35 Best Bachelor's Degrees in Accounting

Updated December 8, 2022

Earning a Bachelor's Degrees in Accounting is one of the most promising opportunities a college student can pursue in 2019. Best Value Schools can help you decide which degree program can best help you achieve your goals! Back in 2014, Forbes reported how, upon graduation, 61.2 percent of accounting student applicants had at least one ...

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Earning a Bachelor's Degrees in Accounting is one of the most promising opportunities a college student can pursue. Best Value Schools can help you decide which degree program can best help you achieve your goals!

Back in 2014, Forbes reported how, upon graduation, 61.2 percent of accounting student applicants had at least one job offer. The only other two majors with higher percentages were Economics and Computer Science - with Economics at a close 61.5 percent - and Computer Science leading with 68.7 percent.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the growth outlook for accountants and auditors will grow by 10 percent over the next decade, and with typical entry-level candidates having achieved only a baccalaureate degree. The U.S. Dept. also reports the median annual pay in 2017 was a whopping $69,350!

Students who earn a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting should expect to receive advanced training in the discourse and the tools to master skills desirable for professional employment, such as oral and writing communication, knowledge-based decision making, quantitative reasoning, and more. Upon graduation, undergraduate accounting students can also expect to be an average 30-credits away from being able to earn CPA certification. A Bachelor's in Accounting is a reliable major designed for dedicated and hardworking students who are ready to tackle the discipline and ready themselves for the competitive professional field.

Selection Criteria

Best Value Schools publishes college degree rankings with the belief of how one's higher education should be, both, affordable and an investment of continued value for the students who pursue them. The staff of BVS collects data from reputable sources in order to calculate Net Price and the short and long-term value of every ranked degree. Collected data is simplified into weighted categories before scoring and then scaled through a BVS Score up to 100. The weighted categories are:

  • Degree Investment Return (25%)
  • Student & Alumni Evaluation (25%)
  • Cost Value (25%)
  • Matriculation (10%)
  • Academic Success (15%)

No matter what degree you decide on, we hope our research and support has made the selection process easier. There are numerous resources BVS utilizes to collect information on degrees, and we encourage you to check them out for yourself!

#1 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL
#2 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
#3 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC
#4 Binghamton University Vestal, NY
#5 University of Delaware Newark, DE
#6 University of Maryland College Park College Park, MD
#7 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
#8 SUNY at Albany Albany, NY
#9 Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington, IN
#10 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC

Featured Online Programs

Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.

  1. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Location

    Champaign, IL

    Tuition

    $16638

    The Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign is known to prepare students for not only professional careers in the field, but graduate programs in accounting and even law. The curriculum emphasizes a conceptual structure that focuses on all aspects of the discipline. This structure teaches using not only information, and it's utility, but the information's production and dissemination. Students will also master the skills of oral and written communication, professional communication and presentation, and informed decision making. The Internship Program allows students to complete a professional project with the guidance and support of trained faculty and professionals outside of the university.

  2. University of Illinois at Chicago
    Location

    Chicago, IL

    Tuition

    $11884

    The Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago teaches students using the most modernized research theories in the field. Students will also have many opportunities for practice of real-world application in the way that courses are designed. There are specialization areas in the program, like Corporate Accounting, Government Accounting, Nonprofit Accounting, Public Accounting-Tax, and Public Accounting-Audit. The program readies graduates for work in all types of organizations and businesses, from nonprofits and government agencies to shareholders and small businesses. Students will meet General and Basic Course Requirements, Business Core Requirements and Major Requirements upon graduation, as well as fulfilling Business Electives.

  3. North Carolina State University
    Location

    Raleigh, NC

    Tuition

    $13442

    Students who graduate with their Bachelor of Science in Accounting from North Carolina State University receive advanced trained in dealing with all aspects of an organization from a top-down perspective. Graduates are ready for careers in public accounting, business, and not-for-profit organizations, having to complete courses in business, accounting, and an accounting concentration area. Concentrations include Financial Analysis, Information Systems, Internal Auditing, Managerial Accounting, and Government and Nonprofit. The required courses will all work to prepare students for a multifaceted understanding of the field and industry, with courses like Professionalism, Diversity & Academic Success in Management.

  4. Binghamton University
    Location

    Vestal, NY

    Tuition

    $16775

    Binghamton University designed their Bachelor of Science in Accounting program for students who will pursue careers in public and corporate accounting after graduation, and for those pursuing graduate and professional school. Students are encouraged to complete internships to strengthen their skills and to network professionally. The university works with many big-time and mid-size companies and firms in New York to offer students hands-on industry practice, such as a media strategy course taught in conjunction with ZenithOptimedia. Many students in the undergraduate program end up pursuing the five-year program to earn both their bachelor's and Master of Accounting.

  5. University of Delaware
    Location

    Newark, DE

    Tuition

    $16286

    The Bachelor of Science in Accounting offered by the University of Delaware is a 123-credit program, preparing students to take for the CPA exam or pursue professional careers. The university also offers a master's program to those hoping to earn CPA certification. Students compelled to may work towards Honors in Accounting, following the university honors baccalaureate requirements. In 2017, 96 percent of accounting graduates from the program were employed with a median starting salary of $57,000, or pursuing further education. Those graduates went on to become staff accountants, auditors, federal tax associates, corporate accountants, and more. Admissions are competitive, with the one-year average and mid-50 percent of students who were generally admitted have a GPA between 3.6-3.99.

  6. University of Maryland College Park
    Location

    College Park, MD

    Tuition

    $17241

    The Bachelor's of Accounting from University of Maryland College Park is offered with a Public Accounting Track, the only specialization offered in the major at this time. Graduates are skilled in analysis, classification, and recording of financial events, using tools such as financial planning, budgeting, accounting systems, and more. UMD offers a "Plus 1" program to those hoping to take the CPA exam, allowing students to get their bachelor's and master's degree in five years. The degree is a total of 120 credits, consisting of General Education courses, the Business school required courses in math, business management, and more, and Accounting major requirements. Students will also have to take a Professional Writing course, an Economics course, and electives.

  7. Northern Arizona University
    Location

    Flagstaff, AZ

    Tuition

    $14901

    Students who pursue the Bachelor of Science in Accountancy program at Northern Arizona University will gain a solid foundation in the field, readying them for competitive career opportunities post-graduation. NAU also offers a postgrad MBA-Accounting Program to those who plan on taking the CPA exam. Students in the BS program will complete not only the 42 business core requirements and 30 Accounting major requirements, but NAU's University Requirements. Those University Requirements include courses in liberal studies, diversity, junior-level writing, and a capstone. The accounting program has additional requirements after admittance to NAU, which are available on the major's webpage.

  8. SUNY at Albany
    Location

    Albany, NY

    Tuition

    $16100

    SUNY at Albany designed their Bachelor of Science in Accounting program for dedicated, competitive students who are eager to earn their degree and enter the professional field. Admission is selective, with at least a 3.25 GPA required. Only high school seniors, current SUNY Albany students, and sophomore-standing transfer students can apply. Upon graduation, students will have completed 120 credits and therefore qualify for New York State's CPA "sit" rule, allowing them to take the CPA Examination but not gain licensure. Most graduates, however, continue into master's Accounting programs, both at SUNY Albany and elsewhere. Students are trained in financial and managerial accounting, auditing, taxation, information systems, and more. The program places a particular focus on ethical values and awareness of societal obligation in the field.

  9. Indiana University Bloomington
    Location

    Bloomington, IN

    Tuition

    $12488

    Students who earn a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Indiana University Bloomington are trained in auditing, taxation, systems management, and more. They'll also be equipped with professional oral communication and writing skills, to ensure effective teamwork and clientele service in postgrad careers. The degree curriculum is highly structured, meaning many courses have to be taken in a stated order. This means that those who apply to the program should be dedicated to the accounting major and ready to begin it as early as possible. Many internships are offered through the school, leading to job opportunities after graduation.

  10. University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Location

    Charlotte, NC

    Tuition

    $14811

    The Bachelor Science in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is AACSB accredited provides students with advanced training and preparation for professional careers, or for continuing education in CPA preparation. For this reason, the university also offers a Master's in Accounting program. The undergraduate program is a total of 120 credits, and students must have earned at least a 2.0 overall GPA before graduation. There's also a Business Honors Program available to students pursuing the degree, and internships can be used towards credit. Students will complete both Business Core Course requirements, and the major elements in Accounting courses.

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