CPA Exam Pass Rates [Updated for 2025]
The CPA Exam is widely recognized as one of the toughest yet achievable professional assessments. Passing it takes extensive study, consistent practice, and unwavering dedication. We’ll break down pass rates by year and section, and provide insight into these numbers.
2025 CPA Exam Pass Rates
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) will release pass rate data for the 2025 CPA Exam after scheduled CPA Exam score release dates. Data will be shared here when it becomes available.
2024 CPA Exam Pass Rates
In 2024, we witnessed impressive performances in the core sections: Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Taxation and Regulation (REG). The discipline sections – Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), Information Systems and Control (ISC), and Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP) – also have shown surprising results.
| Section | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Cumulative | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUD | 44.63% | 46.58% | 47.80% | 46.53% | ||
| FAR | 41.92% | 40.58% | 39.82% | 40.59% | ||
| REG | 63.42% | 63.45% | 62.97% | 63.26% | ||
| BAR | 42.94% | 40.26% | 40.11% | 40.59% | ||
| ISC | 50.93% | 57.93% | 61.88% | 59.14% | ||
| TCP | 82.36% | 75.67% | 72.91% | 75.42% | ||
2023 CPA Exam Pass Rates
After each testing window, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) publishes the overall pass rate percentages for the CPA Exam. Below is a breakdown of 2023’s quarterly pass rates by section. This information helps us to understand how CPA Exam changes affect applicant performance.
| Section | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Cumulative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUD | 47.01% | 48.24% | 45.64% | 46.41% | 46.75% | |
| BEC | 56.98% | 59.16% | 54.90% | 38.17% | 47.44% | |
| FAR | 41.82% | 42.78% | 44.08% | 39.36% | 42.12% | |
| REG | 58.63% | 59.71% | 59.13% | 54.68% | 57.82% | |
Source: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/article/learn-more-about-cpa-exam-scoring-and-pass-rates
Historic CPA Exam Pass Rates
The cumulative pass rate of the CPA Exam has been around 50% for the last 3 years.
| Section | 2021 Pass Rates |
2022 Pass Rates |
2023 Pass Rates |
2024 Pass Rates* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUD | 47.98% | 47.90% | 46.75% | 46.53% |
| BEC | 61.94% | 59.85% | 47.44% | N/A |
| FAR | 44.54% | 43.76% | 42.12% | 40.59% |
| REG | 59.88% | 59.85% | 57.82% | 63.26% |
| BAR | N/A | N/A | N/A | 40.59% |
| ISC | N/A | N/A | N/A | 59.14% |
| TCP | N/A | N/A | N/A | 75.42% |
| Overall Pass Rate | 53.59% | 52.84% | 48.53% |
*Pass rates available through Q3 2024.
Why Are 2024 CPA Exam Pass Rates So Varied?
As with any major overhaul, it takes time for candidates to adapt to the CPA Evolution model, leading to fluctuating results in the first year of implementation of the new discipline sections. The AICPA has indicated that pass rates will take time to stabilize as the profession adjusts to the new exam structure.
CPA Exam Pass Rates by Section
Considering FAR as the toughest exam section, many students prepare for it first. But choosing to study for the most difficult or the easiest section first may not always be the most beneficial approach. As you consider your CPA Exam study schedule and the section you want to complete first, think about the time that each section will require to successfully pass the first time.
Auditing & Attestation (AUD)
While the material within the Auditing Exam contains fundamental concepts, students suggest that the questions are confusing, mainly because there could be more than 1 correct answer to each problem. While the AUD Exam is more theory-based in its questions, FAR and REG require more memorization.
| AUD CPA Exam Pass Rates | |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 51.01% |
| 2020 | 52.84% |
| 2021 | 47.98% |
| 2022 | 47.90% |
| 2023 | 46.75% |
| 2024* | 46.53% |
*Pass rates available through Q3 2024.
Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR)
Candidates we’ve surveyed say that FAR is the most difficult section of the CPA Exam. It consistently has the lowest passing rate likely due to the large volume of information in the section and the need to fully understand concepts rather than simply memorize them. FAR is a comprehensive section that deals with financial management, government accounting, and fund accounting.
| FAR CPA Exam Pass Rates | |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 46.31% |
| 2020 | 49.98% |
| 2021 | 44.54% |
| 2022 | 43.76% |
| 2023 | 42.94% |
| 2024* | 40.59% |
*Pass rates available through Q3 2024.
Regulation (REG)
Students find the REG portion of the CPA Exam to be difficult to study because of the amount of non-accounting information covered, as it incorporates tax law and business law.
| REG CPA Exam Pass Rates | |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 56.34% |
| 2020 | 62.29% |
| 2021 | 59.88% |
| 2022 | 59.85% |
| 2023 | 57.82% |
| 2024* | 63.26% |
*Pass rates available through Q3 2024.
Business Analysis & Reporting (BAR)
| BAR CPA Exam Pass Rates | |
|---|---|
| Q1 2024 | 42.94% |
| Q2 2024 | 40.26% |
| Q3 2024* | 40.11% |
*Pass rates available through Q3 2024.
Information Systems & Controls (ISC)
| ISC CPA Exam Pass Rates | |
|---|---|
| Q1 2024 | 50.93% |
| Q2 2024 | 57.93% |
| Q3 2024* | 61.88% |
*Pass rates available through Q3 2024.
Tax Compliance & Planning (TCP)
| ISC CPA Exam Pass Rates | |
|---|---|
| Q1 2024 | 82.36% |
| Q2 2024 | 75.67% |
| Q3 2024* | 72.91% |
*Pass rates available through Q3 2024.
CPA Exam Pass Rates by University
NASBA releases reports on the top universities that have accounting programs. The report also contains the average CPA Exam pass rates by these top universities based on first-time candidates.
Here is the list of top 10 programs with the highest CPA Exam Pass Rates:
| Ranking | Institution | 2023 CPA Exam Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern College | 94.3% |
| 2 | Univ of Wisconsin System | 88.9% |
| 3 | University of Virginia | 88.3% |
| 4 | Northwestern University | 87.5% |
| 5 | Brigham Young University | 85.3% |
| 6 | Augustana University | 84.8% |
| 7 | Lehigh University | 84.2% |
| 8 | University of WI-Madison | 83.3% |
| 9 | Hillsdale College | 83.3% |
| 0 | Wake Forest University | 83.1% |
