The Cheapest Online Accounting Degree Programs of 2027

The University of South Florida (USF) offers a bachelor's degree in accountancy through its Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy, listed as the Accountancy and Analytics major. The school states the objective is to give students the accounting and business knowledge that serves as a basis for careers in industry, government, non-profit organizations and public accountancy. Career options it names include auditing, tax, forensics, business consulting and corporate compliance. USF cites a 2017 graduation survey in which 48 percent of the school's graduates reported full-time accounting positions within three months of graduation. A curriculum guide and a flyer are available from the program page, and the school's office takes general questions by phone.

USF reports a 77% graduation rate and a 43% admit rate. In-state tuition is $4,559, compared with $15,473 out of state. The program has a Program Score of 92.9 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a broad accounting foundation that leads to audit, tax or corporate roles, and who plan to build toward a graduate accounting degree or professional certification later.

Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting of 120 hours, available on campus or online. The page says the curriculum covers financial, cost, auditing, tax and systems accounting and prepares graduates for private industry, government, education, nonprofits and financial institutions. Students can use electives to prepare for credentials such as the CPA, CMA, CIA and CFE. The school stresses real-world applications through simulations and case studies, and encourages internships with accounting firms and local businesses. The page estimates about $3,237.60 per semester on campus or $4,134.75 online, based on 15 credit hours at current per-credit rates.

Fort Hays State graduates 48% of its students and admits 90% of applicants. In-state tuition is $4,704 and out-of-state tuition is $16,522, so residency matters a great deal to price. The program earns a Program Score of 67.4 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults and Kansas residents who need an online or campus option and want to keep tuition low while preparing for professional accounting credentials.

The Bachelor of Accounting at Florida International University is run by the School of Accounting and combines 60 credits of lower division coursework with 60 credits of upper division work. The accounting core is 21 credits: Financial Accounting I and II, Management Accounting, Auditing, Business Law II, Income Tax Accounting, and Taxation of Corporations and Partnerships. Major courses require a grade of C or higher, and all accounting courses must be taken at FIU unless the director of the School of Accounting approves otherwise. The page notes that public accounting also requires passing the CPA exam, which in Florida requires 30 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree, and that summer accounting offerings are limited.

FIU graduates 74% of its students and admits 55% of applicants. In-state tuition is $4,721 and out-of-state tuition is $16,529. The program's Program Score of 90.9 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. It fits students aiming at public, private or government accounting, with a path toward the CPA through additional credits after graduation.

Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting through the Department of Accounting and Finance in its College of Business. Students can attend on campus or take the degree 100% online. Three concentrations are available: general accounting, accounting information systems and data analytics, and fraud and forensic accounting. The page says the program provides focused preparation for the CPA exam and builds skills in financial analysis and reporting, attention to detail, business and strategic planning, and communication. Recommended minors include management information systems, communication studies, psychology, pre-law, writing and artificial intelligence.

Federal data show a 34% graduation rate at LSUA and an admit rate of 92%, so most applicants are admitted. In-state tuition is $4,950 and out-of-state tuition is $5,150, a small gap that suits students from outside Louisiana as well. The program has a Program Score of 62.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who need a low-cost, flexible accounting degree they can finish online and who want to choose between a general, data-focused or forensic emphasis.

The University of Alaska Anchorage offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting that prepares students for public accounting, private accounting, and government or nonprofit accounting, and it provides a foundation for the Certified Public Accountant credential. The school reports AACSB International accreditation. The major totals 36 credits within a 120-credit degree, 39 of which must be upper division. Required courses include Intermediate Accounting I and II, Managerial Cost Accounting, Auditing, Operations Management and an income tax course, with nine credits of upper-division electives such as accounting data analytics, fraud examination and governmental and not-for-profit accounting. Intermediate Accounting I and II must be completed at UAA or another AACSB-accredited institution. An honors option requires a 3.75 GPA.

The school is open admission, so no admit rate applies. The federal graduation rate is 30%, which is low and worth weighing. In-state tuition is $6,192 and out-of-state tuition is $19,776. The Program Score is 71.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The program fits Alaska residents and working students who want an accredited accounting degree at a low in-state price, with online options available, and who are prepared to plan their course sequence carefully with an advisor.

Southern Arkansas University (SAU) delivers its accounting major through the Rankin College of Business, in the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics. The page lists a 120 credit hour degree, offered on campus as a major or minor. Students take a broad mix of business and campus-wide classes in the first two years, then move into upper-level courses in financial and managerial accounting, auditing, tax and fraud. Accounting students are encouraged to complete an internship and each is assigned an accounting faculty advisor for scheduling, mentoring and career placement. The page says the curriculum meets the educational requirements for CPA licensure in Arkansas and describes career paths in public, private and government or non-profit accounting. Students can compete with FBLA/PBL and join the Accounting Society, and the faculty are all CPAs.

Federal data show SAU graduates 49% of its students and admits 75% of applicants. In-state tuition is $7,380 and out-of-state tuition is $13,110. The program holds a Program Score of 66.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a low-cost, CPA-eligible accounting degree with hands-on advising and an internship push.

The University of Arkansas offers its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting online through the Sam M. Walton College of Business. The degree is 100% online, totals 120 credit hours and has an estimated completion time of four years. Courses run in traditional 15-week fall and spring semesters and in five-week summer sessions. Students are classified as pre-business until they finish a core that includes Accounting Principles I and II, economics, calculus, data analysis and business application knowledge, with a minimum 2.50 GPA required before upper-division accounting courses. The school describes the program as suited to career changers and to students finishing a degree they started earlier. It notes that the 120-hour degree alone does not meet the 150-hour education requirement for CPA exam eligibility, and a department advisor helps plan the extra coursework. The college cites a U.S. News and World Report Top 30 public business school listing and reports AACSB accreditation.

Among students who enroll, 71% graduate, and the admit rate is 74%. In-state tuition is $7,896 and out-of-state tuition is $27,758. The program earns a Program Score of 86 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults and transfer students who need flexibility and plan to pursue CPA licensure.

Ball State University offers a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Accounting through the Miller College of Business, delivered on campus for 120 credits. The page lists accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The curriculum covers accounting fundamentals alongside economics, business law, finance, management, marketing, operations and information systems. The program emphasizes experiential learning, small class sizes and faculty access, and it points graduates toward careers as accountants, auditors, bookkeepers, financial analysts and account managers. Students can also begin graduate work through the Accelerated Master's Program in Accounting while still undergraduates, and the department runs an online master's degree in accounting and offers departmental scholarships.

Ball State is a public university in Muncie with a 62% graduation rate and an 85% admit rate. In-state tuition is $8,948, compared with $27,496 for out-of-state students, a gap that matters for anyone considering the program from outside Indiana. The program has a Program Score of 78.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits Indiana residents who want an AACSB-accredited accounting degree at public in-state pricing, students who may continue to a master's degree for further credit, and those who prefer a campus-based, small-class experience over online study.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale offers a Bachelor of Science in accounting of 120 credit hours: 39 in the University Core, 47 in the professional business core, 30 in the major and 4 in electives. The school reports that both the college and the accounting program hold AACSB accreditation, which it describes as the top one percent of programs nationally. The online completion option is about 64 credit hours, or 22 courses, finished in 18 to 24 months in 8-week courses, and the school says it is the only accredited online accounting completion option at an Illinois public university that qualifies graduates for the CPA exam. SIU also offers a 30-credit undergraduate certificate, a minor, an optional 3-credit internship course and an online Master of Accountancy.

SIU graduates 62% of its students and admits 87% of applicants. In-state tuition is $9,638, and out-of-state tuition is the same $9,638. The program has a Program Score of 73.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits campus students who want AACSB-accredited accounting at a public-university price, and working adults who need an online path that keeps the CPA exam open.

Western Illinois University offers a Bachelor of Business in Accountancy with options in Management Accounting and Taxation. The program is available on the Macomb campus and online. According to the school, it holds AACSB accreditation and specialized accounting accreditation through the Institute of Certified Management Accountants. An integrated pathway lets students earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in five years. The page also reports a 70.67% CPA exam pass rate for 2017, the highest among Illinois public universities, and a 94% employment rate within three months of graduation. Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honor and professional organization, gives students outreach and networking opportunities, and alumni help place graduates in internships and jobs with employers such as Caterpillar, John Deere, RSM and Deloitte.

Western Illinois is a public university with a 45% graduation rate and a 71% admit rate. In-state tuition is $9,662, and out-of-state tuition is the same $9,662, so residency does not change the price. The program has a Program Score of 74.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a regional public option with a management accounting or tax focus, the choice of studying on campus or online, and a built-in route to a master's degree. Students should weigh the graduation rate against the employer relationships and scholarships the school describes.

The University of the Cumberlands offers accounting through its Hutton School of Business at the associate and bachelor's level, with a minor also available, and the page lists both on-campus and online locations. The bachelor's major is built on a foundation of principles of accounting and financial management, followed by 33 hours of major coursework: intermediate accounting, accounting information systems, accounting law and ethics, cost accounting, advanced accounting, governmental accounting, federal and business taxation, and auditing. A Bachelor of Arts adds a foreign language sequence through the intermediate level. The business school reports a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and the page says one in five students makes the Dean's List. The page prices the program at $220 per credit hour.

Cumberlands reports a 50% graduation rate and admits about 99% of applicants. Tuition is $9,875 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 63.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want the option to study online or on campus at a private school, and who value a defined 33-hour accounting core. Students should confirm which format and degree level they are enrolling in.

Northern Illinois University offers a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy through its College of Business and Department of Accountancy and Finance. The page emphasizes small class sizes, an accountancy career fair and an internship program, and lists employers where graduates work, including KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, EY, Crowe, RSM and BDO. Students can earn an Endorsed Internal Audit Certificate during the degree, since NIU is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors' Internal Auditing Education Partnership. Any admitted student can declare accountancy, but retention requirements apply before 300- and 400-level courses: a 3.00 cumulative GPA and a B in ACCY 206, or a passing score on the Accountancy Qualifying Exam. Graduate options include the Master of Accountancy and Master of Accounting Science.

NIU graduates 49% of its students and admits 70% of applicants. In-state tuition is $10,232, and out-of-state tuition is the same $10,232. The program has a Program Score of 80.9 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It is a fit for students who want a public-university accounting degree at a low price and can meet the retention bar for upper-level courses. The internal audit certificate and the path into NIU's master's programs suit those who plan to continue.

Walden University offers accounting as a concentration within its online bachelor's degree. Students complete three courses from a list that includes Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting and Intermediate Accounting I. The school says the concentration builds understanding of accounting principles and financial analysis, including how to prepare and read financial statements, and strengthens knowledge of taxation, auditing and managerial accounting. Walden states the full degree can be finished in as few as 48 months. Its admission process has no application fee and no essay or SAT or ACT requirement, and adult students with a high school diploma or equivalent can qualify if they are 21 or older, have at least 12 quarter credits, or have military service.

Federal data shows a 100% graduation rate and open admission at Walden. In-state and out-of-state tuition are the same at $10,542. The program earns a Program Score of 72 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits adult learners who want to study online and transfer in earlier credit. Because the accounting component is a concentration of three courses, students planning to sit for the CPA exam should confirm credit-hour and course requirements with their state board.

Auburn University's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an Accountancy major pairs a financial accounting core with data analytics training. The page says the curriculum is built to support success on the CPA exam, and it reports that the School of Accountancy holds separate AACSB accreditation. Accounting majors can pursue internships that often lead to full-time offers, and the page names Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee as the largest destinations for graduates. Strong students may enter the Accelerated Bachelors to Master of Accountancy option, which lets seniors earn 9 credits toward both degrees. Entry requires a minimum 3.50 GPA and an A or higher in Intermediate Accounting I, with a March 1 application deadline.

The Program Score is 94.6 out of 100, which is the basis of this program's ranking. Auburn graduates 82% of its students and admits 46% of applicants. In-state tuition is $11,016 a year and out-of-state tuition is $33,048. The major fits students aiming for public accounting or corporate finance roles, and especially those who want to reach the 150-hour CPA licensing path through a combined bachelor's and master's sequence.

The University of Arizona offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting, taught through the Eller College of Management and available on the Tucson campus and online through Arizona Online. Students must apply to Eller separately from general university admission. Undergraduates complete 21 accounting units and 30 professional core units, and in their final semester they take a capstone experience unique to accounting majors. Sample courses include Cost and Managerial Accounting, Introduction to Federal Taxation and Analysis of Financial Statements. The page lists career fields in public accounting, corporate finance, financial planning, nonprofit and government, and says graduates become CPAs, CFOs, business analysts or managerial accountants. Scholarships are available to accounting students.

The federal data show a 68% graduation rate and an 86% admit rate for the university. In-state tuition is $11,835 and out-of-state tuition is $38,165. The Program Score is 85.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The program fits students who want a structured accounting major with a defined core, a tax and financial statement analysis focus, and the choice between on-campus and online study. In-state students see a much lower price, and the separate Eller application is a step to plan for early.