The undergraduate and graduate professional accounting programs at the Florida State University College of Business were ranked among the nation's best in new surveys released Oct. 31, by the Public Accounting Report, an independent newsletter of the accounting profession.

Moving up one spot, the graduate accounting program ranked 23rd according to the Public Accounting Report's 26th Annual Survey of accounting professors. The College of Business' undergraduate professional accounting program ranked 25th, and the Ph.D. program received honorable mention.

Last year, the graduate accounting program landed its first ranking in PAR's prestigious annual rankings, reflecting the program's increased national prominence and impact.

"It is an honor to be ranked among the best accounting programs in the country," said Bud Fennema, chairman of FSU's accounting department and the university's Ernst and Young Professor of Accounting. "These rankings, coupled with recent high rankings in CPA exam passage, validate the efforts of our faculty and students.

The Public Accounting Report compiled its rankings by surveying accounting professors and department heads, who were asked to name the undergraduate and graduate programs that most consistently turn out students capable of someday attaining "partner" status. Public Accounting Report is one of the leading trade publications covering the public accounting profession in the United States.

Founded in 1950, the FSU College of Business is one of the nation's youngest business schools, yet it has become one of the 10 largest in the United States. It is the second largest academic unit on FSU's campus with an enrollment of more than 5,500 students and boasts a distinguished full-time faculty of 113, including one Francis Eppes professor, five eminent scholar chairs, three university-named professorships and 20 endowed professorships.

For more information about the College of Business, please go to www.cob.fsu.edu.