The Best Associate's in Accounting Programs in Minnesota for 2027

Northland's accounting credential, listed on the college's own page as a 39-credit Accounting Technician diploma, trains students for accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, and general ledger work using computerized accounting software and spreadsheets. It runs at three locations, East Grand Forks, Thief River Falls, and fully online, and requires a laptop. The college's career outlook data counts roughly 21,000 people working in the field across Minnesota, employed by public accounting firms, banks, hospitals, school districts, and government agencies, with a typical path from junior accountant or trainee up to section supervisor, office manager, or controller.

Northland's graduation rate is 56% per IPEDS, the highest of the four Minnesota programs on this list, and tuition is a flat $5,626 for residents and non-residents alike, on an enrollment base of 2,631 students. That completion rate helps anchor an 85.7 Program Score, fourth among Minnesota's 2027 two-year accounting programs, even though tuition sits within $234 of SCTCC's $5,392 and $41 of Riverland's $5,585. Against the $54,920 national BLS median for the accounting field (BLS wage data), the $5,626 tuition pays back in about 1.2 months of gross pay. It fits a student in northwestern Minnesota who wants a short, job-focused credential with a campus option in two towns rather than a fully remote-only or four-semester track.

Central Lakes College builds a stackable accounting ladder from its Brainerd campus: a two-semester Accountant Diploma, a four-semester Accountant A.A.S., a Bookkeeping Certificate, and a newly added Healthcare Accounting A.A.S. shaped by industry input. Courses run both online and in-person, and students graduate with QuickBooks certification plus specialized training in payroll, tax prep, and nonprofit accounting, backed by internships that put the coursework to work before graduation.

CLC's 85.4 Program Score puts it at No. 5 among Minnesota's top two-year accounting programs for 2027, built on a 53% graduation rate across an enrollment base of 4,981 students. Tuition is a flat $5,424, identical whether a student lives in Minnesota or out of state, equal to about five weeks of the $54,920 national median accountant salary the BLS Occupational Outlook tracks. That math favors students who want the fastest on-ramp to a paycheck through the two-semester diploma, with credit already positioned to transfer if they later finish a four-year degree.

Northwest Technical College's 60-credit Accounting A.A.S. runs students through Intermediate Accounting I and II, Fund/Nonprofit Accounting, Payroll, Income Tax, Legal Environment, and Ethics, training graduates for staff accountant or staff auditor roles with a track toward section supervisor or assistant controller. The program's own graduate, Theresa Thiemecke, credits its online flexibility for letting her work full time while finishing coursework. Credits transfer in full to the University of Minnesota, Crookston's BS in Business Administration, up to 60 credits toward UMC's online BS in Accounting, and in part to Bemidji State University's BS in Business Administration.

NTC's 83.1 Program Score places it No. 7 among Minnesota's best two-year accounting programs for 2027, with a 50% graduation rate, the lowest of this group of four, and the smallest enrollment at 978 students. Tuition sits at a flat $5,896, the highest of this group, equal to about five and a half weeks of the $54,920 national median accountant salary tracked by the BLS Occupational Outlook. It fits students set on transferring into UMC's business or accounting bachelor's programs, where the credit match is closest to full, or anyone needing an online schedule flexible enough to work full time while enrolled.

Alexandria's Accounting program offers two credentials, an Accounting A.A.S. Degree and an Accounting Transfer Pathway A.S. Degree, built around financial accounting, managerial accounting, income taxation, auditing, and fund accounting. Students train hands-on with five software platforms named directly on the program page: Excel, QuickBooks, Peachtree, Access, and TaxWise. The program runs on campus in Alexandria with no online track listed.

Alexandria Technical & Community College's 82.9 Program Score ranks it No. 8 among Minnesota's best two-year accounting programs for 2027, but its 60% graduation rate is the highest of this group of four, across an enrollment of 3,281 students. Tuition runs a flat $5,478, the same in state or out, equal to about five weeks of the $54,920 national median accountant salary the BLS Occupational Outlook reports. It fits students who want the best completion odds in this group and prefer in-person, software-heavy training over an online format, plus a built-in A.S. transfer pathway if they later choose a four-year school.

Ridgewater College offers accounting as an area of study in business and marketing. The page describes accounting as recording, summarizing, analyzing and reporting financial transactions for individuals, businesses, organizations and government entities. Coursework touches financial accounting cycles, payroll reports and spreadsheets, and the preparation of financial and cost-variance reports. The online format has no set meeting time, so students attend lectures and reach class materials according to their own schedules. The page also states that the degree can be applied toward a Business bachelor's degree at Concordia University, St. Paul, which gives students a transfer path. The page lists upcoming application and start dates, and it does not state a credit total or an internship requirement.

Ridgewater is an open admission college, so no admit rate applies. The graduation rate is 50%. In-state tuition is $5,473, and out-of-state tuition is the same $5,473. The program has a Program Score of 82.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who need to study around work or family on their own schedule, and who may want to continue to a bachelor's degree after the associate.

Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) runs an accounting program built to prepare students for the full range of professional responsibilities. The catalog says the program satisfies the academic requirements to sit for the Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor exams. The two-year accounting degree gives a background for clerical or paraprofessional work, while the bachelor's degree requires a minimum of 120 credits. Students need a 2.25 cumulative GPA by 64 credit hours to continue, and a 2.25 in SMSU accounting courses to graduate as an accounting major. Add-ons include an Accounting Emphasis (150 SH) Certificate and a Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation minor and certificate. A minor in accounting is open to other business students.

The federal numbers show a 45% graduation rate and a 62% admit rate. In-state tuition is $8,840, and out-of-state tuition is the same $8,840. The program has a Program Score of 81.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a clear route from a two-year start toward CPA, CMA or CIA eligibility, and who are comfortable with a GPA checkpoint along the way.

Century College offers an Accounting Associate of Applied Science degree prepared for roles from accounting clerk to full charge accountant. Delivery is a mix of daytime, evening and online courses, with fall, spring or summer starts and full-time or part-time study. Students can earn an Accounting Clerk Certificate or an Accounting Technician Certificate along the way. The second year emphasizes research of financial and managerial accounting topics, professional contracts and professional reports, and the page lists employment in profit and non-profit organizations. Century also offers an Accounting Transfer Pathway AS degree whose credits transfer directly to designated accounting bachelor's programs at Minnesota State universities. The school notes that students planning to transfer elsewhere should check with the receiving school.

Century is an open admission college, so no admit rate applies. The graduation rate is 31%. In-state tuition is $5,475, and out-of-state tuition is the same $5,475. The program has a Program Score of 80.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working students who need evening or online options, and those who want to leave with a certificate first or transfer into a bachelor's program.

Saint Paul College offers an Accounting Associate of Applied Science degree. The program page points to program overviews, course sequencing and outcomes, and notes that ACCT 2410 Financial Accounting, a 4-credit course, is certified as a Validation by Educational Experience course by the Society of Actuaries. Students complete the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum for general education. The page lists work in public and private accounting, non-profit accounting, auditing, taxation, cost accounting, managerial roles and government agencies. Transfer agreements with other institutions exist for bachelor's programs, including a BA in Individualized Studies at Metropolitan State University. The college says the associate degree is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Saint Paul College is open admission, so no admit rate applies. The graduation rate is 40%. In-state tuition is $5,486, and out-of-state tuition is the same $5,486. The program has a Program Score of 80.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want to enter accounting work after two years, or who plan to transfer their credits toward a bachelor's degree later.