University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights the best programs for accounting in Arkansas.
What is Accounting?
Accounting is one of the world's oldest professions. In fact, many believe that humanities oldest written documents were ledgers that tracked transactions. The basis of the modern Arkansas economy is a record of transactions which accountants are especially skilled at assessing. This page is all about how Arkansas students or professionals can become accountants and the programs available within the state’s colleges and universities.
For those who wish to earn degrees in accountancy, it's valuable to have a clear view of the state economy. After all, every industry requires its own approach to accounting, especially regarding taxation. Since agriculture is one of the top industries in Arkansas, colleges and universities offer students exposure to the special issues related to that issue. For instance, farmers often have special tax exemptions, inventory issues, and government subsidies that must be accounted for in special ways.
Arkansas is also strong in the transportation and logistics industry. This may not come as a surprise, given the state's central location in the country. Accountants in that industry may need to audit shipping lines for fuel usage, the time required to ship along certain routes, or other logistical features. An accountant's assessment of the costs and benefits of various shipping routes, methods, etc. can potentially make or break a firm's quarterly fiscal health.
Arkansas students of accountancy might also study healthcare and the special issues related to that industry. Though this industry is not often considered one of the state's top economic concerns, it is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the nation. Since many health systems are operated as non-profit organizations, it may behoove students to focus on that form of accounting. Given that there are tuition forgiveness programs available for students who go to work for government or non-profit agencies, this could be a lucrative career choice.
Featured Online Programs
Top Ranked Campus & Online Accounting Programs in Arkansas
University of Arkansas
Score: 79.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,748
- Out-of-State:$28,772
- Net Price: $16,208
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 30,936
- Undergrad Students: 26,269
- Graduate Students: 4,667
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Harding University
Score: 79.7
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $24,888
- Out-of-State:$24,888
- Net Price: $19,558
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 4,805
- Undergrad Students: 3,523
- Graduate Students: 1,282
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Hendrix College
Score: 78.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,650
- Out-of-State:$36,650
- Net Price: $22,626
- Acceptance Rate: 60%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 1,144
- Undergrad Students: 1,132
- Graduate Students: 12
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
John Brown University
Score: 76.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $30,832
- Out-of-State:$30,832
- Net Price: $20,997
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 2,326
- Undergrad Students: 1,801
- Graduate Students: 525
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Score: 74.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,455
- Out-of-State:$19,210
- Net Price: $11,173
- Acceptance Rate: 61%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 42%
- Total Enrollment: 8,197
- Undergrad Students: 5,825
- Graduate Students: 2,372
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Arkansas State University
Score: 74.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,754
- Out-of-State:$13,826
- Net Price: $12,011
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 13,190
- Undergrad Students: 8,201
- Graduate Students: 4,989
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Southern Arkansas University
Score: 72.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,820
- Out-of-State:$15,400
- Net Price: $14,056
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 5,094
- Undergrad Students: 3,148
- Graduate Students: 1,946
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Score: 69.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,019
- Out-of-State:$17,029
- Net Price: $9,959
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 41%
- Total Enrollment: 2,387
- Undergrad Students: 2,182
- Graduate Students: 205
- Grads Salary: $64,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Arkansas Tech University
Score: 68.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,508
- Out-of-State:$14,502
- Net Price: $12,016
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 9,445
- Undergrad Students: 8,722
- Graduate Students: 723
- Grads Salary: $64,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Ouachita Baptist University
Score: 67.95
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $32,480
- Out-of-State:$32,480
- Net Price: $21,677
- Acceptance Rate: 72%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 1,784
- Undergrad Students: 1,730
- Graduate Students: 54
- Grads Salary: $56,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
University of Central Arkansas
Score: 67.51
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,118
- Out-of-State:$17,258
- Net Price: $15,456
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 9,913
- Undergrad Students: 7,994
- Graduate Students: 1,919
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
University of the Ozarks
Score: 66.04
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $25,950
- Out-of-State:$25,950
- Net Price: $16,319
- Acceptance Rate: 60%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 41%
- Total Enrollment: 784
- Undergrad Students: 784
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
University of Arkansas Grantham
Score: 65.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,280
- Out-of-State:$8,280
- Net Price: $9,546
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 36%
- Graduation Rate: 25%
- Total Enrollment: 5,436
- Undergrad Students: 4,598
- Graduate Students: 838
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 33:1
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Score: 64.73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,906
- Out-of-State:$13,770
- Net Price: $10,705
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 42%
- Total Enrollment: 5,379
- Undergrad Students: 5,335
- Graduate Students: 44
- Grads Salary: $59,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Score: 64.51
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,868
- Out-of-State:$14,718
- Net Price: $12,693
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 39%
- Total Enrollment: 2,719
- Undergrad Students: 2,270
- Graduate Students: 449
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Henderson State University
Score: 62.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,885
- Out-of-State:$9,882
- Net Price: $17,656
- Acceptance Rate: 71%
- Retention Rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 39%
- Total Enrollment: 2,519
- Undergrad Students: 1,807
- Graduate Students: 712
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Lyon College
Score: 61.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $31,000
- Out-of-State:$31,000
- Net Price: $25,545
- Acceptance Rate: 60%
- Retention Rate: 51%
- Graduation Rate: 38%
- Total Enrollment: 496
- Undergrad Students: 496
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Central Baptist College
Score: 60.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $19,680
- Out-of-State:$19,680
- Net Price: $18,128
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 39%
- Total Enrollment: 564
- Undergrad Students: 564
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $56,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Arkansas State University Three Rivers
Score: 52.04
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,568
- Out-of-State:$4,168
- Net Price: $4,596
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 51%
- Graduation Rate: 36%
- Total Enrollment: 1,832
- Undergrad Students: 1,832
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $30,200
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
South Arkansas Community College
Score: 50.4
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,540
- Out-of-State:$5,364
- Net Price: $5,651
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 49%
- Graduation Rate: 28%
- Total Enrollment: 1,162
- Undergrad Students: 1,162
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $34,900
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
North Arkansas College
Score: 49.59
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,816
- Out-of-State:$5,544
- Net Price: $8,168
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 32%
- Total Enrollment: 1,856
- Undergrad Students: 1,856
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $32,500
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home
Score: 45.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,168
- Out-of-State:$4,632
- Net Price: $10,540
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 28%
- Total Enrollment: 1,247
- Undergrad Students: 1,247
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $28,600
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College
Score: 42.42
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,848
- Out-of-State:$7,248
- Net Price: $13,324
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 23%
- Total Enrollment: 4,245
- Undergrad Students: 4,245
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $31,800
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Arkansas Baptist College
Score: 36.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,760
- Out-of-State:$8,760
- Net Price: $13,309
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 20%
- Graduation Rate: 8%
- Total Enrollment: 497
- Undergrad Students: 497
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $41,000
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
Strayer University-Arkansas
Score: 10
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,920
- Out-of-State:$13,920
- Net Price: N/A
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- Total Enrollment: 307
- Undergrad Students: 275
- Graduate Students: 32
- Grads Salary: N/A
- Student-to-faculty: 41:1
Online Accounting Education in Arkansas
An accountant is a business professional who most often helps individuals and businesses with their finances. For most of us, our chief interactions with an accountant are at tax time. For businesses, accountants and bookkeepers are employed to manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, and other parts of a firm's financial dealings. They also work as auditors with a range of purpose and focus.
Accountants tend to work in offices on computers. They spend most of their time working with spreadsheets or collecting the data they need to perform their duties. Their employers run the gamut of all organizations within all industries. Some work for government agencies or non-profits but most find work in the for-profit private sector. Accountants can even be independent contractors who have a variety of large and small clients. Their duties may be dictated by their credentials. Certified Public Accountants, for instance, often work as tax accountants but there are many other credentials for accountants. Some even make fruitful careers in information technology.
Online Associate Degree in Accounting (AS)
A terrific career in accounting can start with only an accounting associate degree, online or on-campus. Not only are community colleges cost-effective but they offer terrific academic value. Typically, community colleges have smaller class sizes and often their accounting programs are very strong. Most accounting majors from community colleges will likely start their careers as bookkeepers. This means that they can gain great experience working for various businesses or individuals. They might also apply their keen attention to detail to work in an IT department. Thus, accountants with two-year degrees can begin careers in a wide range of entry-level positions. They can also earn certain certifications which will help them land the best interviews. However, accounting careers can really take off with a full, four-year bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Online Bachelor's Degree in Accounting (BS)
A four-year bachelor’s degree in accounting is what most top professionals use to kick-start their degrees with entry-level positions in top firms. An undergraduate degree is also required to sit for the Certified Public Accountant examination, though most states require at least a few additional business courses or graduate courses on top of a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s accounting degree is also helpful when it comes to earning professional certifications. In fact, many of the top credentials are only available to those with full, four-year degrees. Those certifications can focus on areas such as risk management, forensic accounting, or taxation. Jobs such as financial analyst, fraud examiner, and bank auditor are possible with these credentials.
Furthermore, a bachelor’s accounting degree allows students more time to round out their education and focus their careers. For instance, an accounting major could earn a minor or a double major in computer science, business administration, or economics, among other options.
Online Master's Degree in Accounting (MS)
These days, it's vital for business professionals to earn a master’s degree. While many accountants will first think of an MBA as the optimal choice, there are other options. These days academia has degrees to meet most any specific career aspiration.
There are graduate accounting degrees in accountancy that focus on managerial accounting and others that focus on information technology. For those who choose an MBA, they might consider a dual master’s degree with a full MS in accountancy. They can also choose accountancy for their MBA concentration and choose another degree for their dual option. Choices include subjects such as public administration, engineering, information technology, and economics, and many more.
Nevertheless, accountants will want to place graduate degrees at a high priority. This focus can start upon graduation from their bachelor’s accounting program. This is because, if they want to sit for the CPA examination, their state board of accountancy will want to see courses on top of the standard undergraduate credits. This requirement can be met with graduate courses.
Online PhD Degree in Accounting (PhD)
There aren't very many accountants who opt for a PhD or a doctorate in the field. However, this is an option that can open up new opportunities. The most obvious opportunity with a PhD is the possibility of teaching or otherwise working in academia. When an accountant has significant experience in the field and is even licensed or otherwise credentialed professional, they will increase the likelihood of earning a full-time tenure-track position.
Firms also like to hire accountants who hold doctorate degrees in accountancy. With this level of academic achievement, accountants can surely land positions as CFO or even start their own firm. They might also join research or consulting firms who look deep into the books of major corporations, wall street firms, and more. A doctor of accountancy can surely work with information technology professionals to audit databases.