An online master’s in accounting can build more upward mobility (and a higher salary!) into your career as an accountant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the median annual pay for accountants is already over $73,000, the top ten percent in the field can earn more than $128,000 a year! With only a 7% projected outlook for these in-demand employees, the field remains competitive. But an online accounting master’s degree can make all the difference to the average CPA. Not to mention, many virtual business programs open the door to more global opportunities, chances to network with other professionals, and they provide more flexible scheduling options to the working adult student.
Accounting professionals are the unsung heroes in corporations all over the world. But the price of a degree may be a defining factor in actually pursuing an online master’s in accounting. Make sure to run the numbers before enrolling—there is a 500% difference between the cost of the most affordable and most expensive schools!
GetEducated compared 181 master’s programs in accounting from 144 regionally accredited online schools to create this ranking. Below is our editorially independent list of the 94 Best Buys for an affordable online master’s in accounting degrees. Each program costs less than the national average.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$26,300
Least Expensive: University of Montana ~$10,106
Most Expensive: University of Miami ~$70,916
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s 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 online master’s in accounting. The online accounting degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Online Master’s in Accounting
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | University of Montana | (MT) | $10,106.00 $19,406.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | Union College | (KY) | $10,250.00 | All Students |
3 | Emporia State University | (KS) | $10,890.00 | All Students |
4 | University of West Florida | (FL) | $11,538.00 $31,327.20 | In-State/Military Out-of-State |
5 | Texas A & M University-Texarkana | (TX) | $11,842.55 $27,540.50 | In-State Out-of-State |
6 | Eastern Washington University | (WA) | $12,600.00 | All Students |
7 | Marshall University | (WV) | $12,780.00 | All Students |
8 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | (TX) | $12,815.64 | All Students |
9 | University of Houston-Victoria | (TX) | $14,084.16 $26,324.16 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | Northern State University | (SD) | $14,113.50 | All Students |
10 | University of South Dakota | (SD) | $14,113.50 | All Students |
12 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | (TX) | $14,216.60 | All Students |
13 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | (LA) | $14,400.00 | All Students |
14 | Dominican University | (IL) | $14,430.00 | All Students |
15 | American Public University System | (WV) | $14,450.00 $9,350.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
16 | Southern Utah University | (UT) | $14,550.00 | All Students |
17 | Colorado State University-Global Campus | (CO) | $15,000.00 | All Students |
18 | Wilmington University | (DE) | $15,220.00 | All Students |
19 | SUNY College at Old Westbury | (NY) | $15,270.00 $30,030.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
20 | University of North Alabama | (AL) | $15,750.00 | All Students |
21 | Mississippi State University | (MS) | $15,937.50 | All Students |
22 | Shorter University | (GA) | $16,125.00 | All Students |
23 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | (NC) | $16,172.20 $24,870.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
24 | Boise State University | (ID) | $16,375.00 | All Students |
25 | Kent State University | (OH) | $16,440.00 $16,740.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
26 | University of Wyoming | (WY) | $16,500.00 | All Students |
27 |  Lindenwood University | (MO) | $16,775.00 | All Students |
28 | University of South Alabama | (AL) | $16,965.00 | All Students |
29 | Georgia Southern University | (GA) | $17,370.00 | All Students |
30 | Texas A & M University - Commerce | (TX) | $17,376.00 $32,064.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
31 | SUNY Polytechnic Institute | (NY) | $17,604.18 $20,706.18 | In-State Out-of-State |
32 | Averett University | (VA) | $17,675.00 | All Students |
33 | University of the Potomac | (DC) | $17,750.00 | All Students |
34 | Weber State University | (UT) | $17,782.40 $18,646.50 | In-State Out-of-State |
35 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | (ME) | $17,805.00 | All Students |
36 | Plymouth State University | (NH) | $18,030.00 $23,130.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
37 |  Liberty University | (VA) | $18,046.00 $8,350.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
38 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | (IL) | $18,375.90 | All Students |
39 | Bemidji State University | (MN) | $18,522.30 | All Students |
40 | University of Maryland Global Campus | (MD) | $18,734.00 $24,314.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
41 | California University of Pennsylvania | (PA) | $18,768.00 $20,358.00 $15,258.00 | In-State Out-of-State Military |
42 | University of Colorado Denver | (CO) | $18,780.00 $21,930.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
43 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | (MA) | $19,020.00 | All Students |
44 | Kansas State University | (KS) | $19,278.00 | All Students |
45 |  Colorado Christian University | (CO) | $19,350.00 | All Students |
46 | Gardner-Webb University | (NC) | $19,550.00 | All Students |
46 | Adrian College | (MI) | $19,550.00 | All Students |
48 | Keystone College | (PA) | $19,600.00 | All Students |
49 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | (MA) | $19,770.00 | All Students |
50 | Post University | (CT) | $19,850.00 | All Students |
51 | National University | (CA) | $19,890.00 | All Students |
52 | Northern Kentucky University | (KY) | $20,070.00 | All Students |
53 | Indiana Wesleyan University | (IN) | $20,124.00 $15,093.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
54 | Franklin University | (OH) | $20,185.00 $16,165.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
55 |  Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | (MN) | $20,250.00 $18,225.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
56 | Ottawa University | (KS) | $20,265.00 | All Students |
57 | Clarion University of Pennsylvania | (PA) | $20,298.00 $23,103.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
58 | Thomas Edison State University | (NJ) | $20,338.00 | All Students |
59 | Northwest Nazarene University | (ID) | $20,575.00 | All Students |
60 |  Strayer University - Online | (DC) | $20,700.00 | All Students |
61 | University of Memphis | (TN) | $20,730.00 | All Students |
62 | Cambridge College | (MA) | $20,810.00 $16,320.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
63 | Merrimack College | (MA) | $20,890.00 | All Students |
64 | Caldwell University | (NJ) | $21,190.00 | All Students |
65 |  California Baptist University | (CA) | $21,570.00 | All Students |
66 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | (MN) | $22,666.80 | All Students |
67 |  Southern New Hampshire University | (NH) | $22,722.00 $17,070.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
68 |  Grand Canyon University | (AZ) | $22,878.00 $15,330.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
69 | Regent University | (VA) | $22,900.00 $17,837.50 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
70 | Edgewood College | (WI) | $22,920.00 | All Students |
71 | Cabrini University | (PA) | $23,005.00 | All Students |
72 |  Saint Leo University | (FL) | $23,010.00 | All Students |
73 | New England College | (NH) | $23,040.00 | All Students |
74 | Bellevue University | (NE) | $23,060.00 | All Students |
75 | DeVry University | (IL) | $23,280.00 $17,250.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
76 | Brenau University | (GA) | $23,490.00 | All Students |
77 |  University of New Haven | (CT) | $23,760.00 | All Students |
78 | University of Nevada - Reno | (NV) | $23,885.00 | All Students |
79 | Fontbonne University | (MO) | $24,000.00 | All Students |
80 |  Utica University | (NY) | $24,030.00 $21,705.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
81 | Franklin Pierce University | (NH) | $24,140.00 | All Students |
82 |  Purdue University Global | (IN) | $24,468.00 $26,990.00 $17,840.00 | In-State Out-of-State Military |
83 | University of Hartford | (CT) | $24,540.00 | All Students |
84 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | (MA) | $24,707.00 | All Students |
85 | Curry College | (MA) | $24,750.00 | All Students |
86 | Florida Atlantic University | (FL) | $24,999.90 | All Students |
87 | University of Akron | (OH) | $25,000.00 | All Students |
88 | Stevenson University | (MD) | $25,020.00 | All Students |
89 | Nichols College | (MA) | $25,350.00 | All Students |
90 | University of Missouri-Columbia | (MO) | $25,623.00 | All Students |
91 | Bay Path University | (MA) | $25,650.00 | All Students |
92 | California State University-San Bernardino | (CA) | $25,815.28 $38,883.28 | In-State Out-of-State |
93 | University of Michigan-Flint | (MI) | $25,905.50 $32,055.50 | In-State Out-of-State |
94 | California State University-Sacramento | (CA) | $26,292.00 $38,964.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Southern New Hampshire University | (NH) | $26,484.00 $19,890.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military | |
 University of Scranton | (PA) | $26,850.00 | All Students | |
 Northern Illinois University | (IL) | $27,116.76 | All Students | |
 Western Governors University | (UT) | $27,180.00 | All Students | |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | (IL) | $27,200.00 | All Students | |
Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration | (MI) | $27,270.00 | All Students | |
Auburn University | (AL) | $27,315.00 | All Students | |
Albertus Magnus College | (CT) | $27,360.00 | All Students | |
University of Connecticut | (CT) | $27,750.00 | All Students | |
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | (TX) | $28,124.00 $67,660.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Portland State University | (OR) | $28,340.00 $35,585.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Maryville University | (MO) | $28,450.00 | All Students | |
 University of Delaware | (DE) | $28,500.00 | All Students | |
Western New England University | (MA) | $28,500.00 | All Students | |
Davenport University | (MI) | $28,520.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | $28,530.00 | All Students | |
Ohio University | (OH) | $28,620.00 $29,190.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Florida International University | (FL) | $29,414.00 | All Students | |
Regis University | (CO) | $29,740.00 | All Students | |
DeVry University | (IL) | $30,264.00 $22,425.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military | |
University of New Haven | (CT) | $30,300.00 | All Students | |
University of Arizona | (AZ) | $30,632.00 | All Students | |
Rider University | (NJ) | $30,650.00 | All Students | |
Northcentral University | (CA) | $30,740.00 | All Students | |
Fairleigh Dickinson University | (NJ) | $30,878.00 | All Students | |
Stetson University | (FL) | $31,500.00 | All Students | |
Nova Southeastern University | (FL) | $31,980.00 | All Students | |
Florida Atlantic University | (FL) | $32,000.10 | All Students | |
University of Oklahoma | (OK) | $32,505.00 | All Students | |
University of Cincinnati | (OH) | $33,000.00 $33,450.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Golden Gate University | (CA) | $33,140.00 $14,690.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military | |
Loyola University Maryland | (MD) | $33,150.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | $33,630.00 | All Students | |
Roosevelt University | (IL) | $34,068.00 | All Students | |
Saint Joseph's University | (PA) | $34,200.00 | All Students | |
Rutgers University | (NJ) | $34,220.00 $34,070.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
George Mason University | (VA) | $34,740.00 | All Students | |
 Norwich University | (VT) | $37,725.00 | All Students | |
Golden Gate University | (CA) | $37,940.00 $14,690.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military | |
University of Arizona Global Campus | (CA) | $37,990.00 $16,800.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military | |
Rutgers University | (NJ) | $38,840.00 | All Students | |
Suffolk University | (MA) | $38,961.00 | All Students | |
North Carolina State University at Raleigh | (NC) | $39,020.94 $69,891.67 | In-State Out-of-State | |
 Seton Hall University | (NJ) | $40,500.00 | All Students | |
Pace University | (NY) | $41,490.00 | All Students | |
St. John's University | (NY) | $42,500.00 | All Students | |
St. John's University | (NY) | $43,860.00 | All Students | |
University of Denver | (CO) | $44,064.00 | All Students | |
Villanova University | (PA) | $46,500.00 | All Students | |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | (AL) | $48,720.00 | All Students | |
Northeastern University | (MA) | $49,200.00 | All Students | |
DePaul University | (IL) | $50,692.00 | All Students | |
Syracuse University | (NY) | $52,020.00 | All Students | |
Bentley University | (MA) | $52,750.00 | All Students | |
DePaul University | (IL) | $52,896.00 | All Students | |
American University | (DC) | $54,520.00 | All Students | |
University of Southern California | (CA) | $62,927.00 | All Students | |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | (NC) | $69,425.00 | All Students | |
University of Miami | (FL) | $70,916.00 | 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 Program is no longer accepting new students.
15 AACSB International (AACSB)
16 International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
17 Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of regionally accredited online master’s in accounting. 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 master degree programs 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 a master’s 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 accounting 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 online master’s in accounting for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Online Master’s in Accounting
An online master’s in accounting is the perfect choice for anyone who wants an engaging career supported by a high-quality, reliable education. These programs are not only convenient and affordable, they lead to world-class careers that bring a high income from a stable industry.
What to Expect from an Online Master’s in Accounting Program
Accounting is simply the process of recording and summarizing a business or individual’s financial activity. Accounting can certainly be a difficult field to study, but it’s also one of the most in-demand careers in the entire job market.
These programs are master’s degrees, which means you’ll need the appropriate bachelor’s degree to gain entry. You’ll need to have completed an accounting to be eligible for a master’s program. Accounting, however, may not be the only option. Some of these master’s programs may accept students who have bachelor’s degrees in finance or even a business degree with an accounting major. If your undergraduate degree is not in accounting, talk with the school’s enrollment office to see if your previous education will qualify.
There are a variety of accounting-related courses you will take in these programs, but they are all intended to deepen your understanding of money, budgeting, taxes, and record keeping. Many of the course will driven by learning hard skills and facts about accounting. Classes like advanced auditing and corporate tax law, for example, will build specific skills. Other classes may be more theoretical and open to interpretation. Financial-reporting theory and accounting ethics, for example, help you think about accounting in a deeper level.
Why Not Just Stop with a Bachelor’s in Accounting?
As we will discuss below, many accounting and finance careers only require a bachelor’s degree. So why bother with more education? Why take the extra two years to complete a master’s degree? Because these programs take a deep dive into accounting. They build your understanding of accounting practices, giving you more ways to boost your critical thinking and analytical skills.
Is this is Same as Finance?
“Finance” and “accounting” are two similar but distinct academic areas. Both, of course, deal with money and involve the recording of financial activity. Accounting, however, focuses on creating an accurate record of financial activity and presenting this information. Finance, on the other hand, focuses on long-term financial planning, fiscal forecasts, and planning strategy. In a simplified explanation, accounting records the past, while financing plans for the future.
Best Careers With an Accounting Education
Accountant
- Salary: $73,560
- Education: Bachelor’s
- Experience: None
In this career, you will be responsible for preparing and examining financial records. You’ll review statements for accuracy, compute taxes, inspect accounting books, and perform many other tasks that ensure financial records are accurate.
The median pay, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $73,560, which is well above the national median. However, with a master’s degree, you can likely expect a larger salary. The top 10% in this career earn over $128,000 a year, and accountants with a master’s degree have a better chance at earning these higher incomes.
Financial Advisor
- Salary: $89,330
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Experience: None
While a degree in finance may seem like the appropriate education for this career, an online master’s in accounting would certainly be a good path as well. This career helps people plan for their future, allowing them to create strong financial foundations that provides a comfortable retirement. These professionals are often self-employed, so the income potential is limited only by how hard (and how much) you want to work.
An online master’s in accounting provides a reliable path to this career, but you may need classes in financial planning, insurance, investments, and other financial topics. Combined with the skills of an accountant, these classes could make you an important advisor for numerous businesses and individuals.
Licensing & Certification Requirements for Accountants
Many business careers don’t require state licensing. To be a company manager, for example, you don’t need to be licensed. Accounting and financial careers, however, are an exception. Take accounting as an example; if you are going to work as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you will need to be licensed through the state where you work. This certification will come through the state’s board of accountancy.
Financing careers often need financing as well. If you are going to be a financial advisor who buys and sells investments on a client’s behalf, or sells insurance to clients, you’ll need specific licensing.
Certification, while not always required, can boost your career. Certification through programs like the the Institute of Internal Auditors for accountants or the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards for advisors could increase your career options and earnings.