Accounting is a dynamic and constantly changing field and anyone interested in entering the profession would benefit from investigating accredited online accounting degrees. Accounting isn’t often a profession where a job seeker can apply for work without some type of training. A bachelor’s degree in accounting is the best way to secure employment as an entry-level accountant, and it’s also a great way to secure a higher paycheck than entering the workforce with only a high school diploma. The United States features several universities that offer accounting degrees online, which are perfect for anyone above the traditional college age or who has issues that prevent living within commuting distance of a university.
Old Dominion University
College of Business and Public Administration
Old Dominion University was established in 1930 and is a large public research university today, located in Norfolk, Virginia. The school was once a division of the College of William & Mary, but was granted its own stature in 1962 when it became Old Dominion. Around 25,000 students attend classes at the university, and the school is also one of the largest providers of online degrees in the nation. Students may choose from 70 different bachelor’s degrees as well as 60 master’s and 35 doctoral programs. About a third of the students at the university study from a distance with the online program.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting)
The online accounting degree program features a broad curriculum and prepares students for work in several different industries. The school suggests that an accounting degree is one of the best ways to move up the corporate ladder since businesses want employees with accounting knowledge at the highest levels. Courses in the program feature a variety of focuses like technical accounting, analytical thinking skills, and communication classes, as well as general accounting knowledge and computer skills. There are only a few online accounting degree programs that are accredited from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business – International, and Old Dominion has one of those programs. The college suggests that getting an online accounting degree is the best way to save money and time in getting a degree. The college encourages students who have an associate’s degree from a community college to complete their bachelor’s degree at Old Dominion to gain access to higher paying jobs and career advancement.
Contact
Old Dominion University Distance Learning
Gornto Center
Norfolk, VA 23529
Phone: 757.683.3163
dl_support@odu.edu
Website
Pennsylvania State University
Smeal College of Business
A large and respected university, Pennsylvania State offers education to over 45,000 students and is a public research university. Several satellite campuses exist across the state that belong to the university, which was originally founded in 1855. The university provides continuing professional education as well as several online degrees. Its large enrollment ensures that the college is one of the largest in the entire country and several programs offered by the college are considered to be comparable to those of an Ivy League school. Overall, students may choose from more than 160 majors, and students have access to significant research funds and scholarships.
Bachelor of Science in Business – Accounting Option
Penn State’s online program provides an exceptional stepping stone for students who wish to enter the field of business with a valuable degree. Today’s businesses have their pick of well-educated applicants and so a degree is almost necessary for some business specialties like accounting and anything that deals with finances and money. Within the accounting option of Penn State’s online degree, students will take 18 credits of accounting-focused classes that will give students an edge as a future financial professional. Students receive instruction on topics like financial and managerial accounting, as well as systems and controls. In addition, students take classes on taxation and auditing. Students also take several business-centric classes that help students gain skills in marketing, communication, analytics, and the cultural implications of business strategies. The school offers a solid platform for online, distance learning and has been offering online classes for over a decade to students interested in business and accounting degrees.
Contact
The Pennsylvania State University
201 Shields Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814.865.5471
Fax: 814.863.7590
admissions@psu.edu
Website
Portland State University
School of Business Administration
Established just after the close of World War II, Portland State University is the second largest university by enrollment in the state. The university is part of the Oregon University System and received a placement in the top fifteen percent of American universities by “The Princeton Review” in 2012. Additionally, the school boasts community partnerships with companies and organizations like Intel, the Portland Public School System, and Oregon Health & Science University. The school was originally conceived as a college for veterans returning from the war who were given funds to complete an education under the G.I. Bill. A devastating flood in 1948, the school persevered and instead of closing temporarily housed students at the Portland shipyard. After a few years and some rebuilding, the school relocated to downtown Portland.
Undergraduate Major: Accounting
The accounting program offered at Portland State is the largest in the state and helps students prepare for dynamic careers in a variety of accounting venues in the public, corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors. During study, students gain the knowledge necessary to take the official Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Students may also choose to take the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam or the Certified Managerial Accountant (CMA) exam. The school’s curriculum offers several classes designed to build technical skills and focuses on teaching students the importance of ethical, responsible behavior in the accounting profession. The program features a hands-on approach to accounting concepts and practices, and students are exposed to a variety of accounting reports in areas like tax, government, financial, and cost reporting and databases. Students are also given the opportunity to analyze financial statements from individual and corporate entities while learning how to prepare tax returns, solve accounting issues, and analyze risks associated with accounting reports and forms.
Contact
Portland State University
School of Business Administration
P.O. Box 751
Portland, OR 97207-0751
Phone: 503.725.3712
info@sba.pdx.edu
Website
Post University
Malcolm Baldrige School of Business
Located in Waterbury, Connecticut, Post University was established in 1890. The university was recently affiliated with Teikyo University in Japan from 1990 to 2004. The university is currently a private, for-profit institution and offers a variety of classes during the day, evenings, and through online formats. Additionally, students may also attend classes at one of three satellite campuses in Danbury, Meriden, or Wallingford. The university is accredited by the Department of Higher Education in Connecticut and is also accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The college offers a variety of programs in areas like accounting, biology, computer information systems, and legal studies. Interestingly, the college also offers programs in equine (horse) management and an MBA in corporate innovation.
Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting Degree
The online program in accounting at Post University is a terrific way for students to gain skills that will provide entry into a variety of industries after graduation. All businesses must take care of their finances and must employ accountants and financial professionals to handle the company’s money. During school, students will be able to make valuable connections so as to improve job search opportunities after graduation. Students also gain confidence and self-awareness which help students excel after graduation in whatever job or industry they choose to work. Faculty members boast several years of experience and advanced degrees in their specialties, so students enjoy classes in valuable learning environments. In addition to working as accountants, graduates may also look forward to work as management consultants or profitability experts, as well as jobs that require work with budgets, tax planning, and tax preparation. To best prepare students for work outside the college, the school provides small classes and one-on-one communication with faculty.
Contact
Post University
800 Country Club Road
P.O. Box 2540
Waterbury, CT 06723
Phone: 203.596.4500
Fax: 203.841.1163
admissions@post.edu
Website
Rasmussen College
School of Business
Established in 1900, Rasmussen College is a for-profit, private institution with a number of campuses around the country in states like Minnesota, Florida, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The college also offers a substantial number of its degrees online. Originally called the Rasmussen Practical School of Business, the school’s first location was in Stillwater, Minnesota. The school was created because the founder believed that local businesses could benefit from college-taught business professionals. Over the years, the school acquired schools in different states and added to the overall number of locations available for students. Offering more than 80 programs, Rasmussen College currently has around 100,000 graduates living around the world.
Accounting Bachelor’s Degree
Students who enroll in the accounting program are prepared to take the Certified Management Accounting (CMA) exam or the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam upon graduation and learn many skills that today’s employers value highly. Some of the topics covered in the school’s curriculum include managerial accounting, account reconciliation, financial reporting, and bookkeeping. The school strives to keep classes small for students who attend one of the school’s campuses and also offers advanced online classroom software for distance learning. In addition to gaining the skills needed to become a successful CPA, students also study areas of accounting like auditing and fraud investigation, and are exposed to a variety of important research methods used within the accounting industry. In addition, students receive training with important types of software like Excel and QuickBooks, which is valuable because companies often want job applicants that don’t need training on commonly used computer programs. Students also have the opportunity to join the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) at a reduced rate meant for student enrollment.
Contact
Rasmussen College
8300 Norman Center Drive
Suite 300
Bloomington, MN 55437
Phone: 952.806.3900
Fax: 952.831.0624
admissions@rasmussen.edu
Website
Regent University
College of Arts & Sciences
Located in Virginia Beach, Regent University classifies itself as a private, coeducational Christian university. The school was once known as Christian Broadcasting Network University when it was founded by Pat Robertson in 1978, but underwent a name change in 1989. The school is well-known for its expansive distance learning and online learning program and offers degrees in over 30 different areas of study. The school is part of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as The Association of Theological Schools. There are almost 6,000 students enrolled at Regent University, and the school has recently boasted improved passage rates for its law students taking the Bar Exam.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business with an Emphasis in Accounting
Students who wish to work for corporations, nonprofit companies, the government, or other groups requiring professionals with accounting skills will find a valuable program in Regent University’s accounting bachelor. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam as long as they’ve completed at least 24 semester hours of business courses and 24 semester hours of accounting courses. Students learn how accountants are responsible for ensuring the financial stability of a company’s accounting department and how best to prepare a company’s records for oversight committees. The curriculum provides instruction on a variety of standard business courses and places an emphasis on today’s accounting principles. Instruction focuses upon instilling within students the importance of accuracy and correctness in accounting records and how close attention to detail ensures the financial integrity of a business. Accounting is an extraordinarily valuable skill for anyone who wants to get into business and move up the ladder of success.
Contact
Enrollment Support Services
1000 Regent University Drive LIB102
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
Phone: 757.352.4960
regentundergrad@regent.edu
Website
Saint Joseph’s University
Haub School of Business
Referred to by its students and alumni as St. Joe’s, Saint Joseph University was established in 1851 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Jesuits originally founded the college and it’s one of the oldest such institutions in the country. There are around 8,800 students attending the university at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Students interested in studying abroad may take advantage of one of 28 study abroad programs. In the past decade and a half, the school has expanded significantly with new buildings and an additional campus. The school was given a placement of 11th in a recent list of the best Master’s Universities in the north by “U.S. News and World Report.”
Accounting B.S.
St. Joseph’s University refers to accounting as the “language of business,” and suggests that studying accounting offers careers in many different fields. The university boasts that its students go on to work in a variety of public and private accounting fields in industries like government, entertainment, or law. Students also have the opportunity to enter the working world as a knowledgeable entrepreneur, capable of starting his or her own business. Students receive a curriculum based upon important accounting concepts and also receive additional class work on various business topics. The school also focuses upon teaching students the important facets of ethical accounting, particularly in a corporate environment that’s been criticized in recent years for its lack of transparency. Not only may students prepare for and take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam upon graduation, but the program also prepares students to enter graduate school if it seems as though advanced study may benefit the student’s future employment goals.
Contact
Saint Joseph’s University
5600 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Phone: 610.660.2250
haubadult@sju.edu
Website
Saint Leo University
School of Business
As a private, non-profit, Roman Catholic university, Saint Leo is associated with a Benedictine monastery and was named after Pope Leo the Great. The university is located in Saint Leo, Florida, which is about 35 miles north of Tampa. The school has just over 16,000 students enrolled and was originally established in 1889. It was the first Roman Catholic college built in the state of Florida and was started by a group of monks from an abbey in Pennsylvania. The school counts a significant number of military students as part of the student body and recently announced its plans to expand into Lakeland, Florida with an additional facility.
B.A. Accounting – Online Accounting Degree
Students who graduate with an online accounting degree from Saint Leo University may enter a variety of industries after graduation. Students may choose from for-profit, nonprofit, or government work as an entry-level accountant. The school’s curriculum prepares students to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, as well as the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam. Some of the basic concepts taught in the program include cost accounting, business law, auditing, and individual federal income taxes. Students are exposed to a number of analytical tools and new technologies designed to solve modern problems commonly faced by businesses and their financial departments. The online accounting program provides a strong emphasis on leadership skills, which comes from the university’s set of traditions and core values. The program is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and the curriculum includes classes like Principles of Accounting, Introduction to Statistics, and Thinking and Doing Ethics.
Contact
Saint Leo University
33701 State Road 52
Saint Leo, FL 33574-6665
Phone: 888.875.8265
admissions@saintleo.edu
Website
Southern New Hampshire University
School of Business
Established in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution near Manchester, New Hampshire. The university was originally founded by a couple named Harry and Gertrude Shapiro and was given a charter in 1963 to start giving associates degrees. The campus expanded significantly over the next several decades including significant construction of new buildings in the 1990s. One of the interesting degrees granted by the university is a 3-year business degree that shortens the overall time required to earn a bachelor’s degree. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and College and also has a variety of program-specific accreditations.
Online Accounting Degree: BS Accounting
The university tells its students that the field of accounting isn’t just about numbers and that there are several business challenges that accountants must face and solve in the workplace. Graduates may help businesses and organizations manage their finances as well as ensure proper cash flow. The online degree provides students with a curriculum on accounting practices as well as several topics related to general business practices. The program is designed to provide an education to working professionals who have connections to accounting and business in their professional lives. The program teaches students the valuable concepts of financial analysis, auditing, and taxation, in addition to much more needed to succeed in business. Students may also choose one of several concentrations in which to focus their efforts while enrolled. Concentrations offered by SNHU include forensic accounting and an accelerated accounting program. Students can even satisfy course requirements by volunteering in the Volunteer Tax Assistance program.
Contact
Southern New Hampshire University
2500 North River Road
Manchester, NH 03106
Phone: 888.327.SNHU
enroll@snhu.edu
Website
Stevens-Henager College
School of Business
With its main campus in Ogden, Utah, Stevens-Henagar Collage is a private, nonprofit school and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. The school is one of the oldest in Utah and was established by James Ayers Smith, who was a teacher in Nebraska. Originally called Intermountain Business College, the institution was designed to teach students a variety of important business concepts so that they could find success in various types of business fields after graduation. The school underwent a few name changes over the next century and became its modern incarnation as of 1959. Additional locations were opened starting around 15 years ago with the school now offering classes in Logan, Salt Lake City, and Boise.
Bachelor in Accounting (B.S.)
One of the primary draws of attending school at Stevens-Henager is the speed at which a degree may be obtained. The school specializes in accelerated education and offers students the opportunity to complete a degree in just 36 months. Students may even enroll in a super accelerated program designed to be completed in just 30 months. The college suggests that accounting is an essential part of any business and that if the books aren’t kept by an expert that a business risks financial trouble. A Bachelor in Accounting provides a curriculum filled with important skills that employers need from their accounting employees. By completing the degree online, students are able to work on their own schedule, which makes a program with Stevens-Henager a valuable one since it caters to students who might already be in the workforce. Students also benefit from the solid growth and employment potential granted to professionals in the financial services industry.
Contact
Stevens-Henager College
4021 South 700 East
Suite 400
Salt Lake City, UT 84107
Phone: 800.972.5149
admissions@stevenshenager.edu
Website
Strayer University
College of Business
Strayer University counts a large student population of over 40,000 students taking classes at several campuses located around the country, as well as through online study. The school opened its doors in 1892 and its current motto is “Only the driven.” The university offers degrees in several areas like accounting, criminal justice, and education, and specializes in offering education to working adults. As such, the schedules for classes are designed to accommodate people currently in the workforce who might need to go to school at night. The school’s earliest students were former farmers who were brought to the school to learn various business skills like typing, accounting, and shorthand. The school became popular around the region and within just a few decades a second branch was opened in Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with Accounting Concentration
Degrees in business are exceptionally valuable in today’s work environment and Strayer’s degree features a curriculum that offers a broad spectrum of business and accounting knowledge. Students who graduate from the program may find employment in a variety of accounting or finance departments in any type of venue including nonprofit, for-profit, and government sectors. Along with classes in business, students are also exposed to several standard accounting concepts and principles like tax codes and how those financial issues impact today’s businesses. Students are also taught valuable lessons on analysis and research of common accounting topics like bookkeeping, processing, and preparation of financial reports and taxes. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to learn essential computer programs like Excel and Peachtree while learning the fundamental concepts of accounting. Students will become adept problem solvers with the ability to work with personal or business taxes in any taxation environment whether it’s for state or federal taxes.
Contact
Strayer University
2303 Dulles Station Blvd.
Herndon, VA 20171
Phone: 888.863.0568
admissions@strayer.edu
Website
Sullivan University
College of Business Administration
Established in 1962, Sullivan University is located in Louisville, Kentucky and also has campuses in Lexington and Ft. Knox. There are around 6,000 students attending this private university, which makes it the largest private college in the state. The school originally offered education to young people who needed some career prep classes, but started offering full-fledged degrees in the early 1970s. Some of the school’s most notable programs include those in culinary arts and conflict management. For online study, the school offers six certificates, one diploma, eight associate’s degrees, and 12 bachelor’s degrees. Also offered are six master’s degrees and 1 Ph.D.
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Sullivan’s accounting program offers several classes with a heavy emphasis on accounting including tax procedures and common accounting principles used by today’s businesses. The curriculum covers accounting as it applies to all facets and sectors of business and graduates will find they are exceptionally well-prepared to enter the workforce. In addition, the bachelor’s degree program offers lessons on IT skills that are important to accountants, as well as business communication techniques, and marketing. Students are allowed some leeway in constructing a degree for their personal career goals. The program is offered at the Lexington, Louisville, and Fort Knox locations as well as completely online. The program is suited for anyone interested in entering the accounting profession. The school suggests that the realm of accounting isn’t just open to people who like math. Rather, accounting is a field where mathematics combines with business, organization, and attention to detail. Sullivan University’s program also teaches students valuable communication skills commonly used in the accounting industry.
Contact
3101 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40205
Phone: 800.844.1354
information@sullivan.edu
Website
A degree in accounting isn’t just appropriate for people who want to become accountants. Financial knowledge and an accounting degree is a terrific way to enter the business world and become an entrepreneur or business executive. Many businesspeople would agree that business today is all about numbers, and that’s an accountant’s stock-in-trade. Approaching business from the angle of a learned accountant is a smart path to take into the workforce. Programs featuring accredited online accounting degrees are a wonderful starting point for a future career in business or accounting.
For information on earning your accounting degree online, take a look at The Top 15 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Completion Programs.