Best Online Accounting Bachelor Degrees of 2024

Businesses of every kind require careful financial transaction management to ensure that they compensate employees, pay debts, and meet compliance regulations. This work is handled by accountants and other finance professionals.

Are you looking to work as an accountant? A bachelor’s degree in accounting can set you up for career success and/or additional study in the field — required for certified public accountant (CPA) licensure.

As the popularity of online education has grown for its accessibility and flexibility, many schools have expanded to offer online bachelor’s degrees in accounting.

According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the amount of bachelor’s degrees conferred in accounting dropped by 7.8% in the 2021-2022 academic years, signaling a decline in popularity. However, as need grows for the profession, this disparity creates opportunities for aspiring accountants.

Our ranked list rates the top accounting degrees with online delivery. This in-depth guide covers details like career pathways and common coursework for the major.

Online degrees for accounting students provide the knowledge and skills to earn professional accounting certification, pursue entry-level careers, or enroll in graduate school. Graduates can apply accounting principles to real-world businesses, analyze financial issues and make recommendations, and assess ethical issues.

The flexibility and expanded access of online programs attract high school graduates, working students attending college for the first time, and working professionals looking to change careers. Learners with associate degrees who want to become certified public accountants are also excellent candidates for an online bachelor’s degree.

Graduates who earn an accounting bachelor’s degree online gain skills in mathematics, research, communication, and specialized types of accounting.

Whether earning their accounting degrees online or on campus, students can expect the same foundational curriculum components: general education, major core, and electives. In an accounting program, courses cover topics like economics, finance, and business law.

Students looking to further specialize their curriculum can often select from concentrations in auditing and forensic accounting; managerial accounting; public accounting; or tax accounting.

Each concentration requires courses focused on field-specific knowledge and skills, such as corporate tax accounting, financial statement analysis, or cost accounting. Students may also choose to supplement their degrees with open electives.

A bachelor’s in accounting gives students a strong foundation in finance principles, computer applications, and economics. Public accounting may be the most obvious career path for graduates, but an online degree in accounting is equally applicable to many jobs serving businesses, governments, and individual clients.

Undergraduate accounting programs are also an excellent choice for students who plan to attend graduate school before pursuing advanced positions in finance or economics.

Here are three of the most popular careers for accounting graduates. Some careers require additional education or certification.

Certified public accountants (CPAs) complete financial tasks for individual, corporate, and government clients. These tasks include bookkeeping and accounting, auditing, tax preparation, and consulting.

Accountants generally work independently while completing tasks, but they must communicate effectively with clients to explain their findings.

CPAs may operate their own businesses or work for public accounting firms. To become a CPA, candidates must earn at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting and complete a national certification exam from the AICPA. CPAs need keen analytical, organizational, and mathematics skills to excel.

Financial managers — also known as controllers, treasurers, and finance officers — safeguard the financial health of an organization. These professionals monitor legal compliance, prepare statements and reports, direct investment activities, and help craft long-term financial goals. They often work on management teams and act as advisors to top executives.

Employers typically look for financial managers with a bachelor’s degree and several years of relevant experience in business or finance. Many financial managers begin their careers as accountants or financial analysts before seeking advancement. This position requires excellent analytical, communication, and mathematics skills.

Businesses, universities, and governments rely on budget analysts to help organize their finances and develop realistic budgets. Tasks include monitoring organizational spending, analyzing costs and benefits, reviewing funding requests, estimating future financial needs, and making recommendations to managers.

Education requirements vary by employer, but many budget analyst positions require a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or statistics. Budget analysts should have excellent communication, mathematics, and writing skills.