Best Online Accounting Degree Programs of 2023

University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock) meets you where you are and provides you with the support services you need to complete your degree - "finish strong." As a UA Little Rock remote student, you get full access to all the university's academic resources, including the Ottenheimer Library, Blackboard Support, Online Writing Lab, and the Military Student Success Center. This support goes a long way to helping you navigate your way through virtual learning and making steady progress toward your degree. You also benefit from affordable online tuition rates of $280 per undergraduate credit hour and $383 per graduate credit hour, with no additional fees. If you're a veteran or military service member, you'll get discounted tuition rates, making your degree even more affordable.

The Ross College of Business at Franklin University is an IACBE-accredited school offering students several degree programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program. Franklin uses industry-standard accounting software to prepare students for their careers, ensuring they are familiar with the latest technology. The program can be completed entirely online over the course of six or 12 weeks. Students are required to complete 124 credit hours that cover general education, accounting foundations, and a variety of electives. Franklin also offers microcredentials to go alongside their degree programs, which further proves students' professional competence within a specific accounting skill set. These microcredentials can be taken as stand-alone courses or incorporated to corresponding degree programs.

As one of the first regional universities to put learning online in 1998, Brenau University provides its students online degree programs that span a wide range of disciplines, from accounting to psychology. The Master of Accounting program is the best graduate program on our list, preparing students to sit for either a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Accountant exam upon completion of the program. After graduation, students will be equipped to do things such as enter an accounting position, complete tax returns, recognize fraud, and create financial statements, among other things. This graduate program provides students with specialized knowledge not only in accounting but in taxation, auditing, and financial communication.

Liberty University is a private nonprofit Christian school that offers online degrees to its students. In accounting alone, the university has six different programs available, from the associate level all the way to doctorate. There is even a master's degree specifically designed for accounting in the health care industry. The doctorate program is a three-year commitment, with courses lasting eight weeks each. Students who have completed credits in a related graduate degree may be able to transfer up to 50% of that credit toward their Doctorate of Business Administration. This program is designed to dive deep into advanced auditing and accounting theory with a focus on human resource development and tax research. High-level career paths available to graduates include Budget Supervisor, Certified Management Accountant, and Accounting Executive to name a few.

The Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Utica University is an online accounting degree program totaling 120 credits. The program was designed to be completed in four years but can be done in as few as two. With six start dates available throughout the school year, the Utica Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting program offers students the flexibility to begin their studies whenever it is convenient for them. Students complete a significant amount of general education and business courses before undertaking 18 accounting credits and 26 elective credits. After completing the program, graduates can take advantage of the mentorship and career counseling resources available through the accounting faculty at Utica. Students go on to pursue positions such as Financial Manager, Auditing Clerk, Financial Analyst, or Personal Financial Advisor.

Ottawa University offers a long list of online degree programs for students who need the flexibility of learning when and where they would like. The Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from OU is a 100% online program designed to prepare students for a wide variety of financial careers. For students interested in also earning a Master of Arts in Accounting degree, there is a concurrent program allowing for completion of both degrees at the same time over a period of five years. One unique feature of OU is the ability to personalize a degree through industry-adjacent concentrations. Students can choose one of four concentrations: Actuarial Science, Economics, Finance, or Leadership and Management.

The Penn State World Campus offers four accounting programs for online students: Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Master of Professional Accounting, Accounting Graduate Certificate, and Accounting Foundations Graduate Certificate. All four programs have advantages, but the one a student will choose depends on their needs. The Accounting Foundations Graduate Certificate offers a unique path for students without any formal education in accounting. This one-year program equips students with core concepts used within bachelor degree programs in a fraction of the time, though students are required to possess a non-accounting bachelor's degree to apply. Upon completion of this 12-credit intensive program, students will understand the principles of accounting, auditing, federal taxation, managerial decision-making, and transaction recording.

Southern New Hampshire University offers some of the most affordable online accounting degree programs on our list, from certificates to master's degrees. There are several accounting programs available to students interested in learning more about the field at associate, bachelor's, and master's degree levels at costs ranging from $19,000 to $38,000. SNHU offers unique programs, such as the Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree with a concentration in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination. Graduates of this program can assist in legal cases, covering issues such as tax fraud and asset misappropriation, providing the necessary evidence to uncover potential criminal offenses. The school also offers both undergraduate and graduate certifications within the department covering accounting, fraud, forensics, and finance.

Maryville University's Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree can be earned through the school's online program. This business degree is a great place to start for students interested in becoming an accountant. Upon completion of the program, students will have earned 128 credits, eight credits ahead of most accounting undergraduates on similar tracks. Students even have the option to take "Early Access" courses, applying credit to both the Bachelor of Science in Accounting and the Master of Science in Accounting. Those who choose to go with the Early Access option will be able to earn up to 12 credits toward a master's degree that are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate, saving students both time and money. Students participating in Early Access must maintain a GPA of 3.25 for the duration of the program.

Touro University Worldwide offers an online degree program for the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management with an Accounting concentration. Designed with the transfer student in mind, TUW has tailored this degree to accept as many transfer credits as possible. Not only does this make it easier for transfer students, but it allows them to earn their degree faster. The university will transfer up to 90 semester credits from an accredited college or university. Students will take the majority of their classes within the general, business, and elective categories with 12 credits dedicated to the concentration in accounting. Career paths available to graduates of this degree program include financial reporting, cash management, and financial accounting.