Best Online Accounting Degrees of 2025

Why Elizabethtown College Made Our List

The bachelor's degree in accounting at Elizabethtown College makes our list because of its high student retention and graduation rates. The program combines the basics of accounting, business principles, and business ethics. It also offers a pathway to help you earn your CPA qualification, which could open the door for more opportunities in your accounting career.

Why Attend Elizabethtown College 

• Accredited Program: This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Programmatic accreditation ensures you receive a vetted and quality education, and it's also required for licensures. 
• Online Format: The online format helps students to fit their education to match their life schedule, not the other way around. This allows for more flexibility, particularly for working students or students who are parents. 
• Scholarships and Grants: Elizabethtown offers a variety of scholarships for students, including for adult learners, to make the program more affordable for you. 

Know Before You Go

• Over $500 per Credit: Each credit at Elizabethtown College costs $525, and you will have to complete 125 credits to graduate.
• Accelerated Courses: The five-week accelerated classes may require as many as 20 hours of work a week. 
• Application Essay: Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, and must submit an essay to prove their writing ability. 

Why St. Scholastica Made Our List

The accounting program at St. Scholastica can prepare you for a career in both public and private accounting, and prepares students to take their CPA or CMA examinations. In this program, you will take core business courses and build a foundation for a career as an accountant in any industry. 

Why Attend St. Scholastica 

• Finish in Under Three Years: You can complete your BA in accounting at Saint Scholastica in two to three years, depending on how many credits you transfer in.
• Multiple Delivery Options: This degree can be obtained either through an in-person program or online. 
• Invested Professors: Professors and instructors of your courses are accessible even in the online program. They are available to provide additional support and answer your course-related questions.

Know Before You Go

• Admission Rate: This program has one of the highest admission rates on our rankings list, at 94%.
• Minimum GPA Requirement: Interested applicants must have a high school GPA of at least 2.0 to be considered for admission.
• Internship Component: Students are strongly encouraged to pursue an internship while in the program.

Why Maryville University Made Our List

The Maryville online accounting program prepares students for their CPA exam while having a curriculum that is informed by industry leaders and trends. The degree program is a good fit for both students early in their careers and professionals looking to advance their careers with additional knowledge. The online bachelor's degree in accounting can create a pathway for students to pursue a master's degree in accounting.

Why Attend Maryville University

• Good Retention: Maryville has a strong student retention rate of 83%, which indicates an institution that supports its students and provides them with the resources they need to reach graduation.
• No Admissions Exams: No SAT or ACT test score is required for admission, meaning you don't have to spend time studying for and taking an admissions test before you start your program. 

Know Before You Go

• Entirely Online: The accounting program is totally online and does not require any on-campus visits.
• Commitment Over Two Years: You can earn your accounting degree in as few as 2.5 years, depending on the number of credits you transfer in and how many credits you take in a year. 

Why Saint Mary's Made Our List

The bachelor's in accounting program at Saint Mary's can help you build your skills in business decision-making, financial analysis, and strategic planning. Faculty and instructors are seasoned professionals with backgrounds in Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and small businesses. 

You can transfer up to 90 credits from another program, including credits from community and technical colleges and credit for your military experience. You can finish the program in as little as one year.

Why Attend Saint Mary's

• Year-Round Admissions: There are start dates in September, October, January, March, May, and June. The online program can be completed in as little as one year. 
• Scholarship Opportunities: Saint Mary's partners with several businesses, school districts, healthcare systems, and professional associations in Minnesota and across the country to offer tuition discounts for their employees. 

Know Before You Go

• High Cost Per Credit: The accounting degree requires at least 36 credits, and tuition and fees cost $440 per credit.
• Required Transfer Credits: Students need 30 prior credits to begin their program. You can reach out to the admissions office to learn more. 

Why UAB Made Our List

The bachelor's in accounting at the University of Alabama at Birmingham received the seal of excellence from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The program is nationally recognized and accredited. While there is an in-person offering as well, the online program delivery can be self-paced or offered through a structured program. 

Why Attend UAB

• Accelerated Master's Option: The University of Alabama offers an accelerated master's degree in accounting that you can complete at the same time. You'll take graduate-level classes while you are still enrolled in your undergraduate program, fast-tracking your way to a master's degree. 
• Specialize Your Degree: In addition to core classes, you have the opportunity to take specialized courses that allow you to concentrate your studies in areas like forensic accounting or information technology.

Know Before You Go

• Graduation Rates: This program has an overall graduation rate of 64% and a Pell Grant-recipient graduation rate of 55%.
• Experimental Learning: Business students are required to partake in and earn credit for experimental learning. This can include a business analysis project, study abroad, internship, service project, or research project.

Why SUNY Plattsburgh Made Our List

SUNY Plattsburgh's online accounting major is a good fit for busy, working adults who may need a more flexible course schedule and an affordable program. Advisors and instructors provide students with personalized support to help them succeed. Classes are offered asynchronously, and you can enroll at any point during the year. 

Why Attend SUNY Plattsburgh

• Learn Technical Skills: In this program, you can learn technical skills such as Excel, VBA, Spreadsheet Automation, Power BI, Tableau, and SQL.
• Focus on Success: Being a student at SUNY Plattsburgh means you have a student success team composed of an online academic coordinator, academic advisors, and experienced faculty. You'll also have access to career resources even as an online student.

Know Before You Go

• Low Mean Earnings: Accounting graduates from SUNY Plattsburgh earn an average salary of $61,340, which is a relatively low wage compared to the average accounting salary in New York of $115,490, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
• Transfer Credits: SUNY Plattsburgh will help you assess what credits you can transfer and build the transfer pathway that is the best fit for you.

Why Linfield Made Our List

An accounting degree at Linfield University includes classes in economics, basic maths, financial accounting, business law, and auditing. Students in Linfield's accounting program may experience networking opportunities, collaborative research projects, and internships. 

According to the university, a Linfield accounting alumnus could make over $87,000 a year. The top companies employing Linfield accounting alumni include the state government of Oregon, Nike, US Bank, and Deloitte. 

Why Attend Linfield

• In-Person and Online Options: Linfield has a campus in McMinnville, Oregon, in addition to its online presence. You can take accounting as a major or certification fully online. 
• History and Experience: Linfield has a history of providing a quality education to its students and supporting adult, nontraditional, and continuing education students. 

Know Before You Go

• High Program Cost: Linfield's program is the most expensive on our rankings list, with a net price of $29,934. 
• Varied Career Paths: According to the school, the top career paths for Linfield accounting alumni include accountant, chief executive, treasurer, or financial manager. 

Why UNC Greensboro Made Our List

The bachelor's in accounting at UNC Greensboro has world-class faculty and incorporates real-world scenarios in the curriculum. 

The university offers its students many opportunities to network and to explore regional industry leaders and major employers. The bachelor's program can prepare you for a master's program or your CPA exam. 

Why Attend UNC Greensboro

• Earn Your Master's Degree Simultaneously: UNC Greensboro offers students the opportunity to earn their bachelor's and master's in accounting simultaneously within five years, which can save you time and money. 
• Career Preparation: This program can prepare you to work in government, for nonprofits, or for large corporations. You can go on to become an auditor, consultant, information systems consultant, investment analyst, business adviser, or tax adviser.

Know Before You Go

• Graduation Rates: UNC Greensboro has one of the lowest graduation rates on our list, at 57%.
• Earn Major Credits Early: In addition to general, core requirements, the accounting program requires students to earn 29-30 credits of Bryan School Pre-Admission Courses by the end of their sophomore year. These classes can include economics, analytics, writing and communication, and mathematics.

Why Regis Made Our List

The bachelor's in accounting from Regis University allows you to transfer up to 90 credits, and the program has start dates in January, March, May, June, August, and October. At Regis, the FastForward program allows students to earn a bachelor's degree and a master's degree at the same time. The accounting program also has 5- and 8-week online classes.

Why Attend Regis

• Make Good Money: Six years after graduation, Regis alumni are making a mean annual salary of $54,100.
• Straightforward Application: In order to apply you will need to complete an online application and submit official transcripts from high school and any college programs you might have taken. 

Know Before You Go

• High Cost Per Credit: A bachelor's degree in accounting requires 104-137 credits, depending on how many credits you transfer in. For the 2025-2026 academic year, tuition at Regis costs $599 per credit hour.
• Different Career Opportunities: Regis alumni work as CPAs, financial analysts, audit associates at large companies, forensic accountants, financial planners, and tax accountants. 

Why Lamar Made Our List

The bachelor's of science in accounting degree at Lamar University prepares students for a career in accounting or business through classes in accounting basics as well as in management, finance, technology, marketing, and business law. The degree can be integrated into a master's degree in accounting program and prepare you for taking your CPA exam. 

Why Attend Lamar

• Scholarship Opportunities: Though tuition and fees cost $578 per credit, Lamar is one of the most affordable schools on our list after financial aid, with an average net price of $12,002. However, how much you pay may depend on your personal financial situation and what scholarships or grants you are eligible for.
• Classes Taught by Industry Experts: Classes are taught by experienced professionals and are designed to prepare students for the workforce. Classes you can take as part of this degree include introduction to auditing, cost accounting, and taxation accounting. 

Know Before You Go

• Transfer Up to 90 Credits: To complete this degree program, you will need to earn at least 120 credit hours. However, you can transfer up to 90 credits from a previous institution.
• Internship Opportunity: During your internship, you will be supervised by a faculty member as well as an employee of the business where you are interning. You will have to keep track of all the work and tasks you complete and write a paper demonstrating the knowledge you gained at the end of the internship.