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SubscribePCAOB Awards Largest-Ever Number of Merit-Based Scholarships to Students From U.S. Colleges and Universities
685 Students have been named PCAOB Scholars for the 2025-2026 academic year
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) today announced that 685 students, nominated by their U.S. colleges and universities, have been selected to each receive a $15,000 merit-based scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. This year’s group of PCAOB Scholars is the largest in the history of the program to date.
“Congratulations to our 2025-2026 PCAOB Scholars,” said PCAOB Chair Erica Y. Williams. “If we want our system of investor protection to stay strong, the best and brightest must continue to pursue careers in the accounting and auditing profession. We are proud that our PCAOB Scholars Program helps outstanding individuals, such as this group of students, along this career path.”
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 provides that funds from the collection of PCAOB monetary penalties must be used to fund a merit scholarship program for students in accredited accounting degree programs. Since launching its Scholars Program in 2011, the PCAOB has awarded nearly $43 million in scholarships to 3,603 recipients. The total amount awarded this year is over $10 million.
The program’s overarching goals are to (1) benefit outstanding students who are likely to become auditors and (2) make a difference to eligible students who might otherwise pursue a different career path. Scholarship recipients are nominated by their respective institutions, which participate in the PCAOB Scholars Program based on their accreditation and the number of students they graduate with accounting degrees each year.
A full description of the program — including information on the nomination process, the selection of nominating institutions, and other details — can be found on the PCAOB Scholars Program page. All participating institutions, along with the students named PCAOB Scholars this year, are listed here.
For a “by the numbers” look at the makeup of PCAOB Scholars Program in 2025, see the accompanying fact sheet.
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About the PCAOB
The PCAOB is a nonprofit corporation established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies in order to protect investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, accurate, and independent audit reports. The PCAOB also oversees the audits of brokers and dealers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including compliance reports filed pursuant to federal securities laws.