The Prestige
In a competitive market for business schools and accounting programs, you need to ensure that you’re attending a school that will help you get a job when you’ve finished your education. To that end, universities and colleges are always looking for ways to differentiate themselves from the field to gain the prestige that makes their reputation soar. After all, the reputation of a school is an important factor for a student’s decision to attend.
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business credential is a standard of quality that adds value to the academics of a school, the faculty, and most important the reputation. When employers consider different graduates to hire, the strength of a school’s academic reputation is important.
What AACSB adds to a university is a quality metric. The AACSB standards for business academics is a well-recognized standard that is known around the world. These standards help set criteria of excellence that cover nearly every aspect of a school’s program—teaching, curriculum, institutional development, academic research quality, and of course, student learning.
Featured Online Accounting Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.The AACSB standards extend beyond business schools and into accounting programs. Accounting accreditation is extremely rigorous, and many business schools that are AACSB accredited don’t meet the requirements of accounting accreditation. Accredited schools are subject to a continuous improvement review process every five years to ensure that their teaching methods are up to their high standards.
To give you an idea of how strict the AACSB standards are, 777 business schools in the United States are accredited in business, but only 185 schools hold a specialized accreditation for accounting programs. That list further narrows down when considering how many schools offer online programs.
Ranking Methodology
Online Accounting Degree Report utilizes a proprietary ranking system that measures the affordability, reputation, and academic quality of accounting schools and programs.
For the Top Online AACSB Accredited Degree Program Rankings, we used the following data from the National Center for Education Statistics database:
- Net Price
- Acceptance Rate
- 6-year Graduation Rate
- Retention Rate
Each school was given a ranking for each data point and then given a composite score, taking into account each data point rank. Wherein a tie occurred, the school with the lower net price was ranked higher because the cost is one of the determining factors for persons deciding which higher education institutions to attend.
The Best of Online Education
Interestingly, five of our nine schools on this list are located in the south (six, if you count Virginia, but that’s up for debate). This trend indicates that traditional education experiences are more popular in the rest of the country. Recent studies have shown that many students interested in online education are more inclined to enroll in a program within 50 miles of home. Yet, the beauty of many of these online programs is that they are fully 100% online–meaning that as a student, you can attend classes from nearly anywhere in the country. Of course, depending on where you are attending class, you will face unique challenges like time zone differences, but the flexibility each of these programs offers should enable you to succeed.
We are pleased to present the top nine AACSB-accredited online accounting degree programs for the 2022-2023 academic years.
Top 9 AACSB Online Bachelor Degree Programs in Accounting
1. AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Score: 100
Net Price: $24,018
Acceptance Rate: 85%
4-year Graduation Rate: 77%
Retention Rate: 92%
Website: http://harbert.auburn.edu/academics/online-programs/bs-in-accountancy-online/
Auburn is ranked nationally as one of the best schools in the country. Brigham Young University, another well-respected school for its business programs, places Auburn 9th on its Accounting Rankings for Universities list. As one of the largest universities in the south, Auburn is home to more than 27,000 students in more than 140 degree options. Auburn’s online accounting degree stands out among its peers because it is entirely tooled towards helping students who already have a degree and seek a career change. Auburn’s classes are typically recorded and students in the online program can view these classes live or stream at a convenient time. What makes this program stand out is its commitment to treating its online and traditional students equally–holding both groups of students to high standards of academic rigor and student accountability.
Highlights
#9 BYU Accounting Rankings for Universities
2. OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
Score: 99
Net Price: $17,204
Acceptance Rate: 95%
4-year Graduation Rate: 58%
Retention Rate: 78%
Website: https://online.odu.edu/programs/accounting
Landing a spot in our top three is Old Dominion University. This public school in Norfolk, Virginia, is home to more than 20,000 students and is traditionally ranked among the best schools in the country. This prestige comes from generation after generation of academic rigor that has led ODU to become a top school in the area. The ODU online programs are essentially the same classes taught at the Virginia campus–the same instructors and coursework–and are available to all undergraduate students. With more than 12,000 online graduates, ODU prides itself on being a flexible program for students that need flexibility. Students can turn in assignments and even take exams online, no matter where they are.
Highlights
#49 US News Best Online Bachelor’s Rankings
#108 BYU Accounting Rankings for Universities
3. WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Score: 98.25
Net Price: $15,300
Acceptance Rate: 80%
4-year Graduation Rate: 65%
Retention Rate: 80%
Website: https://online.wsu.edu/undergrad/accounting.aspx
Students and Alumni talk about Washington State University’s difference, and WSU students are indeed different. One of the top research universities in the country with faculty that is among the best in their field, WSU’s academic caliber helps its students make a difference in the world that improves the lives of many. All courses in WSU’s accounting program are available online and take advantage of technological advances to bring expert-level instruction to students wherever they are. A unique part of the WSU curriculum is the Global Learning requirement. This standard requires students to earn 6 credits studying international issues of the global marketplace through international internships, studying abroad, or through approved coursework.
Highlights
#34 US News Online Bachelor’s Rankings
4. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY – CARBONDALE
Score: 98
Net Price: $16,285
Acceptance Rate: 92%
4-year Graduation Rate: 53%
Retention Rate: 78%
Website: http://onlineug.business.siu.edu/about/acct/
Despite its rural setting, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale is one of the top-ranked national universities. Combining the big brains of a big research institution and the heart of a small college, SIU prepares students and helps them stand out among their peers. Beyond the excellent classroom experience, SIU offers a wide variety of online courses to suit the needs of students The final two years of the undergraduate degree (after general requirements) can be completely 100% online through SIU. While the program usually requires 24 months to complete, students at SIU have been known to accelerate their pace and finish within 18 months.
5. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
Score: 98
Net Price: $16,530
Acceptance Rate: 81%
4-year Graduation Rate: 56%
Retention Rate: 85%
Website: http://businessdegrees.uab.edu/accounting-degree/bachelors/
As an education hub of the south, The University of Alabama at Birmingham is an internationally renowned school with a far-reaching reputation for expertise. UAB has held the distinction of being AACSB accredited for more than 30 years and offers both a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Accounting degree completely 100% online (though the option remains to take classes in hybrid formats as well). Even as online students, students at UAB are guaranteed to be able to interact with a diverse body of students in the various accounting program classes. The program promises to help students build a solid understanding of key accounting concepts and take charge of their careers.
Highlights
#86 US News Best Online Bachelor’s Rankings
#19 BYU Accounting Rankings for Universities
6. THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
Score: 97.75
Net Price: $13,904
Acceptance Rate: 85%
4-year Graduation Rate: 50%
Retention Rate: 79%
Website: http://www.memphis.edu/uofmonline/Programs/bba_accountancy.php
The University of Memphis is home to more than 17,000 students in Tennessee. UofM is a cutting-edge school that has benefited from the foresight of recognizing the shift to digital education. Because of this, they are among the best schools in the country for online education. With a large selection of online undergraduate and graduate degrees, UofM knows what it’s like to be an online student and appreciates the sacrifices that online students must make to succeed. Graduates from this program are prepared to work in private, public, or governmental accounting and are ready for the challenges of the marketplace.
Highlights
#14 BYU Accounting Rankings for Universities
7. TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Score: 97.75
Net Price: $14,887
Acceptance Rate: 85%
4-year Graduation Rate: 61%
Retention Rate: 76%
Website: http://accounting.mccoy.txstate.edu/degress-programs/bba.html
At the top of our list is Texas State University. This school benefits from a high student-to-faculty ratio of 20:1 and is home to almost 32,000 students. Many students attend Texas State University for the high-quality education it offers residents of the region. Students often praise Texas State University for the flexibility that various degree programs offer. One thing to note about online programs in the state of Texas is that most programs in the state are not 100% online. This is because the CPA’s requirements in Texas state that students in a traditional classroom setting attend at least 15 credit hours. This means that students in Texas should consider the distance from home to campus in making any decision. Regardless of the CPA requirements, students attending TSU earn degrees that are well respected in the industry.
Highlights
#177 BYU Accounting Rankings for Universities
8. UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO
Score: 97.5
Net Price: $17,312
Acceptance Rate: 95%
4-year Graduation Rate: 45%
Retention Rate: 77%
Website: http://www.utoledo.edu/online-degree-programs/programs/bachelors/accounting-online.html
Rounding out our list is the University of Toledo in Ohio. With a high acceptance rate of 94.7%, UT is committed to helping students achieve their best. This dedication to education is part of why this school is AACSB accredited. With many experts in the accounting field as instructors and lecturers, students have a fantastic opportunity to learn from the best. The University of Toledo has been offering online courses since 1998, and part of its success is the commitment that UT shows to its online students. While some schools may dedicate a few resources to helping online students and call it good, UT features an entire department dedicated to helping students. From an eLibrary to eTutoring, online students have the opportunity to succeed at UT.
Highlights
#34 US News Best Online Bachelor’s Rankings
9. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – LITTLE ROCK
Score: 94.75
Net Price: $16,065
Acceptance Rate: 56%
4-year Graduation Rate: 39%
Retention Rate: 70%
Website: http://ualr.edu/accounting/
The key to any online program is its ability to provide high-quality education to all its students, regardless of how they choose to attend. This is especially true of the University of Arkansas – Little Rock, which offers more than 450 courses every semester that students can enroll in and earn their degrees. As a bonus, students that fully participate in the online program receive a reduced rate on their tuition costs, making online education at UALR a convenient and affordable option.
Highlights
#49 US News Best Online Bachelor’s Rankings
#109 BYU Accounting Rankings for Universities
Final Thoughts
If you’re on the fence about enrolling in an online accounting program, take inventory of your skills and abilities. If you are a student that is well disciplined and can handle taking classes outside of a “normal” schedule, then online programs are for you. If you do better with more structure in your life then a traditional program or a hybrid program may better suit your needs. Remember, online programs aren’t for everyone. If you want to succeed as a student then you need to play to your strengths as a student.
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