Best Bachelor’s in Accounting

A bachelor’s in accounting can help you build skills in both flexible online and traditional campus formats. It ensures quality and employer recognition in today’s job market. Here is a practical guide to a rewarding future in finance.

Affordable Bachelor’s in Accounting Programs

Tuition and total costs vary by institution type and residency. An analysis by the Education Data Initiative shows the following estimates. 

The annual college costs for an Accounting degree are mid-to-high $30,000s. This also includes tuition, books, and living expenses. 

Public in‑state tuition averages roughly the high $9,000s. While private nonprofit tuition averages near the high $30,000s per year, if you exclude the housing and meals.There are various types of financial aid available. Students can file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). It will provide you with federal grants, loans, and work‑study.

Rank	College/University Name	Location State	Type	Fee (In State)	Fee (Out-of-State)	Grad Rate (%)
1	University of Maryland Global Campus	Maryland	Online	$8,136	$12,336	30%
2	Franklin University	Ohio	Online	$9,577	–	30%
3	Capella University	Minnesota	Online & OnCampus	$14,400	–	33%
4	University of Houston	Texas	OnCampus	$7,708	$17,548	34%
5	University of North Texas at Dallas	Texas	OnCampus	$9,595	$21,894	44%
6	Southern New Hampshire University	New Hampshire	Online & OnCampus	$17,200	–	45%
7	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	Texas	OnCampus	$9,987	$19,827	49%
8	Western Governors University	Utah	Online	$8,658	–	51%
9	Southern Illinois University	Illinois	Online & OnCampus	$13,334	–	56%
10	Monroe University	New York	Online & OnCampus	$18,464	–	57%
11	CUNY Brooklyn College	New York	OnCampus	$7,452	$15,402	57%
12	University of Phoenix	Texas	Online & OnCampus	$9,552	–	N/A
13	Golden Gate University	California	Online & OnCampus	$11,088	–	N/A

Top Online Accounting Bachelor’s Programs

A quality online accounting degree program provides you with flexible pacing, strong instructor interaction, tutoring, and career services, which are very similar to campus programs. 

In order to choose the best, you must look for explicit business accreditation, such as AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).You can also check for programmatic business accreditors like ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) to validate quality and outcomes.

Rank	College/University Name	Location State	Type	Fee (In State)	Fee (Out-of-State)	Grad Rate (%)
1	University of Florida	Florida	OnCampus	$6,381	$28,659	92%
2	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Illinois	OnCampus	$16,004	$35,124	85%
3	Florida International University	Florida	Online	$6,565	$18,964	74%
4	University of Cincinnati	Ohio	Online & OnCampus	$13,976	$29,310	72%
5	The University of Texas at Dallas	Texas	OnCampus	$14,644	$40,144	71%
6	Oregon State University	Oregon	Online	$14,400	$38,190	71%
7	Florida Atlantic University	Florida	Online	$4,879	$17,324	64%
8	University of Alabama at Birmingham	Alabama	Online	$9,098	$22,562	63%
9	University of North Carolina Greensboro	North Carolina	Online	$7,661	$24,012	58%
10	Wayne State University	Michigan	OnCampus	$15,190	$32,037	57%
11	The University of Texas at San Antonio	Texas	OnCampus	$9,011	$22,051	51%
12	DePaul University	Illinois	OnCampus	$45,999	–	50%

Admission Process

There are different needs for the admission process. Typical requirements for a bachelor’s degree in accounting include:

1. A high school diploma (often with minimum GPA guidelines).
2. Other than that, you will need transcripts, and sometimes SAT/ACT (though many schools are test‑optional).
3. Application materials typically include essays and letters of recommendation.
4. Transfer students may need business prerequisites evaluated for credit.
5. Some competitive programs weigh GPA(Grade Point Average) more heavily or request interviews and supplemental assessments, too. 
6. International applicants generally submit English proficiency scores and credential evaluations as per institutional policy.

Why Get an Accounting Bachelor’s Degree?

A business accounting degree offers strong job prospects for accountants and auditors. Recent BLS projections indicate a 5% employment growth for accountants and auditors from 2024 to 2034, outpacing the average rate for all occupations. This reflects steady demand from regulation, analytics, and globalization. 

Robust annual openings are now driven by new roles and replacement needs, providing stability and consistent opportunities for graduates.

Beyond job security, this degree comes with several other benefits:

1. High earning potential: Accountants and auditors earn a competitive median salary, with even higher pay for CPAs and specialized roles.
2. Clear advancement pathway: Provides the foundation for professional certifications like CPA, CMA, or CIA, which can fast-track promotions.
3. Transferable skills: Builds expertise in analysis, problem-solving, business law, and data tools that are valued across industries.
4. Global relevance: Accounting is a universal business language, which gives graduates opportunities to work internationally.

What to Expect From a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting

In core courses, you will typically find financial accounting, managerial/cost accounting, auditing, taxation, and business law/ethics, along with statistics, economics, information systems, and communication. 

Many programs now embed analytics, data tools, and ERP exposure to align with the growing industry expectations.

Elective subjects may cover forensic accounting, international accounting, nonprofit and governmental accounting, and advanced taxation or audit. Internships, capstones, and live client projects apply theory to practice. 

Why Should You Get Your Degree Online?

Here are the main advantages of earning your accounting degree online.

1. Flexibility: Online accounting degree pathways allow you to learn while being around work and family. It also offers fewer commute and scheduling constraints.
   
2. Cost efficiencies: Lower housing and transportation costs can reduce the total cost of attendance compared to on-campus programmes.
   
3. Career continuity: You can maintain a job while studying. This reduces the risk of lost income or career progress and allows you to apply new skills immediately. 
4. Broader access: Geographic barriers shrink. You can pick from accredited programs nationwide that fit your budget and focus.

How Much Do Accounting Bachelor’s Programs Cost?

Recent EDI summaries indicate these typical annual tuition ranges before aid, varying by institution and residency:

1. Public (In‑State): around $9,700–$9,800 for tuition and fees on average.
2. Public (Out‑of‑State): around $28,000 for tuition and fees on average.
3. Private Nonprofit: commonly in the $38,000 range for tuition and fees.

Books/supplies often exceed $1,200 per year, and room/board frequently lands near or above $12,000 annually. This contributes to a total yearly cost in the mid‑to‑high $30,000s. 

You need to understand the difference between sticker price and net price after grants and scholarships. It is crucial for realistic budgeting. 

1. Sticker Price: The published tuition and fees before any financial aid is applied.
2. Net Price: The actual amount you pay after subtracting grants, scholarships, and other aid.

Here is your Financial aid checklist:

1. Submit FAFSA each cycle to access federal grants, loans, and work‑study; combine with state and institutional aid opportunities.
   
2. Track priority deadlines and verification requests from schools to maximize your eligibility.

Bachelor’s in Accounting Jobs and Salaries

The median pay for accountants and auditors is reported to be about $80,000s in recent BLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)- based aggregations. There are higher earnings for CPAs, senior roles, certain industries, and metropolitan areas. 

Remember, credentials and experience can help you to significantly boost compensation and mobility into managerial and executive finance tracks.

Entry roles, such as staff accountant, begin lower but have clear growth trajectories.

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks report median pay around $49,000 per year in recent BLS summaries. It has a slower growth due to automation. 

A bachelor’s in accounting expands access to higher‑paying accountant and analyst pathways. Data skills and software proficiency can help you accelerate progression.

If you want a quick and affordable way, you can also pursue an associate degree in accounting. 

FAQ’s