An online associate’s degree in accounting can lead to more advanced college courses at a reasonable cost. If you are interested in a four-year degree, a two-year associate’s can cover the general education requirements and build your foundational knowledge for a bachelor’s. The best online accounting degree associate program might look like an economics or finance degree, depending on your academic and professional goals.
Each school and degree program uniquely determine transfer credits. If you hope to become a CPA, make sure your online associate’s degree in accounting credits will transfer to a bachelor’s that prepares you for licensure. If you are interested in an associate’s degree that leads straight to the workforce, consider an associate of applied science in accounting instead. To move past entry-level accounting roles and work towards leadership positions in the field, finding a transferable associate’s degree in accounting online will provide you with the general knowledge and skills to build on. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that workers with just an associate’s degree on average earn $48,700 a year, while a bachelor’s degree can bump up median annual earnings to over $67,800. With numbers like that, it’s clear that a transferable associate’s degree is an excellent investment.
GetEducated compared 72 online associate’s degree in accounting programs from 63 colleges and universities to create this ‘Best Buy’ list. Read on to find the most affordable options in the United States—36 accredited online schools offering associate’s accounting online programs for under $17,300.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$17,300
Least Expensive: West Los Angeles College ~$2,796
Most Expensive: Davenport University ~$54,844
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There are no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest online associate’s degree in accounting programs. The online accounting, economics, and finance degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Online Associate’s Degree in Accounting
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | West Los Angeles College | (CA) | $2,796.00 $20,736.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | Coastline College | (CA) | $2,824.00 $19,924.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | Eastern Florida State College | (FL) | $6,240.00 $24,345.60 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 | Florida State College at Jacksonville | (FL) | $6,292.80 $13,113.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | Indian River State College | (FL) | $6,529.80 $23,729.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
6 | Florida SouthWestern State College | (FL) | $6,678.00 $25,837.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | Pensacola State College | (FL) | $6,774.60 $25,685.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | Northwest Mississippi Community College | (MS) | $6,780.00 $11,580.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | Miami Dade College | (FL) | $7,093.20 $24,150.60 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | Southeast Community College Area | (NE) | $7,103.00 $8,405.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
11 | Northeast Community College | (NE) | $7,500.00 $10,020.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
12 | Saint Johns River State College | (FL) | $8,265.00 $34,980.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
13 |  East Mississippi Community College | (MS) | $8,400.00 $14,400.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
14 | Barton Community College | (KS) | $9,000.00 | All Students |
15 | Casper College | (WY) | $9,135.00 $22,365.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
16 | Cowley County Community College | (KS) | $9,670.00 $12,646.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
17 | Niagara County Community College | (NY) | $9,888.00 $19,776.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
18 | Tyler Junior College | (TX) | $10,124.00 $11,564.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
19 | Illinois Central College | (IL) | $10,440.00 | All Students |
20 | Blinn College District | (TX) | $11,100.00 $20,640.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
21 | Herkimer County Community College | (NY) | $12,576.00 $18,944.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
22 | Macomb Community College | (MI) | $12,578.00 $15,864.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
23 | Kirtland Community College | (MI) | $12,780.00 $17,160.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
24 | North Hennepin Community College | (MN) | $12,785.40 | All Students |
25 | Alexandria Technical & Community College | (MN) | $12,954.00 | All Students |
26 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College | (MN) | $12,978.00 | All Students |
27 | Anoka-Ramsey Community College | (MN) | $13,171.20 | All Students |
28 | Northland Community and Technical College | (MN) | $13,362.00 | All Students |
29 | NHTI-Concord's Community College | (NH) | $14,640.00 $31,415.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
30 | Rowan College at Burlington County | (NJ) | $14,690.00 $18,590.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
31 | Connecticut State Community College | (NH) | $15,040.00 $32,640.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
32 | Community College of Aurora Associate of Arts in Economics 14 | (CO) | $15,792.00 $24,075.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
33 | Front Range Community College | (CO) | $15,849.40 $24,132.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
34 | Bay de Noc Community College | (MI) | $16,800.00 $19,980.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
35 | University of the Potomac | (DC) | $16,850.00 | All Students |
36 | Pikes Peak State College | (CO) | $16,936.40 $25,219.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Community College of Allegheny County | (PA) | $17,319.20 $24,399.20 $10,239.20 | In-State Out-of-State Military | |
Indiana Wesleyan University | (IN) | $17,940.00 $15,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
 American Public University System | (WV) | $18,500.00 $15,100.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
South College | (TN) | $19,200.00 | All Students | |
Champlain College | (VT) | $19,230.00 $15,150.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
 Southern New Hampshire University | (NH) | $19,350.00 $13,650.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Luzerne County Community College | (PA) | $20,920.00 $29,620.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
New England College | (NH) | $22,500.00 | All Students | |
Huntington Junior College | (WV) | $23,475.00 | All Students | |
Wilmington University | (DE) | $23,620.00 | All Students | |
Trine University | (IN) | $23,940.00 | All Students | |
Indiana Institute of Technology | (IN) | $24,010.00 | All Students | |
Liberty University | (VA) | $24,496.00 $16,096.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Franklin University | (OH) | $25,562.00 $16,090.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Point University | (GA) | $25,600.00 | All Students | |
Northwest Nazarene University | (ID) | $27,250.00 | All Students | |
Cambridge College | (MA) | $29,660.00 $16,920.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Oakland City University | (IN) | $30,000.00 | All Students | |
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | (IN) | $30,085.00 | All Students | |
Florida Institute of Technology | (FL) | $32,640.00 $16,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Florida National University | (FL) | $34,060.00 $16,060.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Elizabethtown College | (PA) | $36,160.00 | All Students | |
Post University | (CT) | $36,200.00 | All Students | |
Central Penn College | (PA) | $39,219.00 | All Students | |
Davenport University | (MI) | $54,844.00 $37,500.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
IACBE International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
ACBSP Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of online associate’s degree in accounting offered at two year institutions. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online associate degrees in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers an associate degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for accounting degree may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best online associate’s degree in accounting for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Online Associate’s Degree in Accounting
An education in accounting and finance can open doors to a wide variety of careers. From running your own accounting firm to working as a financial expert with some of the largest corporation on the globe, these degrees bring excellent pay alongside a challenging yet fulfilling career.
Many accounting and finance experts start their career with an associate’s degree (either an associate’s of art or of science) and then move to a four-year bachelor’s. This track, often an online associate’s degree in accounting, is usually more affordable, while delivering the classes needed to seamlessly transfer to a bachelor’s.
What to Expect from an Associate Degree in Accounting or Finance
These two-year degrees offer a fast, affordable education, usually delivered with a combination of general-studies classes as well as specialization course, which in this case means accounting and finance. Classes may include math, arts, humanities, and other classes that create a well-rounded education. There are also classes specific to your major, such as accounting principles, financial theory, microeconomics, and business math.
Accounting vs. Finance: Similar, But Different Disciplines
Before we dive into the details of these degrees, we should clarify that accounting and finance are two separate disciplines. Yes, there are similarities (they both work with money) and there is overlap in skills and responsibilities, but they remain different career paths.
Generally speaking, accounting is the practice of reporting and communicating financial information. It is responsible for recording transactions, collecting information, compiling reports, and summarizing performance.
Finance, however, is typically the practice of organizing and strategizing the use of money. Creating strategies for investing, borrowing, lending, and spending are all the purview of an expert in finance.
One (simplified) way to think about it is this: accounting is the recording of past financial activity, while finance is the planning for the future use of money.
Degrees Ready to Transfer
One of the most important aspects of an online associate’s degree in accounting or finance, perhaps the most important factor for many students, is that they are specifically-made to transfer into a four-year degree. These two-year programs cover the essentially general-study courses, all while touching on the essential accounting or financing classes.
In many cases, this can create a more affordable option. For example, the cheapest accounting and finance two-year degree for transfer is currently $2,796, which allows you to prepare for a four-year degree at an extremely affordable rate. Remember, however, that there is a big difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition; generally speaking, it’s best to enroll at a college within the state you live.
However, you’ll need to research the programs and see which schools will accept the transfer credits. Many two-year schools and four-year programs work together to create a seamless transition from one to another. However, you’ll need to make sure you can transfer into the school of your choosing.
Don’t assume that a degree will transfer to our preferred school; do your homework and check with the admissions office to ensure you can move into your transfer program.
Potential Careers in Accounting or Finance
While these degrees are designed to transition into a four-year degree, you will eventually need to think about potential careers. Here are two of the most common career options after completing an education in accounting or finance:
Accountant
- Salary: $73,560
- Education: Bachelor’s
- Experience: None
An accountant creates financial records and examines financial statements to ensure that an organization or individual is complying with laws and regulations. Usually this takes the form of tax planning, but accountants also inspect books, organize records, and assess the financial operation of a group or person.
Financial Advisors
- Salary: $89,330
- Education: Bachelor’s
- Experience: None
While accountants record what a group or person has done in the past, a financial advisor uses their knowledge and experience to provide guidance on future activity. They discuss financial goals, explain the various options to clients, and recommend investment, insurance, and saving strategies.
Requirements to Work in Accounting or Finance
Both accounting and financing experts need, in most cases, licensing. This is because their work has a direct impact on the financial wellbeing of a company, organization, or individual. The stakes are high, so state and federal governments want to make sure these professionals deliver a consistent level of service.
Accountants that work with the public, for example, need CPA (Certified Public Accountant) licensing.
Some financial advisors and other experts may not need licensing. However, if you are going to buy and sell financial products or stocks and other investments on a client’s behalf, you will need licensing through the state. The type of licensing will be connected to the products you sell. For example, if you sell insurance products, you’ll likely need licensing related to insurance sales.