What is Accounting?
Pursuing a career in accounting has always been a smart decision for enthusiastic, analytically minded people. And with the recent shakeups in the economy, the demand is greater than ever for accounting firms - each with a wealth of career positions that are accounting-adjacent - to hire qualified Alabama state accounting program graduates.
One of the most visible benefits available for accounting students is the variety of careers out there; it’s not just CPA positions. The specializations in accountancy are numerous and can range from human resource workers, budget analysts, and risk management positions all the way to cost estimators and personal financial advisors.
However, if you’re interested in joining the workforce as an accountant, there’s no need to go all-in on one specialization from the beginning. It’s essential to keep a wide-angle view of the opportunities that are out there for accountants of all stripes.
While it’s generally a good idea for potential accounting students not to limit themselves into a specialization prematurely, there are some state-to-state details that one should keep in mind before enrolling in the program of your dreams.
Attending an accounting program in Alabama carries many benefits for Alabama residents. Living in the same state as you graduate means that your reputation precedes you in many cases, or at least the reputation of your school program. Any local networks that you developed while attending school will also carry weight with hiring managers who have personal knowledge of the instructors who teach in local programs.
Featured Online Programs
Top Ranked Campus & Online Accounting Programs in Alabama
Auburn University
Score: 83.45
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,536
- Out-of-State:$33,944
- Net Price: $25,271
- Acceptance Rate: 44%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Total Enrollment: 31,764
- Undergrad Students: 25,379
- Graduate Students: 6,385
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Birmingham-Southern College
Score: 80.86
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $22,750
- Out-of-State:$22,750
- Net Price: $21,153
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 975
- Undergrad Students: 975
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Score: 80.84
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,770
- Out-of-State:$24,662
- Net Price: $18,588
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 9,237
- Undergrad Students: 7,169
- Graduate Students: 2,068
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
The University of Alabama
Score: 77.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,900
- Out-of-State:$33,200
- Net Price: $20,592
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 38,644
- Undergrad Students: 32,458
- Graduate Students: 6,186
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Score: 75.54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,832
- Out-of-State:$21,864
- Net Price: $16,834
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 21,639
- Undergrad Students: 13,032
- Graduate Students: 8,607
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
University of South Alabama
Score: 74.51
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,676
- Out-of-State:$18,652
- Net Price: $15,664
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 13,438
- Undergrad Students: 8,480
- Graduate Students: 4,958
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
University of North Alabama
Score: 72.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,990
- Out-of-State:$22,190
- Net Price: $9,837
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 9,830
- Undergrad Students: 7,214
- Graduate Students: 2,616
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Samford University
Score: 72.02
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $38,144
- Out-of-State:$38,144
- Net Price: $31,803
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 5,682
- Undergrad Students: 3,672
- Graduate Students: 2,010
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
University of Mobile
Score: 66.53
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $26,120
- Out-of-State:$26,120
- Net Price: $22,260
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 1,804
- Undergrad Students: 1,584
- Graduate Students: 220
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Auburn University at Montgomery
Score: 65.64
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,436
- Out-of-State:$20,092
- Net Price: $13,163
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 36%
- Total Enrollment: 5,109
- Undergrad Students: 3,754
- Graduate Students: 1,355
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
University of West Alabama
Score: 64.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,990
- Out-of-State:$20,090
- Net Price: $13,786
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 38%
- Total Enrollment: 5,860
- Undergrad Students: 2,427
- Graduate Students: 3,433
- Grads Salary: $61,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Columbia Southern University
Score: 64.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,808
- Out-of-State:$5,808
- Net Price: $12,366
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 42%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 15,948
- Undergrad Students: 11,330
- Graduate Students: 4,618
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 28:1
Huntingdon College
Score: 63.98
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,650
- Out-of-State:$28,650
- Net Price: $23,662
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 817
- Undergrad Students: 812
- Graduate Students: 5
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Alabama A&M University
Score: 63.87
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,024
- Out-of-State:$18,634
- Net Price: $14,600
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 6,007
- Undergrad Students: 5,206
- Graduate Students: 801
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Athens State University
Score: 62.87
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,530
- Out-of-State:$15,060
- Net Price: N/A
- Acceptance Rate: N/A
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 2,894
- Undergrad Students: 2,520
- Graduate Students: 374
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Alabama State University
Score: 61.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,248
- Out-of-State:$19,576
- Net Price: $13,176
- Acceptance Rate: 97%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 28%
- Total Enrollment: 3,828
- Undergrad Students: 3,296
- Graduate Students: 532
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Herzing University-Birmingham
Score: 59.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,420
- Out-of-State:$13,420
- Net Price: $21,953
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 30%
- Total Enrollment: 578
- Undergrad Students: 570
- Graduate Students: 8
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Faulkner University
Score: 59.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $23,920
- Out-of-State:$23,920
- Net Price: $20,050
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 2,817
- Undergrad Students: 1,792
- Graduate Students: 1,025
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Miles College
Score: 53.32
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,714
- Out-of-State:$12,714
- Net Price: $13,283
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 26%
- Total Enrollment: 1,258
- Undergrad Students: 1,258
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $52,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Chattahoochee Valley Community College
Score: 49.25
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,040
- Out-of-State:$8,850
- Net Price: $3,301
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 26%
- Total Enrollment: 1,641
- Undergrad Students: 1,641
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $32,100
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Online Accounting Education in Alabama
Every state in the nation has its own set of standards and practices for granting students licensures they might earn after an accounting degree. The differences in accounting careers are reflected by local laws, demand, and the degree specializations that each school prides itself on.
There are dozens of concentrations and degree programs of all semester lengths, credit hour requirements, and other variables in the state of Alabama, but don’t let that scare you from investigating the pros and cons of each. The first step is to keep your career goals in mind and then look closely at what degree level suits your needs.
How far will each degree level (Associates, Bachelors, Masters/MBA, and Ph.D.) propel you into your profession? In most cases, investing more time in a program will bring a higher average salary and access to specializations that boast increased pay, but not in all cases.
Odds are you’ve got questions about the different accounting degrees. What is the lowest level that will grant a job? What degree do you need for a management position? Is an MBA the same as a master’s? Let’s look a little closer at the takeaways available for accounting students at each degree level.
Online Associates (AS)
Associate accounting degrees are two-year programs designed to combine general education classes with an introductory course for fledgling accountants. It’s an excellent starting point for many students interested in pursuing a career in accounting but who don’t have the financial resources to plunge headfirst into more demanding degree programs, or even for those who may have struggled in school and need to boost their GPA before applying to more demanding four-year programs.
There are many excellent positions hiring across the state - and these are growing in demand - for two-year accounting graduates. Entry-level jobs like bookkeepers, auditing clerks, and accounting clerks are always open for associate degree holders.
Many people wonder if those with associate degrees can become CPAs. Since Alabama requires graduates to complete 150 credit hours to apply as a prospective CPA, associate degree holders will have to enroll in further education to accomplish the minimum credit hours to earn this high-level certification. For context, four-year bachelor’s degrees typically last 120 hours. However, for those looking for certification at this level, you may want to look into bookkeeper certification.
Many accounting programs also furnish students with the credentials to transfer to a four-year program upon graduation, which is an added benefit for people who wish to further their education.
Online Bachelors (BS)
Bachelor’s students enrolled in an accredited accounting school in Alabama can count on their investment in a four-year program paying off. A BS degree in accounting will prepare graduates for business roles like accountants and auditors; positions expected to grow by 4% in the next decade. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists accountants and auditors with a median annual wage of $71,550.
Can bachelor’s students sit for the CPA exam? The simple answer is yes. In Alabama, people don’t need a master’s to take the CPA exam. However, for bachelor’s degree holders to apply, they need 150 credit hours of education. In a four-year program, that means you’ll need to take extra credit or go for a double major. Or you could choose to take a few master’s-level classes and set yourself up to finish a master’s program in record time later in your career.
Bachelor’s programs are often less expensive than master’s programs, making them a good choice for people looking to pay their way to an MBA on their own terms. Plus, the more extended four-year period gives you more time to narrow down your career goals to a specialization that you genuinely love pursuing.
Finally, the job offerings available to bachelor's increases when compared to associates. Forensic accountants, financial analysts, personal financial advisors, and actuaries all often start off with bachelor’s degrees. The demand for these specialized jobs is very high.
Online Masters (MS)
Graduates from four-year bachelor’s programs often commit to the additional two-year accounting master’s programs. The primary reason is to win certification as a CPA or find a managerial career in finance or related fields. A master’s can get you into a management position quickly because of the depth of knowledge you will obtain.
However, it’s important to know that a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is not the same thing as a master’s in accounting, even if you choose a concentration in accounting to go with it. That’s a widespread misconception. There are many master’s programs in accounting that aren’t MBAs (Masters of Business Administration).
For instance, prospective master students can pursue:
- MS in Accounting (Masters of Science)
- MAcc (Masters of Accountancy)
- Masters of Professional Accountancy or Accounting
- Certified Public Bookkeeper
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Certified Internal Auditor
- Plus, many concentrations within each degree program
Most Alabama master’s accountancy programs will prepare students to sit for the CPA (certified public accountant) exam. Passing the exam opens students up to higher accounting management positions overall. If you’re looking for a management position, a master’s degree is typically required.
Online PhD (PhD)
For students whose career goals skew more towards research and teaching interests, there are doctorate degrees available. Many graduates from this highest level of accounting education pursue careers as professors, research positions in public policy, tax law, consultant positions in large firms, or analyst careers.
A PhD, or doctorate, isn’t required for CPA practice in Alabama, nor are the majority of upper-level managerial positions filled by those with this high-level degree. However, many interested in the mathematical or research-based side of accounting, as well as the academic, flourish in PhD programs.
Typically, PhD applicants take the GMAT or GRE then follow a specialized curriculum in accounting, microeconomics, and advanced mathematics for two years to qualify for the degree. Investing your time in a terminal degree like a PhD will often lead to a higher average salary outlook. According to the BLS, a financial manager with a PhD can earn as much as $129,890 yearly.