The Best Associate's in Accounting Programs in Florida for 2027
Key Points: Best Accounting Associate's Programs in Florida
- Ultimate Medical Academy ranks #1 in Florida on a 94.4 Program Score, with a 55% graduation rate.
- Strayer University-Florida graduates the most students on this list (100%), from #10.
- 10 of the 12 schools here are public and 2 private.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Santa Fe College, ranks #3.
- Programs analyzed
- 15
- In-state tuition range
- $1,872-$13,725
- Average graduation rate
- 50%
- Median salary (BLS)
- $54,920
The best associate's in accounting in Florida separate on one number more than any other: cost. Across the 15 accounting programs analyzed in Florida, in-state tuition among ranked programs runs from $1,872 to $13,725 a year, and the average graduation rate lands at 50 percent. Santa Fe College is the cheapest strong-value option at $1,872 in-state, paired with a 53 percent graduation rate and a Program Score of 92.3, proof that low cost and real completion odds are not mutually exclusive in Florida.
Public colleges dominate this list, but the tuition spread shows why sticker price alone should not decide where you enroll. Strayer University-Florida, a private for-profit school, reports a 100 percent graduation rate and charges $13,725 in-state, more than seven times what Santa Fe College charges for the same associate degree in accounting. Eastern Florida State College ($2,048 tuition, 52 percent graduation, 92.4 Program Score) and Saint Johns River State College ($1,892 tuition, 49 percent graduation) round out the cheapest, highest-scoring accounting programs in the state. The math is simple: a $13,725 private program has to justify an extra $11,853 a year against public alternatives that post comparable or better completion rates.
This guide breaks down what an accounting degree costs in Florida, how an associate degree in accounting connects to the CPA license and the state's 150 credit-hour rule, why accreditation matters when you compare Florida's public colleges, and what graduates can expect to earn nationally once they finish. Every figure below comes from IPEDS institutional data and BLS wage and outlook data, never a marketing claim.
Accounting Associate's Programs in Florida, Compared by Score
Ultimate Medical Academy leads at 94.4, and Strayer-Florida closes the chart at 85.2. Longer bars rank higher.
Our Methodology for Ranking Accounting Associate's Programs in Florida
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 12 Best Accounting Associate's Programs in Florida, Ranked for 2027
The 12 best Accounting Associate's Programs in Florida, ranked by outcomes.
Ultimate Medical Academy
Clearwater, FL · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 55%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Priced per program
Ultimate Medical Academy posts the highest Program Score in Florida's 2027 associate accounting field, 94.4, built on a 65-credit Healthcare Accounting track finishable in 18 months, entirely online.
- 94.4 Program Score, #1 in this group
- 55% graduation rate
- 65 credits completed in 18 months
- 8,932 enrolled, 100% online, rolling admissions
Ultimate Medical Academy's Healthcare Accounting program is an Associate of Science / Associate of Applied Science degree built around 65 credits over 18 months, delivered 100% online with rolling admissions and new classes starting every 2 to 3 weeks. Coursework pairs standard accounting fundamentals, Principles of Accounting I and II, Cost Accounting, Payroll Accounting, Accounting Software Applications, with healthcare-specific training in medical terminology, diagnostic and procedural coding, healthcare business operations, and claims processing. The target outcomes are entry-level roles inside healthcare organizations: patient services representative, revenue billing specialist/claims analyst, and insurance benefits specialist, not a CPA track. UMA's own FAQ is explicit that the program does not prepare students for the Certified Public Accountant exam.
UMA earns the top Program Score in this Florida group, 94.4, on a 55% graduation rate across 8,932 enrolled students, an unusually large base for a specialized healthcare-accounting credential. As a private nonprofit school accredited by ABHES rather than a traditional college accreditor, it fits a narrower reader than the three public A.S. programs here: someone set on healthcare-sector bookkeeping and billing work who wants a rolling, self-paced schedule rather than a fixed semester calendar. For broader field context, the national median pay across accounting and auditing occupations is $54,920 a year per the BLS Occupational Outlook, a benchmark for the field this credential feeds into, not a promised outcome of this specific entry-level track.
Eastern Florida State College
Melbourne, FL · Public
- Grad rate
- 52%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $2,048
- Out-of-state
- $8,399
Eastern Florida's Accounting Technology A.S. runs $2,048 a year in-state against $8,399 out-of-state, more than a 4x gap, while its 92.4 Program Score ranks second in this Florida group.
- 92.4 Program Score, #2 in this group
- $2,048/yr in-state vs $8,399 out-of-state
- 52% graduation rate
- 60 credits across 4 campuses plus online
Eastern Florida State College's Accounting Technology A.S. is a 60-credit-hour degree offered on campus at Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville, plus hybrid and 100% online delivery, with open enrollment and rolling admissions so students can start any term. The curriculum runs Financial Accounting through Managerial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, and Federal Tax Accounting, and graduates can construct a Form 1040 and analyze financial statements for profitability, liquidity, and solvency. The degree stacks toward EFSC's Organizational Management B.A.S. with an accounting specialization track, and three related certificates, Accounting Technology Management, Operations, and Specialist, can be earned along the way.
EFSC carries a 92.4 Program Score, second in this Florida group, with a 52% graduation rate across 14,053 students enrolled college-wide. In-state tuition runs $2,048 a year against $8,399 out-of-state, and the program page pegs total in-state tuition and fees for the full 60-credit credential at about $6,240. That math favors Florida residents heavily: an out-of-state student pays more than four times the annual rate for the identical curriculum. For context, the national median pay across accounting and auditing occupations is $54,920 a year per the BLS Occupational Outlook, a field benchmark, not a claim about this program's graduates specifically.
Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL · Public
- Grad rate
- 53%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $1,872
- Out-of-state
- $7,418
Santa Fe College's A.S. in Accounting costs $1,872 a year in-state, the lowest sticker price in this Florida group, against $7,418 out-of-state, with a 92.3 Program Score.
- 92.3 Program Score, #3 in this group
- $1,872/yr in-state, the lowest of the four
- 53% graduation rate
- 60 credits plus a required business internship
Santa Fe College's A.S. in Accounting is a 60-credit-hour program with no admission requirements, open to full-time and part-time students in online, hybrid, or face-to-face formats. Full-time students finish in 2 years, part-time in 3 to 4 years, and every course, including a required IDS2941 Business Internship, requires a C or higher to count toward graduation. The curriculum spans Principles of Accounting I and II, Individual Income Tax, Managerial Accounting, Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting, and Accounting Software Applications, aiming graduates at accounts payable/receivable coordinator, bookkeeper, payroll coordinator, and tax preparer roles, or transfer into a bachelor's program.
Santa Fe holds a 92.3 Program Score, third in this Florida group, with a 53% graduation rate across 12,758 students enrolled. In-state tuition is $1,872 a year, the lowest of the four programs here, against $7,418 out-of-state, nearly a 4x spread. The school's own cost breakdown confirms the math: $106.77 per credit x 60 credits comes to $6,406.20 in-state for the full degree, versus $382.90 per credit x 60 credits, $22,974.00, out-of-state. That combination, the lowest in-state rate in this set plus a built-in internship, fits a Florida-resident reader who wants work experience baked into the credential rather than added after graduation.
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL · Public
- Grad rate
- 37%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $2,095
- Out-of-state
- $7,947
Florida State College at Jacksonville's Accounting Technology A.S. posts a 37% graduation rate, the lowest of Florida's top four associate accounting programs, despite serving the group's largest enrollment at 23,556 students.
- 88.4 Program Score
- 37% graduation rate, lowest of the four
- $2,095/yr in-state tuition
- FPC exam prep built into the payroll course
Florida State College at Jacksonville's Associate in Science in Accounting Technology is a Limited Access, 60-credit program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). It bundles four stackable technical certificates, Accounting Technology Management, Accounting Technology Operations, Accounting Technology Specialist, and Banking Specialist in Financial Services (FinTech), that students can earn individually while completing the degree. The payroll accounting course, APA 2501, preps students to sit for the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) exam through PayrollOrg, a concrete third-party credential this set's other three pages do not mention. Graduates can transfer into FSCJ bachelor's programs in Business Administration, Financial Services, or Supervision and Management.
FSCJ's 88.4 Program Score is the lowest of this Florida group, and its 37% graduation rate trails Eastern Florida's 52% and Santa Fe's 53% by a wide margin. In-state tuition runs $2,095 a year against $7,947 out-of-state, in line with the other public schools here, and the college enrolls 23,556 students, the largest campus in this set by a wide margin. The stackable certificates and the FPC exam credential are real, concrete additions to the transcript, but a reader weighing completion odds should read the 37% graduation rate against the 52 to 53% rates at Eastern Florida and Santa Fe before choosing this path.
Valencia College
Orlando, FL · Public
- Grad rate
- 48%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $2,467
- Out-of-state
- $9,379
Valencia College's Accounting Technology A.S. costs $2,467 a year in-state, a $6,912 gap versus its $9,379 out-of-state rate, on a 48% graduation rate that ranks #5 in Florida for 2027.
- 48% graduation rate
- $2,467/yr in-state tuition vs $9,379 out-of-state
- 60-credit A.S. with 3 stackable certificates
- Program Score 87.1, #5 in FL for 2027
Valencia College's Accounting Technology program awards an Associate in Science degree in 60 credits, covering the principles, procedures and theories of organizing and maintaining financial records and preparing financial reports. The A.S. stacks three embedded technical certificates along the way: Accounting Applications (27 credits), Accounting Operations (18 credits) and Accounting Specialist (12 credits), so students can exit with a credential before finishing the full degree. Graduates who want to keep going can roll credits into Valencia's own Bachelor of Applied Science in Business and Organizational Leadership, which the college markets at just over half the cost of a Florida public university bachelor's.
Valencia posts a Program Score of 87.1, good for #5 among Florida's best associate's-in-accounting programs for 2027, built on a 48% graduation rate inside a 47,425-student college, the largest of the four schools here. In-state tuition runs $2,467 a year against $9,379 out-of-state, a $6,912 gap that makes residency the single biggest cost lever for prospective students. The college's own FETPIP-sourced data puts 2022-23 earnings for this credential at $52,450, with a 90 to 95% average placement rate across Valencia's A.S. and certificate programs. It fits students who want a low-cost, stackable path to an entry-level accounting job in Central Florida with a clear bridge to a bachelor's.
Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, FL · Public
- Grad rate
- 45%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $2,496
- Out-of-state
- $9,360
Indian River State College's A.S. in Accounting Technology feeds into a Bachelor of Science in Accounting that the college says places 97% of its graduates, all for $2,496 a year in-state.
- 45% graduation rate
- $2,496/yr in-state tuition vs $9,360 out-of-state
- Transfers into IRSC's CPA-track Bachelor of Science in Accounting
- Program Score 86.7, #6 in FL for 2027
Indian River State College, branded as "The River," offers an Associate in Science in Accounting Technology built for hands-on work with accounting tools and software, aimed at graduates ready for an intermediate-level accounting position in any industry. Students can instead take the Associate in Arts accounting track, designed to transfer directly into IRSC's own Bachelor of Science in Accounting, a program the college says prepares graduates to sit for the Florida CPA exam. Three technical certificates, Accounting Technology Specialist, Accounting Technology Operations and Accounting Technology Management, layer in bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and tax preparation skills along the way.
IRSC carries a Program Score of 86.7, ranking #6 among Florida's best associate's-in-accounting programs for 2027, with a 45% graduation rate across a 15,429-student college. In-state tuition is $2,496 a year versus $9,360 out-of-state, a $6,864 gap. The college reports a 97% job placement rate for graduates of its Bachelor of Science in Accounting, not the associate's itself, but it shows the payoff for A.S. students who continue on the CPA-track pathway at the same institution. This program fits students in the Treasure Coast region who want an affordable associate's with a built-in, on-campus bridge to a CPA-eligible bachelor's.
Daytona State College
Daytona Beach, FL · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 43%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $3,072
- Out-of-state
- $11,960
Daytona State College's A.S. in Accounting Technology is available online, but at $3,072 a year in-state it is the priciest in-state option among these four Florida programs, and out-of-state tuition reaches $11,960.
- 43% graduation rate
- $3,072/yr in-state tuition, the highest of these four programs
- Online and on-campus A.S. with GAAP-based curriculum
- Direct transfer into Daytona State's Accounting Technology B.S.
Daytona State College's Associate of Science in Accounting Technology covers accounting theory and practice across financial planning and taxation, taught partly through hands-on computer simulations. Students earn two embedded certificates on the way to the degree, Accounting Technology Operations and Accounting Technology Management, and the program is built around applying Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, corporate finance basics and internal controls. Graduates can transfer directly into Daytona State's own Accounting Technology, B.S. to continue their education at the same college.
Daytona State holds a Program Score of 86.3, ranking #7 among Florida's best associate's-in-accounting programs for 2027, with a 43% graduation rate, the lowest of these four schools, across a 12,820-student enrollment. In-state tuition is $3,072 a year, the highest in-state rate of the four, and out-of-state tuition jumps to $11,960, an $8,888 gap, the widest here. The program is offered online as well as on campus, which fits working students in the Daytona Beach area who need schedule flexibility and are willing to pay a higher sticker price for it.
Saint Johns River State College
Palatka, FL · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 49%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $1,892
- Out-of-state
- $7,572
Saint Johns River State College's A.S. in Accounting Technology posts a 49% graduation rate, the best of these four Florida programs, on just $1,892 a year in-state tuition, the lowest sticker price here.
- 49% graduation rate, highest of these four FL programs
- $1,892/yr in-state tuition, lowest of the four
- QuickBooks-certifying embedded certificates
- On-campus or fully online delivery
Saint Johns River State College's Accounting Technology Associate in Science is a 60-credit-hour degree combining business and general education coursework, completable in about two years full-time and offered on campus or fully online. Students can stop first at one of three College Credit Certificates: Accounting Technology Management and Accounting Technology Operations, each of which leads to a QuickBooks industry certification, or Accounting Technology Specialist, before finishing the full A.S.
SJR State earns a Program Score of 86.3, ranking #8 among Florida's best associate's-in-accounting programs for 2027, on a 49% graduation rate, the highest of these four schools, across a 7,927-student enrollment, the smallest here. In-state tuition is just $1,892 a year against $7,572 out-of-state, a $5,680 gap, the lowest sticker price and the narrowest in-state to out-of-state spread of the four. It fits budget-focused students in the Palatka area who want the flexibility to study online or on campus and want a QuickBooks-certified credential before completing the full degree.
Palm Beach State College
Lake Worth, FL · Public
- Grad rate
- 41%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $3,030
- Out-of-state
- $10,890
Palm Beach State College's A.S. in Accounting Technology is a 60-credit program offered online and on every campus, with stackable certificates and a bachelor's transfer path.
- Program Score 86.2
- Open admission
- $3,030 in-state tuition
- Online, hybrid or on campus
Palm Beach State College's Associate in Science in Accounting Technology is a 60-credit program that takes two years full time. It covers accounting fundamentals, taxation, financial analysis and bookkeeping, with hands-on work in accounting software. Courses are offered online and on site at all campuses, with live online, hybrid and fully online options, and students can start in fall, spring or summer. Graduates can earn stackable college credit certificates, including an Accounting Technology certificate, and transfer credits toward the college's Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management. The school lists entry roles such as tax preparer, full-charge bookkeeper and assistant to a certified public accountant, and it runs an Accounting and Finance Investing Club.
Palm Beach State is open admission, and entry to the program requires a high school diploma or GED. The college graduates 41% of its students. In-state tuition is $3,030, compared with $10,890 for out-of-state students. The Program Score of 86.2 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The program fits students who want a fast, affordable route into bookkeeping or tax preparation, or who plan to stack credits toward a bachelor's degree. The flexible delivery modes suit those balancing work and class time.
Strayer University-Florida
Tampa, FL · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 100%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $13,725
- Out-of-state
- $13,725
A 20-course online Associate in Arts in Accounting whose credits apply toward Strayer's Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
- Program Score 85.2
- 100% graduation rate
- Open admission
- Credits apply to B.S. in Accounting
Strayer University offers an online Associate in Arts in Accounting made up of 20 associate courses that run 11 weeks each. The program covers analyzing and recording business transactions, preparing financial statements and employee payroll, and managing cash flow. Students learn to generate financial reports based on accounting principles, analyze accounting information to judge its value and limits, understand the role of accounting in communication and information systems, and make ethical decisions. When students are ready to continue, all earned credits can be applied toward Strayer's Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Strayer states that it is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Federal data shows a 100% graduation rate at Strayer University-Florida, and the university is open admission. Tuition is $13,725 for both in-state and out-of-state students, so residency does not change the price. The program has a Program Score of 85.2 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want to start in accounting with no admissions hurdle, study online, and keep the option of moving on to a bachelor's degree with their credits intact.
Seminole State College of Florida
Sanford, FL · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 41%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $2,393
- Out-of-state
- $2,393
Seminole State's accounting technology A.S. offers an online degree option and transfers toward a UCF bachelor's through DirectConnect.
- Program Score 84.8
- Open admission
- $2,393 tuition
- Online option and UCF transfer path
Seminole State College of Florida offers an Associate in Science in Accounting Technology. The program page says most courses for its A.S. degrees are offered in person and online, so students can study when and where they want, and that classes have 30 students or fewer. Most A.S. graduates earn credits that can be applied to a bachelor's degree at Seminole State or at the University of Central Florida through DirectConnect to UCF, and students planning to transfer are advised to meet with a counselor to confirm entry requirements. The page includes a graduate testimonial about saving money while studying, and it reports that most Seminole State A.S. programs have state-reported job placement rates above 90 percent.
Seminole State is open admission and graduates 41% of its students. Tuition is $2,393 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The Program Score of 84.8 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The program fits students who want an affordable route into accounting support work, who need to study online, or who plan to continue toward a bachelor's degree. The page lists no course sequence, so students should check the catalog for the exact requirements before enrolling.
Florida SouthWestern State College
Fort Myers, FL · Public
- Grad rate
- 39%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $2,436
- Out-of-state
- $9,750
Florida SouthWestern's 60-credit Accounting Technology A.S. can be finished in two years and includes a chance to work in the VITA free tax-preparation program.
- Program Score 83.7
- $2,436 in-state tuition
- 60 credits in 2 years
- VITA tax-prep opportunity
Florida SouthWestern State College offers an Associate in Science in Accounting Technology that prepares students for entry-level accounting work. Coursework covers financial and managerial accounting, taxation and payroll systems, business and finance law, office accounting procedures, information systems for business, and communication in the business environment. Students are also introduced to ethics and analytical problem solving. The degree is 60 credit hours and takes two years of full-time study, and courses are offered online and in traditional formats for full-time and part-time students.
Students have the opportunity to take part in the VITA program, which provides free tax preparation for low-income, disabled or limited English-speaking clients. Graduates can continue into the college's Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management. The page lists roles such as bookkeeper, payroll specialist, tax preparation clerk and accounts payable or receivable clerk. FSW is an open admission college, and 39% of students complete a program. In-state tuition is $2,436 and out-of-state tuition is $9,750. The Program Score of 83.7 out of 100 is the basis of this ranking. It suits Fort Myers area students who want a short, low-cost route into bookkeeping and payroll work, or a first two years they can carry into a bachelor's.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Accounting Associate's Programs in Florida
The median school on this list graduates 47% of its students. The highest rates belong to Strayer University-Florida (100%) and Ultimate Medical Academy (55%). The top graduation rate is not at the #1 school, because the score also weighs selectivity, cost, and earnings.
- #10 Strayer University-Florida100% graduation rate
- #1 Ultimate Medical Academy55% graduation rate
- #3 Santa Fe College53% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
Public and Private Accounting Associate's Programs in Florida
This list holds 10 public, 1 private nonprofit, and 1 for-profit schools.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Campus Size Across the Accounting Associate's Programs in Florida
Enrollment on this list runs from 1,303 at Strayer University-Florida to 47,425 at Valencia College. Of the 12, 3 enroll 20,000 students or more and 1 enrolls fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Accounting Associate's Programs in Florida Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #4 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleFlorida State College at Jacksonville | $62,081 | $8,717 |
| #5 | Valencia CollegeValencia College | $48,119 | $9,264 |
| #10 | Strayer University-FloridaStrayer-Florida | $55,081 |
Graduates of Florida State College at Jacksonville earn the most four years after finishing, a median of $62,081; the lowest figure here is $48,119 at Valencia College.
Florida State College at Jacksonville leads on both counts: the top rank among these schools and the highest graduate pay.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What an Associate Degree in Accounting Costs in Florida
An associate degree in accounting in Florida is a 60-credit-hour program, and the sticker price varies more than most applicants expect. Among the accounting programs analyzed here, in-state tuition starts at $1,872 a year at Santa Fe College and tops out at $13,725 a year at Strayer University-Florida, a private for-profit school. The priciest of these programs cost more than seven times what the cheapest public option charges for the same credential.
Most of Florida's public colleges cluster tightly between $1,872 and $3,072 a year: Saint Johns River State College at $1,892, Eastern Florida State College at $2,048, Florida State College at Jacksonville at $2,095, Seminole State College of Florida at $2,393, Valencia College at $2,467, Florida SouthWestern State College at $2,436, Indian River State College at $2,496, Palm Beach State College at $3,030, and Daytona State College at $3,072. Two years at the cheapest of these, Santa Fe College, runs about $3,744 in tuition; two years at Strayer University-Florida runs about $27,450, a gap of roughly $23,706.
Run the payback math against the national wage benchmark. BLS puts median pay for accountants and auditors at $54,920 a year nationally. A graduate who chooses the $1,872-a-year public option instead of the $13,725 private option keeps an extra $11,853 a year in tuition costs alone, more than 21 percent of that national median salary. That math holds for any accounting degree in Florida, not just the priciest one on this list: where the credential mainly functions as a stepping stone toward a bachelor's and CPA eligibility, minimizing debt before transferring is usually the higher-value move.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
How to Become a CPA in Florida
Florida still holds to 150 hours for a license. Bills to add a bachelor's-plus-two-years route (SB 364 and HB 333) died in the 2026 session, so section 473.308 still asks for 150 semester hours and one year of experience verified by a licensed CPA.
| Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's with an accounting concentration | 2 years | Not in state law |
| 150 semester hours including a bachelor's | 1 year | Available |
To sit for the exam: 120 semester hours with the accounting and business concentration set by board rule. Every route also requires passing all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination.
None of these routes begins at an associate degree. Every license in Florida runs through a bachelor's, so an associate program on this list is a first step, and its worth to a future CPA depends on how many of its credits a four-year accounting program will accept.
Checked against the Florida Board of Accountancy and the law behind it in October 2026. These rules are changing state by state, so confirm them with the board before you plan a course schedule around them.
Why Accreditation Matters for Associate's in Accounting Programs
Accreditation is the first filter for accounting programs in Florida, and it works on two levels. Regional accreditation, through SACSCOC for Florida institutions, is what makes credits transferable into a bachelor's program and is a baseline every public college on this list holds. Program-level business accreditation is separate and optional.
AACSB accreditation is the standard most often cited for four-year and graduate business schools; it signals faculty research output, curriculum rigor, and outcomes tracking that go beyond regional accreditation. ACBSP accreditation is the more common program-level standard among two-year, open-access accounting programs, verifying that a curriculum meets defined teaching and assessment benchmarks. Neither designation is factored into this ranking's Program Score, which is built strictly from IPEDS and BLS data, so confirm current accreditation status directly with AACSB or the program's own page before enrolling.
Accreditation does not show up as a line item in tuition or graduation-rate data, but it determines whether credits earned in an associate degree in accounting will count toward the 150-hour CPA requirement at a four-year school. Choosing among unaccredited or narrowly accredited accounting programs risks credits that don't transfer, which defeats the purpose of starting at a lower-cost two-year school in the first place.
What Sets Florida's Top Accounting Programs Apart
Fifteen accounting programs in Florida were scored for this ranking, and the schools that lead the list combine low cost with real completion. Eastern Florida State College tops the public colleges with a 92.4 Program Score, built on a 52 percent graduation rate and $2,048 in-state tuition. Santa Fe College is close behind at 92.3, with the lowest in-state tuition on the list, $1,872, and a 53 percent graduation rate, the second-highest completion rate among Florida's public two-year schools.
Ultimate Medical Academy, a private nonprofit, posts the highest Program Score in the state at 94.4 on a 55 percent graduation rate, the best completion number among all ranked accounting programs in Florida. Further down the list, Florida State College at Jacksonville scores 88.4 despite a 37 percent graduation rate, the weakest completion mark among the top 12 schools, a reminder that a strong overall score can still mask a completion gap worth asking about directly.
Strayer University-Florida stands apart structurally: it is the only private for-profit school in the top 12, it reports a 100 percent graduation rate, and it charges $13,725 in-state, by far the highest tuition on the list. That combination, perfect completion at a premium price, is unusual enough that prospective students should read it alongside the public options rather than instead of them. Palm Beach State College, Daytona State College, Indian River State College, Seminole State College of Florida, and Florida SouthWestern State College fill out the rest of the top 12, all public, all under $3,100 a year in-state, with graduation rates between 39 and 45 percent.
Online and Accelerated Associate's in Accounting Programs in Florida
Format matters as much as cost for many students choosing among accounting programs in Florida. Florida's public college system, built around open-access enrollment and the statewide 2+2 articulation framework, is structured to support part-time, evening, and online coursework so an associate degree in accounting can be completed alongside a job. That structural flexibility is a big part of why public two-year schools in Florida serve so many working adults and returning students.
Strayer University-Florida represents the accelerated private alternative: its 100 percent graduation rate suggests a highly structured, cohort-based model built for completion, but it comes at $13,725 a year in-state, versus $1,872 to $3,072 for the state college options on this list. An accelerated format can shorten time to a bachelor's and, eventually, the 150 hours the CPA license requires, but that speed has to be weighed against the roughly $11,853-a-year premium over the cheapest public options in Florida.
Whichever format you choose, verify delivery mode, credit transferability, and current accreditation directly with the school. Neither online availability nor accelerated pacing is captured in IPEDS graduation-rate or tuition data, so treat the numbers in this guide as the cost and completion baseline, not the full picture of how a given program is delivered.
- #1 Ultimate Medical AcademyClearwater, FL
- #7 Daytona State CollegeDaytona Beach, FL
- #8 Saint Johns River State CollegePalatka, FL
- #10 Strayer University-FloridaTampa, FL
- #11 Seminole State College of FloridaSanford, FL
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Salary and Job Outlook for Accounting Graduates
Nationally, accountants and auditors earn a median $54,920 a year, according to BLS Occupational Outlook data. That figure is a national field median, not tied to any single Florida school or graduate, and it typically describes bachelor's-level, often CPA-track, roles rather than entry points available straight out of an associate degree in accounting.
An associate degree in accounting alone more commonly leads to bookkeeping, accounting-clerk, or accounts-payable and receivable roles while a graduate finishes the bachelor's and 150 hours needed for full CPA licensure and the roles that national number describes. Check BLS OEWS wage data for current, detailed wage percentiles and projected openings before committing to a four-year plan built on top of any of the accounting programs on this list.
The financial logic connects back to cost. A graduate who starts at Santa Fe College for $1,872 a year instead of Strayer University-Florida's $13,725 preserves $11,853 a year that would otherwise go to tuition, capital that can instead fund the bachelor's years still standing between an associate degree in accounting and CPA-eligible, median-wage work in Florida.