Best Online Associate in Accounting Degrees

Most online associate degrees in accounting are Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Compared to Associate of Art (AA) programs, AS and AAS degrees tend to emphasize the more technical aspects of the field, especially with regard to accounting software. AAS in Accounting Technology and AS of Accounting and Finance are two typical online degrees in the field that fit this mold. AS and AA in Accounting degrees are also available, though Associate of Science is the more common of the two. Generally speaking, the curricula between associate degrees may differ in focus, but they all tend to cover the same basic areas. The core competencies of accounting are fairly standardized as far as education goes. While associate degrees in accounting remain largely similar, the variations in course offerings among different degrees increase as one furthers their education. Due to this, and the fact that many programs allow students to transfer all or most of their associate-level credits toward a bachelor's degree in accounting, it is often helpful to also look at the differences between bachelor's programs that allow for this, at least for those who think they might continue their education.

Associate programs are designed for those who have completed high school or a high school equivalency exam, such as the General Educational Development (GED) test. While one can make a living with a job obtained via an associate degree in accounting, many degrees at this level are often seen as both professional and educational stepping stones. Online associate programs in accounting commonly allow students to seamlessly transfer credits from their associate degree to their bachelor's degree. This is beneficial to both working adults, who can then obtain a job requiring a college degree in about half the time, and for those who are somewhat unsure if accounting is for them. Four years is a much larger commitment than two years.

Most online accounting programs can be pursued full-time or part-time. The latter option takes longer to earn, though it is more accommodating for those with busy schedules. Not only are online degrees flexible, but many accounting jobs are also flexible. Working from home options are abundant in the field, which can help those who have difficulty traveling and provide ideal jobs for introverts.

Application, Admissions, and Enrollment for Online Accounting Associate Degree Programs

Regarding admissions, the widest point of difference between colleges and universities is open versus selective enrollment. Open enrollment programs generally ask for just a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification like a GED. This type of enrollment is more common among community colleges. The other enrollment model, selective, has more requirements for those looking to apply to their programs. These can include things like application essays, virtual interviews, and standardized test results. Two of the more common exams incoming undergraduates take are the Scholastics Aptitude Test (SAT) offered by the College Board and the ACT test offered by ACT, Inc.

As one would expect for remote coursework, online accounting programs expect students to have stable and regular internet access. Some classes can be completed at the student's own pace, whereas others, like seminars, usually require students to be virtually present at specific times.

Picking courses vary by program, though when it comes to online degrees, it is almost always done entirely online. After being admitted to a program, students typically meet with an advisor affiliated with their discipline to get a rundown of what to expect from the program and to recommend which courses they should first apply. Program advisors are a great resource for those unsure of what classes to pick and how to register for them. With remote degrees, this process will usually be done virtually. Most colleges and universities have their own online portals where students can see every course and then apply to those that are available and have openings. When it comes to institutions that use semesters and trimesters, it is also important to keep registration dates in mind, both for when classes start, as this is often a cut-off for enrolling in a course, and for when registration opens, as the vacancies for popular courses can disappear quickly.

As accounting does not require lab courses or too much hands-on work, online degrees differ little from in-person degrees. Day-to-day business operations are becoming increasingly digitized; thus, remote education increasingly resembles the actual workplaces of accounting degree holders. Beyond this, traveling to a physical space to hear a lecture is less convenient than attending a class from one's bedroom or home office. Time and money spent going to and from campus are saved when a student's college or university is only a screen away. Costs are also reduced in that dorm and campus fees are mainly avoided with online degrees.

Remote programs are also flexible in ways most in-person programs are not. Accelerated learning opportunities are far more available when it comes to online degrees, and many courses accommodate a wider variety of schedules. Campus-based courses usually require students to carve out a specific portion of their day to attend, but some online courses allow working- and otherwise busy students- to take their classes when it is convenient for them.

As with most other associate programs, accounting degrees at this level typically consist of 60 credits hours. These programs traditionally take two years to complete, but accelerated curricula can be finished in a year. Most institutions assign three credits hours to every course, though sometimes this varies with classes that meet more or less often or have more or less demanding curricula. Most online accounting associate programs follow the semester model and, as such, do not allow students to complete all of their courses at their own pace. Many programs are a mix of courses with scheduled times and virtual coursework that can be completed on an accelerated timeline.

Tuition costs are calculated per course credit. Some online degrees have a set rate for remote students, though others carry over their in-state and out-of-state rates from their on-campus tuition model. Courses for in-state students may cost as little as $100 per credit, while out-of-state students may pay up to $500 per credit for the same course. For comparison, a purely online course might charge about $300 per credit. Considering tuition by itself, these rates come out to $6,000, $30,000, and $18,000 respectively for a 60 credit degree.

Of course, the majority of degrees also come with fees. College and university fees are often broken down into categories based on campus facilities and their uses. Some of these make sense even for online learners, such as with library fees seeing as practically every collegiate institution has an online component to their library, but others make less sense, like paying for a health center one is probably never going to use. Not every online program applies each of their on-campus fees to remote students, but some do, so it is worthwhile to check the tuition and fees section for any associate degree that one is interested in.

Online programs in accounting impart the fundamentals of accountancy to their students through a mix of core courses and electives. Integral areas of accounting like reviewing and analyzing large monetary transfers through financial statements and other documents commonly have one or more required courses dedicated to them. The same goes for accounting software as well. Sometimes a course will cover a broad range of applications, while others will focus solely on a specific piece of software. General skills related to business operations like communications, law, ethics, and math are also found in most programs. Electives can either be tangentially related to accounting, such as public speaking, or generic courses that every student has the chance to take, like art appreciation. Some typical core courses include:

• Financial Accounting
• Federal Taxation
• Business Law
• Payroll Accounting
• Human Resource Management
• Accounting Software Applications

Accounting is a field with several jobs that are in-demand. However, not every position is open to those with only an associate degree. For instance, a career as an accounting auditor requires both a bachelor's degree and some outside certification. Of course, an online associate degree can get one's foot in the door in the accounting world. Becoming an accounting technician is made much easier with an associate degree. While not necessary, accounting technicians can pursue certification to increase their employability and potential salaries. Other occupations that associate degree holders can expect to obtain can be found in clerking and bookkeeping. Given that these paths deserve further description read on to learn more about them.

Begin a Career as an Accounting Clerk

Accounting clerks deal with spreadsheets, ledgers, and financial databases in the regular course of any workday. Sometimes their main task will be data entry, other times it will be double-checking the work of accountants above them in the corporate hierarchy. Each of these tasks favors those with an attention to detail. Beyond this, accounting clerks have to converse with both clients and coworkers on issues relating to budgets, revenue streams, and other monetary transactions. Given this, it is also beneficial to have interpersonal communication skills for this position. Accounting clerks mainly work in offices, though some are able to work from home.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that jobs in the field will decline by 6% between 2019-2029. Most of these losses are expected to come from automation. On average, accounting clerks make $36,777 a year, according to ZipRecruiter. As for state-by-state salaries, Washington, Maryland, Nebraska, Virginia, and New York have the highest median wages for accounting clerks, according to ZipRecruiter. Washington tends to offer the most, with an average annual salary of $40,942.

Begin a Career as a Bookkeeper

While bookkeepers and accounting clerks tend to share similar academic backgrounds, there are professional differences between accounting clerks and bookkeepers. For example, bookkeepers deal more directly in preparing financial documents, such as invoices. They also organize accounts and report to senior management when discrepancies appear. Because of this bookkeepers, have to be accurate with both their own work and the work of others. Like with accounting clerks, bookkeepers tend to work in an office setting, though some have the opportunity to work remotely.

BLS anticipates that from 2019-2029 jobs in bookkeeping will contract by 6%. This is mostly due to newer applications that are able to do several bookkeeping tasks automatically. Bookkeepers' annual median salary comes out to $40,406, according to ZipRecruiter. At the state-level, ZipRecruiter estimates that bookkeepers typically make the most in Washington, Maryland, Nebraska, New York, and Virginia, with Washington's average yearly salary sitting at $44,375.

The preeminent accrediting agency for accounting programs is the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Unlike many other accrediting organizations, the ACBSP certifies individual programs rather than whole institutions, with a focus on associate business degrees. Accreditation is important because it signifies that an outside authority has reviewed a college, university, or program and deemed its curricula to meet its educational standards. This helps to ensure that prospective students will receive a worthwhile degree. Accreditation also signals to groups that give out financial aid that an institution or program is a good investment, which is why accreditation is a prerequisite for most tuition assistance.

Several online associate programs in accounting are designed to transfer all or most of their course credits to a bachelor's degree in accounting. Having all of one's credits count for both degrees is more likely when a student remains at the same institution and simply moves up a degree level, though it is possible when transferring schools. Given that undergraduate accounting programs tend to share core courses it makes sense that bachelor's programs would allow students to count already completed coursework.

Online programs that are modeled around credit transferring between their associate and bachelor's programs generally advertise themselves as such on their degree's webpage. When students wish to transfer course credits between different institutions, it helps to pick a bachelor's program that is similarly titled and structured. If the courses in each degree are too dissimilar, chances are a student's bachelor's program will not allow them to count their associate classes toward their bachelor's degree. This situation can also be avoided when one earns their associate degree at an institution, often a community college, that has an articulation agreement with another. Affiliated colleges and universities tailor their curricula to make transferring credits easier.

Beyond associate programs, there is a wide range of accounting degrees. As with most other disciplines, further education opens a larger amount of doors. For instance, the vast majority of positions where one's job title will simply be ''accountant'' are restricted to those who have earned at least a bachelor's degree. Graduate programs are mostly intended for those who wish to take on managerial roles within accounting or teach it at a collegiate level.

Online Bachelor's Programs in Accounting

Most jobs within accounting and finance ask applicants to have at least a bachelor's degree. This is true for a career as an accounting auditor or if one wants to work as a chief accounting officer or a controller. Online bachelor's programs in accounting typically consist of 120 credit hours and take about three to four years to complete full-time. Common program titles include Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting, Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting, and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Accounting. For the most part, these programs all teach similar curricula, with only slight variations in how much emphasis is placed on business courses.

Online Master's Programs in Accounting

Master of Science (MS) in Accounting, Master of Accountancy (MAcc), and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting are the three most frequent degree titles at this level. Master's programs are designed for senior, specialist, and managerial accountants. Out of every degree level, master's programs have the largest amount of concentrations. These help accountants who have an area of expertise in mind that they want to specialize in, such as financial reporting and assurance, data analytics, taxation, or internal auditing. Most master's degrees in accounting consist of 30 credit hours and take one to two years to complete.

Online Doctoral Programs in Accounting

A Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Accounting is rarely a professional necessity. One can pursue a doctorate in accounting to distinguish themselves while on the hunt for a high-level position or to secure a teaching job at a college or university, but few other situations in accounting calls for this extent of education. Sometimes a DBA in Accounting will be just that, while in other programs, accounting is a specialization within a broader doctorate program. Either way, students will be able to earn their DBA in about three years of full-time study or about six if undertaken part-time. Credit hour totals vary between programs, but many fall within 48-60. Most DBAs will also have a capstone or study project course where research and real-world experience are combined to produce knowledge that is both academically and professionally useful.

Online Certificate Programs in Accounting

In academia, there are two types of accounting certificates: undergraduate and graduate. Online undergraduate certificates usually consist of 30 credit hours and are often baked into the curricula of associate programs so that students completing their degree can earn a certificate in the process. Such certificates signify that students have grasped the basics of accounting, generally what is covered in the first year of study in an associate program. Online graduate certificates, on the other hand, can be specialized or unspecific. After or while earning a master's degree, one might take enough courses to get a graduate certificate in accounting ethics and auditing or some other area they want to stand out in. Generic graduate certificates also exist, mainly as a method of boosting one's resume. Several cities offer a range of accounting certificates, such as the many financial accounting certificate programs in Houston.

One of the best places to start looking for help with tuition is the federal government. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) grants student aid to those who qualify on a per-semester basis. To be eligible for FAFSA, students have to attend an accredited institution or program.

Another avenue for securing tuition assistance is through the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), a national organization dedicated to educating and advocating for its members. The AICPA has several scholarship opportunities for those just out of high school as well as for those already enrolled or who are looking to further their education. Some of the scholarships sponsored by the organization include the AICPA Foundation High School Scholarship aimed at students looking to attend a two or four-year college, the AICPA Foundation Scholarship for Future CPAs intended for professionals looking to earn their Certified Public Accountant qualification, and the AICPA Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students, which is awarded to encourage diversity in the field. To apply for these degrees, one must be a member of the AICPA, though students can join as Student Affiliate Members for free.