The Best 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.

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.

Howard University's Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting is housed in the School of Business and prepares graduates for public accounting, corporate accounting, and government and nonprofit accounting. The program's stated mission is to provide a comprehensive education that equips students for leadership roles in accounting, auditing or other career paths. Learning goals include understanding accounting and auditing concepts, producing and analyzing financial reporting, applying technology to accounting information, and recognizing the impact of global issues. Students can add a concentration in Computer Information Systems, which requires INFO 210, INFO 330, INFO 370 and an INFO elective, or one in Information Systems. Concentrations are fulfilled through major electives within the original 120 credit hour degree requirements. The school reports that all degree programs are assessed under AACSB standards.

Howard has a 70% graduation rate and admits 41% of applicants. In-state and out-of-state tuition is $35,344. The program's Program Score of 90.1 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want an accounting degree that can be combined with information systems coursework without adding credits beyond the standard degree.

Sacred Heart University offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting through its Jack Welch College of Business & Technology, which the school reports is accredited by AACSB International. Students study accounting concepts and theory, professional codes of ethics, internal accounting systems and controls, and regulatory requirements. The page lists internships with employers including JP Morgan Chase, Prudential Securities, Merrill Lynch, KPMG and PwC, and an opportunity to apply to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Students can add a double major or move into the university's MS in Accounting, which offers Forensic Accounting and Tax Compliance & Planning concentrations. The curriculum prepares graduates to explore CPA, CMA and CIA designations.

Sacred Heart graduates 73% of its students and admits 65% of applicants. Tuition is $50,084 for in-state and out-of-state students alike, since the school is private. The program earns a Program Score of 88.9 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a traditional accounting major with an internship pipeline and a clear path to graduate study, including combined bachelor's-to-master's routes for students who plan to meet the 150-hour CPA standard.

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.

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.

The University of New Haven's Pompea College of Business offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with three tracks. Financial accounting is aimed at the CPA, corporate accounting at the CMA, and forensic accounting at financial crime, with coursework drawing on the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences. The school says undergraduates can meet or exceed the CPA exam requirements in most states, and a Fast Track option lets students complete the bachelor's and master's degrees in 4 or 5 years. Students can join the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, take field trips to Wall Street and the IRS, study abroad at the Tuscany campus, and complete an internship. The business college reports AACSB accreditation.

New Haven graduates 63% of its students and admits 60% of applicants. Tuition is $45,644 a year, the same for in-state and out-of-state students. The program's Program Score is 83.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students aiming for the CPA or CMA, or those drawn to fraud investigation, who want a clear path to an accelerated master's degree.

Asbury University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting through its Dayton School of Business, listed as an on-campus program. The degree totals 124 credits: 60 in the major (39 business core and 21 accounting core), 47 in general education and 17 electives. Students cover fundamental and advanced accounting, business law and taxes, and learn to prepare federal tax returns and evaluate statements for risk and fraud. The program approaches the work through a Christian, liberal arts lens, and students can take an Accounting in Nonprofits course. Because many state boards require 150 credit hours for the CPA, the school recommends adding its +Grad MBA or MSAC, which it says offers an accelerated master's with time and cost savings.

Asbury reports a 65% graduation rate and admits about 63% of applicants. Tuition is $33,072 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 82.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a faith-centered campus in Wilmore and a clear plan for reaching CPA eligibility through a combined master's.

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.

The University of St. Francis offers a BBA in Accounting & Business Analysis, and the school reports that the accounting program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, alongside the university's Higher Learning Commission accreditation. Students learn to measure, process and communicate financial information and to use the software that captures and analyzes it. Through the 3 to Degree program, seniors can take nine graduate-level credit hours across their last two semesters for dual credit, and a full-time student could finish an MBA or M.S. one year after graduating. The page lists a minor in accounting and describes paths in business and industry, education, government, not-for-profit and public accounting. Internships and professional organizations are part of the experience.

St. Francis graduates 67% of its students and admits 65% of applicants. In-state tuition is $38,110, and out-of-state tuition is the same $38,110. The program has a Program Score of 80.3 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. The school offers it online, and it suits students who may want a graduate degree soon after the bachelor's, since the dual-credit option shortens that route. The ACBSP accreditation is a point for those weighing business-school credentials.

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.

Stetson University's Accounting BBA is a 32-unit (128 credit hour) Bachelor of Business Administration built around small classes and applied work. Students use simulations, tax returns, cases and projects in class, and can join the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program to become IRS-certified tax preparers. A Financial Planning concentration is available within the major. The school states the curriculum is designed to meet Florida CPA exam requirements, and an Accelerated Bachelor's to MAcc pathway lets qualified juniors begin the Master of Accountancy during senior year. Stetson reports that it is one of roughly 194 business schools worldwide with dual AACSB accreditation in business and accounting, and says graduates have historically achieved 100% job placement within three months.

Federal data show a 62% graduation rate and a 72% admit rate. Tuition is $57,010 for in-state and out-of-state students alike, as a private nonprofit sets one price. The program's Program Score is 78.6 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a CPA-oriented degree in a small-college setting, especially those who may continue into a master's in accountancy without a gap, and who are prepared for private-college tuition.

California Baptist University (CBU) offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting through the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business, which the page says is ACBSP accredited. The program is described as faith-based, building a foundation in economics, business law, ethics and accounting within a Christian worldview. The page lists 69 units, including 14 required business courses and 9 required accounting courses, and says the coursework gives students the knowledge needed to complete the CPA and CMA exams. Courses include Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting, Auditing and Accounting Ethics. Students can join the on-campus Accounting Society or the California Society of CPAs, and the page says professors know students individually and bring practical industry experience. It also says the Big Four and regional CPA firms have hired graduates.

Federal data show CBU graduates 62% of its students and admits 85% of applicants. Tuition is $39,078 for in-state and out-of-state students alike, as a private nonprofit. The program holds a Program Score of 78.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want small classes, a CPA and CMA focus and a campus community built around faith.

Colorado Christian University offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting as a major, minor or dual degree, with emphases in Economics, Finance, International Business, Management, Marketing and Pre-Law. It is delivered through the School of Business and Leadership, which the school says follows a practitioner-professor model. The program frames accounting within a Christian approach to business. Course examples include Business Analytics, Individual Taxation and Managerial Finance. By choosing 500-level electives, accounting students can earn up to 18 credit hours toward the CCU MBA while finishing the undergraduate degree, and the dual degree option points toward an MBA with an emphasis in Advanced Accounting or a Master of Science in Accounting. Listed career areas include corporate and public accounting, auditing, and financial reporting.

Federal data shows a 64% graduation rate and open admission at CCU. Tuition is $27,631 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 75.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a faith-informed accounting degree and a head start on a graduate degree. Anyone aiming for CPA licensure should confirm the 150-hour path with their state board, since the page does not describe it.

Sullivan University's B.S. in Accounting blends accounting, business and IT skills and prepares students for roles in public accounting, management accounting and tax. The page lists an estimated time to completion of 36 to 48 months and says the degree can be taken on campus or online, at the Louisville campus, the Lexington location or through online learning. The curriculum includes computerized accounting, payroll accounting, federal taxation, intermediate accounting, auditing and a bachelor's capstone, and students complete a full accounting cycle through a practice set. The school says the degree prepares students to pursue the CMA (Certified Management Accountant) certification.

Federal data show a 71% graduation rate, and Sullivan is an open admission school, so there is no selective admit rate to clear. Tuition is $15,480 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 74.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits working adults and career changers who want flexibility between campus and online study and a hands-on, small-class format, particularly those aiming at management accounting and the CMA rather than a traditional large-university route.

Regis University offers an accounting major within its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, delivered by the Accounting and Finance Department in the Anderson College of Business and Computing. Students take accounting inside a broad business core, so they graduate with versatile skills as well as accounting expertise. The page says the program is structured to give students a solid foundation for sitting for the CPA examination, and that it also prepares them for other professional designations or direct entry to accounting roles. Sample courses include Cost Accounting, Income Tax Accounting I and Auditing Principles and Procedures. Classes are on campus in 16-week semesters. Regis also lists a FastForward option that lets students earn a bachelor's and a master's degree together. Applicants submit an online application, high school transcripts and a personal statement.

Regis admits 86% of applicants, and 61% of students graduate. Tuition is $23,700 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The program earns a Program Score of 74.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a campus-based accounting degree on the CPA path inside a Jesuit, business-wide curriculum.

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.