Best Online Accounting Programs in Erie, PA (2026)

Erie, Pennsylvania has 5 accredited schools offering accounting programs, with tuition ranging from $6,100 to $16,744 per year for indexed programs. Erie has a population of about 94,156. Median household income is $43,397 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Erie, PA metro area, the top-earning accounting-related role is Financial Manager at a median $121,550 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Accounting Schools to Erie

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer accounting programs near Erie, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Erie 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 Erie. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Butler County Community College

Butler, PA 89.3 miles from Erie BOC Score 54.4
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 34%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,891
Avg net price $6,233/yr
Tuition
In‑state$5,910
Out‑of‑state$12,000
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 64

Source:Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Community College of Allegheny County

Pittsburgh, PA 115.1 miles from Erie BOC Score 40.9
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 25%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,449
Avg net price $13,970/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 87

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Westmoreland County Community College

Youngwood, PA 132.2 miles from Erie BOC Score 49.1
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 26%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $37,439
Avg net price $5,167/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 70

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College

Johnstown, PA 137.4 miles from Erie BOC Score 56.8
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,752
Avg net price $6,200/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 29

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Pennsylvania College of Technology

Williamsport, PA 168.6 miles from Erie BOC Score 71.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,567
Avg net price $25,110/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 75

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Central Penn College

Summerdale, PA 205.7 miles from Erie BOC Score 47.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 18%
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,370
Avg net price $18,953/yr
Tuition
In‑state$19,854
Out‑of‑state$19,854
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 27

Source:Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Harrisburg Area Community College

Harrisburg, PA 207.9 miles from Erie BOC Score 37.5
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 21%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,007
Avg net price $14,471/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 64

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Luzerne County Community College

Nanticoke, PA 220.1 miles from Erie BOC Score 43.0
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 24%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,437
Avg net price $9,433/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 70

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Accounting Wages Near Erie

Erie is part of the Erie, PA metro area (BLS area code 21500). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Accountant and Auditor$70,000Erie, PA$76,923
Financial Manager$121,550Erie, PA$133,571
Financial Analyst$78,780Erie, PA$86,571
Budget Analyst$84,240PA statewide$92,571
Tax Preparer$58,460Erie, PA$64,242
Tax Examiner and Collector$59,720Erie, PA$65,626
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$45,300Erie, PA$49,780

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.


Erie at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population94,156Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$43,397Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+22.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)91.0 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Accounting-related employment in Erie County405 workers, 88 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Erie-Area Cities With Accounting Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited accounting schools are near Erie, PA?

Accredited schools offering accounting programs near Erie 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 Erie?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying accounting-related roles near Erie are: Financial Manager ($121,550), Budget Analyst ($84,240), Financial Analyst ($78,780). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Pennsylvania statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Meadville instead of Erie?

Meadville, PA is 32.6 miles from Erie 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 Erie an affordable place to study accounting?

Erie’s median household income of $43,397 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Erie while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania 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 Erie

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

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 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.