The Best Online Accounting Degrees

Updated November 1, 2023 | BestCollegeReviews.org Staff

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Accountants help business leaders make complex decisions by providing financial data for a variety of business areas. As more and more accounting functions become automated, businesses look to accountants to provide data analysis and provide critical thinking skills. Earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting provides these advanced skills along with instruction in multiple accounting specialties and prepares individuals for careers as accountants, budget analysts, financial managers, and auditors.

Graduates can find work with corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, or start an accounting and tax preparation business. Demand for accountants remains strong with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 10% growth in jobs through 2026. Accountants earned a median annual salary of $70,500 in 2020, with finance and insurance accountants earning $74,140 a year. A doctorate in accounting will also help increase your job prospects. According to Payscale, the average salary for someone with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Accounting is $67,000. For someone with a Ph.D. in Accounting, the average salary increases to $95,000. Programs that offer preparation for professional certifications, software certifications, or a path to becoming a Certified Public Accountant can provide graduates with a competitive advantage in the job market.

Featured Online Schools

Ranking Best Online Bachelor's in Accounting Degrees

With dozens of options available, finding the best online accounting degrees is no easy feat. After reviewing all of the top programs, we've compiled a list of the top five online accounting bachelor's degrees for 2021.

Our ranked schools offer coursework in an array of accounting specialties. These programs help prepare students for careers in accounting and to take the CPA exam.

Each program on our list holds either national or regional accreditation, which attest to a school's academic rigor. Many programs also receive industry-specific accreditation. Relevant accrediting institutions for this ranking include:

  • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
  • Network of International Business Schools (NIBS)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Best Online Bachelor's in Accounting Degrees

1. Eastern New Mexico University

A public university located in Portales, New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico University is the largest regional higher education institution in the state. The university is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and it currently enrolls more than 5,200 students.

Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

ENMU offers an online bachelor of business administration (BBA) in accounting through its College of Business. The school's BBA provides a flexible and affordable way to pursue a career in accounting. Students can complete this degree 100% online without the need to visit campus.

This degree requires a minimum of 120 total credit hours, including general education requirements.

Applying to ENMU

The online BBA in accounting at ENMU is open to all high school graduates and GED certificate-holders. Applicants must submit an online or paper application, high school transcripts, and ACT or SAT scores. The school does not have a stated minimum GPA or standardized test score minimum requirement for admission.

Program at a Glance

School Type: Public
Accreditation: ACBSP, HLC
Tuition: $187/credit hour (in state); $271/credit hour (out of state)
Required Credits: 120 credits
Program Length: 4 years full time
Delivery Format: 100% online (synchronous and asynchronous)

2. Northern State University

Northern State University is a public college located in northeastern South Dakota. The school was founded in 1901 and offers degrees in 59 majors. NSU boasts a 20-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio and it has a total enrollment of approximately 3,500 students.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

NSU's online bachelor of science in accounting is offered by the university's School of Business. Distance-learning students can take all 120 required credit hours online or through internships without the need to visit campus. Additionally, graduates of NSU's BS in accounting program can continue directly into the school's online master's in accounting analytics.

Applying to NSU

NSU offers flexible admission requirements for its undergraduate programs. Applicants must have graduated in the top 60% of their class. They must demonstrate a high school GPA of at least 2.6, plus ACT scores over 18 or SAT scores of at least 960 to be considered for admission to the program.

Program at a Glance

School Type: Public
Accreditation: HLC, ACBSP, NIBS
Tuition: $355/credit
Required Credits: 120 credits
Program Length: 4 years
Delivery Format: 100% online (asynchronous)

3. Colorado State University Global Campus

Colorado State University Global Campus is the newest member of the Colorado State University System. Founded in 2007, CSU Global now has more than 18,000 enrolled students in dozens of undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

The CSU Global bachelor of science in accounting is a 120-credit program for aspiring accountants. Students in this program take 51 credits in core degree courses, in addition to general education courses, an accounting practicum, and a capstone project.

All of the program's coursework is available 100% online, with flexible start dates throughout the academic year. This degree also allows students to take up to 15 credits in a degree specialization, such as nonprofit management, as part of their required coursework.

Applying to CSU Global

To apply to CSU Global's accounting program, prospective students must have a high school GPA of at least 2.8. The school also requires two years of work experience, plus ACT scores of 18 or SAT scores of 980, for applicants to be considered for admission.

Program at a Glance

School Type: Public
Accreditation: HLC, ACBSP
Tuition: $350/credit
Required Credits: 120 credits
Program Length: 4 years
Delivery Format: 100% online (asynchronous)

4. Northwestern State University of Louisiana

A public university located in the city of Natchitoches, Louisiana, Northwestern State University of Louisiana was originally founded to provide training programs for educators in the state. The school now educates a student body of over 11,000 people, 800 of whom are undergraduates in the university's College of Business and Technology.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

NSU is also home to Louisiana's oldest online university campus, which offers competitive tuition rates for both in-state and out-of-state students. The school's online bachelor of science in accounting is offered through its College of Business. Most courses in the program can be completed remotely, but some require students to travel to campus to take final exams.

This online accounting bachelor's degree offers courses in a number of accounting specialties, including governmental accounting and cost accounting. It also provides students with a chance to take elective courses, which count toward degree requirements in other areas of business administration.

Applying to NSU

Applicants for regular admission to NSU's online BS in accounting program must hold a minimum 2.35 high school GPA. The school also requires either ACT or SAT scores; however, requirements vary for in-state and out-of-state applicants.

Program at a Glance

School Type: Public
Accreditation: AACSB, SACSCOC
Tuition: $375/credit hour
Required Credits: 120 credits
Program Length: 4 years
Delivery Format: Online with some on-campus requirements

5. Delaware State University

Delaware State University is a public historically Black university located in the city of Dover. Founded in 1891, DSU now has more than 5,000 students who study both online and on campus. The school offers more than 60 degree-granting programs.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

The DSU online bachelor of science in accounting provides the same coursework as the on-campus program, but in a distance-learning format, where most courses don't require on-campus attendance. This program includes 121 credits, spread out over a variety of accounting, business, economics, and general education courses.

Students also have the option to enroll in DSU's five-year accounting program and earn an MBA in accounting. This program offers 150 credit hours, which is the minimum requirement to sit the CPA exam in many states.

Applying to DSU

To apply for admission to DSU, students must have a high school diploma or GED certificate with a minimum 2.0 GPA. Applicants should also have a combined SAT score of at least 800 or an ACT score of at least 17 to be considered for admission to the university.

Program at a Glance

School Type: Public
Accreditation: MSCHE, AACSB
Tuition: $356-$400/credit
Required Credits: 121 credits
Program Length: 4 years
Delivery Format: 100% online (asynchronous and synchronous)

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