The number of accredited online accounting degrees has increased in recent years as schools have worked hard to accommodate a profession that continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Considered one of the most durable professions in the country, accounting is expected to grow slightly faster than average through the end of the present decade. Online programs give students the tools, resources, and skills they need to succeed in accounting at virtually any level and within organizations of any size. Thanks to the advent of video lectures, videoconferencing, smartphone applications, and the move to digitize course materials, these online degrees offer the same intense level of assessment and learning as their on-campus counterparts. Best of all, the nature of these online accounting programs allows students to choose the best public, private, state-based, or national accounting program fro their unique interests, academic needs, and budgetary concerns.
American National University
Department of Accounting
American National University is one of the leading sources of online education in a wide variety of business-related and non-business field, and its Department of Accounting has worked hard to create a concentration that fits seamlessly with the school’s respected bachelor’s degree program in business administration. All of the professors who teach ANU’s courses are accounting industry professionals, many of them with full-time roles in some of the country’s largest corporations and most important small businesses. This helps students learn from those who don’t just teach accounting theoretically, but instead pass along practical advice and experience alongside accounting theory and textbook materials. With an entirely online curriculum, students are free to gain their own hands-on accounting experience through internships and supervised accounting roles as they complete the degree.
Business Administration – Accounting Bachelor’s Degree
The business administration program at American National University is considered a comprehensive one, and it pairs well with business-related concentration like accounting, finance, and executive leadership. Alongside courses in management, finance, communications, and economics, students will take courses that educate them in basic personal and financial accounting, managerial accounting, professional ethics and GAAP, and the role of the accountant in corporate budgeting and expenditures. Students will undergo a series of courses that will help them learn how to prepare tax returns for individuals and businesses, and they’ll take the courses needed to eventually qualify for the Certified Public Accountant examination that has become the key to long-term job stability and accounting industry advancement. With a solid foundation of liberal arts courses typical of today’s universities, well-rounded graduates can expect to be on par with any student of a traditional, campus-based accounting program.
Contact
American National University
Department of Accounting
1813 E. Main St.
Salem, VA 24153
Phone: (540) 986-1800
Website
Bellevue University
College of Business
Bellevue University was founded in 1966 as a strong resource for adult students and, eventually, those who pursued distance education programs. Since the beginning, Bellevue has been focused on business education. Today, the College of Business maintains extensive degree programs in management, accounting, finance, and numerous other fields. Accounting professors at Bellevue have an exceedingly large amount of experience in everyday accounting for individuals, corporations, and tax firms. They use that experience when they instruct their students, guiding them through everything from basic financial accounting and GAAP to the skills needed to ace an interview and land an entry-level position in the field. Though targeted to learners nationwide, Bellevue’s accounting program is designed to coincide with the 150-credit CPA eligibility requirement set forth by its home state of Nebraska. Students outside of Nebraska may want to ensure that the program’s courses and structure match well with their own state’s requirements prior to enrollment.
Accounting Degree – Bachelor of Science
Though the accounting degree offered at Bellevue University is a “pure” degree, and not merely a concentration within a business program, students who enroll will still get a solid foundation in the fundamentals of business management and organization. The common accounting curriculum includes courses in finance, communication, management, marketing, business ethics, and the role of policymaking in daily operations. Beyond the business core, students will take courses in financial and managerial accounting, forensics and auditing, tax policy and budgeting, and many other relevant topic areas that professional accountants need to know. They’ll also be required to take financial planning courses that teach them how to best leverage the power of accounting and financial proficiencies to help consumers, boost corporate budgets, or properly plan capital expenditures in a senior role.
Contact
Bellevue University
College of Business
1000 Galvin Rd. S.
Bellevue, NE 68005
Phone: (402) 293-2000
Email: OneStop@Bellevue.edu
Website
Bemidji State University
Department of Accounting
Students who live in Minnesota will appreciate Bemidji State’s combination of affordable, state-funded tuition and its accessible online programs. Even those outside of Minnesota will find the school’s programs as affordable as they are challenging. The Department of Accounting offers a bachelor’s degree in the field that is consistently ranked as among the strongest in Minnesota, with a core of required classes that prepare students not only for corporate leadership but also for the CPA examination. Professors are often full-time accountants in traditional businesses, with the kind of experience that gives students added insight as they learn the trade. With an accounting honor society offered to online students and the ability to participate in online student organizations, this is a department built on networking and immersive learning opportunities. It’s worth noting that students who enroll in this program must have already completed a two-year associate’s degree in order to be admitted.
B.S. in Accounting
Because students who enroll in Bemidji State’s B.S. in Accounting program have already learned the basics during their earlier coursework at a community college or other online institution, the coursework required in order to graduate with the bachelor’s is actually quite advanced from the outset. Students will typically be required to take a few advanced business courses that cover macroeconomics and microeconomics, strategic management, and the basics of corporate and personal finance. Their accounting coursework will cover tax policy and tax planning, corporate budgets, managerial accounting, auditing, forensic accounting theory, and basic business ethics. These courses are not only a key part of any accounting position, but they’re also required by Minnesota’s state regulations in order for students to one day be eligible for the CPA examination that will help them further their accounting industry careers.
Contact
Bemidji State University
Department of Accounting
1500 Birchmont Drive NE
Bemidji, MN 56601
Phone: (218) 755-2001
Website
Bryant and Stratton College
Department of Accounting
Accounting students who enroll at Bryant and Stratton have the distinction of attending the institution that graduated business professionals Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller. For this reason, the Department of Accounting does not take its job lightly as it uses online tools to educate future industry professionals. All students use immersive online web conferencing, video lectures, and cloud-based collaboration tools to simulate the typical experience of an on-campus classroom. Professors are seasoned accounting professionals, and many of them still maintain a full-time position in the industry even as they teach a new group of students the basics of accounting at all levels. Nestled within the larger College of Business at Bryant and Stratton College, students will learn all the skills they need to become seasoned business professionals and they’ll have numerous online networking opportunities to help them secure a long-term position after graduation.
BBA in Accounting
The Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Accounting at Bryant and Stratton College focuses on giving students a fundamental business background and advanced knowledge of the accounting profession. To that end, students start their time at the university by taking courses in basic business management and organization. They also take courses in finance, economics, interpersonal communication, and numerous liberal arts topics. Accounting coursework is focused on basic financial accounting, intermediate accounting, and managerial accounting roles. Business and accounting ethics courses teach students the GAAP skills required of modern accountants, while coursework in cost accounting and budgeting helps give students context when planning their company’s expenditures, calculating the cost of purchased goods, and anticipating long-term profits.
Contact
Bryant and Stratton College
Department of Accounting
1225 Jefferson Rd.
Rochester, NY 14623
Phone: (585) 292-5627
Website
California Southern University
Business Department
California Southern has been a leading name in distance education since it was founded din 1978, and the primary focus of its programs have been on the business world. For this reason, students pursuing accounting at the university are treated to one of the best online administration degrees available anywhere. The Business Department also maintains a student honor society and makes it possible for students to join online social organizations where they can meet with fellow students across the country. Occasionally, those organizations host conversations with industry professionals that can easily serve as valuable networking opportunities.
BBA with Concentration in Accounting
Though there is no specific accounting degree at California Southern, students who pursue a Bachelor’s in Business Administration can opt to supplement their degree with an accounting concentration. The coursework involved includes an extensive study of practical management and the theory of modern corporate organization. Required courses also teach the basics of economics in terms of microeconomics and macro economics, as well as personal finance, interpersonal communication, leadership decision-making, and public speaking. Within the accounting concentration itself, students will learn the basics of financial and managerial accounting. They’ll also learn the role of GAAP, the unique concerns associated with cost accounting and federal taxation, and how to complete an ethical, timely audit.
Contact
California Southern University
Business Department
930 Roosevelt
Irvine, CA 92620
Phone: (714) 882-7800
Website
Central Penn College
Department of Accounting
Central Penn College is a leading educator of business professionals in central Pennsylvania and across the country, with a large Department of Accounting that oversees an honors society, several student organizations, and a key part of the school’s career placement office. Professors who teach courses within this department are both doctoral faculty and adjunct professors, and virtually all of them maintain a career in accounting while educating students in its unique theories and practices. The university is consistently ranked as one of the leading career educators and one of the best online value institutions nationwide, giving students a real chance to learn their craft and avoid excessive student debt in the process.
B.S. in Accounting
Unlike many competing institutions, the accounting program at Central Penn gives students a Bachelor of Science degree in the field itself. For this reason, there is only a minimal emphasis on the role of business management and organization as part of the program. Students focus primarily on beginner and intermediate financial accounting, managerial and cost accounting, budgetary development and projections, and the importance of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles when recording transactions, releasing financial statements, and developing an analysis of company costs. With a strong focus on forensics, auditing, and professional ethics, students will also gain the knowledge they need to make key decisions with full integrity during their time in the field.
Contact
Central Penn College
Department of Accounting
600 Valley Rd.
PO Box 309
Summerdale, PA 17093
Phone: (800) 759-2727
Website
Champlain College
Business Programs
Champlain’s program online is interchangeable with classroom experiences at the college’s Burlington campus. Students with the means to do so can even opt to take courses in Montreal or Dublin, for which they will receive full credit within their online program’s requirements. Professors at Champlain typically work in accounting in the city of Burlington, and the vast majority of them hold doctoral degrees in either accounting itself or in business administration. Students are guided toward internships as part of their online accounting experience, with Champlain maintaining a number of active industry connections throughout New England and other parts of the country.
Online Accounting Degree
The online program at Champlain exactly mirrors the school’s campus-based programs at its Vermont campus. Students will begin their studies with liberal arts courses that satisfy general education requirements, and then move into fundamental business and accounting coursework. From basic financial accounting to professional ethics in the management field, they’ll cover a variety of general topics during this time. Next, students will move into the core of the accounting program. This is where they learn about managerial accounting and advanced GAAP rules. They’ll also learn how to conduct a proper audit, how to ethically calculate expenses and project profits, and how to engage in intensive cost accounting in inventory-heavy organizations.
Contact
Champlain College
Business Programs
163 S Willard St.
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 860-2700
Website
City University of Seattle
School of Management
CityU has long been a leader in both distance and campus-based education for Seattle students and those based across the country. The School of Management at this Seattle university is typically ranked among the best values regionally, with low tuition rates and some of the most seasoned accounting professors in western Washington State. In addition to intensive coursework in accounting, the School of Management promotes an honor society open to both distance and on-campus learners, and routinely hosts job fairs and networking events that can help students land a position after graduation.
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
At CityU, the B.S. in Accounting is paired with extensive coursework in business administration and organizational management. Students will learn financial and managerial accounting, auditing and forensics, tax policy and cost accounting, and the role of corporate budgeting. They’ll also learn about strategic management, marketing, microeconomics and macroeconomics, personal finance and corporate communication policies. At the conclusion of the program, students will be able to land an entry-level position in the field and work toward the satisfaction of requirements that will make them eligible for the CPA examination.
Contact
City University of Seattle
School of Management
521 Wall Street
Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: (206) 239-4500
Email: info@cityu.edu
Website
Clarion University
College of Business Administration
As a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Clarion University is among the most affordable institutions for both campus-based students and distance learners. The school also has a long history of ranking highly among public institutions in the northeast, especially with its AACSB-accredited College of Business Administration. The online BSBA program gives students the opportunity to learn from virtually anywhere, and gives Pennsylvania residents access to affordable in-state tuition rates. Professors are typically seasoned accountants from Western Pennsylvania, with insight that can help students make sound business decisions as they begin their fledgling career after graduation.
Online BSBA with a Major in Accounting
Because the accounting program at Clarion is part of the school’s broad Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program, those who enroll in this degree sequence can expect to take a heavy course load in management, leadership, communication, finance, and economics. Beyond the required business core, Clarion accounting majors will enjoy basic and intermediate accounting classes, coursework in managerial and cost accounting, and extensive instruction in both business ethics and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. At the conclusion of the program, students will be qualified for entry-level work that can lead to the CPA examination, graduate programs, and more lucrative positions over time.
Contact
Clarion University
College of Business Administration
840 Wood St.
334 Still Hall
Clarion, PA 16214
Phone: (814) 393-2628
Email: agrenci@clarion.edu
Website
Colorado State University
Department of Accounting
CSU Global brings the prestige of the Colorado State University name to students all across the country. Professor who teach these accounting courses almost always have a doctorate in either accounting or management, and many of them maintain an active accounting position at one of many major firms based throughout Colorado. CSU Global students receive the same access to honors societies, campus organizations, and even internships, as their on-campus counterparts. Many go on to sit for the CPA examination or pursue their master’s degree in accounting immediately afterward, leading to the school’s remarkably high CPA pass rate and post-graduate job placement percentage.
Online Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting
CSU Global’s accounting program is a full-fledged Bachelor of Science in Accounting, giving students access to the most intensive study of corporate financial behaviors currently available. Coursework begins with two basic financial accounting courses and then moves into auditing, managerial accounting work, business ethics, auditing, cost accounting, and tax policy. Students will also take basic business courses that communicate the nature of corporate management, decision-making, finance, and basic economics. The program prepares students for long-term careers in both accounting and management, for a versatile and durable career path after graduation.
Contact
Colorado State University – Global Campus
Department of Accounting
7800 East Orchard Road, Suite 200
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Phone: (720) 279-0159
Email: Admissions@CSUGlobal.edu
Website
The accounting profession is one of the most stable in the country, with a strong anticipated growth rate through the end of the decade both in large corporations and smaller businesses nationwide. The best way to ease into this profession, and to attain certifications like the CPA, is to enroll in one of the many accredited online accounting degrees that give students a great deal of accounting knowledge, interactive experiences, and the full benefits of a traditional college experience.
For information on earning your accounting degree online, take a look at The Top 15 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Completion Programs.
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