Accelerated Accounting Degrees: How to Get Your Accounting Degree Fast

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountants have a job outlook of seven percent, a rate that is similar to the average growth rate of eight percent across all occupations. This makes accounting a stable career path to pursue today. The field of accounting and business promises a rewarding future, whether you are freshly out of high school or a community college.

A typical accounting degree program would take about four years or more to complete, which can be quite long for some people. However, with accelerated accounting degrees, you can complete your bachelor’s or master’s accounting degree fast and get closer to achieving your career goals. Below, you can find some of the best accounting accelerated degrees.

What Is an Accelerated Accounting Degree? 

An accelerated accounting degree is a degree that is attained ahead of schedule. A fast-track accounting degree is quicker to achieve than a regular degree, as students have to take extra college credits each year and complete additional requirements at a faster pace than usual. An accelerated accounting bachelor’s degree may be completed in two to three years, rather than the usual four years.

An accelerated master’s degree will take between three and 18 months to complete, rather than the typical one and a half to two years. Students who take these degrees will cover the same content and get the same certifications as other students, except in a shorter time. This type of school diploma is usually best for exceptional students and full-time students who wish to be qualified for accounting-related careers at an accelerated pace.

How Fast Can You Get an Accounting Degree?

You can get an accounting degree in as fast as a year to two years. It all depends on your educational background. A student transferring credits from an associate degree may complete the bachelor’s program in a year to two years, while those who take on extra credit hours may complete the program in three years or three and a half years.

It could take between a year to 18 months to get a Master’s Degree in Accounting, compared to the typical two to three years. This type of advanced accounting degree plan will open up an accounting career path faster, but prospective students still have to meet the degree requirements and pass the application process.

What Jobs Can You Get with an Accelerated Accounting Degree?

• Accountant. Accountants are professionals with bookkeeping duties, who have to ensure that financial records and statements are in line with both the law and generally accepted accounting principles. Professionals in the accounting practice also do financial planning, prepare tax returns, and assess financial assets. Accounting jobs have an average annual income of $73,560.
• Cost Estimator. Cost estimators are experts who use problem-solving skills to collect and analyze data to calculate the amount of money, time, materials, and labor required for a project, service, or product. Cost estimators work in office settings, construction sites, or factories and earn an average annual salary of $66,610.
• Tax Examiner or Collector. Tax collectors are professionals who determine and collect taxes from individuals and businesses on behalf of the government. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook of tax collectors is on a decline, but they have an impressive salary at an average of $55,640 annually.
• Auditor. An auditor is in charge of tracking a company’s cash flow and financial accounts to ensure that they are recorded correctly, protected through appropriate measures, risk-management compliant, and follow essential accounting rules.
• Accounting Analyst. Accounting analysts use critical-thinking skills to evaluate a company’s income and spending. They create financial reports, statements, and documentation to help companies make well-informed business decisions. An accounting analyst can work at an accounting firm, insurance company, and across a wide range of industries.

How We Ranked the Best Accelerated Accounting Degrees

The best accelerated accounting degrees we have listed are ranked based on affordable tuition rates, graduation rates, and job placement rates. These schools stand out for having fast degree options and making it easy for low-income students to afford tuition and achieve academic excellence, with the majority of programs also offering helpful financial aid.

The Best Accounting Accelerated Degrees in 2022

The Best Fast-Track Accounting Degrees in 2022, Explained

Many schools offer accelerated courses from the undergraduate level to graduate school. Some offer a combined option, where students can complete both their undergraduate and graduate degrees at once and at a faster rate, while others offer online accounting degree programs. Find a brief description of the schools and degrees that top our list, below. 

Master of Science in Accountancy | California State Polytechnic University

• Location: San Luis Obispo, California
• Online Option: Yes
• Tuition Per Credit: $728 in-state, $1,124 out-of-state
• Required Time: One year

Commonly known as Cal Poly, this school is a public university in California and one of three polytechnics in the California State University system. It has six colleges and offers 62 bachelor’s and 39 master’s degree programs, including the Accelerated Master of Science in Accountancy degree. 

The program is designed for working professionals who want to advance in their careers and it allows students to finish graduate coursework in one year, provided that they complete all accounting foundation courses and meet the education requirements. The courses are offered on Saturdays only, in online, in-person, and hybrid formats.

Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting | Concordia University St. Paul

• Location: Online, St. Paul, Minnesota
• Online Option: Yes
• Tuition Per Credit: $420 in-state, $420 out-of-state
• Required Time: 2.5 years

CSP, as it’s commonly known, is a private university founded in 1893. It offers both online and in-person formats in over 80 programs with a 17-to-one student-faculty ratio. It is one of the most affordable private universities in the Twin Cities and is dedicated to teaching students the essential accounting principles and skills they require to be job-ready. 

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting program is offered in both online and in-person formats, but only the online program is accelerated. This degree in accounting prepares students to take CPA or CMA exams and understand the application of accounting skills. The school has a job placement rate of 95 percent and has some of the highest-paid alumni in the US. 

Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting | Indiana Wesleyan University

• Location: Online, Marion, Indiana
• Online Option: Yes
• Tuition Per Credit: $449 in-state, $449 out-of-state
• Required Time: 1.5 years

Indiana Wesleyan University is a private Christian university in Marion, Indiana, and the largest private university in the state, based on enrollment. It offers over 100 degrees, both on-campus and online programs, from the associate to doctoral level. 

The school offers an accelerated accounting degree online and in select on-campus locations. It can be completed in 18 months and prepares students to take the certified public accountants (CPA) exams. This program encourages the application of accounting skills, helping students pursue an accounting career path faster.

Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting | Liberty University

• Location: Online, Lynchburg, Virginia
• Online Option: Yes
• Tuition Per Credit: $390 in-state, $390 out-of-state
• Required Time: 3.5 years

Liberty University is a private evangelical university in Lynchburg, Virginia. It offers online and on-site courses in over 700 programs from the certificate to doctoral levels. The BS in Accounting is an online degree program that allows students to complete it in a shorter period. The program is offered in an eight-week format throughout the students’ undergraduate studies. 

This degree in accounting prepares students for careers in public accounting, tax accounting, managerial accounting, and many other types of professional accounting. Students enrolled in this program will also receive the help of an academic advisor to help them meet their educational goals.

Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Accounting | Michigan Technological University

• Location: Houghton, Michigan
• Online Option: No
• Tuition Per Credit: $629 in-state, $1,400 out-of-state
• Required Time: 5 years

Michigan Technological University is a public research university in Houghton, Michigan, established in 1885. It offers over 125 programs, including master’s, doctoral, and certificate degree programs. The accelerated MS and BS in accounting degrees allow students to get both degrees in 10 semesters, within a maximum period of five years.

This accounting major is for students who want to earn an advanced degree soon after graduation. Students who are accepted into the program can begin taking master’s-level coursework in the fourth year of their undergraduate program and take their CPA exam soon after.

Online Master of Science in Accounting | Purdue University Global 

• Location: Online, West Lafayette, Indiana
• Online Option: Yes
• Tuition Per Credit: $485 in-state, $485 out-of-state
• Required Time: 1.5 years

Purdue University is a public land-grant research university, established in 1869. This master’s program provides an online accounting degree that is offered through the school’s global/online school. It is designed to be completed in a year and a half when taken full-time. 

This online program prepares students to take accounting certification exams after completion and join the field of accounting as a public accountant, financial examiner, budget analyst, or other accounting professional. 

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management – Accounting | Touro University Worldwide

• Location: Online, Los Alamitos, California
• Online Option: Yes
• Tuition Per Credit: $400 in-state, $400 out-of-state
• Required Time: 3.5 years

Touro University Worldwide is a non-profit institution founded in 2008 as the global part of the Touro College and University System. It offers fully online bachelor’s and master’s programs to adult learners, professionals, and the underserved. 

The BS in Business Administration and Management is designed to prepare online students for a successful career and offers several concentrations, including accounting. The duration of the program is dependent on the number of education credits that the students take each year. When taken full-time, the online classes can be completed in three and a half years.

Master of Science in Accountancy | The University of Miami

• Location: Coral Gables, Florida
• Online Option: No
• Tuition Per Credit: $2,213 in-state, $2,213 out-of-state
• Required Time: 1 year

The University of Miami is a private, non-profit research institution in Coral Gables, Florida. It offers multiple graduate courses, including an accelerated Master’s Program in Accountancy and Taxation. The program allows students who have chosen the acceleration option to start their master’s degree coursework in the final year of their undergraduate degree. 

The program is available only to undergraduates of the University of Miami Herbert Business School. It is designed so that students can complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in four and a half years. As per the program requirements, students taking this course must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Accounting | The University of South Carolina

• Location: Online, Columbia, South Carolina
• Online Option: Yes
• Tuition Per Credit: $274 in-state, $549 out-of-state
• Required Time: 2.5 years

The University of South Carolina is a public research university with satellite campuses across the state. It offers both online and on-campus learning formats across a wide range of programs. The BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting is offered online to prepare students for a career in the accounting field and the CPA certification exam.

Online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Accounting | Western Governors University

• Location: Online 
• Online Option: Yes
• Tuition Per Credit: Tuition is charged at $3,575 per six-month term
• Required Time: 2 years

Western Governors University is a non-profit private online university that offers a variety of bachelor’s programs with the same impact as traditional on-campus programs. This program prepares students for a career in accounting. The bachelor’s program can be used to pursue an advanced degree, which, when combined with the BS credits, can be used to sit the CPA exam in most states. 

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Should You Get an Accelerated Accounting Degree?

Yes, you should get an accelerated accounting degree if it works for you, especially if you already have an associate degree, are an accounting professional looking for career growth, or simply don’t have time on your side. With this degree option, you can join the workforce faster than usual while meeting all educational requirements and earning the same degree as others.

Accelerated Accounting Degrees FAQ