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The 111 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Accounting

Rankings of online bachelor's degree in accounting programsIf you have an affinity for numbers, organization and financial decision-making, an online bachelor’s degree in accounting can spur a rewarding career as a CPA. With an accredited education in this field, opportunities are virtually endless, as every company, organization and agency needs a financial analyst, cost estimator, budget analyst; the list goes on.

The upside of an online bachelor’s degree in accounting is the career’s projected growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the demand for accountants is right along with the national average of seven percent. Accountants and auditors’ median salary as of 2020 was recorded at $73,560, with the top ten percent earning more than $128,160, according to the BLS. The downside? These degrees can cost a small fortune—as much as $141,768! And seeing as the lowest ten percent in the industry only logged a median annual salary of around $45,000, clearly it pays to get educated before you enroll!

GetEducated compared 223 bachelor’s programs in accounting from 191 regionally accredited online schools to create this ranking. Below is our editorially independent list of the 111 Best Buys for an affordable online bachelor’s degree in accounting. All degrees cost less than the national tuition average for an online degree in this major.

ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide

Average Cost (In-state): ~$53,300
Least Expensive: University of the Virgin Islands ~$18,480.00
Most Expensive: Albertus Magnus College ~$141,768.00

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 bachelor’s degree 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 Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting

RankSchool / DegreeStatePriceNote
1
University of the Virgin Islands
()
$18,480.00
$55,560.00
In-State
Out-of-State
2
Stillman College
(AL)
$18,575.20
All Students
3
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
(NC)
$21,413.32
$39,101.32
In-State
Out-of-State
4
University of Maine at Presque Isle
(ME)
$22,400.00
All Students
5
Clayton State University
(GA)
$22,775.60
All Students
6
University of the Cumberlands
(KY)
$24,680.00
All Students
7
Montana State University-Billings
(MT)
$25,701.12
$44,188.80
In-State
Out-of-State
8
University of West Florida
(FL)
$26,277.60
$77,804.40
In-State
Out-of-State
9
Fort Hays State University
(KS)
$27,225.60
All Students
10
Lewis-Clark State College
(ID)
$27,953.00
$80,977.00
In-State
Out-of-State
11
Eastern New Mexico University
(NM)
$28,247.00
$36,407.00
In-State
Out-of-State
12
Western Governors University
(UT)
$28,600.00
All Students
13
Thomas Edison State University
(NJ)
$28,930.00
$37,410.00
$30,298.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Military
14
Empire State University
(NY)
$30,520.00
$36,160.00
In-State
Out-of-State
15
Southern Utah University
(UT)
$31,693.00
All Students
16
Shawnee State University
(OH)
$33,360.00
$33,960.00
In-State
Out-of-State
17
University of the Potomac
(DC)
$33,500.00
All Students
18
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
(AR)
$33,600.00
$25,980.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
19
Central Methodist University
(MO)
$33,675.00
All Students
20
Athens State University
(AL)
$34,324.00
All Students
21
Louisiana State University-Alexandria
(LA)
$34,920.00
All Students
22
University of Maine at Augusta
(ME)
$35,241.25
$43,590.25
In-State
Out-of-State
23
Lamar University
(TX)
$35,568.00
All Students
24
Chadron State College
(NE)
$35,880.00
All Students
25
Peru State College
(NE)
$35,945.00
All Students
26
Missouri Southern State University
(MO)
$35,985.60
All Students
27
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
(OK)
$36,332.00
All Students
28
American Public University System
(WV)
$36,900.00
$30,100.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
29
Northwest Missouri State University
(MO)
$37,080.00
All Students
30
University of Alaska Southeast
(AK)
$37,800.00
$108,480.00
In-State
Out-of-State
31
Hiram College
(OH)
$37,950.00
All Students
32
Southeast Missouri State University
(MO)
$38,100.00
All Students
33
Champlain College
(VT)
$38,310.00
$30,150.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
34
Granite State College (part of University of New Hampshire)
Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Finance 14
(NH)
$38,360.00
$44,480.00
In-State
Out-of-State
35
South College
(TN)
$38,400.00
All Students
36
Indiana State University
(IN)
$38,472.00
$49,656.00
In-State
Out-of-State
37
Fitchburg State University
(MA)
$38,520.00
All Students
38
Southern New Hampshire University
(NH)
$38,550.00
$27,150.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
39
University of Maryland Global Campus
(MD)
$38,570.00
$61,730.00
In-State
Out-of-State
40
Mayville State University
(ND)
$39,098.40
All Students
41
The University of Texas Permian Basin
(TX)
$39,280.80
All Students
42
Clarion University of Pennsylvania (part of Pennsylvania Western University)
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Accounting AACSB,14
(PA)
$39,317.60
$44,432.80
In-State
Out-of-State
43
University of Alaska Fairbanks
(AK)
$39,720.00
All Students
44
Brewton-Parker College
(GA)
$39,975.00
All Students
45
University of West Alabama
(AL)
$40,530.00
All Students
46
Wichita State University
(KS)
$41,530.80
All Students
47
Concordia University - Nebraska
(NE)
$42,000.00
All Students
47
Colorado State University-Global Campus
(CO)
$42,000.00
All Students
47
Florida Southern College
(FL)
$42,000.00
All Students
50
West Virginia State University
(WV)
$42,388.00
All Students
51
Northern State University
(SD)
$42,570.00
All Students
51
Dakota State University
(SD)
$42,570.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
53
Vermont State University
(VT)
$42,600.00
All Students
54
Washington State University
(WA)
$43,320.00
$48,288.00
In-State
Out-of-State
55
Tusculum University
(TN)
$43,900.00
All Students
56
Nichols College
(MA)
$44,600.00
$30,200.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
57
Indiana Wesleyan University
(IN)
$44,880.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
58
New England College
(NH)
$45,000.00
All Students
58
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
(LA)
$45,000.00
$23,040.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
58
Columbia College - MO
(MO)
$45,000.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
61
Delaware State University
(DE)
$45,113.00
All Students
62
Illinois College
(IL)
$45,200.00
All Students
63
University of Minnesota-Crookston
(MN)
$45,528.00
All Students
64
Texas A & M University - Commerce
(TX)
$46,104.00
$95,064.00
In-State
Out-of-State
65
University of Arkansas
(AR)
$46,360.80
All Students
66
University of Colorado Denver
(CO)
$46,800.00
$68,520.00
In-State
Out-of-State
67
Old Dominion University
(VA)
$46,888.00
$52,528.00
$33,688.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Military
68
Saint Leo University
(FL)
$47,125.00
$31,525.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
69
Wilmington University
(DE)
$47,140.00
All Students
70
Central Christian College of Kansas
(KS)
$47,400.00
All Students
70
University of Charleston
(WV)
$47,400.00
All Students
72
LeTourneau University
(TX)
$47,550.00
All Students
73
Dickinson State University
(ND)
$47,652.00
$58,152.00
In-State
Out-of-State
74
Trine University
(IN)
$47,880.00
All Students
74
Campbellsville University
(KY)
$47,880.00
All Students
76
Indiana Institute of Technology
(IN)
$47,950.00
All Students
77
McKendree University
(IL)
$48,125.00
All Students
78
Franklin Pierce University
(NH)
$48,200.00
All Students
78
Touro University Worldwide
(CA)
$48,200.00
All Students
80
Liberty University
(VA)
$48,892.00
$32,092.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
81
University of Toledo
(OH)
$48,985.92
$49,585.92
In-State
Out-of-State
82
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
(MA)
$49,320.00
All Students
83
Eastern Oregon University
(OR)
$49,355.50
$56,555.50
In-State
Out-of-State
84
Franklin University
(OH)
$49,442.00
$31,090.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
85
University of Northwestern Ohio
(OH)
$49,500.00
All Students
86
Methodist University
(NC)
$49,750.00
All Students
87
Eastern Kentucky University
(KY)
$50,040.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
88
Kean University
(NJ)
$50,380.00
All Students
89
Bacone College (Status pending: not enrolling new students)
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Accounting IACBE,14
(OK)
$50,400.00
All Students
89
Concordia University-Saint Paul
(MN)
$50,400.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
91
Voorhees College
(SC)
$50,545.00
All Students
92
Ohio Dominican University
(OH)
$50,550.00
All Students
93
Husson University
(ME)
$50,581.00
All Students
94
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
(OK)
$51,068.00
$35,570.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
95
Gordon College
(MA)
$51,180.00
All Students
96
The College of Saint Scholastica
(MN)
$51,200.00
All Students
96
Point University
(GA)
$51,200.00
All Students
98
Cairn University
(PA)
$51,425.00
All Students
99
Culver-Stockton College
(MO)
$51,550.00
All Students
100
Southern Wesleyan University
(SC)
$51,600.00
$39,600.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
101
Truett McConnell University
(GA)
$51,698.00
All Students
102
Salem University
(WV)
$51,800.00
$66,800.00
In-State
Out-of-State
103
Baker College
(MI)
$51,960.00
$30,960.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
104
Montreat College
(NC)
$52,300.00
All Students
105
Regent University
(VA)
$52,600.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
106
Friends University
(KS)
$52,700.00
All Students
107
Park University
(MO)
$52,875.00
$30,075.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
108
Limestone University
(SC)
$53,045.00
$29,285.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
109
Ohio Christian University
(OH)
$53,120.00
$33,200.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
110
Dakota State University
(SD)
$53,212.50
$37,500.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
111
Utica University
(NY)
$53,255.00
$48,215.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
NOTE: The following schools did not make our Best Buy ranking but are also great online options.
School / DegreeStatePriceNote
Wesleyan College
(GA)
$53,760.00
All Students
University of Michigan-Flint
(MI)
$53,896.00
$58,792.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Lancaster Bible College
(PA)
$54,000.00
All Students
Midway University
(KY)
$54,000.00
All Students
Mid-America Christian University
(OK)
$54,046.00
All Students
Belhaven University
(MS)
$54,700.00
$34,240.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Keystone College
(PA)
$55,400.00
All Students
Cambridge College
(MA)
$55,805.00
All Students
University of Mount Olive
(NC)
$55,875.00
$31,275.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Campbell University
(NC)
$56,070.00
$31,270.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Calvary University
(MO)
$56,502.00
$39,492.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Bellevue University
(NE)
$56,710.00
$33,850.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Saint Ambrose University
(IA)
$57,000.00
All Students
Lindenwood University
(MO)
$57,100.00
All Students
University of the Southwest
(NM)
$57,200.00
All Students
Tiffin University
(OH)
$57,260.00
All Students
Marian University
(WI)
$57,600.00
All Students
Golden Gate University
(CA)
$57,606.00
$31,530.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Grand View University
(IA)
$57,760.00
$45,360.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Northwood University
(MI)
$57,890.00
$30,830.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Brescia University
(KY)
$59,025.00
All Students
Cambridge College
(MA)
$59,100.00
$33,620.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Bushnell University
(OR)
$59,400.00
All Students
Johnson & Wales University
(RI)
$59,400.00
All Students
Pennsylvania State University
(PA)
$59,628.00
All Students
Upper Iowa University
(IA)
$59,830.00
$30,070.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
University of Massachusetts Global
(CA)
$60,000.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
(IN)
$60,045.00
All Students
University of Memphis
(TN)
$60,480.00
All Students
University of Louisville
(KY)
$60,960.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Mercer University
(GA)
$61,140.00
All Students
Walden University
(MN)
$61,385.00
$52,561.30
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Walsh University
(OH)
$61,600.00
All Students
Florida Institute of Technology
(FL)
$61,710.00
$30,250.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
University of Northwestern Ohio
(OH)
$61,875.00
All Students
Pittsburgh Technical College
(PA)
$61,920.00
All Students
Colorado Christian University
(CO)
$62,040.00
$35,760.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
National American University
(SD)
$62,160.00
$33,073.80
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
University of Mary
(ND)
$62,472.00
All Students
DeSales University
(PA)
$62,760.00
All Students
Ottawa University
(KS)
$63,271.00
$32,395.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Linfield University
(OR)
$63,675.00
All Students
Central Penn College
(PA)
$63,861.00
All Students
University of the Incarnate Word
(TX)
$64,890.00
$30,090.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor
(WI)
$65,393.00
All Students
Monroe College
(NY)
$65,704.00
All Students
National University (School Merged)
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy IACBE,14
Bachelor of Business Administration / Accountancy IACBE,14
(CA)
$66,600.00
All Students
Excelsior College
(NY)
$67,085.00
$32,525.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Maryville University
(MO)
$67,375.00
All Students
Siena Heights University
(MI)
$67,572.00
All Students
Point Park University
(PA)
$67,760.00
All Students
Florida National University
(FL)
$67,860.00
$31,860.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
University of Arizona
(AZ)
$68,464.00
$31,264.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Malone University
(OH)
$69,085.00
All Students
Elizabethtown College
(PA)
$70,625.00
All Students
ECPI University
(VA)
$70,736.00
All Students
Pennsylvania College of Technology
(PA)
$71,167.00
All Students
Southwestern College - Kansas
(KS)
$72,160.00
$31,240.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Post University
(CT)
$72,400.00
All Students
Thomas Jefferson University
(PA)
$73,800.00
All Students
Peirce College
(PA)
$73,995.00
All Students
Regis University
(CO)
$74,010.00
All Students
Bryant & Stratton College
(NY)
$76,255.00
All Students
Seton Hill University
(PA)
$78,880.00
All Students
California Baptist University
(CA)
$79,107.00
All Students
Temple University
(PA)
$79,200.00
All Students
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
(TX)
$82,544.00
$191,496.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Brenau University
(GA)
$84,480.00
$31,680.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Cleary University
(MI)
$89,520.00
All Students
University of Alabama at Birmingham
(AL)
$92,990.00
All Students
Davenport University
(MI)
$103,000.00
$70,480.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Berkeley College
(NJ)
$110,500.00
All Students
Fontbonne University (School Closing)
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Accounting ACBSP,14
(MO)
$112,800.00
All Students
Nova Southeastern University
(FL)
$138,380.00
All Students
Albertus Magnus College
(CT)
$141,768.00
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.
AACSB  AACSB International
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 regionally accredited online bachelor’s degrees 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 bachelor 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 bachelor’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 bachelor’s degree in accounting for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.

Career Guide: Online Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting

Businesses, non-profits, and individuals need highly-skilled accountants to organize their finances, prepare taxes, and maintain financial records. With an online bachelor’s degree in accounting, you could become a financial expert who provides the services and support we all need.

What to Expect from an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting

A bachelor’s degree is a four-year program that delivers a detailed yet expansive education. In these programs, you’ll study a wide variety of financially-related topics. In addition to your general studies, which may include broad subjects like history, communication, and literature, you’ll complete numerous accounting-specific topics.

These programs are bachelor’s of science (BS) degrees, not bachelor’s of arts (BA). While that is a minor difference as far as employers are concerned (they really don’t care if you have a BA or a BS), it is important to the overall education. BS degrees are more focused. With the exception of electives, they stay dialed in on accounting, finance, and business topics. They don’t have the broad range of a bachelor of arts program, but they go deeper into the details of accounting.

Classes will fall under many titles, but you can expect course that include the principles of accounting, cost accounting, the theories of auditing, and fraud or forensic accounting. There will likely be classes, or at least sections of classes, that cover issues such as taxes. Depending on your program this could include corporate taxes, individual taxes, or both.

These programs are often part of a university’s business school, so you can also expect business-related courses that don’t directly relate to accounting. Micro- and macroeconomics, statistics, and business law, as examples, are often part of an online bachelor’s degree in accounting.

You may also complete some very specific, almost niche courses. In some programs, you may find classes that focus on accounting for non-profits or managerial accounting. You may not be interested in non-profit work nor management, but these course help you develop into a more complete accounting professional.

Top Accounting Careers

There are many options after you complete an online bachelor’s degree in accounting, including…

Accountant

  • Salary: $73,560
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree
  • Experience: None

This is the obvious career path for anyone who completes an online bachelor’s degree in accounting. In this career, you’ll examine financial statements, compute taxes, inspect accounting books, and organize a group’s financial records. There are many types of accountants, including government, management, and public accountants.

To work in this career, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. There are also licensing requirements for certain positions (notably a public accountant, or “CPA”), so you’ll need to make sure your online bachelor’s degree in accounting will prepare you for certification.

Personal Financial Advisor

  • Salary: $89,330
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree
  • Experience: None

These professionals are similar to accountants, but they mostly provide advice and support that helps people build a strong financial foundation. They may provide advice on investments, mortgages, college saving, estate planning, taxes, and much more. They often meet in person with clients to discuss financial goals and answer questions about financial planning.

These careers also have important licensing and certification requirements. For example, if you are going to buy and sell stocks on a client’s behalf, you’ll need licensing. So once again, you’ll need to find an accounting program that prepares you for testing and licensing requirements.

Accounting Licensing & Certification

While many business-related careers do not require licensing or certification, accounting and financial advising is an exception. For example, if you are going to work as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), which is one of the top career choices after an accounting education, you’ll need licensing through your state’s Board of Accounting. Ongoing education in accounting is also required.

Financial advisors have similar requirements. If you are going to buy and sell stocks, if you will sell insurance or provide specific advice to clients, you’ll need a variety of licenses. Advisors who manage a client’s investments must also be registered with state officials.

In any accounting or finance profession, certifications, although not required, could boost your career. As a CPA, you could become certified in business valuation, financial forensics, or a variety of financial specialist certifications. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is a popular resource for accounting certifications and training.

Because licensing and certification is important to an accounting career, it’s essential that you find a program that is accredited through the leading organizations, such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).