If you’re serious about building a career in accounting, this is one opportunity cycle you shouldn’t overlook. Scholarships backed by the Big Four accounting firms — Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), PwC, and KPMG — are now shaping one of the strongest funding and career-launch pathways for accounting students in 2026. More than just financial aid, these awards connect high-potential students directly with the world’s most influential professional services networks, giving recipients a rare mix of tuition support, elite networking, and early-career momentum.
For decades, the Big Four have dominated global accounting, audit, advisory, tax, and consulting services — and their reach is unmatched. Deloitte, the largest of the group, now employs over 470,000 professionals worldwide and reported $70.5 billion in revenue in 2025. PwC operates in more than 155 countries with revenues exceeding $55 billion, while EY and KPMG together support hundreds of thousands of professionals across every major market. These firms audit most publicly traded companies and lead transformation in finance, risk, technology, and ESG — making them the most powerful career gateways in accounting today.
What makes Big Four–backed scholarships different is their career impact. These awards don’t just reduce tuition bills — they place students inside the professional orbit of global accounting leaders. Through funded study, networking events, internships, and mentoring pipelines, scholarship recipients gain early exposure to real-world audit, advisory, and tax environments. For many students, even short-term engagement with a Big Four firm becomes résumé-defining — signaling to future employers that they meet the highest professional standards in the industry.
At institutions such as the Lubin School of Business, partnerships with Deloitte, EY, and KPMG have already translated into remarkable outcomes. Alumni have secured over 115 partner roles and 70 senior management positions across Big Four firms — many of them starting their journey through these scholarship programs. These awards are not symbolic. They are structured pipelines into leadership-level careers in accounting.
Among the most prestigious opportunities is the Deloitte Foundation Accounting Scholars Program, which offers up to ten full-tuition scholarships for students entering a fifth-year master’s program in accounting with concentrations in audit, advisory, or tax. This award covers 100% of tuition and academic fees (excluding books and living costs) for students who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and graduate within the required timeline. Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, demonstrate financial need, commit to a career in public accounting or taxation, and plan to pursue CPA licensure. The application deadline for the 2026 cycle is April 1, 2026, making this one of the most financially powerful accounting scholarships available in the U.S.
For undergraduate students, both KPMG and EY offer competitive awards through dedicated excellence funds. The KPMG Fund for Excellence in Accounting Education provides $5,000 annually — split between fall and spring semesters — to outstanding students in accredited accounting programs who maintain a 3.30 GPA and demonstrate leadership through campus or community involvement. This scholarship can support students for up to three academic years, helping them fund tuition and related academic costs while building early professional visibility with one of the world’s leading audit and advisory firms.
Similarly, the EY Fund for Excellence in Accounting Education awards $5,000 per year to high-performing accounting students who combine strong academics with leadership and service. Open to full-time students with a minimum GPA of 3.30, this scholarship recognizes those who actively contribute to campus life and community organizations — reinforcing EY’s focus on people-driven leadership in the accounting profession. Like KPMG’s award, the EY scholarship may support students for up to three academic years, strengthening both financial stability and professional credibility.
Apply: https://www.pace.edu/news/accounting-scholarships-at-pace
What ties all these opportunities together is strategic career positioning. Big Four–sponsored scholarships don’t just fund education — they accelerate access to elite accounting networks, expose students to real client work, and place them on early tracks toward internships, graduate roles, and leadership development programs. In an industry where competition is intense and reputation matters, being recognized by Deloitte, EY, or KPMG early in your academic career can reshape your professional trajectory.
For accounting students planning ahead, these scholarships represent more than financial relief — they are career multipliers. With full-tuition awards, multi-year undergraduate funding, and direct access to the world’s most influential accounting firms, Big Four–backed scholarships stand among the most powerful professional development opportunities available in the accounting field for 2026 and beyond.