ACCOUNTING SCHOLARSHIPS

Northwest Nazarene is not just another affordable college for an accounting degree. To be sure, its accounting program is standard by many measures, and it serves as a reliable conduit to careers in corporate and governmental accounting. It also provides substantial preparation for aspiring CPAs. But NNU stands out from the crowd not for its accounting program, but for its particularly unique B.S. in Financial Economics. This degree attracts students who are interested in both the practical (industry) and theoretical (research/academic) aspects of the field. Although majors must take all the same core business classes as their classmates in accounting, they'll also explore intriguing topics like "Personal Finance and Stewardship" and "Money and Financial Institutions."

If you're concerned with student success metrics, you'll probably appreciate Marian University's commitment to sharing data on its top undergraduate finance degrees. The school's website includes detailed information on "program effectiveness," which includes average scores on the Peregrine CPC Comp Exam and CAPSIM Business Simulation (Marian students perform above average on both). Of course, these results aren't all that surprising when you consider how comprehensive the curriculum is. Both accounting and finance majors must complete 34 credits in core business classes in addition to the 18-24 that comprise their professional specialization.

Future finance majors should note two particularly important benefits of attending Ottawa University. First, it has the smallest undergraduate class size on this accounting degrees ranking. Second, its finance and accounting degrees are extremely flexible: you can major in either field and pair it with a minor in any other subject, related or not. Accounting majors can also add an optional concentration to focus their studies in an area such as actuarial science, international business, management, or marketing. But flexibility isn't a replacement for rigorous study; students in both programs must complete a capstone seminar where they'll explore advanced topics and how they relate to real-world issues.

Thanks to its affiliation with the Baptist church, Gardner-Webb is one of the best colleges for an accounting degree that incorporates elements of the Christian faith. Whether you major in finance or accounting, you can expect many of your classes to share two common themes: the importance of Christian ethics in business and how to maintain integrity in your work. Even your extracurricular activities will reflect this concern for moral behavior. GWU has even enlisted the help of ENACTUS, a global nonprofit that encourages student groups to pursue projects that focus on improving the lives of others and giving back to the community.

The top small college accounting program at Lake Erie leverages a full suite of hands-on experience - including internships, case studies, and lots of collaborative work -to prepare students for the real world. A particularly unique feature exists in the forensic accounting concentration, which imparts training in auditing and investigation techniques as well as general accounting principles. Even better, you'll only need to take an additional three or four classes to earn this specialized credential and open up a world of interesting career opportunities in law, government, and criminology. Number-crunching aside, LEC should appeal to anyone looking for a truly small college: student enrollment counts fewer than 800 undergrads and about 250 post-grads.

The backbone of Hillsdale's educational approach is its core curriculum. All freshmen and sophomores read the same material and grapple with the same problems and theories at the same time, and these fundamental ideas inform your future studies. For example, Hillsdale describes its affordable undergraduate finance degree as being "rooted in our classical liberal arts curriculum and free-market approach." And accounting majors can expect to take additional coursework in math, science, or a foreign language in order to prepare themselves for a career in the global marketplace. Both degrees are also available as minors, so you can mix and match to create a course of study that fits your career goals.

At the Michigan-based Olivet College, you'll find one of the best small colleges for accounting and finance majors who thrive when they have varied learning opportunities. Case in point: the Olivet College Global Center for Entrepreneurs and Leaders. Just a few years old, GCEL is the brainchild of an executive-in-residence who wanted to give students access to business leaders and industry executives around the world. As part of this 10-day, three-credit program, finance and accounting majors will travel overseas to acquire an international perspective on business (the most recent trip took place in Antigua).

Plenty of schools offer straightforward accounting or finance majors, but Anderson gives students more granular options with a few niche concentrations. At this top college for an accounting degree, finance majors can concentrate in either entrepreneurship or investments, while the accounting curriculum provides specializations in forensic work and CPA preparation. Concentrations typically require just three or four courses, and you'll have plenty of classes from which to choose. Also note that because Anderson is affiliated with the Church of God, all undergraduates must take at least one class related to Christianity or the study of the Bible.

If easy access to the natural world is important to you, check out Berry College. Located about halfway between Atlanta and Chattanooga and comprising more than 27,000 acres, Berry boasts the largest contiguous college campus in the world. All that space for fewer than 2,200 undergrads to share! As for the school's affordable undergraduate finance degree - and its equally affordable accounting major - both offer strong opportunities to learn the underlying principles of money management. What's more, extracurricular clubs are ready and waiting to help you put those principles into practice. For example, you might join the Berry Investment Group, where you'll manage a portfolio alongside fellow students and hear from key speakers about investing-related topics.

Ambitious students, take note: North Central provides one of the best options for getting the most out of your degree. Not only do finance majors have access to great career and internship opportunities, but they can also maximize their academic efficiency by earning a second major in economics. Because the two fields have so much overlap, you'll only need to take two additional courses to meet the requirements for both programs. In contrast, accounting majors fortify their studies by choosing from a select number of career-oriented concentrations: certified public, certified management, and corporate accounting. This convenient opportunity to earn relevant certifications helps North Central stand out on this top accounting degrees ranking.

At Elmhurst, all freshmen in the Department of Business begin their studies the same way: by completing a core curriculum in fundamental topics of the field. By learning more about all the different areas of business, you'll be able to make a more informed decision when it comes time to declare a major. Elmhurst's affordable small college accounting program is particularly popular, as is its finance degree. One unique highlight of both programs is their mentorship initiative, which pairs undergrads with a regional business executive who can answer questions and offer professional advice. Alternatively, the Math Department offers a degree in actuarial science that is ideal for students with an interdisciplinary interest in finance, economics, and statistics.

As a Seventh Day Adventist university, La Sierra encourages all students to put their academic knowledge to work for the greater good. Opportunities for business-related majors include mission trips (which can last from a few weeks to an entire year) as well as regular service-learning and volunteer activities both on and off campus. Clearly, La Sierra is a top small college for accounting and finance majors who want to give back to the community - but that's not the only benefit the school offers. Affordability is also high on its list of priorities; in addition to multiple scholarships and endowments that can help cut costs, the university also provides $1,000 scholarships to 50 full-time business students each year.

If studying abroad is a priority, you might be interested in Augsburg's business semester in Mexico. A standout option on this top accounting degrees ranking, the program sends ambitious undergrads to Augsburg's own CGEE (Center for Global Education and Experience) campus in Cuernavaca. While abroad, business, finance, and accounting majors study the economic relationship between the US and Mexico and the influences of NAFTA on both countries. What's more, all participants receive a $1,000 stipend and reduced rates for room and board! Back in Minneapolis you might consider joining the Augsburg Business Organization, a group that hosts discussions, speakers, and networking events to connect students with professionals in the private sector.

With the highest graduation rate on this list, paid internships at well-regarded firms, and a 100% job placement rate for accounting graduates, Trinity's got a lot going for it. And if you're extra ambitious, you can take advantage of an extended accounting program that will earn you a B.S. and an M.S. in Accounting in just five years. Alternatively, undergrads with an interest in investments and market management will gravitate toward Trinity's affordable undergraduate finance degree. One of the more unique features of this program is that it supports a special student-run fund, which finance majors use to collectively manage $4 million of the school's endowment.

Located just half an hour from Philadelphia, Arcadia gives students a small-school experience with big-city benefits. One such benefit of attending this top college for an accounting degree is the number of internship opportunities available, both for accounting majors and business students who concentrate in finance. Both the accounting and business programs also provide an abundance of experiential exercises that will prepare you for the real world, from case studies to presentations to study abroad courses. Business majors can also join a student consulting group that works directly with actual companies that need help.