Top Online Accounting Degree Programs for Earning Your Bachelors
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An online accounting degree could be your ticket to a high-paying job.
Accountants who hold their bachelor’s in accounting earn a median pay of $77,250 per year or $37.14 per hour, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics
There are over 1,449,800 accountants, and the number needed through 2031 is expected to rise by 6%.
With strong job prospects and pay that can easily expand into the six digits, an online accounting degree could help you secure your future and maintain employment for the entire length of your career.
Each college in our list must be accredited, feature a high level of post-graduate satisfaction, and offer industry-fair tuition rates for students.
Here are the top 25 online accounting degree programs for bachelor’s seeking college students.
1. The University of Alabama at Birmingham
This is one of only 11 schools to receive the prestigious Beckman Scholars award for exceptional training of undergraduate researchers. UAB’s accounting students have also gained national recognition by winning competitions at the largest student investment conference in the world.
Once enrolled in the program, a bachelor in accounting degree can be earned entirely online or through a mixture of online and on-site classes.
This foundational program will provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge they need to pass the Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exams.
The school is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Both the accounting and business programs at UAB have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for more than 30 years.
2. Northeastern University College of Professional Studies
School Profile
Students interested in earning their Bachelor’s in accounting from Northeastern University College of Professional Studies will take courses that range from financial reporting and analysis to international business and macroeconomics.
Students will have an opportunity to pick up the fundamental skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a challenging environment. They will also have the chance to focus their studies by choosing from electives in taxation, accounting information systems, investment management, financial strategy, and international finance.
This program is built based upon an online platform that allows students to easily manage coursework, interact with faculty and peers, and collaborate on projects.
The Northeastern University’s online Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
3. Penn State World Campus
Penn State University offers a unique opportunity to study financing, accounting, and business in a single package. The university offers a Bachelor’s in Business with an emphasis in accounting.
Students will earn a bachelor’s in business administration while taking part in an 18-credit program accounting option that provides students with a deeper understanding of financial and managerial accounting, systems and controls, taxation, and auditing.
The entire program, which includes 120 credit hours, can be completed 100% online.
Penn State World Online is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
4. Washington State University College of Business
School Profile
Washington State University offers an online bachelor’s degree in accounting that focuses on core courses in financial management, auditing, business strategy, and taxation.
Students are also educated in technological advances in the financial world and new accounting programs to ensure they competitive when graduating and entering the real world.
All students must complete the university’s core educational requirements in order to move forward with their bachelor’s in accounting degree.
The Washington State University global campus for the online degree in accounting is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which is the premier association for accrediting business degree programs like accounting.
5. Clarion University
Clarion University was established in 1867 as an educational facility that prepares students for professional careers.
The online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an accounting major degree program is 120 credit hours and available on a part-time basis.
This program ensures that students gain the necessary skills and knowledge needed to pursue a full-time career in accounting.
Enrolled students can select up to three classes during each semester and in the summer.
Courses include financial accounting, managerial accounting, payroll accounting and tax planning.
The school’s administrators say graduates will be able to generate, analyze, and communicate accounting information for
internal and external use. They will also have a deep understanding of analytical thinking skills through the interpretation of evidence and formulation of warranted conclusions.
Like many accounting programs these days, a focus on technological advances is also observed.
Clarion University has regional accreditation, and its College of Business Administration is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB).
6. Colorado State University-Global Campus
The Colorado State University-Global Campus is part of the Colorado State University System. There are more than 6,500 students enrolled in the school’s programs.
The university says its program will improve your mastery of the fundamentals of accounting, as well as help you gain a comprehensive view of organizational management issues.
The BS in Accounting program is designed to take you beyond the day-to-day tasks of your position and help you to think bigger, expanding your professional horizons by teaching you about legal compliance, ethics, leadership, and more.
Learners gain knowledge of accounting fundamentals and a comprehensive view of organization management issues including legal compliance and ethics, finance, marketing, leadership, economics, and quantitative decision making.
Students will leave the program with opportunities in private, public, not-for-profit, and government organizations.
Colorado State University-Global Campus is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission North Central Association.
7. Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University is a private nonprofit institution that requires teachers to have a minimum of a master’s degrees in their respective fields.
This school’s online Accounting degree program will prepare students to pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) test and other certification exams.
Students in the university’s online degree program are offered access to support services, including career services and academic advisors.
Among the courses available are accounting, corporate finance, business law and various other career-centric options.
Southern New Hampshire University is fully accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The Bachelor of Science in Accounting has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
8. Florida Tech Online
Florida Tech is a private, non-profit university that has been educating students since 1958. The school is recognized as a Tier 1 Best National University by U.S. News and World Report.
Students enrolled in the bachelor’s of accounting program will learn how to establish an accounting information system, practice the fundamentals of cost accounting, maintain current accounting standards of financial accounting, and incorporate principles
Faculty also teach the practical application of tax laws including tax return preparation and tax research. Students learn how to understand accounting principles for partnerships, mergers, acquisitions and consolidations and investigate corporate taxation and trust and estate tax.
Classes include such options as principles of accounting, cost accounting, applied decision methods for business, and finance for management, among many other courses.
The Florida Institute of Technology is recognized by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
9. University of Maryland University College
The University of Maryland University College is a comprehensive virtual university and part of the University of Maryland international system.
The bachelor’s degree in accounting curriculum was developed in close conjunction with employers and features real-world datasets, facilitating networking opportunities. One unique part of this program is that Accounting employers often serve as guest speakers and contact UMUC to recruit students.
UMUC works with students to ensure that they can properly communicate with financial and non-financial audiences in a clear and concise manner and make appropriate financial decisions.
Students are taught how to research, prepare, analyze, and review financial and business data by applying accounting and business management principles to produce financial and business reports
Students are also taught how to use current technology and analytical tools to work collaboratively and facilitate decision-making.
University of Maryland University College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
10. University of Minnesota-Crookston
The University of Minnesota-Crookston is a four-year public university founded as a coordinate campus of the University of Minnesota.
The university offers a Bachelor’s through its online Accounting degree program that caters to students wanting a program that has small class sizes. This can help better prepare them for taking the Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, or a Certified Internal Auditor exams.
The program places an emphasis on accounting principles for profit, public, and non-profit organizations while using problem-solving strategies.
Students completing the program often find careers in Financial Analysis, Public Accounting, Management Accounting, Banking, Taxation, and Finance just to name a few.
The University of Minnesota-Crookston is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges.
11. Post University
The Post University was founded in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1890 with a commitment to providing its students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become leaders in their chosen professions.
In Post’s B.S. in Accounting, you will learn from faculty members with extensive real-world experience while gaining the skills necessary to succeed in traditional accounting jobs.
The school prides itself on hands-on learning.
Students in the Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree program learn how to apply practical accounting principles and concepts to modern businesses. Through a combination of accounting and business courses, students will gain knowledge of the regulations that govern financial reporting and tax compliance as well as develop their skills in the areas of financial analysis, financial forecasting, costing and budgeting.
Many graduates pursue CPA and CMA certifications.
This degree program is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
12. Regis University
Regis University is located in Denver, Colorado. The school is a Roman Catholic and Jesuit university, with a student body of 10,683 students.
The Bachelor of Science degree in accounting can obtained through both online courses and on-campus classes.
Students will complete 45 credit hours in core studies alongside 33 foundational course hours and 24 upper division credits. An optional minor can be achieved for up to 12 credit hours. General elective hours range from 14 to 26 hours based on the minor degree options chosen.
Classes include principles of accounting, legal environment of business, business law, and senior capstone, among others.
Regis University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association.
13. California Baptist University
California Baptist University is a private college, founded in 1950. The university services just under 5,000 students.
The program at CBU was developed to ensure that students develop high-demand skills in tax accounting, auditing, and other financial areas.
The Bachelor of Science in Accounting at this university will prepare students for careers in public accounting, corporate accounting, managerial accounting, and government and not-for-profit accounting.
The curriculum has been specifically designed to prepare students for the CPA exam and the numerous career paths available in the accounting field.
Accounting majors receive a foundation in core principles from an interdisciplinary approach that includes economics, finance, business law, international business, business analysis, and marketing, in addition to the accounting curriculum.
The Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges provides official accreditation for California Baptist University.
14. Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University is an Evangelical Christian university that offers liberal arts programs and professional education. It was recently rated by US News & World Report as one of the best school’s to receive a Master’s degree in the Midwest.
IWU has tailored its online accounting degree program to the needs of working adults who wish to complete a bachelor’s degree while still maintaining their hectic work schedules.
Students can expect to focus on accounting theory, auditing, and taxation.
Students can earn their accounting Bachelor’s degree online or onsite at various locations in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
IWU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
15. Western Governors University College of Business
Western Governors University was founded in 1995 by the Western Governors Association in an effort to provide students with quality distance programs at affordable rates. It has received numerous awards from distance learning associates in America.
The school’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree program is offered by WGU through its College of Business.
This unique program does not use a credit-based course system. Instead, students graduate after completing periodic assessments by department faculty.
The program requires a total of 121 competency units (CUs), our equivalent to the traditional credit hour. If you’ve taken courses or received a degree from another college or university, you may be able to clear some of these requirements through transfer credit.
Students are offered various different course opportunities including business, leadership and management, business of IT, accounting, human resources, marketing and communication, quantitative analysis for business, and more.
Western Governors University holds regional accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
16. Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University was established outside Tampa, Florida in 1889 and is the oldest Catholic university in the state. The school is home to more than 16,000 students.
The undergraduate accounting degree is focused on the fundamentals of accounting, business law, individual income taxes, cost accounting, and auditing.
Completion of the accounting degree program requires 48 general education credits, 27 business credits, 33 accounting credits, and 12 elective credits for a total of 120.
The school promises that its program emphasizes leadership and personal development.
Saint Leo University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and only accepts transfer credit from other regionally accredited institutions.
The university’s School of Business is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
17. New England College
New England College is a small, private school located in Henniker, New Hampshire. There are 1,100 students enrolled at the college, with a growing number of them taking part in the university’s online courses.
The college provides an online bachelor’s in accounting as part of its business administration program.
The degree helps students to understand the way that money should be properly distributed so that upon graduation they can help both businesses and individuals keep their money organized and increase profits.
This online option still promises one-on-one attention and assistance as needed.
Competencies for this program include skills that apply to private industry, governmental and other nonprofit accounting entities, how to record financial transactions, how to prepare and examine financial statements, critical information about accounts payable and receivable, the proper way to maintain a ledger, and business analysis techniques.
New England College is completely accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The accreditation is through New England’s College’s commission on Institutions of Higher Education.
18. Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a public college located in Ashland, Oregon and was founded in 1926.
One of the most popular programs offered by South Oregon University is the online Bachelor’s of Business Administration, in which you can receive a concentration in accounting.
There are several tracks in accounting that assist your business degree. Those tracks include public accounting (36 credits) and management accounting (24 credits).
Students are taught how to operate in a business setting while applying proper accounting practices.
In October 2014, the school’s Online Accounting Program was ranked by Accounting Degree Review as one of the 30 most affordable online bachelor’s degree programs in America.
South Oregon University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Both the traditional campus and online degree programs are fully accredited.
19. University of the Incarnate Word
The University of the Incarnate Word is a Catholic university and private institute, with main campuses in San Antonio and Alamo Heights, Texas.
The bachelor’s for the school’s online accounting degree program is based around the intricacies of monetary transactions.
The curriculum for the degree program is based on the core points detailed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Courses include focuses in Auditing, Business Law, and Management Science.
The University of the Incarnate Word receives its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
20. Bellevue University
Bellevue University is a private college in Nebraska founded in 1966 with the goal of admitting working adults. There are more than 10,000 students now enrolled in its courses.
Bellevue College offers a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting, which emphasizes the importance of logical thinking and building a strong foundation in knowledge of accounting procedures.
Students will be prepared to take and pass the CPA examination after earning their bachelor’s degree, which includes 150 credit hours.
Among the classes that students will enjoy are financial accounting, management science, cost accounting, income tax accounting, and business ethics, among other courses.
Bellevue College is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The Bachelor of Science in Accounting has been accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
21. Liberty University Online
School Profile
Liberty University is a Christian educational institution founded in 1971. Today the university has about 12,600 students attending traditional classes at the sprawling campus, and over 80,000 enrolled in online courses.
The Bachelor of Science in Accounting program offered by Liberty University Online has been rated among the top three accounting degree programs in the US by the Open Education Database (OEDb).
The university has created a curriculum that prepares students to take the CPA exam and work in numerous real world settings.
The curriculum is updated frequently to reflect the latest accounting practices and methods so you are prepared to meet the challenges of the marketplace. The degree program was built around an online focus for students who require a flexible learning schedule.
All of Liberty University’s degree programs are regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC).
22. University of the Southwest
The University of the Southwest is a four-year institution that was founded in 1962. The school is home to under 1,000 students.
Students can earn their Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Southwest.
The degree program focuses on all the necessary elements of an accounting major, with a special focus on business and financial accounting. This program is especially good for students who want to become tax specialists, consultants, or auditors.
Much like the other schools on our list, students will be prepared for the CPA exam.
A member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the University of the Southwest is regionally accredited. The accreditation process is overseen by the Higher Learning Commission.
23. Concordia University-St. Paul
Concordia University is a liberal arts university with about 2,800 students. The university touts its small class sizes as part of its charm and efficacy.
The university provides a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, and students take a variety of courses to satisfy degree requirements, including accounting, business, finance, and other liberal arts subjects.
An example of accounting degree course work includes intermediate accounting, advanced accounting, public finance, income tax, and auditing.
Both the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association have given their full accreditation to Concordia University.
24. Colorado Christian University
Colorado Christian University is a liberal arts college with a current enrollment of approximately 5,000 students. The university features both on campus and online undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The university offers a B.S. degree in accounting.
Students will complete coursework in basic accounting and business and economics. They will also work in specialized coursework in tax accounting, accounting for nonprofit corporations and accounting for work in the government.
Students who complete the 120 credit hours required for graduation will meet the CPA educational requirements for the state of Colorado.
All of the programs at Colorado Christian University, including the online programs, are fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
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