WHAT IS AN ONLINE ACCOUNTING DEGREE?
Are you interested in an Online Accounting Degree program? Well, online accounting programs can help you, as a professional, pursue careers. Even though your focus is in accounting, you could be eligible for numerous fields. With this degree, you could become an auditor. Or, you could become a public accountant, or a corporate accountant. In addition, you could become a forensic accountant. And, you could even become a tax examiner. Additionally, you could pursue a path as a revenue agent.
What will you need to be employed in this field? Well, these careers will require you to be good at counting numbers. You also need to be able to track money. And, you should understand financial planning. You will also need experience in forecasting and analysis. Additionally, internal control and consulting could be areas you pursue. What do all of these options mean for you? Well, it means that as an accountant today, you must develop a range of knowledge and skills. Thus, online accounting degrees could be a great option for you.
TYPES OF ONLINE ACCOUNTING DEGREE PROGRAMS
A.S. in Accounting | B.S. in Accounting | M.S. in Accounting |
| Are you looking to learn the basics? Well, an A.S. in Accounting degree program is designed to equip you with that. Here, you will come away with a variety of basic accounting skills. And, you will find these skills to be useful in entry level accounting positions. | In this program, you will learn accounting. You will also study financial and budgeting fundamentals. In addition, you could cover the underlying forces that drive organizations. | If you are a business student, this program will help you develop your core knowledge of accounting. It will also help you pursue licensure as an accountant. You may use electives to focus your studies in a specific area of accounting. Through the program, you will study for the CPA exam. And, you will also develop networks. |
You will cover:
| What you will commonly study:
| Additionally, you could cover:
|
ONLINE ACCOUNTING DEGREE PROGRAMS
You see, by earning an online accounting degree, you can develop your mathematical skills. In addition, you can boost your financial, and social knowledge. Generally, the more advanced your degree, the more you will learn.
- In a two year A.S. degree in accounting, you will learn the basics of accounting. You will also develop your reading and writing skills. Your speaking skills could see a boost, too. This is because you will take several general education courses.
- If you pursue a four year B.S. in accounting, you will learn the basics of accounting as well. Plus, you will study a specific area of accounting. For example, you could study nonprofit accounting. Or, you could study energy economics. Are you interested in investment? You could take that on. You will also spend time developing your reading, writing, and speaking skills. And, you will work on your critical thinking skills.
- With a two year M.S. degree in accounting, you will broaden your existing accounting knowledge. You will further focus it on a specific area of accounting. Through accounting focused coursework, you will further advance your professional skills. You will also conduct research, which will help you across the board. In addition, you will enhance your social skills.
Featured Online Schools
1
Southern New Hampshire University
- No application fee for April & June terms.
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- Multiple term start dates throughout the year. 24/7 online classroom access.
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2
Colorado State University Global
- Ranked #8 by U.S.News & World Report for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs
- Apply up to 90 transfer credits for bachelor’s students, and 9 transfer credits for master’s degree students.
- CSU Global graduates experience a return on investment of 4:1, which means they receive $4 in salary and benefits for every $1 they invest in their education.
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3
Strayer University
- Save up to 25%. Save thousands on your bachelor’s with the Strayer Graduation Fund.
- Strayer University is an accredited institution with a proud history of 125 years in quality education.
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Programs Include
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WHAT DO ACCOUNTING DEGREE COURSES LOOK LIKE?
So, are you wondering what you will study in an online accounting degree program? Well, you could specialize in different areas of accounting. Let’s get you acquainted with some of the path you could take.
Have you heard of managerial accounting? In managerial accounting, you would use the provisions of accounting information to better inform what matters to an organization. This, you will find, aids in management. You will also find it boosts your performance of control functions.
Or, you could study public accounting. On this track, you will provide accounting services to firms. As a public accountant, you would provide accounting expertise. Additionally, you could provide auditing, and tax services to your clients. This, you will find, can include the handling of many accounting functions. You would likely work on an outsourced basis. Or, you could find yourself auditing the financial statements of clients.
Tax accounting is another area you could specialize in. What would you do in this role? As a tax accountant, you would need to understand the tax reporting requirements. You would essentially prepare tax returns. You could work with individuals. Or, you could work with businesses. Additionally, you could provide highly complex tax planning services for multinational corporations.
Have you heard of forensic accounting? Are you interested in white collar crime? Well, if you pursue forensic accounting, you would often encounter it. In this role, you would combine accounting with investigative techniques you would learn. You would then utilize these tactics to discover financial crimes. As a forensic accountant, one of your key functions is explaining the nature of a financial crime to the courts.
Some common courses include:
Principles of Finance: This course could introduce you to finance. You may learn the true value of money and what makes U.S. businesses different from foreign businesses.
Financial and Managerial Accounting: Learn how managers use financial data to make decisions. Subjects may include how companies manage money and try to control spending.
Cost Accounting: Companies want to know how every dollar is spent. You may learn the systems that accountants use to show exactly where the money goes.
Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Accounting: First, you may learn about how to run a business and make decisions. Then, you could learn accounting concepts and how to write financial reports.
Federal Taxation: You may learn how federal taxes affect people and companies. And, you could also learn research methods and the correct way to report taxes.
Financial Statement Analysis: This course aims to show how to analyze financial statements. You may also learn the difference between money and income and how prices are set.
Auditing: You may learn to research data about a person or company. Your research could prove that rules are being followed or money is being spent correctly.
Ethics in Accounting: In this course could help you find out if a business is being run fairly. You may examine how politics, laws, technology and hiring practices affect businesses.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE ACCOUNTING DEGREE PROGRAM?
ACCOUNTING DEGREE PROGRAM EXAMPLES
| School | # of Credits Required | Start Dates | Minimum Months to Complete |
| Colorado State University: Global Campus | 120 | 2 times per year | 36 |
| American Intercontinental University | 180 | 2 times per year | 36 |
| Ashford University | 120 | 4 times per year | 36 |
WHAT DO YOU DO AS AN ACCOUNTANT?
Are you wondering what you would actually do as an accountant? Well, broadly, as an accountant, you would prepare and examine financial records. This means you would track financial transactions. You would ensure that financial records are accurate and thorough. Also, you would check whether taxes are paid properly and on time. As an accountant, you must understand and follow financial laws. You need to be clear about regulations, too. Who would you work for? Well, you would do this work for individuals, much of the time. But, you could also work with families. Or you could consult with businesses, and other organizations.
For example, you could work with nonprofits. Or, you could consult with government entities. Did you know that 25% of accountants work for entities that provide accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services? You can find another 16% split evenly between government entities and finance and insurance agencies. In addition, you will find that 14% are split evenly between working in management and being self employed. You will find these roles account (no pun intended) for the highest employment rates of accountants.
Are you wondering what you need to be qualified? Well, you will find that some individuals and businesses will hire you if you have an A.S. degree. Or, you could have a certificate. However, the majority of employers will be more likely to hire you if you have at least a B.S. degree. How long will that take you? Well, you can plan on studying for at least four years before becoming an accountant. Becoming a CPA will take you longer.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING?
You may have heard that accounting is one part of finance. In accounting, you will deal primarily with recording and reporting on financial transactions. In finance, however, you will primarily deal with planning and directing those financial transactions. Let’s break it down for you. In accounting, you will track the money that comes in and goes out of a company or entity. But in finance, you will cover the broader management of money.
You would also cover assets and liabilities. In finance, you make plans for present day protection. And you also plan for future growth. Another thing you should be acquainted with, is the trends in today’s financial world. Importantly, you will find that software and technology handle many of the tasks. And, you can guess that these tasks were historically assigned to accountants. Because of this, as an accountant nowadays, you will need to develop your skill set broadly. This means you should learn all you can in other areas. These areas, you will find, were more traditionally assigned to experts in finance.
THE AVERAGE COST OF AN ONLINE ACCOUNTING DEGREE PROGRAM
Are you wondering about cost? Let’s go over what you will pay for an online accounting degree program. For one thing, you will find the cost of earning an online B.S. degree in accounting varies. You must consider the institution. You will also find that it varies by the number of credits per program. Sometimes, you will find, it varies by state. However, you can gain a sense of what you would pay for a four year degree in accounting across the country, below. Also, you can see the institution type. You will find that the median in state tuition at a public institution is $6,757 for a B.S. in Accounting. The median out of state tuition at a private institution, you can see, is $29,025.
| School | # of Credits Required | Cost Per Credit | Total Tuition Cost |
| Colorado State University Global Campus | 120 | $350 | $42,000 |
| American Intercontinental University | 180 | $325 | $58,500 |
| Ashford University | 120 | $485 | $58,200 |
TOP SCHOOLS FOR ONLINE ACCOUNTING DEGREE PROGRAMS
| School | 2017 Degrees awarded | 2019/20 Tuition (out of state unless *) |
| University of Phoenix, AZ | 1,062 | $11,219 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign | 874 | $30,756 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 846 | $13,440 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | 656 | $30,756 |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | 576 | $28,808 |
| Pennsylvania State University Main Campus | 566 | $31,434 |
| CUNY Queens College | 537 | $13,440 |
*Estimated for full time, beginning undergrad students
HOW DO YOU QUALIFY TO TAKE THE CPA EXAM?
To take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, you must log 150 credit hours of education in accounting. You can earn this number of credit hours in the following ways:
- You can pursue a four year B.S. program in accounting. Plus you can take one year of an M.S. program in accounting.
- Earning an accelerated four year B.S. degree that allows you to earn 150 credit hours.
- You can pursue a four year B.S. degree in accounting. Then, you can earn 30 credit hours of non degree education in accounting.
If you want to become a CPA, you should talk to an advisor in your accountant degree program. You can discuss what you need to do to earn 150 credit hours. Also, you may learn about the CPA exam through the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). As you can gather, they are the organization that manages the exam.
WHAT IS A CPA?
As a CPA, you are a certified to the public. In other words, you are an accountant who is licensed by your state’s Board of Accountancy. If you have this designation, it demonstrates that you have professional competence. You will be marketable in your specialized field of accounting or auditing. Unlike unlicensed accountants, as a CPA, you can file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
If you pass the CPA exam and become licensed, it also qualifies you to secure additional certifications. So, you can earn certificates. Some certificates you could earn are: Accredited in Business Valuation, Certified Information Technology Professional, or Personal Financial Specialist. Gaining these certificates may require you to pursue additional education. You may also need more experience. And you could need to pass additional exams.
As an accountant, you must log 150 credit hours to be eligible to take the CPA test. The path to becoming a CPA, as you can gather, begins with your formal education. It continues with you gaining experience, studying, and developing your sharp test taking skills.
The CPA exam is administered by the AICPA. It has four parts:
- Auditing and Attestation
- Business Environment and Concepts
- Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Regulation
You will find the CPA exam to be the same in every U.S. state. The questions you encounter will include multiple choice, simulation, and written communication. As a soon to be CPA, when you meet all of the required measures, and you pass the CPA test, you can claim the professional title. You will find the required measures vary by U.S. state. To maintain your CPA licensure, you must earn Continuing Professional Education credits. You must also renew your license every period.
WHAT IS A BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY?
Did you know that every state in the U.S. has its own Board of Accountancy? The board, you will find, drives the standards for licensure for CPAs and other accounting professionals. Thanks to the Uniform Accountancy Act, you will find many standards are universal to other Boards of Accountancy across the U.S. However, you will see that each Board can set its own additional standards. These, you will find, can be for education, examination, and experience, to an extent. It will be smart for you to consult with your state’s State Accountancy Board to determine the following:
- Which classes count toward the 150 credit hour minimum required for you to sit for the CPA exam
- Other qualifications you must meet to sit for the exam
- Unique stipulations you may come across for fulfilling experiential requirements