Best online accounting degrees 2021: Top picks

Accountants and auditors prepare financial statements, review accounting documents to identify fraud, and recommend tax strategies to clients. An online accounting degree helps graduates launch their careers.

Accounting majors study auditing and financial and managerial accounting. After taking core courses in accounting and business, learners prepare for the workforce through specialized classes in tax preparation, fraud examination, and financial policy. By emphasizing career-ready skills, accounting programs train students for focused career paths.

Our guide to the best online accounting programs draws on reputable sources to help prospective students make an informed choice about their future.

The best online bachelor’s in accounting degrees

Our list of the best online accounting degrees uses ZDnet’s ranking methodology to round up 25 top accounting programs. Prospective accounting majors can use the rankings to find the best fit for their unique needs.

Unless otherwise indicated, data is drawn from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard.

Insights from an accounting graduate

Namrita Singh is a senior tax associate at Wiss & Company, LLP and a CPA. She has three years of public accounting experience in a wide range of industries. Her primary focus is high-net-worth individuals and their closely held businesses. 

In addition to tax preparation, she also assists clients in tax planning and facilitates communication with federal and state tax agencies. She recently graduated from The College of New Jersey.

ZDNet: What type of person is successful and thrives in an accounting career? What type of person may not be the best fit? 

Namrita Singh: I’d say that most people could thrive in an accounting career, from my experience, and not to discount yourself just because you don’t feel like you don’t fit in a particular box. However, there are a few qualities that determine if you’re going to sink or swim. 

Time management and multitasking are the most important, in my opinion. If you haven’t developed these skills in college, then the first year or two of your professional life may be a bit of a whirlwind. Between busy season and studying for the certified public accountant exam, you’re going to get hit with a lot of demands from a lot of different people. If you can make it through that then you can certainly thrive. 

I strongly recommend figuring out how to be organized in whatever way works best for you as early as you can.

ZDNet: What would you recommend that students do in addition to their accounting degree program, in order to stand out to employers? 

NS: Aside from academics, employers want to see what you care about — it gives them insight into what kind of person you are. Join a club or two about something you’re passionate about. It doesn’t matter if it’s a hobby you do for fun or a cause you’re particularly interested in. 

It also doesn’t matter if it’s irrelevant to your degree — in fact, showing employers that you care about more than just accounting is important. College campuses are so diverse that you’re almost guaranteed to find a club for something you care about, no matter how obscure. It also makes for a great talking point when you interview!

ZDNet: What misconceptions do people have about this degree, and what would you tell them? 

NS: Like most jobs, there tends to be a stereotype around accountants. I’m sure you’ve heard it before: We’re boring math people, sitting at our desks and counting beans. Maybe that’s true for some people and maybe it was true in the past, but it’s 2021 and in my experience, being good at math is irrelevant (thank you Excel).

 We’re also not (for the most part) the monotonous, nerdy Type-A people that others seem to think we are. We are just as diverse as any other field of work, with a wide range of personalities, quirks, and hobbies.

ZDNet: What was the most challenging, rigorous course you took in your accounting degree program? What advice would you give to students who are about to start this course? 

NS: For me, and for most people, intermediate accounting II was the most challenging. It covers a lot of complex areas of accounting such as leases, pensions, and stockholder’s equity transactions. If you haven’t figured out a study technique that works for you yet, now is the time. 

It’s easy to get away with not putting in a lot of extra effort outside of class for most classes, but intermediate II is a beast of its own. Go to your professor’s office hours or the tutoring center if you have to. You’ll most likely need them to reinforce some concepts for you. 

Most importantly, though: Do your homework. Doing and redoing problems is the best way to conceptually understand what you’re doing.

What to expect in an online bachelor’s in accounting degree program

A bachelor’s degree in accounting prepares graduates for entry-level careers in accounting, finance, and business. 

To engage learners, accounting programs incorporate interactive elements including group projects, presentations, and capstone courses. In many programs, majors choose accounting electives to specialize their course of study. 

Accounting courses offer a mix of theoretical and practical approaches. The career-focused emphasizes the skills needed for accountant or auditor jobs. 

In addition to online courses, distance learners may complete an accounting internship in their local area. An internship builds career-ready skills and helps undergraduates network. 

Accounting courses

During an accounting degree, students take courses in financial accounting, auditing, managerial accounting, and tax accounting. After these core courses, students take specialized classes in fraud examination, public accounting, accounting information systems, and more. Below are a few classes majors will likely encounter.

Financial Accounting

Financial accounting courses introduce students to the process of recording and analyzing financial transactions. Topics include accounting methods, information systems, and financial statement analysis. The class trains students to create financial statements.

Auditing

Internal and external auditors evaluate financial statements for errors and fraud. The course covers auditing procedures, ethical standards, and fiscal regulations. Students also learn how to report audit results. 

Fraud Examination

Accountants and auditors, particularly forensic accountants, identify and investigate financial crimes. This course teaches about fraud identification, cybercrimes, and business valuation methods. Students also explore financial investigation techniques.

Managerial Accounting

Learners explore topics like cost accumulation, budgeting, and cost accounting. The course also examines the role of accounting in managerial decision-making and the need for accurate information systems. 

Accounting degree levels

Degree-seekers can earn an undergraduate or graduate degree in accounting. Accounting degrees at every level provide career-ready training. However, different degrees lead to different career paths. 

In addition to an accounting degree, students can earn an accounting certificate. Certificate programs offer focused training in less time than a degree.

Associate in accounting

Length: 2 years

Cost: $6,000-$20,000

Post-grad careers: Accounting clerk; financial clerk; tax collector

An associate degree in accounting introduces learners to core accounting and business concepts. Students examine financial accounting methods, learn how to create financial statements, and gain basic business skills. The curriculum also includes general education courses that strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

After earning an associate degree, graduates qualify for support roles such as accounting clerk. Graduates can also transfer into a bachelor’s program. Many four-year colleges waive general education requirements for transfer students with an associate degree.

Bachelor’s in accounting

Length: 4 years 

Cost: $40,000-$100,000

Post-grad careers: Accountant; auditor; financial analyst

Accounting majors take core business classes, general education requirements, and upper-division accounting courses. The degree meets the entry-level educational requirement for careers as an accountant or auditor. Graduates also work as financial analysts, budget analysts, and personal financial advisors.

During an accounting program, undergraduates complete project-based assignments to strengthen their financial statement analysis skills. Many programs also incorporate an internship to prepare majors for the workforce. In addition to strong analytical skills, the major encourages attention to detail.

Master’s in accounting

Length: 2 years

Cost: $24,000-$70,000

Post-grad careers: Accounting manager; certified public accountant; personal financial advisor

An accounting master’s degree provides advanced training in accounting methods, theory, and practice. Master’s students choose between accounting programs and an MBA with an accounting focus. Both options prepare graduates for careers as supervisors, CPAs, and financial managers. However, an MBA program incorporates more management training. 

Accounting graduate students take specialized courses in public accounting, forensic accounting, and auditing. They may also complete projects and internships.

Doctorate in accounting

Length: 4-6 years

Cost: $35,000-$65,000

Post-grad careers: Accounting professor; researcher; accounting consultant

A doctorate in accounting is the highest degree in the field. During a doctoral program, learners take advanced courses, conduct research, and write a dissertation. Some programs also incorporate internships and experiential learning opportunities.

At the doctoral level, students can earn a research-focused Ph.D. in accounting or a doctor of business administration with an accounting focus. The Ph.D. leads to academic and research careers, while the DBA helps practitioners advance to leadership roles in organizations.

In conclusion

An online accounting degree can launch a career in growing, high-paying fields. Choosing the right program helps prospective accounting majors reach their professional goals. By researching delivery methods, career paths, and accounting programs, applicants can find the right program for their unique needs.