Schools for Accounting Degree:- The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for accounting professionals who have successfully completed programmes at online universities will increase by 11% over the next ten years, faster than the average for employment in other industries. In 2015, the median annual salary for accountants was $67,190. Accountants create and review financial records, checking for accuracy and timely tax payments. Additionally, they evaluate financial operations and support their company’s efficient functioning.
Despite the fact that it is feasible to work in accounting without a degree, very few employers will consider hiring an accountant without at least a bachelor’s degree. Any accountant who submits financial information to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must hold the CPA designation (CPA). By law, the state Board of Accountancy must grant a CPA a license. This entails passing a state license test and fulfilling any other requirements that might be unique to the state in which the accountant wishes to work.
In the majority of states, one needs 150 college credits to be eligible to take the exam. People must complete an additional 30 hours of study because the majority of bachelor’s degree programmes are just 120 hours long. To meet the 150-hour requirement, several universities now provide five-year combined bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes.
The top 10 accounting schools in the nation provide degree programmes that get students ready to take the state CPA exam. Additionally, all schools are recognised, demonstrating that the curriculum satisfies or exceeds standards established by an accrediting body that signify excellence in education and a focus on improving any problems detected during assessment. Additionally, they have received high rankings from publications like Niche, Best College Reviews, The Best Schools, and U.S. News & World Report.
A good accounting programme selection involves a number of factors. Choosing colleges with an accounting focus is frequently the best option. Students can learn more about a certain area of the accounting field, including financial accounting, tax accounting, or auditing, thanks to this. Concentrations involve additional coursework that focuses on that specific area of accounting because different accounting roles demand distinct skills. This frequently entails taking additional electives or targeted classes in that specialty.
Cost is another aspect that affects how highly an accounting school is ranked. Less expensive tuition fees make it possible for students to graduate from college with little debt. If the institution offers any online courses that would make it simpler for adult students with work, family, and social obligations to develop their current careers or transition into a new profession in accounting, that is another point to be taken into account. For the benefit of adult learners, each of these universities offers accounting degrees that can be completed totally online.
Best 10 Online Schools for Accounting Degree
10. University of Minnesota Crookston
One of the five campuses in the University of Minnesota system, the University of Minnesota Crookston is a public institution with a coeducational student body. More than 1,800 students are present, more than half of them are enrolled in online courses. Its small class sizes and flexibility have earned it recognition as one of the best online universities for accounting. The curriculum gives students both the advanced and fundamental accounting procedures they need to assist clients and businesses with financial reports. There are further courses offered that are complementary to the accounting degree but are not in the major. Instead of finishing a complete master’s degree, students can opt to take certification exams offered on campus to become a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, or Certified Internal Auditor after completing the 120-credit programme. Students should check with their state licensing board to find out if they need to complete additional coursework in order to sit for the exam because some states demand 150 credit hours in order to take the exam.
9. Northeastern University
Since they started giving degrees as a forward-thinking procedure, Northeastern University has been one of the best online universities. They provide more than 70 entirely online programmes, degrees, and certificates, giving adult learners a way to enhance their education. As a top online accounting institution, their curriculum helps students to comprehend the statistics underlying business, assisting organizations in reaching their financial objectives and enabling them to make crucial economic selections.
The college provides an online Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting Management programme that is intended to assist students in maximizing investments, managing budgets, and leveraging assets. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business has accredited the course.
The program’s tuition is $504 per credit hour, with an estimated total cost of $60,480. The programme should be finished in four years for full-time students and in about seven years for part-time students. Due to the program’s limited credit hours, students might need to pursue a graduate degree in finance or taxation before they can sit for their state’s CPA exam.
8. University of Alabama Birmingham
Due to the fact that it offers students the full university experience in a state-of-the-art online format, the University of Alabama Birmingham has been ranked as one of the top online colleges for accounting. Students can pursue a Certified Management Accountant Credential through the programme, which is supported by the Institute of Management Accountants. Both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting are available online through the university. In order to take the CPA test in their state, students can pick the fast-track option to get both degrees in as short as five years. The Collat School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and the university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Students must have completed 15 credits at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and be 45 credits or less away from graduation in order to be admitted to the fast track programme. Students must have a GPA of 3.4 or better and have earned a “B” or higher in Accounting Information Systems, Financial Accounting I, and II.
7. Penn State University World Campus
Students who receive degrees from Penn State’s online world campus are enrolled in one of the best online colleges since the university is a respected and well-known leader in higher education. The demanding curriculum for Penn State’s online accounting degree is the same as that for traditional class attendees. The cost for the online accounting curriculum is $542 per credit hour. One of the very few online programmes to receive accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business is the programme. Students can take the exams for Certified Management Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner, or Chartered Global Management Accountant after earning a bachelor’s degree. Students are advised to get in touch with their state licensing board to find out if a bachelor’s degree fits the educational criteria because every state has its own standards for the Certified Public Accountant examination, some of which need 150 credit hours of higher education.
6. Southern New Hampshire University
An online accelerated track accounting degree from Southern New Hampshire University gives graduates the credits they need to take the CPA exam in any state. The degree is a hybrid bachelor’s/program. Master’s Students who complete the fast track programme can save money on tuition by earning both degrees faster than they could if they did them separately. Regular students pay $320 per credit hour for online tuition, while active duty personnel and their spouses pay $225 per credit hour. The business college is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, and the college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
5. Regis University
Students can complete the Bachelor of Science in Accounting programme at Regis University WorldClass in an expedited manner. The eight-week courses offer students the same demanding academics as those enrolled in the regular classroom curriculum do. Students gain analytical and quantitative abilities, equipping them for positions in public accounting companies, private industry, or government or non-profit organizations. Through a $400 partner discount, students who intend to take the CPA exam are given special access to Becker CPA Exam Review Courses. Through the combined degree programme, students may also pursue both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. This is intended for students who must complete 150 credits before sitting for their state’s CPA exam.
The Higher Learning Commission has granted the university accreditation. Each credit hour costs $1,066 in tuition. The accelerated programme may also need an internship to be completed. Students should talk to an admissions counselor about all criteria.
4. University of Maryland University College
A bachelor’s in accounting is offered by the University of Maryland University College and is available entirely online. The programme focuses on the analysis and reporting of economic activity and combines theory and practice to prepare students for employment in the accounting sector. Management accounting, budgeting, systems, internal controls, and other abilities pertaining to the economics of firms and individuals are developed by students.
Without transfer credits, the estimated cost to complete the degree is $34,080. Students who live in states where the CPA test requires 150 credit hours of higher education may need to take extra courses to meet the 120-hour program’s requirements. Students can choose to continue their studies online through the University of Maryland University College at the Master’s level if they have the necessary 150 credit hours to sit for the CPA examination. The curriculum will probably cost $16,488 in total to finish.
Before enrolling in graduate courses, students must have successfully completed 15 credits of undergraduate accounting with a grade of “C” or higher in each course. Once the student has earned 15 undergraduate credits, they can finish both their undergraduate and graduate degrees at the same time.
3. Clarion University
Students can fit higher education into their hectic schedules at Clarion University, one of the best online institutions for accounting. The university offers a fully online Master of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting. The cost of full-time study in Pennsylvania is $3,619 for citizens and $3,909 for non-residents.
With small class numbers and a demanding curriculum, online accounting degrees equip students to flourish in the accounting and finance industries. The master’s programme satisfies the state’s requirement for 150 credits, allowing students who complete it to take the CPA exam there.
Students must have completed Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Federal Taxation, and Auditing at the undergraduate level in order to participate in the graduate programme.
2. Old Dominion University
One of the best online accounting programmes is provided by Old Dominion University and is approved by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Along with broad business training, the programme also imparts accounting expertise and understanding. Virginia residents pay $325 for each credit hour, while non-residents pay $355. A minimum of 30 of the 120 credits needed for the bachelor’s degree in arts must be earned at Old Dominion University.
The completion of an additional 30 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree may be needed for students who intend to take the CPA exam in their state. There isn’t an online Master of Accountancy programme offered at Old Dominion, although graduates of the undergraduate programme there might need to continue their studies with a graduate degree.
1. Colorado State University
Colorado State University is the top online institution for accounting education in the nation. A Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting is available at Colorado State University. Students are prepared for employment in public, private, or governmental accounting through this degree. The fundamental ideas and concepts of accounting are understood by the students.
Students are recommended to verify with the licensing authority in the state where they wish to practice because each state has different criteria, although the undergraduate curriculum qualifies students to sit for the CPA examination in Colorado. $444 for each credit hour of tuition.
The best online universities for accounting degrees give people who can’t attend regular classes due to work, family, or social obligations the chance to pursue their higher education goals, whether they’re to start a new career or develop in their existing one.