Accounting Degree Overview for Alabama

The Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study identifies Alabama as the most religious state in the union. The state also has an extensive civil rights history, including Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous march from Selma to Montgomery.

While obtaining an accounting degree is a solid career choice in any state, Alabama accounting students benefit from the state’s unusually low cost of living and lucrative career options. Alabama’s accountants and auditors earn a mean annual wage of $72,120, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Alabama accounting students might also pursue careers as bookkeepers, auditing clerks, or financial managers.

The following state page covers accounting degrees in Alabama, including the state’s higher education statistics, available program types and formats, and relevant career paths for prospective Alabama accounting students.

Attending a program in the area where you plan to work can improve your job prospects, as schools often boast a local reputation and provide local networking opportunities. Alabama’s accountants and auditors earn a generous mean annual salary, and budget analysts and personal financial advisors in Alabama earn more than their counterparts in most other states.

Alabama’s top accounting schools span the geography of the state fairly evenly. Several of these schools offer affordable online programs, which are often convenient for working adults and out-of-state students. However, some online accounting degrees in Alabama require occasional trips to campus.

An important consideration for students and professionals, Alabama boasts a relatively low cost of living. While Alabama’s graduation rate is lower than neighboring states, with 49.5% of Alabama students graduating within six years, the Alabama State Commission on Higher Education recently instituted comprehensive strategic planning in an effort to improve these statistics and to make higher education more accessible throughout the state.

Alabama contains 45 four-year colleges and 32 two-year colleges, many of which host accounting programs. The state’s higher education statistics indicate that 44.6% of Alabama students take advantage of the state’s many distance education options.

While the percentage of Alabama residents with an associate degree is on par with the national average, only 15.6% of the state’s residents hold a bachelor’s degree, compared to 19.4% nationwide. Less than 10% hold graduate degrees.

The best accounting schools in Alabama hold institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation, this regional accrediting agency evaluates and accredits academic institutions in Southern states. SACSCOC promotes accountability, transparency, and improvement in higher education.

Regionally accredited schools meet more rigorous standards than nationally accredited institutions. These schools typically only accept degrees and credits from other regionally accredited institutions.

Particularly high-quality accounting degrees in Alabama may also boast programmatic accreditation from organizations such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). A global nonprofit committed to ensuring excellence in business education, AACSB has reviewed and approved over 870 business schools in 56 countries and territories.

Students differ widely in lifestyle, interests, and career goals, and academic programs vary in pace, format, and focus. The following sections explore several key factors to consider when choosing between Alabama accounting programs, including available degree levels, concentrations, and program types.

Statistics indicate that nearly half of Alabama’s college students complete courses online, taking advantage of the format’s convenience. The sections below can help you determine whether online accounting degrees in Alabama meet your educational needs, preferences, and career goals.

New accounting students often begin by completing an associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting. Many candidates go on to earn graduate degrees in order to meet the requirements for CPA certification.

Many accounting programs encourage students to specialize their knowledge and skills by choosing a curriculum track or concentration. Concentrations familiarize learners with specific accounting fields, roles, or industries and prepare them to become competitive applicants for those roles.

According to Alabama employment statistics, financial advisors and budget analysts enjoy above-average salaries in this state. Available at both undergraduate and graduate levels, the following concentrations prepare graduates well for top-paying accounting careers in Alabama, including personal financial advisor, budget analyst, and financial manager.

Explore More Accounting Concentrations

Especially popular in rural states with fewer institutions of higher education, online programs allow busy learners to earn degrees while attending to their job and family. Students pursuing accounting degrees in Alabama can choose from various program formats, including on-campus, online, and hybrid, each of which features different advantages.

On-campus programs feature traditional, in-person class sessions at campus facilities. Enrollees usually commute to campus several days per week and benefit from networking opportunities with peers, professors, and industry guest speakers. On-campus programs often suit students who prefer structured, supervised, and collaborative learning.

Unlike traditional formats, many online programs allow students to attend class asynchronously. Enrollees often watch lectures and participate in discussions on their own time and where it suits them. Online students save money on commuting costs and often pay lower tuition and fees than on-campus students.

Many online programs also accommodate working professionals by allowing students to choose from part-time, full-time, and accelerated pacing options. The convenient format requires online learners to structure their schedule and to work well independently.

Hybrid programs feature many of the benefits of online programs, combined with the networking and connection benefits of on-campus programs. Some programs require students to attend an in-person class session once per week, while other programs require a residency over several days.

To help mitigate the costs of an accounting degree, students can pursue various funding avenues, including grants, loans, scholarships, and fellowships. Enrollees at accredited schools can apply for federal financial aid by filling out a FAFSA form. The federal government typically dispenses grants, which do not need to be repaid, and low-interest loans, which students usually need to repay after graduating.

Other financial aid options include fellowships and scholarships, which students may receive based on merit, financial need, location, or identity. Alabama students should also consider taking advantage of Alabama-based scholarships.

In-state and out-of-state tuition at Alabama’s four-year public schools resembles national averages for similar institutions, but Alabama’s two-year public schools charge around $1,000-$2,000 above average. Private institutions, meanwhile, cost far less in Alabama than the national average. At $16,321, Alabama’s private four-year institutions cost around half of what similar institutions average nationally, on average.

Public schools charge out-of-state students more than double the tuition paid by in-state students, so obtaining state residency can reduce costs considerably. Alabama participates in the Southern Regional Education Board’s Academic Common Market, which allows out-of-state students from the South to pay in-state tuition rates in other Southern states. To qualify, however, some students must demonstrate that the equivalent of their intended degree program does not exist in their home state.

Prospective students should also consider cost of living, which varies considerably by state, when choosing where to go to school. Alabama scores 89.3 on the World Population Review’s cost of living index, making the state 10.7% more affordable than the U.S. average (of 100). The 11th cheapest state in the country, Alabama boasts particularly affordable housing at 71.5% of the national average cost in that category.

As mentioned above, accreditation, degree type, program format, and cost should factor into school decisions. When considering accounting degrees in Alabama, school selection criteria may include the following:

Bigger schools often boast more diversity, extensive campus resources, and networking opportunities, while smaller schools may offer a more intimate educational atmosphere and more interactions with faculty and peers.

Students eager to graduate quickly sometimes enroll in accelerated programs, which may feature six short terms per year rather than a traditional semester format. Meanwhile, working professionals often select part-time programs that allow more balance between school and other obligations.

Some accounting schools offer interesting and relevant extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities. Well-established accounting schools may feature student clubs, host guest speakers, and facilitate international trips.

Check your prospective accounting degree programs’ post-graduation salary statistics, if available. High average graduate salaries typically signal top-quality accounting programs with significant return on investment.

Program population often varies based on location and format. Schools in more metropolitan areas tend to boast more diverse student cohorts and faculty. Full-time programs with classes during the day often serve younger students, while part-time and evening programs cater to working professionals.

Students who lack requisite standardized test scores on tests such as the SAT/ACT or the GRE/GMAT may select schools that waive these requirements.

National job outlook projections and median annual salaries for accountants and auditors testify to the financial security that often accompanies accounting careers. BLS state data indicates especially promising accounting-related career prospects in Alabama.

The BLS projects a job growth rate of 9% for Alabama accountants and auditors between 2016 and 2026, compared to 6.4% nationally. While Alabama places 45th in the U.S. News and World Report state economy rankings, which measure economic stability and potential, the state scores above average (22nd) in growth.

With widely applicable skills, accounting professionals are poised to work across industries. Successful accounting firms, including accounting’s Big Four, hold offices in large Alabama cities such as Birmingham. Alabama accountants might consider working in one of the Alabama industries projected to grow most between 2016 and 2026: healthcare, construction, and manufacturing.

Below you’ll find job statistics and detailed descriptions for accounting careers in Alabama.

Curious About Other Accounting Jobs? Explore More Careers Here

If you plan to work in Alabama, attending an in-state school can improve your employment prospects. As indicated above, clerks, accountants, and financial managers account for the majority of accounting-related positions in Alabama.

An associate degree can support graduates in entering the field as clerks, whereas candidates looking to work as cost estimators or tax examiners might consider obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Earning a master’s degree in financial accounting can help Alabama professionals qualify for the state’s three top-paying accounting-related careers: financial manager, budget analyst, and financial advisor.

Financial managers, with salaries averaging $129,090, boast the highest mean wage out of the careers listed above. Alabama budget analysts and personal financial advisors also earn high salaries, and typically make more money than their counterparts in other states. Alabama’s budget analysts make $5,000 more than the national average.

Each state establishes its own CPA examination, certification, and licensure criteria, so take time to review the requirements for any state where you plan to work. The Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy dictates that Alabama CPAs must possess the following: