If you have an affinity for numbers, organization and financial decision-making, an online bachelor’s degree in accounting can spur a rewarding career as a CPA. With an accredited education in this field, opportunities are virtually endless, as every company, organization and agency needs a financial analyst, cost estimator, budget analyst; the list goes on.
The upside of an online bachelor’s degree in accounting is the career’s projected growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the demand for accountants is right along with the national average of seven percent. Accountants and auditors’ median salary as of 2020 was recorded at $73,560, with the top ten percent earning more than $128,160, according to the BLS. The downside? These degrees can cost a small fortune—as much as $141,768! And seeing as the lowest ten percent in the industry only logged a median annual salary of around $45,000, clearly it pays to get educated before you enroll!
GetEducated compared 223 bachelor’s programs in accounting from 191 regionally accredited online schools to create this ranking. Below is our editorially independent list of the 111 Best Buys for an affordable online bachelor’s degree in accounting. All degrees cost less than the national tuition average for an online degree in this major.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$53,300
Least Expensive: University of the Virgin Islands ~$18,480.00
Most Expensive: Albertus Magnus College ~$141,768.00
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s 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 bachelor’s degree in accounting. The online accounting degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | University of the Virgin Islands | () | $18,480.00 $55,560.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | Stillman College | (AL) | $18,575.20 | All Students |
3 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | (NC) | $21,413.32 $39,101.32 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 | University of Maine at Presque Isle | (ME) | $22,400.00 | All Students |
5 | Clayton State University | (GA) | $22,775.60 | All Students |
6 | University of the Cumberlands | (KY) | $24,680.00 | All Students |
7 | Montana State University-Billings | (MT) | $25,701.12 $44,188.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | University of West Florida | (FL) | $26,277.60 $77,804.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | Fort Hays State University | (KS) | $27,225.60 | All Students |
10 | Lewis-Clark State College | (ID) | $27,953.00 $80,977.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
11 | Eastern New Mexico University | (NM) | $28,247.00 $36,407.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
12 |  Western Governors University | (UT) | $28,600.00 | All Students |
13 | Thomas Edison State University | (NJ) | $28,930.00 $37,410.00 $30,298.00 | In-State Out-of-State Military |
14 | Empire State University | (NY) | $30,520.00 $36,160.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
15 | Southern Utah University | (UT) | $31,693.00 | All Students |
16 |  Shawnee State University | (OH) | $33,360.00 $33,960.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
17 | University of the Potomac | (DC) | $33,500.00 | All Students |
18 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | (AR) | $33,600.00 $25,980.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
19 | Central Methodist University | (MO) | $33,675.00 | All Students |
20 | Athens State University | (AL) | $34,324.00 | All Students |
21 | Louisiana State University-Alexandria | (LA) | $34,920.00 | All Students |
22 | University of Maine at Augusta | (ME) | $35,241.25 $43,590.25 | In-State Out-of-State |
23 | Lamar University | (TX) | $35,568.00 | All Students |
24 | Chadron State College | (NE) | $35,880.00 | All Students |
25 | Peru State College | (NE) | $35,945.00 | All Students |
26 | Missouri Southern State University | (MO) | $35,985.60 | All Students |
27 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | (OK) | $36,332.00 | All Students |
28 |  American Public University System | (WV) | $36,900.00 $30,100.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
29 | Northwest Missouri State University | (MO) | $37,080.00 | All Students |
30 | University of Alaska Southeast | (AK) | $37,800.00 $108,480.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
31 | Hiram College | (OH) | $37,950.00 | All Students |
32 | Southeast Missouri State University | (MO) | $38,100.00 | All Students |
33 | Champlain College | (VT) | $38,310.00 $30,150.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
34 | Granite State College (part of University of New Hampshire) Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Finance 14 | (NH) | $38,360.00 $44,480.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
35 | South College | (TN) | $38,400.00 | All Students |
36 | Indiana State University | (IN) | $38,472.00 $49,656.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
37 | Fitchburg State University | (MA) | $38,520.00 | All Students |
38 |  Southern New Hampshire University | (NH) | $38,550.00 $27,150.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
39 | University of Maryland Global Campus | (MD) | $38,570.00 $61,730.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
40 | Mayville State University | (ND) | $39,098.40 | All Students |
41 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | (TX) | $39,280.80 | All Students |
42 | Clarion University of Pennsylvania (part of Pennsylvania Western University) Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Accounting AACSB,14 | (PA) | $39,317.60 $44,432.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
43 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | (AK) | $39,720.00 | All Students |
44 | Brewton-Parker College | (GA) | $39,975.00 | All Students |
45 |  University of West Alabama | (AL) | $40,530.00 | All Students |
46 | Wichita State University | (KS) | $41,530.80 | All Students |
47 | Concordia University - Nebraska | (NE) | $42,000.00 | All Students |
47 | Colorado State University-Global Campus | (CO) | $42,000.00 | All Students |
47 | Florida Southern College | (FL) | $42,000.00 | All Students |
50 | West Virginia State University | (WV) | $42,388.00 | All Students |
51 | Northern State University | (SD) | $42,570.00 | All Students |
51 | Dakota State University | (SD) | $42,570.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
53 | Vermont State University | (VT) | $42,600.00 | All Students |
54 | Washington State University | (WA) | $43,320.00 $48,288.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
55 | Tusculum University | (TN) | $43,900.00 | All Students |
56 | Nichols College | (MA) | $44,600.00 $30,200.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
57 | Indiana Wesleyan University | (IN) | $44,880.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
58 | New England College | (NH) | $45,000.00 | All Students |
58 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | (LA) | $45,000.00 $23,040.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
58 | Columbia College - MO | (MO) | $45,000.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
61 | Delaware State University | (DE) | $45,113.00 | All Students |
62 | Illinois College | (IL) | $45,200.00 | All Students |
63 | University of Minnesota-Crookston | (MN) | $45,528.00 | All Students |
64 | Texas A & M University - Commerce | (TX) | $46,104.00 $95,064.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
65 | University of Arkansas | (AR) | $46,360.80 | All Students |
66 | University of Colorado Denver | (CO) | $46,800.00 $68,520.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
67 | Old Dominion University | (VA) | $46,888.00 $52,528.00 $33,688.00 | In-State Out-of-State Military |
68 | Saint Leo University | (FL) | $47,125.00 $31,525.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
69 | Wilmington University | (DE) | $47,140.00 | All Students |
70 | Central Christian College of Kansas | (KS) | $47,400.00 | All Students |
70 | University of Charleston | (WV) | $47,400.00 | All Students |
72 | LeTourneau University | (TX) | $47,550.00 | All Students |
73 | Dickinson State University | (ND) | $47,652.00 $58,152.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
74 | Trine University | (IN) | $47,880.00 | All Students |
74 |  Campbellsville University | (KY) | $47,880.00 | All Students |
76 | Indiana Institute of Technology | (IN) | $47,950.00 | All Students |
77 | McKendree University | (IL) | $48,125.00 | All Students |
78 | Franklin Pierce University | (NH) | $48,200.00 | All Students |
78 | Touro University Worldwide | (CA) | $48,200.00 | All Students |
80 | Liberty University | (VA) | $48,892.00 $32,092.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
81 | University of Toledo | (OH) | $48,985.92 $49,585.92 | In-State Out-of-State |
82 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | (MA) | $49,320.00 | All Students |
83 |  Eastern Oregon University | (OR) | $49,355.50 $56,555.50 | In-State Out-of-State |
84 | Franklin University | (OH) | $49,442.00 $31,090.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
85 | University of Northwestern Ohio | (OH) | $49,500.00 | All Students |
86 | Methodist University | (NC) | $49,750.00 | All Students |
87 | Eastern Kentucky University | (KY) | $50,040.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
88 | Kean University | (NJ) | $50,380.00 | All Students |
89 | Bacone College (Status pending: not enrolling new students) Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Accounting IACBE,14 | (OK) | $50,400.00 | All Students |
89 |  Concordia University-Saint Paul | (MN) | $50,400.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
91 | Voorhees College | (SC) | $50,545.00 | All Students |
92 | Ohio Dominican University | (OH) | $50,550.00 | All Students |
93 | Husson University | (ME) | $50,581.00 | All Students |
94 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | (OK) | $51,068.00 $35,570.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
95 | Gordon College | (MA) | $51,180.00 | All Students |
96 | The College of Saint Scholastica | (MN) | $51,200.00 | All Students |
96 | Point University | (GA) | $51,200.00 | All Students |
98 | Cairn University | (PA) | $51,425.00 | All Students |
99 | Culver-Stockton College | (MO) | $51,550.00 | All Students |
100 | Southern Wesleyan University Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Accounting 14 | (SC) | $51,600.00 $39,600.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
101 | Truett McConnell University | (GA) | $51,698.00 | All Students |
102 | Salem University | (WV) | $51,800.00 $66,800.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
103 | Baker College | (MI) | $51,960.00 $30,960.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
104 | Montreat College | (NC) | $52,300.00 | All Students |
105 | Regent University | (VA) | $52,600.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
106 | Friends University | (KS) | $52,700.00 | All Students |
107 | Park University | (MO) | $52,875.00 $30,075.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
108 | Limestone University | (SC) | $53,045.00 $29,285.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
109 | Ohio Christian University | (OH) | $53,120.00 $33,200.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
110 | Dakota State University | (SD) | $53,212.50 $37,500.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
111 | Utica University | (NY) | $53,255.00 $48,215.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wesleyan College | (GA) | $53,760.00 | All Students | |
University of Michigan-Flint | (MI) | $53,896.00 $58,792.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Lancaster Bible College | (PA) | $54,000.00 | All Students | |
Midway University | (KY) | $54,000.00 | All Students | |
Mid-America Christian University | (OK) | $54,046.00 | All Students | |
Belhaven University | (MS) | $54,700.00 $34,240.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Keystone College | (PA) | $55,400.00 | All Students | |
Cambridge College | (MA) | $55,805.00 | All Students | |
University of Mount Olive | (NC) | $55,875.00 $31,275.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Campbell University | (NC) | $56,070.00 $31,270.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Calvary University | (MO) | $56,502.00 $39,492.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Bellevue University | (NE) | $56,710.00 $33,850.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Saint Ambrose University | (IA) | $57,000.00 | All Students | |
Lindenwood University | (MO) | $57,100.00 | All Students | |
University of the Southwest | (NM) | $57,200.00 | All Students | |
Tiffin University | (OH) | $57,260.00 | All Students | |
Marian University | (WI) | $57,600.00 | All Students | |
Golden Gate University | (CA) | $57,606.00 $31,530.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Grand View University | (IA) | $57,760.00 $45,360.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Northwood University | (MI) | $57,890.00 $30,830.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Brescia University | (KY) | $59,025.00 | All Students | |
Cambridge College | (MA) | $59,100.00 $33,620.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Bushnell University | (OR) | $59,400.00 | All Students | |
Johnson & Wales University | (RI) | $59,400.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | $59,628.00 | All Students | |
Upper Iowa University | (IA) | $59,830.00 $30,070.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Massachusetts Global | (CA) | $60,000.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | (IN) | $60,045.00 | All Students | |
University of Memphis | (TN) | $60,480.00 | All Students | |
University of Louisville | (KY) | $60,960.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Mercer University | (GA) | $61,140.00 | All Students | |
Walden University | (MN) | $61,385.00 $52,561.30 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Walsh University | (OH) | $61,600.00 | All Students | |
Florida Institute of Technology | (FL) | $61,710.00 $30,250.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Northwestern Ohio | (OH) | $61,875.00 | All Students | |
Pittsburgh Technical College (School Closed) Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Accounting 14 | (PA) | $61,920.00 | All Students | |
Colorado Christian University | (CO) | $62,040.00 $35,760.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
National American University | (SD) | $62,160.00 $33,073.80 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Mary | (ND) | $62,472.00 | All Students | |
DeSales University | (PA) | $62,760.00 | All Students | |
Ottawa University | (KS) | $63,271.00 $32,395.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Linfield University | (OR) | $63,675.00 | All Students | |
Central Penn College | (PA) | $63,861.00 | All Students | |
University of the Incarnate Word | (TX) | $64,890.00 $30,090.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor | (WI) | $65,393.00 | All Students | |
Monroe University | (NY) | $65,704.00 | All Students | |
National University (School Merged) Bachelor of Science in Accountancy IACBE,14 Bachelor of Business Administration / Accountancy IACBE,14 | (CA) | $66,600.00 | All Students | |
Excelsior University | (NY) | $67,085.00 $32,525.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Maryville University | (MO) | $67,375.00 | All Students | |
Siena Heights University | (MI) | $67,572.00 | All Students | |
Point Park University | (PA) | $67,760.00 | All Students | |
Florida National University | (FL) | $67,860.00 $31,860.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Arizona | (AZ) | $68,464.00 $31,264.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Malone University | (OH) | $69,085.00 | All Students | |
Elizabethtown College | (PA) | $70,625.00 | All Students | |
ECPI University | (VA) | $70,736.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania College of Technology | (PA) | $71,167.00 | All Students | |
Southwestern College - Kansas | (KS) | $72,160.00 $31,240.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Post University | (CT) | $72,400.00 | All Students | |
Thomas Jefferson University | (PA) | $73,800.00 | All Students | |
Peirce College | (PA) | $73,995.00 | All Students | |
Regis University | (CO) | $74,010.00 | All Students | |
Bryant & Stratton College | (NY) | $76,255.00 | All Students | |
Seton Hill University | (PA) | $78,880.00 | All Students | |
California Baptist University | (CA) | $79,107.00 | All Students | |
Temple University | (PA) | $79,200.00 | All Students | |
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | (TX) | $82,544.00 $191,496.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
 Brenau University | (GA) | $84,480.00 $31,680.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Cleary University | (MI) | $89,520.00 | All Students | |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | (AL) | $92,990.00 | All Students | |
Davenport University | (MI) | $103,000.00 $70,480.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Berkeley College | (NJ) | $110,500.00 | All Students | |
Fontbonne University (School Closing) Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Accounting ACBSP,14 | (MO) | $112,800.00 | All Students | |
Nova Southeastern University | (FL) | $138,380.00 | All Students | |
Albertus Magnus College | (CT) | $141,768.00 | All Students |
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.
AACSB AACSB International
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 regionally accredited online bachelor’s degrees in accounting. 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 bachelor degree programs 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 a bachelor’s 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 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 bachelor’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 Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
Businesses, non-profits, and individuals need highly-skilled accountants to organize their finances, prepare taxes, and maintain financial records. With an online bachelor’s degree in accounting, you could become a financial expert who provides the services and support we all need.
What to Expect from an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
A bachelor’s degree is a four-year program that delivers a detailed yet expansive education. In these programs, you’ll study a wide variety of financially-related topics. In addition to your general studies, which may include broad subjects like history, communication, and literature, you’ll complete numerous accounting-specific topics.
These programs are bachelor’s of science (BS) degrees, not bachelor’s of arts (BA). While that is a minor difference as far as employers are concerned (they really don’t care if you have a BA or a BS), it is important to the overall education. BS degrees are more focused. With the exception of electives, they stay dialed in on accounting, finance, and business topics. They don’t have the broad range of a bachelor of arts program, but they go deeper into the details of accounting.
Classes will fall under many titles, but you can expect course that include the principles of accounting, cost accounting, the theories of auditing, and fraud or forensic accounting. There will likely be classes, or at least sections of classes, that cover issues such as taxes. Depending on your program this could include corporate taxes, individual taxes, or both.
These programs are often part of a university’s business school, so you can also expect business-related courses that don’t directly relate to accounting. Micro- and macroeconomics, statistics, and business law, as examples, are often part of an online bachelor’s degree in accounting.
You may also complete some very specific, almost niche courses. In some programs, you may find classes that focus on accounting for non-profits or managerial accounting. You may not be interested in non-profit work nor management, but these course help you develop into a more complete accounting professional.
Top Accounting Careers
There are many options after you complete an online bachelor’s degree in accounting, including…
Accountant
- Salary: $73,560
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Experience: None
This is the obvious career path for anyone who completes an online bachelor’s degree in accounting. In this career, you’ll examine financial statements, compute taxes, inspect accounting books, and organize a group’s financial records. There are many types of accountants, including government, management, and public accountants.
To work in this career, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. There are also licensing requirements for certain positions (notably a public accountant, or “CPA”), so you’ll need to make sure your online bachelor’s degree in accounting will prepare you for certification.
Personal Financial Advisor
- Salary: $89,330
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Experience: None
These professionals are similar to accountants, but they mostly provide advice and support that helps people build a strong financial foundation. They may provide advice on investments, mortgages, college saving, estate planning, taxes, and much more. They often meet in person with clients to discuss financial goals and answer questions about financial planning.
These careers also have important licensing and certification requirements. For example, if you are going to buy and sell stocks on a client’s behalf, you’ll need licensing. So once again, you’ll need to find an accounting program that prepares you for testing and licensing requirements.
Accounting Licensing & Certification
While many business-related careers do not require licensing or certification, accounting and financial advising is an exception. For example, if you are going to work as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), which is one of the top career choices after an accounting education, you’ll need licensing through your state’s Board of Accounting. Ongoing education in accounting is also required.
Financial advisors have similar requirements. If you are going to buy and sell stocks, if you will sell insurance or provide specific advice to clients, you’ll need a variety of licenses. Advisors who manage a client’s investments must also be registered with state officials.
In any accounting or finance profession, certifications, although not required, could boost your career. As a CPA, you could become certified in business valuation, financial forensics, or a variety of financial specialist certifications. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is a popular resource for accounting certifications and training.
Because licensing and certification is important to an accounting career, it’s essential that you find a program that is accredited through the leading organizations, such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).