Top 25 Online Associate in Accounting Programs for 2019

An online associate degree in accounting can help prepare you for a number of careers in a growing field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that 89,300 financial clerk positions will be added in the U.S. between 2014 and 2024. Alternatively, although a number of jobs are available to graduates of this degree program, many students choose to further their education and pursue a bachelor's degree. The following guide helps you evaluate the merits of an associate degree in accounting by informing you about the opportunities and challenges associated with this degree; a ranking of the best online associate in accounting programs is also provided.

What are the Best Online Associate in Accounting Programs?

Top 25 Online Associate in Accounting Programs

1. Champlain College — Burlington, VT

Admissions Rate

66%

Graduation Rate

58%

Online Enrollment

44%

Retention Rate

79%

Default Rate

5%

The online associate degree in accounting from Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, allows students to earn professional certification in accounting while completing the general education courses needed to obtain a bachelor's degree. The associate degree consists of 60 credits, and students can transfer up to 45 credits or receive credit for professional training and job experience. The accelerated class format allows students to complete most classes in seven weeks, with two seven-week terms per semester. The online program is flexible and learners are able to access class materials at any time. Champlain College admits new students at the start of each semester. Champlain earned regional accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

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2. Liberty University — Lynchburg, VA

3. Pamlico Community College — Grantsboro, NC

4. Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion — Marion, IN

5. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College — Saint Mary of the Woods, IN

6. Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale — Fort Lauderdale, FL

7. Northwest Iowa Community College — Sheldon, IA

8. Southern New Hampshire University — Manchester, NH

9. Davenport University — Grand Rapids, MI

10. Moraine Park Technical College — Fond du Lac, WI

11. Southwest Virginia Community College — Richlands, VA

12. Stanly Community College — Albemarle, NC

13. Foothill College — Los Altos Hills, CA

14. University of Alaska Fairbanks — Fairbanks, AK

15. Ogeechee Technical College — Statesboro, GA

16. Western Wyoming Community College — Rock Springs, WY

17. Northeast Community College — Norfolk, NE

18. Central Carolina Community College — Sanford, NC

19. Minnesota West Community and Technical College — Granite Falls, MN

20. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College — Shell Lake, WI

21. Coastal Pines Technical College — Waycross, GA

22. Hutchinson Community College — Hutchinson, KS

23. Lanier Technical College — Oakwood, GA

24. Southeast Technical Institute — Sioux Falls, SD

25. Indiana Institute of Technology — Fort Wayne, IN

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How to Choose an Online Associate in Accounting Program

Choosing an educational path is a complex process that can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, identifying and comparing key features of a degree program can help break this decision down into manageable steps. As you evaluate different online accounting associate degrees, you may want to pay attention to the length of the program; this can vary from school to school. Programs also differ in terms of their curriculum. This is important to consider because transferring into a bachelor's program or securing employment may depend on the completion of certain courses. The overall cost of a degree program is another crucial factor for most students.

You may also want to consider whether pursuing an accounting associate degree online at a particular school involves any on-campus attendance in addition to online coursework. Accreditation is another valuable factor to account for when comparing programs; some employers only hire graduates who attended an accredited institution/program. Weighing the various pros and cons will help you find the best online associate in accounting program for your educational goals.

Educational Paths for Graduates of Associate in Accounting Programs

After completing your associate program, you may decide to pursue a more advanced degree. Many schools allow students to transfer credits from an online associate degree in accounting into a bachelor's program. Associate degree holders may choose to pursue a bachelor's in accounting, management, marketing, or business, among other options. Graduates from accounting programs generally find that a more advanced degree qualifies them for employment in more lucrative careers. For example, the BLS reports that the median salary for bookkeepers, accounting clerks, and auditing clerks, which are jobs that only require an associate degree, is $38,390 . Alternatively, the median salary for accountants and auditors, which are jobs that require a bachelor's degree, is $68,150 .

• Bachelor's in Accounting To obtain a bachelor's in accounting, students take additional courses in cost accounting, management, organizational theory, and taxation. They may also need to complete classes related to business finance, financial statement analysis, and accounting information systems.

• Bachelor's in Management Degree candidates in management bachelor's programs study business law, entrepreneurship, human resource management, management information systems, and organizational behavior. They also become familiar with strategic management, human resource management, and supply chain management.

• Bachelor's in Marketing Students pursuing a bachelor's in marketing focus on understanding consumer behavior, sales communications, and market research. They also learn to develop marketing plans in accordance with a company's business goals and use data to improve the positions of products in the marketplace.

• Bachelor's in Business Students enrolled in a bachelor's degree in business program gain a broad perspective about all aspects of running a business, including planning, finance, business law and ethics, management, and taxation. Students also learn leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

Career Paths for Accounting Graduates

Graduates of online associate degree in accounting programs have a host of career options available to them, and many of these opportunities can be relatively lucrative. This degree prepares you to work as an accounting clerk, a bookkeeper, an accounting assistant, an accounts receivable clerk, or a billing clerk, among many other options. These jobs vary somewhat in terms of the skills they require and the day-to-day tasks they involve. The table below describes these roles and includes the corresponding median salaries.

Job Outlook and Salary for Accounting Associate Degree Graduates

Graduating from one of the best online associate in accounting programs prepares you to find employment in several fields that are expected increase in size in the coming years. The number of financial clerk positions available in the U.S. is projected to grow by more than 6% between 2014 and 2024. Many factors contribute to an employee's salary level and different positions are compensated at different rates. For example, the particular industry in which you work and where you live can both have a significant effect on your salary.

Salary Growth by Experience for Graduates of Accounting Associate Degrees

Students who have earned their associate degree in accounting online can expect to gain more money as they earn increased experience. The following table provides median salaries for accounting clerks, bookkeepers, and accounting assistants based on a worker's level of experience; these are three common careers held by individuals with an associate degree in accounting.

To determine the best online Associate in Accounting programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online Associate in Accounting programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.