Best Online Accounting Programs in Salem, VA (2026)

Salem, Virginia has 2 accredited schools offering accounting programs. Salem has a population of about 25,477. Median household income is $66,716 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 31.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Roanoke, VA metro area, the top-earning accounting-related role is Financial Manager at a median $158,030 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Accounting Schools to Salem

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

#1

American National University

Salem, VA 2.0 miles from Salem BOC Score 36.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 30%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $26,370
Avg net price $18,036/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Accounting Wages Near Salem

Salem is part of the Roanoke, VA metro area (BLS area code 40220). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Virginia statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Accountant and Auditor$77,240Roanoke, VA$82,521
Financial Manager$158,030Roanoke, VA$168,835
Financial Analyst$75,500Roanoke, VA$80,662
Budget Analyst$76,600Roanoke, VA$81,838
Tax Preparer$53,630Roanoke, VA$57,297
Tax Examiner and Collector$49,940Roanoke, VA$53,355
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$46,420Roanoke, VA$49,594

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.


Salem at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population25,477Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$66,716Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+31.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)93.6 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Accounting-related employment in Salem (city) County126 workers, 22 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Salem-Area Cities With Accounting Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited accounting schools are near Salem, VA?

Accredited schools offering accounting programs near Salem 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 Salem?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying accounting-related roles near Salem are: Financial Manager ($158,030), Accountant and Auditor ($77,240), Budget Analyst ($76,600). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Virginia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Roanoke instead of Salem?

Roanoke, VA is 5.4 miles from Salem 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 Salem an affordable place to study accounting?

Salem’s median household income of $66,716 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Salem while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Virginia 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 Salem

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

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.