50 Most Affordable Accounting Schools

Accounting is a field where students can utilize their love for numbers to ensure that organizations are correctly managing their budgets. Unlike many other math-based careers, accounting is highly rooted in real-world applications, which can be a plus for individuals who enjoy seeing how their work directly contributes to improving the functionality of their firm. Given the complexity of the tax code and key accounting principles like GAAP, most accounting professionals need to undergo years of rigorous education and training before they are ready to embark on this career path. Here you’ll find some of the best and most affordable accounting programs in the United States.

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Top 50 Most Affordable Accounting College Rankings

1

CUNY Hunter College

Tuition
- In-State: $7,382
- Out-of-State: $15,332
Net Price: $3,957
Total Enrollment: 23,193
Undergrad Students: 17,121
Graduate Students: 6,072

Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Acceptance Rate: 48%
Retention Rate: 81%
Graduation Rate: 57%
Diplomas Awarded: 85:1
Grads Salary: $70,000

2

CUNY York College

Tuition
- In-State: $7,358
- Out-of-State: $15,308
Net Price: $4,089
Total Enrollment: 8,337
Undergrad Students: 8,116
Graduate Students: 221

Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Acceptance Rate: 59%
Retention Rate: 62%
Graduation Rate: 35%
Diplomas Awarded: 89:1
Grads Salary: $69,000

3

Elizabeth City State University

Tuition
- In-State: $3,356
- Out-of-State: $7,356
Net Price: $4,120
Total Enrollment: 2,149
Undergrad Students: 2,033
Graduate Students: 116

Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Retention Rate: 76%
Graduation Rate: 42%
Diplomas Awarded: 10:1
Grads Salary: $60,000

4

CUNY Queens College

Tuition
- In-State: $7,538
- Out-of-State: $15,488
Net Price: $4,471
Total Enrollment: 19,923
Undergrad Students: 16,866
Graduate Students: 3,057

Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Retention Rate: 82%
Graduation Rate: 56%
Diplomas Awarded: 337:1
Grads Salary: $72,000

5

Texas A&M International University

Tuition
- In-State: $7,846
- Out-of-State: $19,382
Net Price: $5,383
Total Enrollment: 8,505
Undergrad Students: 6,979
Graduate Students: 1,526

Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Acceptance Rate: 48%
Retention Rate: 79%
Graduation Rate: 49%
Diplomas Awarded: 60:1
Grads Salary: $55,000

6

Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Tuition
- In-State: $6,627
- Out-of-State: $16,419
Net Price: $5,465
Total Enrollment: 2,198
Undergrad Students: 1,712
Graduate Students: 486

Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Retention Rate: 74%
Graduation Rate: 52%
Diplomas Awarded: 18:1
Grads Salary: $54,860

7

Dalton State College

Tuition
- In-State: $3,283
- Out-of-State: $10,189
Net Price: $5,532
Total Enrollment: 4,527
Undergrad Students: 4,527
Graduate Students: 0

Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 67%
Graduation Rate: 22%
Diplomas Awarded: 25:1
Grads Salary: $56,000

8

Fayetteville State University

Tuition
- In-State: $3,906
- Out-of-State: $7,906
Net Price: $6,355
Total Enrollment: 6,787
Undergrad Students: 5,748
Graduate Students: 1,039

Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Retention Rate: 70%
Graduation Rate: 44%
Diplomas Awarded: 46:1
Grads Salary: $60,000

9

Indiana University-Northwest

Tuition
- In-State: $7,941
- Out-of-State: $21,301
Net Price: $6,553
Total Enrollment: 3,198
Undergrad Students: 2,860
Graduate Students: 338

Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Retention Rate: 68%
Graduation Rate: 37%
Diplomas Awarded: NA
Grads Salary: $73,000

10

Northern Kentucky University

Tuition
- In-State: $10,592
- Out-of-State: $20,848
Net Price: $7,259
Total Enrollment: 15,801
Undergrad Students: 10,776
Graduate Students: 5,025

Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Retention Rate: 77%
Graduation Rate: 50%
Diplomas Awarded: 1:1
Grads Salary: $68,000

11

Louisiana State University-Alexandria

Tuition
- In-State: $7,050
- Out-of-State: $14,650
Net Price: $7,274
Total Enrollment: 4,289
Undergrad Students: 4,289
Graduate Students: 0

Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Retention Rate: 67%
Graduation Rate: 31%
Diplomas Awarded: 61:1
Grads Salary: $51,000

12

Louisiana State University-Shreveport

Tuition
- In-State: $7,327
- Out-of-State: $20,481
Net Price: $7,587
Total Enrollment: 8,721
Undergrad Students: 2,465
Graduate Students: 6,256

Student-to-faculty: 24:1
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Retention Rate: 65%
Graduation Rate: 33%
Diplomas Awarded: 15:1
Grads Salary: $63,000

13

Heritage University

Tuition
- In-State: $19,500
- Out-of-State: $19,500
Net Price: $7,841
Total Enrollment: 853
Undergrad Students: 796
Graduate Students: 57

Student-to-faculty: 8:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 74%
Graduation Rate: 45%
Diplomas Awarded: 13:1
Grads Salary: $65,000

14

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Tuition
- In-State: $4,536
- Out-of-State: $4,536
Net Price: $7,899
Total Enrollment: 43,023
Undergrad Students: 43,023
Graduate Students: 0

Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Retention Rate: 68%
Graduation Rate: 54%
Diplomas Awarded: 147:1
Grads Salary: $67,000

15

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Tuition
- In-State: $9,538
- Out-of-State: $19,333
Net Price: $8,105
Total Enrollment: 31,559
Undergrad Students: 26,434
Graduate Students: 5,125

Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Retention Rate: 76%
Graduation Rate: 53%
Diplomas Awarded: 130:1
Grads Salary: $65,000

16

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Tuition
- In-State: $3,495
- Out-of-State: $7,495
Net Price: $8,208
Total Enrollment: 7,666
Undergrad Students: 5,643
Graduate Students: 2,023

Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Retention Rate: 72%
Graduation Rate: 45%
Diplomas Awarded: 8:1
Grads Salary: $58,000

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17

Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Tuition
- In-State: $7,634
- Out-of-State: $8,385
Net Price: $8,325
Total Enrollment: 1,242
Undergrad Students: 1,242
Graduate Students: 0

Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 35%
Graduation Rate: 22%
Diplomas Awarded: 14:1
Grads Salary: $51,000

18

Northern New Mexico College

Tuition
- In-State: $5,064
- Out-of-State: $14,329
Net Price: $8,383
Total Enrollment: 1,154
Undergrad Students: 1,154
Graduate Students: 0

Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 53%
Graduation Rate: 40%
Diplomas Awarded: NA
Grads Salary: $55,000

19

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Tuition
- In-State: $7,466
- Out-of-State: $15,736
Net Price: $8,510
Total Enrollment: 3,947
Undergrad Students: 3,236
Graduate Students: 711

Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Retention Rate: 71%
Graduation Rate: 40%
Diplomas Awarded: 32:1
Grads Salary: $67,000

20

Coppin State University

Tuition
- In-State: $6,904
- Out-of-State: $13,560
Net Price: $8,562
Total Enrollment: 2,006
Undergrad Students: 1,757
Graduate Students: 249

Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Retention Rate: 62%
Graduation Rate: 24%
Diplomas Awarded: 6:1
Grads Salary: $66,000

21

The University of West Florida

Tuition
- In-State: $6,360
- Out-of-State: $19,241
Net Price: $8,609
Total Enrollment: 13,521
Undergrad Students: 9,291
Graduate Students: 4,230

Student-to-faculty: 22:1
Acceptance Rate: 48%
Retention Rate: 85%
Graduation Rate: 53%
Diplomas Awarded: 50:1
Grads Salary: $67,000

22

Eastern New Mexico University

Tuition
- In-State: $6,863
- Out-of-State: $8,843
Net Price: $8,702
Total Enrollment: 5,106
Undergrad Students: 3,833
Graduate Students: 1,273

Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Acceptance Rate: 28%
Retention Rate: 62%
Graduation Rate: 41%
Diplomas Awarded: 24:1
Grads Salary: $67,000

23

Marshall University

Tuition
- In-State: $8,604
- Out-of-State: $19,658
Net Price: $8,756
Total Enrollment: 10,691
Undergrad Students: 7,952
Graduate Students: 2,739

Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Retention Rate: 74%
Graduation Rate: 50%
Diplomas Awarded: 37:1
Grads Salary: $67,000

24

California State University-Northridge

Tuition
- In-State: $7,069
- Out-of-State: $18,949
Net Price: $8,936
Total Enrollment: 37,579
Undergrad Students: 32,181
Graduate Students: 5,398

Student-to-faculty: 24:1
Acceptance Rate: 91%
Retention Rate: 75%
Graduation Rate: 56%
Diplomas Awarded: 246:1
Grads Salary: $78,000

25

Monroe College

Tuition
- In-State: $17,442
- Out-of-State: $17,442
Net Price: $9,157
Total Enrollment: 7,011
Undergrad Students: 5,916
Graduate Students: 1,095

Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Retention Rate: 70%
Graduation Rate: 56%
Diplomas Awarded: 59:1
Grads Salary: $64,000

26

Purdue University Northwest

Tuition
- In-State: $8,174
- Out-of-State: $15,165
Net Price: $9,162
Total Enrollment: 8,911
Undergrad Students: 8,176
Graduate Students: 735

Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Retention Rate: 64%
Graduation Rate: 44%
Diplomas Awarded: 53:1
Grads Salary: $70,000

27

North Carolina A&T State University

Tuition
- In-State: $6,733
- Out-of-State: $20,243
Net Price: $9,189
Total Enrollment: 13,487
Undergrad Students: 11,833
Graduate Students: 1,654

Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Acceptance Rate: 56%
Retention Rate: 74%
Graduation Rate: 57%
Diplomas Awarded: 37:1
Grads Salary: $77,000

28

Western Governors University

Tuition
- In-State: $8,010
- Out-of-State: $8,010
Net Price: $9,207
Total Enrollment: 156,935
Undergrad Students: 112,807
Graduate Students: 44,128

Student-to-faculty: 42:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 65%
Graduation Rate: 49%
Diplomas Awarded: 1,170:1
Grads Salary: $77,000

29

Utah Valley University

Tuition
- In-State: $6,270
- Out-of-State: $17,830
Net Price: $9,346
Total Enrollment: 43,099
Undergrad Students: 42,296
Graduate Students: 803

Student-to-faculty: 25:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 68%
Graduation Rate: 39%
Diplomas Awarded: 165:1
Grads Salary: $67,000

30

University of Washington-Bothell

Tuition
- In-State: $12,224
- Out-of-State: $40,722
Net Price: $9,357
Total Enrollment: 5,735
Undergrad Students: 5,192
Graduate Students: 543

Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Retention Rate: 85%
Graduation Rate: 69%
Diplomas Awarded: 85:1
Grads Salary: $80,000

31

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Tuition
- In-State: $7,896
- Out-of-State: $22,032
Net Price: $9,450
Total Enrollment: 6,607
Undergrad Students: 5,636
Graduate Students: 971

Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Acceptance Rate: 65%
Retention Rate: 70%
Graduation Rate: 39%
Diplomas Awarded: 16:1
Grads Salary: $78,000

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32

Savannah State University

Tuition
- In-State: $5,498
- Out-of-State: $16,218
Net Price: $9,452
Total Enrollment: 2,945
Undergrad Students: 2,740
Graduate Students: 205

Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 68%
Graduation Rate: 28%
Diplomas Awarded: 18:1
Grads Salary: $63,000

33

West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Tuition
- In-State: $7,848
- Out-of-State: $19,584
Net Price: $9,529
Total Enrollment: 1,481
Undergrad Students: 1,481
Graduate Students: 0

Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Acceptance Rate: 65%
Retention Rate: 56%
Graduation Rate: 34%
Diplomas Awarded: 13:1
Grads Salary: $78,000

34

University of Arkansas Grantham

Tuition
- In-State: $8,280
- Out-of-State: $8,280
Net Price: $9,546
Total Enrollment: 5,436
Undergrad Students: 4,598
Graduate Students: 838

Student-to-faculty: 33:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 36%
Graduation Rate: 25%
Diplomas Awarded: 24:1
Grads Salary: $78,000

35

The University of Texas at El Paso

Tuition
- In-State: $9,744
- Out-of-State: $25,152
Net Price: $9,563
Total Enrollment: 23,880
Undergrad Students: 20,165
Graduate Students: 3,715

Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 75%
Graduation Rate: 47%
Diplomas Awarded: 155:1
Grads Salary: $72,000

36

Peirce College

Tuition
- In-State: $15,060
- Out-of-State: $15,060
Net Price: $9,621
Total Enrollment: 856
Undergrad Students: 762
Graduate Students: 94

Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 5%
Diplomas Awarded: 8:1
Grads Salary: $68,000

37

Northeastern State University

Tuition
- In-State: $7,400
- Out-of-State: $16,385
Net Price: $9,669
Total Enrollment: 6,702
Undergrad Students: 5,242
Graduate Students: 1,460

Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Retention Rate: 64%
Graduation Rate: 38%
Diplomas Awarded: 75:1
Grads Salary: $65,000

38

Cameron University

Tuition
- In-State: $6,705
- Out-of-State: $16,125
Net Price: $9,674
Total Enrollment: 3,418
Undergrad Students: 3,133
Graduate Students: 285

Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 72%
Graduation Rate: 25%
Diplomas Awarded: 20:1
Grads Salary: $69,000

39

SUNY Empire State College

Tuition
- In-State: $7,630
- Out-of-State: $17,540
Net Price: $9,704
Total Enrollment: 9,407
Undergrad Students: 7,735
Graduate Students: 1,672

Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 59%
Graduation Rate: 25%
Diplomas Awarded: 32:1
Grads Salary: $70,000

40

Florida Atlantic University

Tuition
- In-State: $4,879
- Out-of-State: $17,324
Net Price: $9,711
Total Enrollment: 29,592
Undergrad Students: 24,191
Graduate Students: 5,401

Student-to-faculty: 22:1
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Retention Rate: 81%
Graduation Rate: 62%
Diplomas Awarded: 271:1
Grads Salary: $70,000

41

The University of Texas Permian Basin

Tuition
- In-State: $4,837
- Out-of-State: $9,745
Net Price: $9,769
Total Enrollment: 5,283
Undergrad Students: 4,347
Graduate Students: 936

Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Retention Rate: 63%
Graduation Rate: 40%
Diplomas Awarded: 32:1
Grads Salary: $69,000

42

Clayton State University

Tuition
- In-State: $5,068
- Out-of-State: $15,790
Net Price: $9,792
Total Enrollment: 5,847
Undergrad Students: 5,283
Graduate Students: 564

Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Acceptance Rate: 56%
Retention Rate: 60%
Graduation Rate: 34%
Diplomas Awarded: 21:1
Grads Salary: $65,000

43

Shepherd University

Tuition
- In-State: $8,282
- Out-of-State: $18,722
Net Price: $9,827
Total Enrollment: 3,235
Undergrad Students: 2,718
Graduate Students: 517

Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Retention Rate: 70%
Graduation Rate: 48%
Diplomas Awarded: 10:1
Grads Salary: $71,000

44

Governors State University

Tuition
- In-State: $10,468
- Out-of-State: $17,980
Net Price: $9,833
Total Enrollment: 4,427
Undergrad Students: 2,609
Graduate Students: 1,818

Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Acceptance Rate: 57%
Retention Rate: 56%
Graduation Rate: 21%
Diplomas Awarded: 48:1
Grads Salary: $66,000

45

University of North Alabama

Tuition
- In-State: $11,220
- Out-of-State: $21,420
Net Price: $9,837
Total Enrollment: 9,830
Undergrad Students: 7,214
Graduate Students: 2,616

Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Retention Rate: 76%
Graduation Rate: 62%
Diplomas Awarded: 48:1
Grads Salary: $65,000

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46

Florida International University

Tuition
- In-State: $6,565
- Out-of-State: $18,963
Net Price: $9,881
Total Enrollment: 55,609
Undergrad Students: 45,688
Graduate Students: 9,921

Student-to-faculty: 24:1
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Retention Rate: 91%
Graduation Rate: 69%
Diplomas Awarded: 247:1
Grads Salary: $68,000

47

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Tuition
- In-State: $8,668
- Out-of-State: $15,838
Net Price: $9,959
Total Enrollment: 2,387
Undergrad Students: 2,182
Graduate Students: 205

Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Retention Rate: 59%
Graduation Rate: 41%
Diplomas Awarded: 7:1
Grads Salary: $63,000

48

University of Maine at Augusta

Tuition
- In-State: $8,378
- Out-of-State: $19,778
Net Price: $9,973
Total Enrollment: 4,446
Undergrad Students: 4,384
Graduate Students: 62

Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 66%
Graduation Rate: 23%
Diplomas Awarded: 14:1
Grads Salary: $62,000

49

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Tuition
- In-State: $7,020
- Out-of-State: $15,930
Net Price: $10,004
Total Enrollment: 5,479
Undergrad Students: 3,022
Graduate Students: 2,457

Student-to-faculty: 22:1
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Retention Rate: 59%
Graduation Rate: 34%
Diplomas Awarded: 18:1
Grads Salary: $67,000

50

Missouri Southern State University

Tuition
- In-State: $8,026
- Out-of-State: $16,052
Net Price: $10,061
Total Enrollment: 4,144
Undergrad Students: 4,052
Graduate Students: 92

Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Retention Rate: 62%
Graduation Rate: 36%
Diplomas Awarded: NA
Grads Salary: $62,000

Why a Degree from an Affordable Accounting School?

When most future students think about accounting, they may imagine images of a bespectacled bookkeeper poring over journal entries, but the field is actually much more complex and flexible than that. Accounting, like many other business degrees, encompasses a variety of different types of job applications, ensuring that there are vertical promotion opportunities or even horizontal movement opportunities within one’s career. For instance, accounting students can specialize in fields like auditing, bookkeeping, tax preparation, and payroll services, building careers for themselves in any of these different accounting specialties. Eventually, accountants can be promoted to managerial positions in a firm’s finance department and later even head up a tax practice or found their own accounting firm. Furthermore, since accountants must undertake specialized education and even sit for certifications like the CPA exam, accounting is a very stable career path. Most organizations that keep financial records will, at some point down the line, require the services of an accounting professional, ensuring that there is almost always job demand for this line of work.

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Are Accounting Programs in High Demand?

Given the ubiquity of demand for accounting professionals across all industries and geographies, students who graduate with accounting degrees are in high demand on the job market. In particular, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 1.4 million accounting professionals were employed in the United States in 2019. The overall demand for new accounting and auditing professionals was growing at a rate of 4% between 2019-2029, a rate that is equal to the average job growth rate in the country, indicating good future job prospects. Moreover, the BLS states that the median pay for accountants and auditors in 2019 was $71,550, indicating that accounting degrees can lead to lucrative careers as well.

However, it’s important to note that not all accounting degrees are created equal. When you are considering earning an accounting degree, you need to decide what level of higher education you want to obtain and from what school you want to graduate from. The college program and the level of education play an important role in being hired from a higher quality firm and your overall salary outcome. University HQ has ranked some of the best accounting programs for: associates in accounting, bachelor's in accounting and master's in accounting degrees online. The BLS has also noted that the bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk subsections of the accounting field are actually expected to decline by 6% between 2019-2029. The median pay for this career type was $41,230 in 2019. Overall, this suggests that the accounting professionals with less training and specialization may have a harder time finding jobs in the future, especially with the onset of more advanced accounting software.

What Can You Do With an Accounting Diploma?

When a student completes their online accounting degree, they have several important career choices to make. First, they should decide which industry they wish to join. Then, they should consider whether they wish to pursue a specific accounting specialization. Given the high demand for accounting professionals across multiple business industries, accounting students can decide if they wish to join a specialized accounting firm that serves clients from all walks of life or if they wish to join the accounting department of a company directly after graduation. For instance, accounting students who also enjoy technology goods can choose to join the finance department of a company like Google or Microsoft, allowing them to take advantage of the best of both worlds. Additionally, given that many large organizations have complex financial needs, accountants who do not work for an accounting firm will typically focus on helping firms balance one or two important accounts. Therefore, once accounting students enter the workforce, they will often choose to specialize in positions like accounts payable clerk, accounts receivable clerk, compliance officer, auditor, tax accountant, budget analyst, controller, bookkeeper, or forensic accountant, among many possible career paths.

Related Top College Resources

Top 50 Affordable Accounting Schools