An online bachelor’s in accounting is the standard entry credential for professional accounting roles. Programs combine general education with a business core and a sequenced accounting major – financial accounting, managerial accounting, intermediate accounting, auditing, taxation, and accounting information systems.
Some schools award a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting; others award a BBA with an accounting major. The label matters less than the curriculum, credit counts, and accreditation status – especially if you plan to pursue CPA licensure.
According to College Scorecard data, accounting bachelor’s graduates earn a median $53,818 one year after graduation and $72,638 four years after graduation, with a median federal student debt of $22,8901. Accountants and auditors earn a median $83,680 per year nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2025)2.
An online bachelor’s in accounting is a 120-credit undergraduate degree covering financial accounting, managerial accounting, auditing, taxation, and accounting systems through online coursework. It is the standard entry credential for accountant and auditor roles.
College Scorecard data shows a median of $53,818 one year after graduation and $72,638 four years after graduation. Nationally, accountants and auditors earn a median $83,680 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Not by itself in most cases. Every U.S. jurisdiction requires 150 semester hours of education for CPA licensure – about 30 credits beyond a typical 120-credit bachelor’s. Many graduates close the gap with a master’s degree or certificate coursework.
Very. College Scorecard data shows 1,195 schools offer an accounting bachelor’s and 71.6% of them (856 schools) provide it through distance education.
Programs typically include principles of financial and managerial accounting, a two- or three-course intermediate accounting sequence, cost accounting, auditing, federal taxation, accounting information systems, and business law, plus general education and a business core.
The median federal student loan debt for accounting bachelor’s graduates is $22,890 (College Scorecard).
For a full map of this program area, start here: Accounting Program Guide
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Most online accounting bachelor’s programs follow a similar structure:
Online accounting courses are often asynchronous but still use weekly problem-set deadlines, discussion participation, and proctored exams. Spreadsheet projects and accounting software assignments substitute for in-person labs. To compare delivery options, see: Online Course Formats and Online vs Campus.
If you want to move faster, compare this degree level to accelerated pacing: Accelerated Accounting Programs
The accounting major is more sequenced than most business majors – intermediate accounting builds directly on principles courses, and audit and tax build on intermediate.
| Course | Description |
|---|---|
| Principles of Financial Accounting | Recording transactions and preparing financial statements |
| Principles of Managerial Accounting | Cost behavior, budgeting, and internal decision support |
| Intermediate Accounting I-II | In-depth GAAP treatment of assets, liabilities, equity, and revenue |
| Cost Accounting | Product costing, variance analysis, and performance measurement |
| Federal Income Taxation | Individual and business entity taxation and compliance |
| Auditing and Assurance | Audit planning, evidence, internal controls, and professional ethics |
| Accounting Information Systems | Data flows, internal controls over technology, and analytics |
| Business Law | Contracts, business structures, and regulatory frameworks |
| Accounting Capstone | Integrative cases spanning reporting, audit, and tax |
For a deeper breakdown of coursework across degree levels, see: Accounting Curriculum
Every U.S. jurisdiction requires 150 semester hours of education for CPA licensure – roughly 30 credits beyond the standard 120-credit bachelor’s degree. If the CPA is your goal, plan your route to the extra credits before you finish:
College Scorecard tracks real earnings for accounting bachelor’s graduates with federal aid1:
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median earnings, 1 year after graduation | $53,818 |
| Median earnings, 4 years after graduation | $72,638 |
| Median earnings, 5 years after graduation | $70,820 |
| Median federal student debt at graduation | $22,890 (College Scorecard) |
| Schools offering the program | 1,195 |
| Schools offering distance education | 856 (71.6%) |
For context, the national median wage for accountants and auditors is $83,680, and financial analysts – another common destination – earn a median $102,740 (BLS OEWS, May 2025)2.
Admissions requirements vary by school and student type. Common requirements include:
For a full checklist and degree-level differences, see: Accounting Admissions Requirements
Transfer credits can shorten an accounting bachelor’s significantly – an associate in accounting commonly transfers as the first two years. Before enrolling, confirm:
These pages can help you plan costs realistically:
Accreditation is the baseline quality check – and for accounting it has a second function: state boards of accountancy verify institutional accreditation when evaluating CPA candidates’ transcripts.
Learn what to verify and how to compare schools: Accounting Accreditation
Many bachelor’s programs offer concentrations that align electives with a career track:
Browse all options: Accounting Concentrations
College Scorecard data shows clear earnings steps between credential levels1:
| Degree Level | Duration | Credits | Median Earnings 4 Yrs After | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 6-12 months | 15-30 | $43,492 | $10,864 |
| Associate | 2 years | ~60 | $48,906 | $18,343 |
| Bachelor’s | 4 years | ~120 | $72,638 | $22,890 |
| Master’s | 1-2 years | 30-36 | $93,465 | $25,674 |
For a value and fit discussion, see: Is an Accounting Degree Worth It. If you are also weighing a broader business degree, compare the business administration bachelor’s.
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data for accounting (CIP 52.03), bachelor’s degree level. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. National median annual wages. ↩︎ ↩︎
Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
