The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% growth in accounting professions between 2020 and 2030 as a result of organizations’ increasingly complex and globalized financial activities. Accounting certificate-holders can also pursue bookkeeping and tax examiner positions. Here, we rank the best accounting certificates and provide detailed information about these programs.
Top 5 online schools for certificates in accounting
The best online certificate in accounting
To ensure our rankings give an accurate picture of the certificate landscape, we pull data from reputable and publicly available sources. The information is then curated by using ZDNet’s ranking methodology. Harrison, AR Application fee: $35 Centralia, IL Application fee: Free Pearl City, HI Application fee: $15 Prescott, AZ Application fee: Free West Burlington, IA Application fee: Free Unless otherwise indicated, data is drawn from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard.
Insights from an accounting graduate
Bret Hanson holds bachelor’s degrees in marketing and accounting from Oregon State University. He serves as the elected President of the Lake Grove Fire District Board of Directors. As a certified fraud examiner, he specializes in turning complex business structures into clarity for lenders. He has worked on lending projects of up to $75 million in categories such as life sciences, technology, and healthcare. As an industry expert in recurring revenue, he often consults on the best practices to account for churn within various industries. Beyond the office, Bret enjoys a full-time nomadic travel lifestyle with his family.
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 36%Annual net price: $4,702Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: Two to fiveCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 47%Annual net price: $6,574Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 24%Annual net price: $7,657Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 23%Annual net price: $6,965Time to completion: One to two yearsSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 32%Annual net price: $7,223Time to completion: Three to four monthsSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 32%Annual net price: $10,509Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 50%Annual net price: $11,952Time to completion: Three to four monthsSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 40%Annual net price: $5,354Time to completion: Three to four monthsSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 39%Annual net price: $7,532Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 39%Annual net price: $8,893Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly available Enrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 56%Annual net price: $10,131Time to completion: Three to six monthsSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 24%Annual net price: $10,076Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly available Enrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 23%Annual net price: $2,315Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 25%Annual net price: $2,598Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 18%Annual net price: $8,016Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 40%Annual net price: $7,824Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 40%Annual net price: $13,824Time to completion: Three to four months SAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 17%Annual net price: $5,272Time to completion: Three to 12 monthsSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 24%Annual net price: $5,212Time to completion: Three to four monthsSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: 2.2 without entrance testEnrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: 85%Graduation rate: 61%Annual net price: $33,561Time to completion: One yearSAT range: 570-670Minimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 24%Annual net price: $6,012Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 26%Annual net price: $3,478Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 24%Annual net price: $6,876Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 43%Annual net price: $7,201Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 32%Annual net price: $5,694Time to completion: One yearSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: Two to threeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
ZDNet: What was the most challenging, rigorous course you took in your accounting program? What advice would you give to students who are about to start this course? Bret Hanson: Introductory accounting courses were the hardest to complete successfully. In early accounting classes, I didn’t have exposure to business operations as a whole to fully grasp concepts with a whole new vocabulary attached. As my education progressed, I continued to reflect on prior accounting classes to assess how much deeper my understanding grew as I learned more about business structures. I would advise young students to fully immerse themselves in these introductory courses and learn how to ask questions on the material. ZDNet: How did you make the most of your accounting program so that it prepared you for post-grad jobs? BH: As a student, I focused on how technical elements of accounting would actually be utilized by a company in practice. Theories and equations without real life stories behind them can be hard to retain. Going beyond classroom settings and putting day-to-day job tasks under the lens of an accountant solidified my understanding outside of school and showed me how all the departments within a company are affected by the accounting process. ZDNet: What were the greatest takeaways from your accounting certificate that helped you to be successful in your career? BH: Knowing enough about business as a whole to ask the right questions is vital. As an auditor, my job is to take complex company data and simplify the information to be understood by a wide variety of people that are not accountants. Being mindful of how marketing, sales, R&D, and middle management will use the accounting information I present is what guides the information in and presentation of my reports. A great accountant (and auditor) will understand and cater to their audience rather than simply explaining data for other accountants who already understand the raw information.
What to expect in an online certificate in accounting program
Online accounting certificates vary by school, level, and focus. These condensed programs can feature entry-level, intermediate, and even graduate-level training from an online accounting master’s program. They may include general or foundational courses or provide more specialized education in a subdiscipline. Online accounting certificates are similar to online accounting degrees, just in smaller, more focused packages. Students may complete individual and group projects, participate in class discussions, and complete practical assignments. While some programs allow students to choose between courses, most have rigid curriculums. An accounting certificate’s difficulty depends on many different factors, but online learners typically need to be self-motivated and committed to their studies. In general, successful accounting students are detail-oriented and have sharp analytical and mathematical skills.
Accounting courses
The courses offered in an accounting certificate differ for every program. The training may provide courses in accounting basics or in very specialized topics. The following list examines some of the more popular options available in a certificate program.
Cost Accounting
In this course, students learn how accounting can impact managerial decisions, pricing, company growth, and performance evaluations. Learners look at ways of managing costs, planning projects, and analyzing profits.
Financial Accounting
This course explores the entire accounting cycle. Students learn accounting principles, how to prepare financial statements, and how to use financial information for business decisions.
Payroll Accounting
Students in this course learn about a payroll accountant’s major duties, including calculating net pay, commissions, and expenses. They may also study labor laws, vacation, and benefits.
Tax Accounting
In this course, students learn the rules for individual and corporate taxation. They may also learn to use a few of the leading accounting software programs, such as Quickbooks.
In conclusion
The accounting certificates ranked above represent some of the best and most accessible options for study in this field. For students who cannot set aside the time or money for a degree, these accelerated online credentials provide a promising alternative. Accounting certificates can lead to entry-level accounting careers and help experienced business professionals develop new financial skills.
