Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Accounting 2022

A bachelor's degree in accounting can pave the way for profitable jobs in accounting and auditing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountants made a median annual salary of $73,560 in May of 2020, nearly twice the median salary for all occupations.

Graduates can also complete certified public accountant (CPA) requirements. A bachelor's degree in accounting yields 120 academic credits out of the 150 required to sit for the CPA exam in most states. Many employers hire candidates with a bachelor's in accounting for entrych-level accounting positions, but companies may prefer CPAs for higher-paying accounting positions.

The ranking below provides detailed information about the nation's top accounting schools online.

What Is Accounting?

Accounting involves collecting, processing, and presenting financial data to help with decision-making. Accountants are essential to a business as they oversee regulatory compliance, gather and analyze financial information, and produce quarterly reports for business leaders and shareholders.

A bachelor's degree in accounting focuses on developing transferable business skills, such as critical thinking, statistical analysis, strategic problem-solving, and business ethics. Bachelor's in accounting graduates can pursue various careers across industries and occupations. Common jobs include accountant, auditor, budget analyst, and financial advisor.

Many bachelor's in accounting programs offer concentrations in the field. Graduates seeking specific jobs may pursue a specialized bachelor's degree to gain an edge over candidates.

Bachelor's graduates can apply to accounting master's programs. Master's in accounting graduates can get their CPAs or pursue higher-paying accounting positions, such as financial analyst, financial manager, management analyst, or top executive.

Why Get an Accounting Bachelor's Degree Online?

A bachelor of accounting online can open the door to a lucrative career with a high return on investment (ROI). Most accounting bachelor's degrees online offer flexibility to working professionals. Read on for three key benefits of earning an online bachelor's degree in accounting.

What to Expect From a Bachelor of Accounting Online

Typical bachelor's in accounting programs expose learners to an array of foundational and specialized topics in accounting such as financial and managerial accounting, auditing, macro- and microeconomics, business statistics, federal taxation, compliance, business law, and forensic accounting. Each degree-granting institution offers its own bachelor's degrees in accounting and concentration options.

During the first part of a typical curriculum, students take required foundational courses. During the second part, degree-seekers can choose to complete electives or concentration courses. Some bachelor's in accounting programs offer an optional capstone or thesis seminar, in which learners can apply the knowledge acquired from their studies to real-world business problems or academic, theoretical problems.

Accounting schools bachelor's degrees online follow different formats. Some run synchronously, allowing for an immersive experience with contemporaneous online lectures, classroom discussions, and peer collaboration. Other programs provide fully asynchronous courses, in which students listen to prerecorded lectures and complete readings, homework, and tests at their own pace, provided that they meet the deadlines for each course module.

Admission Requirements for Accounting Schools

To apply to a bachelor's in accounting program, learners must hold a high school diploma or GED certificate, typically with an unweighted GPA of at least 2.0. Though top-tier schools may require a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Many schools also factor in standardized test scores like the SAT or the ACT.

The Common App can help streamline the application process, allowing applicants to apply to many colleges through one application. More than 900 schools accept the Common App.

Degree and Concentration Options

Higher education institutions offer several types of accounting bachelor's degrees. Common accounting degrees include the bachelor of accountancy (BAcc), the BS in accounting, and the bachelor of business administration (BBA) with a concentration in accounting.

The main BS degree requires more courses in quantitative areas like math and statistics. In contrast, a BBA emphasizes business fundamentals.

Business schools typically allow students to add a concentration in a specialized topic. Popular areas of concentration include:

• Financial accounting
• Managerial accounting
• Business administration
• Information technology
• Actuarial science
• Forensic accounting

Students planning to work in accounting immediately after graduation should keep in mind that a specialized bachelor's could narrow their career options. However, a concentration can help applicants stand out in a crowded job market.

Popular Accounting Courses

A typical bachelor's in accounting program offers courses that build foundational accounting skills, electives that explore specialty areas, and sometimes a capstone or thesis. The following are examples of classes you may find in a typical accounting curriculum.

How Much Will a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting Cost?

The typical costs of a bachelor's in accounting depends on a variety of factors, including whether the school is public or private, whether the degree is online, and the student's state residency.

The average cost of tuition and fees for an in-person degree at a top-ranked private college is $38,185 annually. The cost of tuition and fees at top-tier public colleges depends on whether you are a resident of that state. In-state residents pay $10,388 annually on average. Out-of-state residents pay $22,698 per year for an in-person degree.

An online accounting degree at a private school or a public school as an out-of-state resident is more cost-effective. The average total cost of an online bachelor's degree is $60,593 at a private school, $38,496 for in-state residents at a public school, and $54,183 for out-of-state residents.

A bachelor's normally takes four years to complete, and students can cut costs by transferring previous credits. Many schools automatically consider applicants for merit-based scholarships. Alternative ways to finance accounting schools include financial aid and student loans. The links below provide more information about these options.

Jobs for Bachelor's in Accounting Graduates

A bachelor's in accounting can be a stepping stone to a high-paying career. The BLS reports that the median salary for accountants and auditors is $73,560, which is nearly 80% higher than the median salary for all occupations. Additional education, such as a master's or graduate certificate in accounting, can significantly increase graduates' earning potential.

The BLS projects a 7% growth in accountant and auditor jobs from 2020 to 2030. The outlook is even better for some of the occupations reviewed below:

Budget Analyst

Budget analysts help analyze and identify shortcomings in a corporation's budgets and propose changes to the budget going forward.

• Required Education: A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field
• Job Outlook (2020-30): +5%
• Median Annual Salary: $78,970

Cost Estimator

Cost estimators estimate the cost of the resources, such as labor and materials, a startup or organization needs to produce a product or provide a service.

• Required Education: A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field
• Job Outlook (2020-30): +1%
• Median Annual Salary: $66,610

Financial Examiner

Financial examiners scrutinize corporations' financial records to ensure that they comply with the financial regulations and identify strategies for ensuring compliance going forward.

• Required Education: A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field
• Job Outlook (2020-30): +18%
• Median Annual Salary: $81,430

Personal Financial Advisor

Personal financial advisors advise people on how best to manage their finances and budget for the future.

• Required Education: A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field
• Job Outlook (2020-30): +5%
• Median Annual Salary: $89,330

Financial Analyst

Financial analysts analyze and evaluate the financial health of public and private organizations and provide guidance on where to cut costs.

• Required Education: A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field
• Job Outlook (2020-30): +6%
• Median Annual Salary: $83,660

Choosing the Right Online Accounting College

Aspiring accountants contemplating where to apply should consider several other factors besides a school's ranking or prestige. Key factors to weigh before selecting a program include accreditation, alumni network, and future education opportunities.

Two types of accreditation can affect the credibility of a bachelor's degree in accounting: regional and program-specific accreditation. Prospective students should prioritize a degree-granting institution that is accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies, as regionally accredited schools allow students to apply for federal aid and more easily transfer credits between schools or toward a graduate degree.

Program-specific accreditation is also important for boosting the credibility of a bachelor's degree in accounting. Additional accreditation by agencies such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ensures that the program has a proven track record of high educational quality.

A program's alumni network can also impact learners' future careers in positive ways. Many quality programs organize events where students meet or interact with alumni. Professional networkworking events can provide students with career advice, recommendations, and contacts in the field.

Future education opportunities offered by a program are pivotal to the ROI on your degree. While some undergraduates seek a job immediately after graduating, a certificate or graduate degree can increase your earning potential and help you meet the requirements for the CPA exam.

Why You Should Get Your Bachelor of Accounting Online

Many working professionals and busy learners opt to pursue an online accounting degree, which can be a more affordable and convenient alternative to an on-campus degree. Highly ranked online programs generally boast similar educational outcomes and networking and recruitment opportunities as their on-campus equivalents.

The online degree format varies by school and program. An asynchronous format allows learners to study at their own pace, whereas a synchronous format requires students to attend lectures and tests at set times. An allochronic format provides maximum flexibility and convenience but also requires substantial self-direction and time management skills.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents another impetus for pursuing a degree online. Many universities and colleges made the transition to a fully online or hybrid format, and institutions that offer on-campus classes predominantly host professional activities and office hours online. Given the lower cost and higher quality of a degree designed to be online, a 2022 online bachelor's accounting degree may be a smart choice.

Top Five Accounting Bachelor's Degrees Online

As a popular business major, online accounting degrees can prepare aspiring accountants for CPA, certified management accountant (CMA), or certified financial manager (CFM) designations. Read on to discover the best online accounting degrees for 2022, and see below to learn more about our methodology for ranking the best bachelor's degrees in accounting.

Questions About Going to School for Accounting