Best Online Accounting Degree Programs of 2025

Accounting is a fast-changing field. AI is shaking up the industry, and financial technology, or fintech, is evolving at a rapid pace.

Businesses are scrambling to adjust to those changes — and hiring projections reflect this. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects faster-than-average growth for accountant jobs through 2033.

Fortunately, an online degree in accounting can prepare you fill one of these roles without breaking the bank or pausing your current career.

In this guide, we list some of the best online accounting degree programs available, ranked based on factors such as affordability and graduate-student outcomes.

According to our 2024 BestColleges Online Education Trends Report:

The best program for you will depend on factors such as cost and program length, but you should also consider how it can help fulfill your career goals.

With this in mind, make sure to consider your interest when evaluating a program’s curriculum or specialization options. This can help you pick a program what will focus on the skills you need to improve your career prospects.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), an online bachelor’s degree in business — which includes bachelor’s in accounting programs — typically costs about $ 10,500 per year in tuition and fees.

That said, prices can vary depending on the type of school you attend, your program’s format, and how much financial aid you get.

For instance, full-time programs tend to be pricier than part-time programs. And degrees at prestigious business schools can often cost thousands more than those at smaller, regional schools.

Cost is a major concern for online business students. In our survey, 22% of online business students and graduates said paying for higher education while minimizing student debt was the most significant challenge they faced.

Fortunately, financial aid can further cut down the cost of your online accounting degree. With this in mind, remember to fill out the FAFSA and contact your school’s financial aid office to check if you qualify for grants and scholarships.

An online accounting degree typically requires 120 credits, which usually takes four years to complete.

However, this isn’t always the case. Many colleges offer online accelerated programs that you can completed in 1-3 years. These programs usually feature intensive classes with short, fast-paced instruction to truncate four years of content into a shorter time span.

Transferring credits from a prior college experience can also shorten your time in school. For example, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota offers an online accounting degree that can take just a year to complete and allows you to transfer up to 90 credits. This accounts for three-quarters of the program’s degree requirements.

If you’re one of the millions of Americans with some college experience but no degree, you can also consider an accounting degree-completion program. These can help you earn your degree faster for less money.

Accreditation is a good way to tell whether or not a program is teaching relevant, industry-ready skills.

While colleges can receive institutional accreditation from regional and national accrediting bodies, individual business schools and accounting degree programs can receive programmatic accreditation from specialized third-party organizations.

The three main business and accounting accreditors to look for are:

AACSB has long been considered the gold standard for business school accreditation, evaluating business schools and accounting programs at an individual level.

“AACSB-accredited institutions tend to have the biggest name recognition with employers, and most state CPA licensing boards consider AACSB to be the highest-quality certification,” says Colin Smith, a CPA with nearly 15 years of experience.

On the other hand, ACBSP and IACBE evaluate business and accounting programs individually, not entire business schools, based on their outcomes and industry relevance.

Attending a program that has programmatic accreditation isn’t a requirement to become a certified public accountant, but it’s one easy way to ensure you’ll learn the necessary skills to pass your certification exam.

Many online accounting degree-holders become certified public accountants, or CPAs. As a CPA, you’ll be legally qualified to take on tasks which non-licensed accountant can’t, including external audits. For this reason, many employers prefer job candidates with this certification.

However, keep in mind that you’ll need take the CPA exam and complete other requirements to get certified.

You can still work as an accountant without having a CPA license. You can also take on other roles, including financial examiner and budget analyst.

Additionally, you can consider pursuing other certifications, like the Certified Management Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor, which can also highlight your expertise to potential employers.

But, wether you to get certified or not, note that accounting jobs are on the rise. The BLS projects a 6% growth in jobs for accountants and auditors through 2033, faster than the average 4% rate for all other occupations.

An online accounting degree can be a worthwhile major that can help you land high-paying jobs without pausing your current career. According to the BLS, accountants and auditors earned a median salary of $81,680 per year as of May 2024.

Plus, an accounting degree can set you up for more than just a traditional accounting or auditing job. For instance, you can also qualify for financial analyst, budget analyst, and actuary roles, all which earn higher median salaries than accountants and auditors.

“Be sure to consider the post-degree employment statistics of any programs you’re considering and see if they offer any assistance with finding a job, such as hosting job fairs or offering resume review services,” recommends Smith. “These little things can make the difference between landing that first job right out of school versus having an extended job search.”

Additionally, business schools are increasingly gearing their degrees toward working professionals, with asynchronous classes to help you balance your personal and educational commitments.

Finally, there’s cost: Online degrees tend to be more affordable than traditional programs, leading to a better return on investment (ROI). In our survey, over 9 in 10 online college students and program graduates said they think earning an online degree has had or will have a positive ROI.

A bachelor’s in accounting can land you a job, but you can take your education further to break into the management field or land a more specialized position.

A master’s in accounting often includes specializations in areas like information systems, forensic auditing, corporate accounting, and taxation to help you advance your skills. You’ll also study financial policy and investing.

Alternatively, you could earn a master of business administration (MBA) to broaden your managerial skills and professional network.

If you’re interested in economic research and teaching, you could pursue a doctorate in accounting. This terminal degree can open up high-level research positions and jobs in academia.