Compared to the national rate of 29 percent, recently published results show that 44 percent of Oregon State University students passed the Certified Public Accounting exam. In addition, OSU ranked fifth in the nation in one of the four portions of the exam for first-time candidates without advanced degrees.

This is the second year that OSU students surpassed the national average.

“It speaks well to the types of students who come to OSU and graduate from here,” said Roger Graham, professor of accounting.

The CPA exam has four parts: financial accounting and reporting; auditing and attestation; regulation; and business environment and concepts.

OSU ranked fifth in the nation on the business environment and concepts portion of the exam, with 85 percent of students passing.

The National Association of the State Boards of Accountancy has recognized Oregon as an “honor roll” state this year. Honor roll states are ones that achieved higher passing scores in every subject than the national average. Oregon was ranked seventh in the country on this honor roll list for first-time candidates taking the CPA exam.

Ilene Kleinsorge, dean of the OSU College of Business, said accounting is the first discipline recommended to become a major in the new professional school, which was launched in the fall.