ATAR for 2026 entry. |
| UTS | B. Business (Accounting) | ~85.00 | Excellent CBD placement access; strong CA conversion rates. |
| Macquarie University | B. Commerce (Prof. Accounting) | ~80.00 | Long-standing professional accounting specialisation. |
| RMIT | B. Business (Prof. Accountancy) | ~70.00 | Co-op placement year available. |
| QUT | B. Business (Accountancy) | ~66.00 | One of QLD’s largest CA/CPA feeder programs. |
| Griffith / UniSA / WSU | B. Business or Commerce (Accounting) | ~60.00–66.00 | Fully accredited, highly accessible pathways. |
Prerequisites for Accounting (2026 Entry)
English: mandatory.
Mathematics: despite the stereotype, accounting is not advanced maths — General Mathematics satisfies most programs, though Go8 commerce hosts require Mathematical Methods.
Accounting (the school subject): helpful but never required — universities teach from scratch and some students find un-learning school methods harder than starting fresh.
Accounting rewards consistency more than brilliance: financial reporting, audit and tax are cumulative skills. If you’re deciding between VCE or HSC maths levels, our VCE scaling guide shows how Methods vs General affects your aggregate, and the study score calculator lets you model both paths.
Career Outcomes: Big 4, Industry and Beyond
Accounting has arguably the most reliable graduate job market of any business field. The Big 4 firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) hire thousands of Australian graduates annually across audit, tax and advisory — and they recruit from every accredited university, not just the Go8. Mid-tier firms (BDO, Grant Thornton, RSM), corporate finance teams, and government round out a market where accounting-skill shortages are persistent.
Where high ATAR helps
- Big 4 consulting divisions (not audit/tax) lean toward Go8 recruits.
- Investment banking product-control roles.
- Graduating into Sydney/Melbourne head-office roles.
Where it doesn’t
- Audit and tax graduate intakes — recruited from all accredited unis.
- CPA/CA program entry — identical requirements for everyone.
- Salary progression post-designation — driven by experience, not alma mater.
If you’re weighing accounting against adjacent quantitative paths, compare the finance ATAR guide and the actuarial studies guide — actuarial sits at the opposite extreme, where entry scores of 90+ are genuinely unavoidable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ATAR do I need to study accounting in Australia?
Accounting ATAR requirements range from about 60.00 to 96.00 for 2026 entry, because accounting is studied as a major within commerce or business degrees. UNSW requires around 96.00 and Melbourne 92.00 at the top end, UTS around 85.00, Macquarie 80.00, RMIT 70.00, and QUT, Griffith, UniSA and Western Sydney between 60.00 and 66.00. All of these lead to the same CPA/CA professional accreditation.
Does it matter which university I study accounting at?
Less than in almost any other profession. Nearly all Australian university accounting majors are accredited by CPA Australia and CA ANZ, so every graduate enters the same professional program. Big 4 audit and tax teams recruit from all accredited universities. University brand mainly matters for Big 4 consulting divisions and investment banking roles.
Do I need to be good at maths for accounting?
Accounting requires numeracy, not advanced mathematics. Most programs accept General Mathematics; the work involves arithmetic, ratios and structured logic rather than calculus. Go8 commerce degrees (the host degree for their accounting majors) do require Mathematical Methods, but that’s a requirement of the degree, not the discipline.
What is the difference between CPA and CA?
Both are Australia’s premier professional accounting designations. CA (Chartered Accountant, through CA ANZ) is traditionally associated with public practice and the Big 4 firms; CPA Australia is larger and broader across industry and government. Both require an accredited degree, a multi-year professional program and mentored experience. Employers respect both, and your degree keeps both doors open.
How much do accountants earn in Australia?
Graduate accountants typically start on $58,000–$68,000. Once CA or CPA qualified (usually 3–4 years in), salaries move to $85,000–$110,000, with managers at $110,000–$140,000 and partners or CFOs well beyond $200,000. Accounting’s earning curve is slower to start than banking but exceptionally stable and reliable.
Key Takeaways
- Accounting is accessible at ATARs from ~60 and competitive up to ~96 — but all accredited majors lead to the same CPA/CA qualification.
- The professional designation (CPA or CA), earned after graduation, matters far more than university brand.
- Verify your major is accredited by both CPA Australia and CA ANZ before enrolling.
- General Mathematics is enough for most programs — accounting is numeracy and logic, not calculus.
- Model the scores you need with the ATAR calculator and study score calculator.