An Overview of Online Accounting Degrees
Accountants break down complex financial data into simple statements that they can then explain to their clients or the CEOs of big businesses. This is how they do their job. As technology has made some accounting tasks more accessible, companies are increasingly looking to accountants to help them figure out how to cut costs, improve efficiency, or make more money.
If you get a good online accounting bachelor’s degree, you will learn to understand numbers and analyze and explain them. “People who are accountants now do a lot of the work that used to be done by machines, but now it’s mostly done by machines.
With a bachelor of accounting or business administration with a focus on accounting, many accountants start in the field of accounting. Some programs will let students specialize in a specific area of accounting, like forensics, as a minor or as a major.
Even if students get a Bachelor of Science in accounting or a Bachelor of Arts in business administration with a focus on accounting, the degree can help them get jobs in a wide range of fields, as well. Between 2018 and 2028, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be about 6 percent more jobs in this field, the same rate as the rest of the job market.
A student might have to spend a lot of time and money to get an online accounting degree that costs $40,000 or more, but it could be well worth it for them. If you want to get a great job, earning a bachelor’s degree is still the best way to do it. An analysis from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Force encountered that this is still the case.
An online accounting program is also suitable for working and taking care of their kids simultaneously. In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about getting an online bachelors in accounting. When you do this, you will determine how much each college charges for an online degree and how long it will take you to finish.
Accounting classes are also listed in the guide, which tells you what they are. The guide also talks about what you can do with a degree in accounting to think about your future after you finish it. We give you advice on how to choose an online college and a list of ways you can pay for school, too.
How Do You Find the Best Online Accounting Degree?
It would be best to think about the cost of an online accounting degree program before you choose one. The cost of online programs can vary a lot because they aren’t all the same. For example, Washington State’s $41,472 total in-state tuition costs $25,000 less than Arizona State’s $66,590.
Students should maintain intellect that some schools charge more for out-of-state students than in-state students. Students should also glimpse into an online degree program’s accreditation when they peek into it. If a business program meets 15 general business requirements and six specific accounting requirements, it can get an accounting accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Employers may be more likely to hire job candidates who have graduated from an AACSB-accredited school because it shows them they have the skills and knowledge to work in the field. Also, it’s a good idea to look at the available programs at different colleges.
In this case, some online accounting programs give you a Bachelor of Arts, while other programs give you a Bachelor of Science. There are usually many different classes in a B.A. program, from foreign language to fine arts. In contrast, a B.S. program will have more styles specific to the field of study.
How much accomplishes it cost to obtain a degree in accounting through an online school?
The cost of an online accounting degree usually starts at $300 per credit. Most bachelor’s degrees require 120 credits to be completed, so students can expect to pay between $40,000 and $100,000 for the degree.
Make sure you know that some schools charge different tuition fees for in-state students versus students outside of the state. For example, Arizona State has a $10,000 difference in education for in-state students and outside. Those who have done in the military may also bring a small discount on the total price of their school expenses.
Online classwork
Undergraduates who want to get an online accounting degree will likely take a few general education classes first. These classes might include an introduction to accounting principles. These classes teach you about important things like the annual accounting cycle, types of business transactions, and making financial statements.
Most accounting programs also teach accounting ethics, income tax accounting, business finance, and auditing. Some programs might have extra classes on nonprofit accounting and fraud auditing that students can take. Maintain in mentality that the analysis program will be different depending on whether you choose to get a B.A. or a B.S., which usually requires more accounting-specific classes in the third and fourth years.
To get an online accounting degree, you need many different skills
Some online analysis programs permit students to specialize in a particular region of accounting by bringing electives or children in that region of analysis. These are called “specializations.” They include forensic accounting, financial accounting, government accounting, tax accounting, auditing, etc.
People who want to get an online accounting degree need to meet specific requirements
Those who want to get a bachelor’s degree in accounting online need to have a high school diploma or a GED diploma. If you’re going to do some of these programs, you might also have to take an SAT or ACT, but the minimum scores for each school vary. Some programs will also accept college credits from previous schools if they meet specific standards.
Accounting graduates have a good job market and good pay
An online accounting degree can help you get a job in accounting or auditing, but you’ll also be ready for jobs as a financial analyst and more. May says that each of these jobs pays well, with accountants and auditors making a median salary of $70,500, financial analysts making a median salary of $85,660, and financial advisors making a median salary of $88,890 in 2018.
The BLS thinks that these jobs, all ranked in the U.S. News 100 Best Jobs, will grow at about the same rate as the rest of the U.S. economy. Accounting and financial analyst jobs are expected to grow by 6% from 2018 to 2028, which means there will be nearly 91,000 new accountant/auditor jobs and more than 20,000 new financial analyst jobs. The growth rate for personal financial advisors is set at 7%, which means there will be about 19,000 new jobs in this field.
