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.
Compare Popular Online Accounting Programs
Top 50 Most Affordable Accounting College Rankings
CUNY Hunter College
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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
CUNY York College
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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
Elizabeth City State University
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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
CUNY Queens College
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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
Texas A&M International University
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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
Texas A&M University-Central Texas
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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
Dalton State College
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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
Fayetteville State University
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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
Indiana University-Northwest
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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
Northern Kentucky University
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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
Louisiana State University-Alexandria
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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
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
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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
Heritage University
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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
Brigham Young University-Idaho
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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
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
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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
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
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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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Oklahoma Panhandle State University
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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
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
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
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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
Coppin State University
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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
The University of West Florida
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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
Eastern New Mexico University
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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
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
California State University-Northridge
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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Savannah State University
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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.
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