Best Online Bachelor’s in Accounting 2026

Badge for BEST ONLINE BACHELOR'S IN ACCOUNTING

Updated: Feb 18, 2026

In this article, we present to you the top-ranked online bachelor’s degree programs in accounting. These programs prepare students to join high-paying fields as accountants, auditors, financial analysts, insurance underwriters, and more.

Key Takeaways

The best online bachelor’s in accounting programs are accredited by respected organizations (such as AACSB or ACBSP), ensuring a high-quality education that aligns with industry standards and prepares students for the CPA exam and other certifications.
Many of these programs offer asynchronous courses, allowing students to study at their own pace while balancing work or personal commitments, making them accessible to working professionals.
The colleges in this ranking provide robust career services, including job placement assistance, networking opportunities with accounting firms, and access to internships to help students transition into the workforce after graduation.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Online Bachelor's in Accounting Programs in 2026

University of Arizona
University of Alabama
University of South Carolina
University of Louisville
University of Arkansas
University of Memphis
+1
University of Alabama at Birmingham
–1
Florida Atlantic University
Portland State University
Thomas Jefferson University

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or last ground for the 2025 school year.

While the University of Arizona remained in the top position, the University of Alabama, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Louisville all gained one position. The University of Arkansas dropped three positions.

Featured Programs

25 Best Online Bachelor’s in Accounting Degree Programs 2025

Career Outlook for Students with Accounting Degree

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Accounting

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $10,730
Avg. Expenses*: $17,148
Avg. Starting Salary*: $52,238
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $61,465
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 10 years
Job Growth: 5.85%
Number of Jobs: 2,072,200
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Financial Managers	16.51%	$156,100
Financial Risk Specialists	8.35%	$106,090
Financial and Investment Analysts	9.53%	$99,010
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	6.67%	$97,130
Budget Analysts	3.74%	$84,940
Financial Examiners	20.92%	$84,300
Accountants and Auditors	5.85%	$79,880
Credit Analysts	-3.93%	$79,420
Brokerage Clerks	-3.02%	$60,150
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents	1.85%	$58,530

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Financial Managers	$156,100
Financial Risk Specialists	$106,090
Financial and Investment Analysts	$99,010
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$97,130
Budget Analysts	$84,940
Financial Examiners	$84,300
Accountants and Auditors	$79,880
Credit Analysts	$79,420
Brokerage Clerks	$60,150
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents	$58,530

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting: Worth the Investment?

There are excellent reasons to earn an online bachelor’s in accounting degree! So let’s cover some of the most notable reasons:

Diverse Job Opportunities

You have a wide range of accounting career options with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Accounting majors can become staff accountants, managerial accounting experts, tax accounting specialists, budget analysts, and financial analysts after graduation.

Great Salary

You’ll also have high earning potential, even with entry-level positions. And compensation packages only increase with further professional training, certification and work experience. Accountants and auditors earned a national average salary of $77,250 (May 2021).

Opportunities in Thriving Industries

You will find job opportunities in nearly all industries with an accounting degree online. Due to accounting being the language of business, virtually every industry will need bookkeepers, accountants and auditors.

Opportunities in both Private and Public Cectors

Both the public (i.e., government and its instrumentalities) and private (i.e., for-profit and nonprofit organizations) sectors need accounting professionals.

Robust Job Growth

You can look forward to a discipline that guarantees robust job growth over the next decade. A Bureau of Labor Statistics report points to a job growth for accountants and auditors by 7% (2020-2030).

Job Security

Your job as accountant or auditor is among the most recession-proof occupations! During a tough economy, these professionals are vital in taking business finance into a better direction.

Translatable Skills and Specializations

You can combine an accounting career as a specialization within another field, such as law (e.g., legal accountant), taxation (e.g., tax accountant) or management (e.g., Certified Management Accountant). With courses that are similar to or applicable in undergraduate business programs, the opportunity to switch careers is also excellent.

Fulfills Prerequisites for a Master’s of Accounting Program

A Bachelor’s of Accounting sets you up to pursue a master’s degree in Accounting. A Master’s will open doors to opportunities such as the following high level jobs: lead accountants, auditing managers, and financial managers.

Accounting is a challenging discipline that involves employing many different skills. Your soft skills, particularly critical and analytical thinking and critical thinking skills, will be put to good use, both during the accounting cycle and the management phase.

You will also develop skills in leadership, communication, and organization, aside from the technical skills. These skills will be valuable assets throughout your career.

Most Common Online Accounting Degree Undergrad Concentrations

Bachelor’s in Accounting degrees often offer concentration options are available to students, each of which provide specialized accounting courses. These enable future professionals to focus on specific areas of practice in accounting for nonprofit or for-profit business operations:

Bachelor of Arts in Accounting Program: A BA in Accounting has a more liberal art-centric curriculum that allow students to pursue a minor in subject of interest.
Bachelor of Science in Accounting Degree: The more common choice, an online BS in Accounting prepares students for work in entry-level positions at the public and private sectors, and prepares students for enrollment in a master’s degree.
Bachelor of Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration: A Bachelor’s in BA program with emphasis on Accounting is suitable for online students who want to pursue management careers with a strong accounting foundation.

The job market for Accounting degree graduates is a tough one. But accounting degree programs prepare you to compete at the highest level with knowledge of financial reporting, business strategy, business law, financial planning, and accounting information systems.

This is what makes an online accounting degree worth your time and investment!

Bachelor of Accounting Online Admission Requirements and Process

Prospective students of online bachelor’s degree in accounting programs must be prepared for a selective admissions process.

The common admissions requirements include:

A high school diploma or GED equivalent with minimum cumulative GPA -OR- an associate degree in accounting or related discipline,
Standardized test scores, such as SAT and ACT, with minimum scores and within a specific time limit taken,
Letters of recommendation, usually from former teachers or professors,
Personal statement or essay according to the standards (format and content) required by the school or program,
Current resume

Additional Requirements:

Online students must be well-versed in the fundamentals of the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

Note that GAAP itself is an ever-changing framework of principles and practices, thus, accounting students must make efforts to stay on top of them.

Accounting students also will be required to learn about financial accounting, management accounting and forensic accounting fundamentals.

How to Speed Up Your Accounting Degree

Transfer of credits from an associate degree can reduce the time-to-completion by up to two years. Look for an accelerated bachelor’s degree program, too, if you want to earn an accounting bachelor’s degree faster.

Earning an online bachelor’s degree in accounting can be more affordable than an on-campus degree, too. Financial aid options including federal financial aid are also available for online students.

Bachelor’s in Accounting Degree Frequently Asked Questions

When earning your bachelor’s degree in accounting, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. You may have the option to take classes in person or online. And if you’ve already eared your associate degree in accounting, you may be able to take an accelerated degree completion program.

How long does it take to get a bachelor’s in accounting?

Typically, at full-time status this four-year degree typically requires the completion of 120 credits.

What courses will I take?

You will likely take introductory courses on topics like tax law, payroll accounting, and personal finance as well as concentration courses that discuss topics like auditing and forensic accounting.

What can I do with a bachelor’s in accounting?

With a bachelor’s in accounting, students will be ready to enter this high-paying field as accountants, auditors, financial analysts, insurance underwriters, and more. This degree also fulfills 120 credits of the 150 credits needed to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam, a four-part test that leads to CPA licensure. With a bachelor’s degree, you would qualify to sit for the licensure exam in some states. However, in most states, in order to become a licensed CPA, you must go on to earn your master’s degree in accounting.

Learn more about how to major in accounting.

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Best Online Bachelor’s in Accounting 2026

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Bachelor's in Accounting Programs in 2026

2025 Ranking Update

Featured Programs

25 Best Online Bachelor’s in Accounting Degree Programs 2025

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for Accounting degree at University of Arizona

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Accounting degree at University of Alabama

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Concentrations

Career Outlook for Accounting degree at University of South Carolina

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at University of Louisville

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at University of Arkansas

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at University of Memphis

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at University of Alabama at Birmingham

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at Florida Atlantic University

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at Portland State University

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at Thomas Jefferson University

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at University of Alaska Fairbanks

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at Mercer University

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at Old Dominion University

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at Golden Gate University

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at California State University, East Bay

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at Southern New Hampshire University

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at University of Baltimore

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at Western Illinois University

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at New England College

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at Catawba College

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at Northwood University

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at Upper Iowa University

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Career Outlook for Accounting degree at National University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with Accounting Degree

Accounting

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Career Salaries

Top Industries

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting: Worth the Investment?

Diverse Job Opportunities

Great Salary

Opportunities in Thriving Industries

Opportunities in both Private and Public Cectors

Robust Job Growth