Universal CPA Review (2025): Visual Learning for Accountants
Best for: Best for Visual Learners Updated 12/2/2025Price: from 299 USD/course
Pros
- Video explanations for 100% of practice questions (unique in the industry)
- Mental Maps approach simplifies complex topics
- Extremely affordable compared to Becker/UWorld
- Founders Joey and Matt are very accessible and responsive
- Great for students who struggle with text-heavy explanations
Cons
- Question bank is smaller than the giants (5,000 vs 8,000+)
- Platform is newer and has fewer 'bells and whistles' (analytics are basic)
- No mobile app (though the site is mobile-friendly)
The Verdict: The Visual Revolution
Accounting is traditionally taught with walls of text. Universal CPA Review flipped the script. Founders Joey and Matt realized that most students are visual learners, yet most CPA courses are text-heavy.
Their solution? Mental Maps. Every concept is broken down into a flowchart or diagram. If you are the type of person who draws pictures to understand things, this course was made for you.
The “Video Explanation” Advantage
This is Universal’s killer feature.
- The Problem: In other courses, when you get a question wrong, you read a text paragraph. If you didn’t understand the text in the book, you probably won’t understand the text in the rationale.
- The Solution: Universal provides a video explanation for every single Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) and Task-Based Simulation (TBS). Joey or Matt walks you through the problem step-by-step on a whiteboard. It’s like having a private tutor for every question.
Pricing & Value
Universal is priced aggressively to compete with the big names.
- Full Course: Often available for under $1,000 (lifetime access).
- Monthly: They offer flexible payment options.
Compared to Becker ($3,000+), Universal is a steal. It is often used as a supplement by students who are failing with Becker, but it is robust enough to be a standalone course.
Who Should Use It?
- Visual Learners: If you get lost in paragraphs of text.
- International Students: The video walkthroughs are often easier to follow than dense technical English text.
- Budget Shoppers: You get a premium experience for a budget price.
Final Thoughts
Universal CPA Review is the best “bang for your buck” in the industry. While it lacks the massive question volume of UWorld, the quality of the learning experience is arguably higher because of the video explanations. It is the perfect course for the modern, visual student.