What is Accounting?
An accountant takes care of the daily financial obligations of a business. They are in charge of keeping accurate accounting records, such as the general journal and the general ledger, and they complete the monthly financial reports, such as the balance sheet and income statement. They are also in charge of ensuring that all taxes are filed in a timely manner. There could be one accountant for a business or a team of accountants with each taking charge of an accounting process. Many businesses have a CPA that works as the head of the accounting department, but smaller businesses might use an accountant that's not a CPA or a full charge bookkeeper. Accountants can work in-house for a single business or as part of an accounting firm that has several different clients.
When some people think of accountants, they visualize a little man with a pencil protector punching numbers into a calculator from a spreadsheet. This is not only an antiquated image, but also it’s just a small fraction of what an accountant actually does. The role of an accountant is an important one for any business, and accounting professionals are as diverse as any other professionals in an industry. In the state of Kentucky, there are over 11,000 people in the accounting and auditing field and they earn, on average, $71,000 a year. It is a career that technically can be started right out of high school and a person can progress in the field by gaining additional education and experience.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for accountants is expected to increase between now and 2030, so there are and will be jobs available for newcomers during this time. If you are a person who likes numbers, enjoys puzzles, and would like to help a business have a clear financial vision, then a career in accounting could be a good option. Below is information to get you started, from the education required to some of the careers that could be available to you in the accounting field. Here’s a hint: pocket protectors and calculators aren’t generally required, but computer skills and excellent analytical skills are.
Top Ranked Campus & Online Accounting Programs in Kentucky
Northern Kentucky University
Score: 81.01
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,896
- Out-of-State:$21,480
- Net Price: $7,259
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 15,801
- Undergrad Students: 10,776
- Graduate Students: 5,025
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Murray State University
Score: 80
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,708
- Out-of-State:$19,452
- Net Price: $11,042
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Total Enrollment: 9,479
- Undergrad Students: 7,679
- Graduate Students: 1,800
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Eastern Kentucky University
Score: 78.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,130
- Out-of-State:$20,820
- Net Price: $10,806
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 14,324
- Undergrad Students: 12,072
- Graduate Students: 2,252
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
University of Kentucky
Score: 78.95
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,212
- Out-of-State:$33,406
- Net Price: $18,693
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 31,547
- Undergrad Students: 22,735
- Graduate Students: 8,812
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
University of Louisville
Score: 78.35
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,828
- Out-of-State:$29,174
- Net Price: $19,327
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 22,017
- Undergrad Students: 15,921
- Graduate Students: 6,096
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Transylvania University
Score: 77.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $44,980
- Out-of-State:$44,980
- Net Price: $25,767
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 979
- Undergrad Students: 979
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Morehead State University
Score: 74.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,838
- Out-of-State:$14,706
- Net Price: $10,991
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 8,807
- Undergrad Students: 8,215
- Graduate Students: 592
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Asbury University
Score: 74.2
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $33,640
- Out-of-State:$33,640
- Net Price: $21,506
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Total Enrollment: 1,650
- Undergrad Students: 1,404
- Graduate Students: 246
- Grads Salary: $59,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Georgetown College
Score: 74.01
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $42,010
- Out-of-State:$42,010
- Net Price: $15,152
- Acceptance Rate: 72%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 1,548
- Undergrad Students: 1,233
- Graduate Students: 315
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Score: 73.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $33,393
- Out-of-State:$33,393
- Net Price: $20,735
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 813
- Undergrad Students: 813
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Brescia University
Score: 73.63
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $30,450
- Out-of-State:$30,450
- Net Price: $16,127
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 646
- Undergrad Students: 551
- Graduate Students: 95
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Western Kentucky University
Score: 72.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,436
- Out-of-State:$27,000
- Net Price: $12,625
- Acceptance Rate: 97%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 16,493
- Undergrad Students: 14,440
- Graduate Students: 2,053
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
University of the Cumberlands
Score: 71.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,875
- Out-of-State:$9,875
- Net Price: $14,337
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 18,053
- Undergrad Students: 5,174
- Graduate Students: 12,879
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Thomas More University
Score: 70.85
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $38,400
- Out-of-State:$38,400
- Net Price: $21,962
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 1,958
- Undergrad Students: 1,829
- Graduate Students: 129
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Union College
Score: 67
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $30,946
- Out-of-State:$30,946
- Net Price: $18,221
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 970
- Undergrad Students: 724
- Graduate Students: 246
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Spalding University
Score: 63.7
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $27,850
- Out-of-State:$27,850
- Net Price: $26,539
- Acceptance Rate: 98%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 1,532
- Undergrad Students: 767
- Graduate Students: 765
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Midway University
Score: 61.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $26,080
- Out-of-State:$26,080
- Net Price: $22,848
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 1,441
- Undergrad Students: 1,203
- Graduate Students: 238
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Sullivan University
Score: 60.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,220
- Out-of-State:$14,220
- Net Price: $19,537
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 2,309
- Undergrad Students: 1,844
- Graduate Students: 465
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Campbellsville University
Score: 58.12
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $26,990
- Out-of-State:$26,990
- Net Price: $20,987
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 41%
- Total Enrollment: 11,775
- Undergrad Students: 6,411
- Graduate Students: 5,364
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
Alice Lloyd College
Score: 50.2
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,080
- Out-of-State:$14,080
- Net Price: $16,596
- Acceptance Rate: 98%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 40%
- Total Enrollment: 565
- Undergrad Students: 565
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,500
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
