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The 84 Most Affordable AAS Accounting Online Programs

Rankings of AAS accounting online programsKickstart your industry career with an AAS accounting online degree. An AAS, or an associate of applied science degree, is a credential that prepares students for direct entry into the field. Expand your entry-level accounting career opportunities with an AAS accounting degree and land jobs in finance, accounting, bookkeeping, economics, banking, and more.

Unlike an AS in accounting, an AAS accounting online program does not necessarily set students up for transfer to a four-year degree program. An AAS provides more practical and theoretical courses focused on the career field wherein studies are directly applicable to the workplace. There are also fewer general education courses required for an associate of applied science in accounting since it is not a transfer-centric program. Plus, online AAS accounting degrees are incredibly affordable! But with their growing popularity, the difference in price between the cheapest and most expensive programs is still a stifling $50,000! Considering that there is typically a big cost difference between in-state and out-of-state community colleges, it pays to research the right program for your location as well as your professional goals.

GetEducated has compared the cost of 134 AAS accounting online degrees from 123 programmatically accredited schools to bring you this ‘Best Buy’ list. Our editorially independent listing reveals AAS accounting online programs that cost less than the current national tuition average for this degree.

ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide

Average Cost (In-state): ~$12,700
Least Expensive: Isothermal Community College ~$5,160.00
Most Expensive: Berkeley College ~$55,300.00

Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There are no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest AAS accounting online programs. The online applied accounting and finance degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.

Most Affordable AAS Accounting Online

RankSchool / DegreeStatePriceNote
1
Isothermal Community College
(NC)
$5,160.00
$17,640.00
In-State
Out-of-State
2
Davidson-Davie Community College
(NC)
$5,195.00
$17,675.00
In-State
Out-of-State
3
Wayne Community College
(NC)
$5,276.00
$18,140.00
In-State
Out-of-State
4
Lenoir Community College
(NC)
$5,286.60
$17,958.60
In-State
Out-of-State
5
Haywood Community College
(NC)
$5,287.50
$17,767.50
In-State
Out-of-State
6
Fayetteville Technical Community College
(NC)
$5,296.00
$17,968.00
In-State
Out-of-State
7
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
(NC)
$5,297.00
$18,161.00
In-State
Out-of-State
8
Mohave Community College
(AZ)
$5,340.00
$17,490.00
In-State
Out-of-State
9
Wilson Community College
(NC)
$5,403.06
$18,267.06
In-State
Out-of-State
10
Stanly Community College
(NC)
$5,453.00
$18,317.00
In-State
Out-of-State
11
Surry Community College
(NC)
$5,571.00
$18,435.00
In-State
Out-of-State
12
Craven Community College
(NC)
$5,727.00
$19,167.00
In-State
Out-of-State
13
Yavapai College
(AZ)
$5,795.00
$22,997.00
In-State
Out-of-State
14
Central Carolina Community College
(NC)
$5,818.00
$18,874.00
In-State
Out-of-State
15
Nash Community College
(NC)
$5,820.00
$19,260.00
In-State
Out-of-State
16
Wake Technical Community College
(NC)
$5,852.00
$18,908.00
In-State
Out-of-State
17
Edgecombe Community College
(NC)
$5,896.00
$18,760.00
In-State
Out-of-State
18
Highland Community College
(KS)
$6,300.00
All Students
19
Metropolitan Community College Area
(NE)
$6,900.00
$10,100.00
In-State
Out-of-State
20
York County Community College
(ME)
$6,950.40
$12,710.40
In-State
Out-of-State
21
Kennebec Valley Community College
(ME)
$6,991.80
$13,644.60
In-State
Out-of-State
22
Great Basin College
(NV)
$7,035.00
$10,320.00
In-State
Out-of-State
23
Central Texas College
(TX)
$7,140.00
$14,880.00
In-State
Out-of-State
24
Coastal Pines Technical College
(GA)
$7,280.00
$13,580.00
In-State
Out-of-State
25
Atlanta Technical College
(GA)
$7,464.00
$13,864.00
In-State
Out-of-State
26
Great Falls College Montana State University
(MT)
$7,711.24
$13,766.44
In-State
Out-of-State
27
Central Maine Community College
(ME)
$7,728.00
$13,488.00
In-State
Out-of-State
28
Ogeechee Technical College
(GA)
$7,880.00
All Students
29
Albany Technical College
(GA)
$7,890.00
$14,290.00
In-State
Out-of-State
30
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
(GA)
$7,924.00
$14,324.00
In-State
Out-of-State
31
West Georgia Technical College
(GA)
$8,004.00
$14,704.00
In-State
Out-of-State
32
College of Southern Nevada
(NV)
$8,043.25
$8,714.25
In-State
Out-of-State
33
Dallas College
(TX)
$8,100.00
$12,000.00
In-State
Out-of-State
34
Augusta Technical College
(GA)
$8,175.00
$14,575.00
In-State
Out-of-State
35
Baltimore City Community College
(MD)
$8,248.00
$18,448.00
In-State
Out-of-State
36
Washtenaw Community College
(MI)
$8,256.00
$8,768.00
In-State
Out-of-State
37
Hinds Community College
(MS)
$8,400.00
$14,500.00
In-State
Out-of-State
37
East Mississippi Community College
(MS)
$8,400.00
$14,400.00
In-State
Out-of-State
39
Casper College
(WY)
$8,700.00
$21,300.00
In-State
Out-of-State
40
Lorain County Community College
(OH)
$8,799.44
$16,681.08
In-State
Out-of-State
41
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
(AR)
$8,820.00
$9,120.00
In-State
Out-of-State
42
Lakeshore Technical College
(WI)
$8,967.60
$13,197.60
In-State
Out-of-State
43
Shoreline Community College
(WA)
$9,147.36
$10,610.16
In-State
Out-of-State
44
Northwood Technical College
(WI)
$9,300.00
$13,530.00
In-State
Out-of-State
45
Moraine Park Technical College
(WI)
$9,306.00
All Students
46
South Texas College
(TX)
$9,360.00
$16,140.00
In-State
Out-of-State
47
Lamar Institute of Technology
(TX)
$9,540.00
$34,020.00
In-State
Out-of-State
48
Barton Community College
(KS)
$9,600.00
All Students
49
Cowley County Community College
(KS)
$9,670.00
$12,646.00
In-State
Out-of-State
50
Western Technical College
(WI)
$10,133.28
$14,504.28
In-State
Out-of-State
51
Laramie County Community College
(WY)
$10,147.50
$24,007.50
In-State
Out-of-State
52
Southwest Virginia Community College
(VA)
$10,188.75
$23,032.75
In-State
Out-of-State
53
Milwaukee Area Technical College
(WI)
$10,192.00
$14,326.00
In-State
Out-of-State
54
Sauk Valley Community College
(IL)
$10,230.00
All Students
55
Brightpoint Community College
(VA)
$10,240.00
$15,424.00
$11,584.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Military
56
Northcentral Technical College
(WI)
$10,412.90
$14,783.90
In-State
Out-of-State
57
Ivy Tech Community College
(IN)
$10,473.00
$12,022.80
In-State
Out-of-State
58
New River Community College
(VA)
$10,488.85
$23,895.55
In-State
Out-of-State
59
Milwaukee Area Technical College
(WI)
$10,529.80
$14,801.60
In-State
Out-of-State
60
Columbus State Community College
(OH)
$10,675.80
$21,208.20
In-State
Out-of-State
61
Clark State College
(OH)
$10,886.79
$19,538.58
In-State
Out-of-State
62
Rose State College
(OK)
$10,930.50
$24,321.15
In-State
Out-of-State
63
Blinn College
(TX)
$11,100.00
$20,640.00
In-State
Out-of-State
64
Saint Louis Community College
(MO)
$11,286.00
$15,378.00
In-State
Out-of-State
65
Hudson Valley Community College
(NY)
$11,460.00
$12,060.00
In-State
Out-of-State
66
Lakeland Community College
(OH)
$11,542.40
$22,934.40
In-State
Out-of-State
67
Illinois Eastern Community College District
(IL)
$11,551.00
All Students
68
Stark State College
(OH)
$11,800.60
$19,669.60
In-State
Out-of-State
69
Northern Virginia Community College
(VA)
$11,872.00
$24,848.00
In-State
Out-of-State
70
Chemeketa Community College
(OR)
$11,880.00
All Students
71
Blue Ridge Community College - VA
(VA)
$11,979.60
$25,386.30
$13,554.10
In-State
Out-of-State
Military
72
Edison State Community College
(OH)
$12,000.30
$21,446.10
In-State
Out-of-State
73
Lone Star College System
(TX)
$12,120.00
$15,420.00
In-State
Out-of-State
74
Stark State College
(OH)
$12,179.80
$20,306.80
In-State
Out-of-State
75
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
(WI)
$12,289.36
$17,221.54
In-State
Out-of-State
76
Chemeketa Community College
(OR)
$12,408.00
All Students
77
Tidewater Community College
(VA)
$12,418.45
$25,825.15
In-State
Out-of-State
78
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
(OH)
$12,448.32
$23,072.64
In-State
Out-of-State
79
Finger Lakes Community College
(NY)
$12,515.00
$14,491.00
In-State
Out-of-State
80
Herkimer County Community College
(NY)
$12,576.00
$18,944.00
In-State
Out-of-State
81
Rhodes State College
(OH)
$12,614.85
$24,327.20
In-State
Out-of-State
82
Northwest Iowa Community College
(IA)
$12,640.00
All Students
83
Portland Community College
(OR)
$12,642.70
$24,927.70
In-State
Out-of-State
84
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
(OH)
$12,642.96
$23,435.92
In-State
Out-of-State
NOTE: The following schools did not make our Best Buy ranking but are also great online options.
School / DegreeStatePriceNote
St. Cloud Technical and Community College
(MN)
$12,705.60
All Students
University of Cincinnati
(OH)
$12,756.00
$13,476.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Dakota County Technical College
(MN)
$12,772.20
All Students
North Hennepin Community College
(MN)
$12,785.40
All Students
Lake Superior College
(MN)
$12,831.00
All Students
Montana State University-Billings
(MT)
$12,850.56
$22,094.40
In-State
Out-of-State
Northeast Iowa Community College
(IA)
$12,852.00
$14,364.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
(MN)
$12,978.00
All Students
Des Moines Area Community College
(IA)
$13,056.00
All Students
Minnesota State College Southeast
(MN)
$13,066.80
All Students
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
(MN)
$13,171.20
All Students
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
(SC)
$13,256.00
$21,416.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Trident Technical College
(SC)
$13,257.62
$22,569.02
In-State
Out-of-State
Northeast Iowa Community College
(IA)
$13,260.00
$14,820.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
(MN)
$13,323.00
All Students
Southwestern Community College - IA
(IA)
$13,600.00
All Students
Riverland Community College
(MN)
$13,741.80
All Students
Tompkins Cortland Community College
(NY)
$13,790.00
All Students
Klamath Community College
(OR)
$13,841.00
$20,703.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Williston State College
(ND)
$13,884.28
All Students
Dakota College at Bottineau
(ND)
$14,034.00
All Students
Rio Salado College
(AZ)
$14,761.00
$15,310.00
$13,785.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Military
Prince George's Community College
(MD)
$15,040.00
$21,160.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Iowa Lakes Community College
(IA)
$15,460.00
All Students
Front Range Community College
(CO)
$15,849.40
$24,132.40
In-State
Out-of-State
Jackson College
(MI)
$16,662.00
$24,882.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Lehigh Carbon Community College
(PA)
$16,860.00
$24,120.00
$9,600.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Military
Pikes Peak State College
(CO)
$16,936.40
$25,219.40
In-State
Out-of-State
Raritan Valley Community College
(NJ)
$17,315.00
All Students
Bay de Noc Community College
(MI)
$17,360.00
$20,646.00
In-State
Out-of-State
University of Alaska Fairbanks
(AK)
$18,120.00
All Students
Western Dakota Technical Institute
(SD)
$20,832.00
All Students
Southeast Technical College
(SD)
$21,045.00
All Students
Montgomery County Community College
(PA)
$21,390.00
$30,938.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Northampton County Area Community College
(PA)
$22,080.00
$32,576.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Community College of Philadelphia
(PA)
$23,239.00
$33,717.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Harper College
(IL)
$26,037.00
$30,718.00
In-State
Out-of-State
University of Northwestern Ohio
(OH)
$29,700.00
All Students
Monroe College
(NY)
$32,852.00
All Students
National American University
(SD)
$33,210.00
$16,574.40
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Pennsylvania College of Technology
(PA)
$36,534.00
All Students
Bryant & Stratton College
(NY)
$37,655.00
All Students
Berkeley College
(NJ)
$55,300.00
All Students

Accreditation & Program Notes

To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.

14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
IACBE  International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
ACBSP  Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs

Rankings Note

These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of AAS accounting online programs offered at two year institutions. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online associate degrees in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.

The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.

Editorial Note

Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers an associate degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.

These rankings of the cheapest online schools for an applied accounting associate’s degree may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best AAS accounting online for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.

Career Guide: AAS Accounting Online

For some students, a four-year degree is the right choice. For others, a master’s or even a doctorate, which requires nearly a decade of education, is the perfect path to the career of their dreams.

But others do not want to spend years, nearly a decade, in the classroom. They don’t want to pay for four, six, or ten years of college education. They want to get a fast, focused education and move on to a high-paying career in two year or less.

For these people, an associate’s degree, such as an AAS accounting online degree, is the prefect choice. AAS accounting online programs allow you to transition from the classroom to the career field, and they let you do so in less time and with a lower cost.

One of the top advantages, perhaps the top advantage, is affordability. While pricing can always change (in fact, it’s guaranteed to change), these degrees offer a world-class education at an extremely low price. As of writing this article, the most affordable AAS accounting online program was only $5,160, while the average cost for these programs was around $12,700. Compared to a bachelor, a master’s, and certainly a doctorate, which can easily approach hundreds of thousands of dollars, these degrees are some of the most affordable you can find.

Don’t assume that fast and affordable also means low-quality. As you’ll discover, these degrees help you become an expert in accounting and finance, teaching you cutting-edge skills that can apply to a wide range of careers.

What to Expect from this Degree

During these AAS accounting online degrees, you’ll take a wide variety of classes. Accounting and finance, it should be remembered, are two separate skills. In a simplified summary, accounting focuses on recording past activity, while finance focuses on planning future activity. (Again, this is a simplified summary.) The classes you take will reflect these differences.

First, let’s look at what they have in common. Both an AAS accounting online program and an associate degree in finance will include general studies courses, such as mathematics, writing, and humanities. It will also likely include some business-related courses, such as the principles of management or professional development and training.

An AAS accounting will also cover your specialization or major. For accounting programs, you can look forward to classes such as payroll accounting, computerized accounting, microeconomics, and taxation. In a finance degree, the classes will be more about financial planning and forecasting, and may include financial management, corporate finance, individual savings plans, and other important topics.

There will certainly be overlap. In both of these types of programs, you can expect classes that include micro- and macroeconomics, the details of banking, and even a few business-focused classes, such as business law or project management.

When searching for an AAS accounting online program that will transition into a fruitful career, it’s important to look for degrees that are fully accredited. For these programs, you should look for accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Most of these programs are delivered through a college or university’s business school, so accreditation through a business-focused organization in critical. With proper accreditation, your degree will have more respect in the job market.

Popular Careers after an AAS Accounting Online Degree

Accounting Clerk

  • Salary: $42,410
  • Education: Some college
  • Experience: Some training required

A bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk is responsible for the production of financial records, usually for a company or organization. Using software, spreadsheets, and databases, they maintain financial records for future reference, taxation purposes, and decision making.

Financial Analyst

  • Salary: $83,660
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree
  • Experience: None

Although this career may require additional education, a financial analyst is responsible for guiding businesses and individuals to make the right choices with their money. This can include investments and insurance, as well as savings plans. An associate’s degree in finance could provide a start to this career, although future education and certification may be required, as most of these careers require a bachelor’s degree.

Additional Requirements for Accounting or Finance Careers

To work in accounting or finance, you will likely need some form or licensing. Most business and management careers do not require licensing, but if you are going to provide public accounting services or buy and sell financial products on a client’s behalf, licensing is likely required.

Regardless of licensing requirements, if you are going to work in one of these careers, certification can be useful, especially if you have an associate’s degree and want to distinguish yourself from other job candidates who may have a bachelor’s. Bookkeeping, for example, could benefit from the Certified Bookkeeper (CB) designation, which is awarded by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.