Top Accelerated Accounting Degrees Online 2024

An accounting degree can open the door to steady, well-paying jobs with good upward trajectories. Graduates with this degree can become management analysts, financial advisors, and financial managers, positions that pay around $100,000 per year.

But not everyone has four years of time and tuition money to spare for school, which is where accelerated online accounting programs come in.

Accelerated programs are designed to provide a faster and possibly cheaper pathway to an accounting degree. While traditional programs typically take four years to complete, a fast-track program can take as few as 2-3 years. This route is a great option for self-motivated students who want to break into the field quickly.

Accelerated programs (also called “fast-track,” “intensive,” or “express” programs) offer a streamlined, focused, comprehensive curriculum on a condensed schedule. They are different from “degree-completion” programs, which are designed for students who already have college credits under their belts and want to wrap them into a degree.

Check out the top accelerated online programs that can help you jumpstart your finance career ASAP.

In 2021-2022, a year of study at a public school cost an average of $9,596 in tuition and fees, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Private, nonprofit schools charged an average of $33,691. It doesn’t look like degrees are going to get any cheaper, either: Forbes reports that in the past 40 years, the cost of higher education has increased by 180%.

However, there are ways to lower your costs when investing in your future. Choosing an affordable, accelerated online program is one way to save money.

Accounting majors learn how to create financial documents, review tax filings, and identify accounting improvements to increase efficiency. During an accounting bachelor’s degree program, students can often specialize their training by studying topics like auditing procedures, fiscal accounting, forensic accounting, and personal financial planning.

Most accelerated accounting programs also incorporate business courses on topics like organizational behavior, strategic planning, and economics. These classes prepare graduates for careers as management accountants, budget analysts, and management consultants.

An accounting degree offers several personal and professional benefits, including specialization options, higher earning potential, and career training.

A bachelor’s degree in accounting builds the knowledge and skills required for jobs like accountant and auditor.

During an accounting degree program, undergraduates can specialize their education through electives and concentrations. Specialization options may include public accounting, internal auditing, and management accounting.

An accelerated accounting program allows students to expedite graduation and enter the workforce sooner.

Online accounting programs give students the flexibility to balance their studies with personal and professional obligations.

Professionals with a bachelor’s degree earn a median of $30,000 more per year than those with only a high school diploma, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Prospective accounting majors must meet certain requirements. Most programs require a high school diploma or the equivalent. Colleges often require SAT or ACT scores for first-time, first-year applicants. Transfer students with prior college experience typically must submit college transcripts. Applicants may also need to submit recommendation letters, a resume, and a statement of purpose.

After gaining admission, accounting majors complete coursework in their major along with general education requirements and electives. Some programs require a capstone project and/or internship.

NCES reports that the average cost for one year of room and board, tuition, and fees at a traditional four-year undergraduate program was $30,031 in 2021-2022 — bringing the grand total of a degree to over $120,000.

As an online student in an accelerated program, you can subtract the additional cost of room and board and shave off at least one year of tuition and fees — bringing your average total cost closer to $60,000. Many online programs charge even more affordable tuition rates.

Make sure to look into the many financial aid options for accounting students in accelerated programs as well, including loans, grants, and scholarships.

Accountants earn above-average salaries. According to the BLS, accountants earned a median annual salary of $78,000 as of May 2022. Accountants in finance and management organizations typically earn higher salaries.

Earning a bachelor’s in accounting typically takes four years for full-time students. Transfer students and those who choose accelerated programs can complete their degrees faster.

Accountants use basic math and statistics skills to calculate financial reports and evaluate their accuracy. Typically, an accounting degree does not require advanced mathematics courses.

Transfer students with an associate in accounting who choose an accelerated bachelor’s program can earn their degree in 1-2 years.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by Affordable Colleges Online. Page last reviewed Feb. 7, 2024.