Accountants are important personnel in the business world who’s responsible for tallying costs and expenditures, preparing tax documents, and inspecting financial records in order to ensure that their patrons are amenable with different laws, policies, plans, and ethical guidelines. Accounting officials can easily assist organizations or companies while being a part of their financial division. As a matter of fact, the profession of accounting can be divided into various distinct occupations. Today, accountants are anticipated to contribute a lot more than just numerical expertise.

Most of the accountants start their careers by earning an associate or a bachelor’s degree in accounting. In addition to this, numerous colleges and universities are offering Online Accounting Degree programs to aspiring candidates to help them shape their future career prospects in the field of accounting.

The main coursework of an Online Accounting Degree includes the following courses:

• Principles of Accounting
• Internal Auditing
• Applied Microeconomics
• Business Law & Ethics
• Strategic Planning

The coursework for an Online Accounting Degree program begins with an introductory course that includes principles of accounting. This introductory course contains several fundamental topics such as annual accounting cycle, different types of business transactions, preparation of financial statements etc.

After the introductory courses, the online accounting curriculum covers particular aspects of accounting, taxes, and macroeconomics. Students are allowed to take up multiple auditing courses in order to get an overview of professional accounting standards and ethics, legal compliances, and policies related to the evaluation of the company’s records.

It is essential for you to know that due to the pervasive demand for CPAs and accounting professionals, most of the Online Accounting Degree programs include courses that could facilitate the students’ preparation for the AICPA examination to obtain proper licensure in any state.

The AICPA recommends the aspiring accounting students to continue Online Accounting Degree programs at the graduation level and complete the CPA requirement of over 225 quarterly hours and 150 semester credits in order to earn an online master’s degree in accounting. In addition to online degree and CPA licensure, students can also opt for professional online certifications in accounting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this online status can enhance the job prospects of candidates and help them to become successful accounting professionals.

A typical online degree in accounting includes over 10 credits and it requires roughly 12 to 24 months for a student to earn an Online Accounting Degree. There are online degree programs that are available with over 180 credits, but they are generally provided at colleges and traditional campus settings, and they require a time commitment of 4 to 5 years.

How much does it cost?

The cost of an Online Accounting Degree program may depend on various factors, like the applicant’s state of residence. As a matter of fact, out-of-state students are required to pay more credits than in-state students. The in-state students usually pay $400 per credit, whereas the out-of-state students are required to pay as much as $550 per credit.

There are many universities and colleges that charge a flat tuition fee for all students and their Online Accounting Degree programs cost around 400-800 USD per credit. In this way, the students pay somewhere between $30,000 to $80,000 for earning an Online Accounting Degree.

An Online Accounting Degree can help students obtain lucrative employment opportunities in various government agencies and non-profit organizations. Graduates can also prefer working in top-rated accounting firms or as a self-employed accountant. Students with an Online Accounting Degree can work as:

• Tax Examiners
• Public Accountants
• Internal Auditors
• Forensic Accountants
• Government Accountants

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there has been a recent increase of 11% in the employment of accountants and auditors, which represents rapid employment growth. The National Association of Colleges and Employers have also stated that the Online Accounting Degree is the 4th most preferred online degree programs in terms of employment expectations.

Nowadays, a lot of colleges and universities are offering online degree courses and certification programs in accounting to the aspiring candidates. Below listed are the top 5 colleges that offer an online degree in accounting.

• Auburn University
• University of Charleston
• Golden Gate University
• Northern State University
• University of Massachusetts

For more details on the Online Accounting Degree, please fill out the form that is provided below and get in touch with us.