Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholars Program

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholars Program awards funds to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in an accounting degree program at certain regionally accredited U.S. colleges or universities.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 provides that funds generated from the collection of monetary penalties imposed by the PCAOB must be used to fund a merit scholarship program for undergraduate and graduate students in accredited accounting degree programs. The PCAOB Scholars Program was created to identify eligible students and, through their educational institution, provide a source of funding to encourage these students to pursue a career in auditing.

The PCAOB utilizes an outside administrator to assist with the Scholars Program on behalf of the PCAOB, including contacting eligible educational institutions, collecting nominations, and providing certain customer service functions.

PCAOB Scholar Eligibility Criteria:

• Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate accounting program at FIU
• Start classes on or after August 1, 2026
• Demonstrate interest and aptitude in accounting and auditing as evidenced by an overall GPA of 3.3 or higher
• Demonstrate high ethical standards
• Must not be a PCAOB employee or child or spouse of a PCAOB employee
• Not be required to perform any teaching, research, or other services in exchange for being nominated
• Demonstrate financial need (defined as being eligible to receive a Pell Grant or requiring other Federal financial aid for a significant portion of the expected or actual billed cost of attendance, as determined by FIU )

*Students may be of any academic status, from incoming freshmen to graduate students who will complete their degree as early as December 2026. They must be enrolled at the nominating institution to receive and use the award. Students who do not enroll at the nominating institution will forfeit their award. *

FIU will be able to nominate 3 candidates for this scholars program, including a transfer student from a 2-year institution in Fall 2024 or later *