Best Online Accounting Programs in Rochester, MN (2026)

Rochester, Minnesota has 5 accredited schools offering accounting programs. Rochester has a population of about 121,638. Median household income is $87,767 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 50.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Rochester, MN metro area, the top-earning accounting-related role is Financial Manager at a median $158,570 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Accounting Schools to Rochester

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer accounting programs near Rochester, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Rochester city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

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:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Rochester. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Rochester Community and Technical College

Rochester, MN 2.6 miles from Rochester BOC Score 50.7
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 31%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,287
Avg net price $14,435/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 56

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota accounting page.


Accounting Wages Near Rochester

Rochester is part of the Rochester, MN metro area (BLS area code 40340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Minnesota statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Accountant and Auditor$83,960Rochester, MN$92,467
Financial Manager$158,570Rochester, MN$174,637
Financial Analyst$105,270Rochester, MN$115,936
Budget Analyst$85,970MN statewide$94,681
Tax Preparer$59,200MN statewide$65,198
Tax Examiner and Collector$79,000MN statewide$87,004
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$58,350Rochester, MN$64,262

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Rochester at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population121,638Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$87,767Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+50.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)90.8 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Accounting-related employment in Olmsted County243 workers, 42 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Rochester-Area Cities With Accounting Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited accounting schools are near Rochester, MN?

Accredited schools offering accounting programs near Rochester are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying accounting roles near Rochester?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying accounting-related roles near Rochester are: Financial Manager ($158,570), Financial Analyst ($105,270), Budget Analyst ($85,970). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Minnesota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Austin instead of Rochester?

Austin, MN is 34.3 miles from Rochester and has its own set of local accounting programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Rochester an affordable place to study accounting?

Rochester’s median household income of $87,767 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Rochester while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Accounting Programs

Other Programs Available in Rochester

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Rochester:

Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.