For a young student just starting out, which of the top three is the best choice?

[mrs.b]

Does he ever want a CPA license? If so, look at not only the state requirements of your states, but all the state requirements of all the states he might live. In my mind, that translates to mean a degree plan that meets the strictest states. (I've heard Kansas is up there on the list, and closely mirrors a lot of the other strict states.)

At the very least, he'll need 150 total credit hours. Most states require at least 20% of those credits be specific Accounting courses. Of those, a lot of them require at least those Accounting courses be graded and delivered from a regionally-accredited source (so ACE is out; they are accepted by some RA schools but are not RA themselves). I've heard some states require all 150 credits come from RA sources, so in those cases, not even the random Gen-Eds can be shortcutted.

That does not mean you cannot use some nontraditional options. So long as they are offered and transcribed FROM an RA school, self-paced or CBE will work if it transcribes as graded.

There will be several ways to qualify. In my state, earning a bachelors in anything and then a Masters in Accountancy from an AACSB-accredited school will also get a seat (120 hours for a bachelors, at least 30 at grad-level to still meet the 150). But, those are competitive and will also require undergrad be geared for that goal.

Start backwards in this case:
1) Look at all the end goals and make a list of the requirements that need to be met, and the paths of least resistance to meet those requirements.
2) Put those solutions in the degree plan before anything else (including mandatory course type, course level, and course title).
3) THEN (and only then) look for a school that has a mold that fits around that skeleton plan.

It is possible to make a CPA-track degree plan at some of the Big3, but you might have an easier time of it through a state school (not necessarily your state, though it's a good place to start). Most states have not updated their CPA licensure requirements since the advent of computers (or so it feels). You'll be very niched into traditional (or something that looks traditional) credit sources for most of the credits. If you just go with any old degree that happens to have some accounting courses thrown in, you'll end up taking a lot of accounting courses after-the-fact at the undergrad level OR doing a grad-level program that you might not be fully prepared for if the undergrad had minimal pre-reqs included.