Online Accounting Degrees

If you don't want to drive to campus to take a class that could easily be offered online, you're not alone. Fortunately, modern education is continually shifting toward online learning. Distance education allows people with busy schedules to choose their own class times, and earn degrees at their own pace. As a result, many colleges offer online degrees so they can stay competitive. Here, we share some of your options with online education, as well as the expected costs.

Cost of an Online Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

There is a huge range of costs for different online college courses. The more affordable online degrees start around $7,000 - $8,000 for annual tuition. Some of those more affordable options are:

Of course, the most affordable option isn't necessarily going to provide the same level of education as more presigious accounting programs. It may be worth looking into some more expensive options to see the quality of their programs. Here are some highly rated online accounting schools:

Cost of an Online Master's Degree in Accounting

Here are some of the most affordable online master's degree programs:

Accounting Certificate vs. Accounting Degree

The big difference between certificates and degrees is the level of job you can get as a result. Certificate programs are typically shorter and more fundamental. Degree programs go into more depth, preparing you for a variety of accounting scenarios. Consequently, a certificate can help you get an entry-level accounting position at a small business. You may also be able to work at a bigger company as an assistant to a senior accountant. At this level of training, your pay may be around $35,000 - $50,000 per year.

One of the big advantages of an accounting certificate is that it's a much shorter program. It may be as short as 18 credit hours, which means it could be completed in only two semesters. With a shorter program length, that also translates to smaller costs.

2024 Accounting Job Salaries

Average Salary - Based on job listings from Indeed.com, the average accounting job offers around $50,000 per year. These figures are pulled from a variety of accounting positions, and responsibilities at each job vill vary. To get a better idea of what you could make as an accountant, it's best to consider your education level and experience. If you want specific salary estimates, you'd need to look at job listings, but here's a general idea of what you might expect:

Bookkeeping - If you're bookkeeping at a small company, your pay may be closer to $40,000 per year. This could be an entry-level position. It would entail keeping track of day-to-day income and expenses, paying bills, sending invoices, etc. As the size of the company increases, you can expect your pay and your workload to increase as well.

Financial Analysis - Beyond basic bookkeeping, you may be interested in financial analysis. This would involve looking at trends, making projections, and helping people make good financial decisions based on accounting data. This helps decision makers within companies, or investors looking into the potential profit of a business. For a more involved job such as this, your pay could be closer to $90,000 - 100,000 per year.

Financial Advising - This is also known as financial planning. A financial advisor helps people plan for the future by saving for college, retirement, and other big life events. They help people manage their personal finances by determining where to keep the money, how much to invest, etc. This job can pay over $120,000.

Financial Management - This is a whole new level here, because a financial manager is actually managing the money, rather than just keeping track of it. The job would involve financial analysis, but then requires you to make a specific plan to protect and grow a company's money. With this big responsibility comes a potential salary over $130,000.