Studying online is a great way to fulfill college requirements while earning credits. You also get to level up your education in the same way you would have if you attended an in-person college class. If you are an accounting enthusiast and want to enhance your skills in this field, attending online college accounting courses may be just right for you.
However, with so many online courses, finding a great program from an accredited institution might be challenging. In this guide, we’ve put together a list featuring the top online college accounting courses for credit. We’ll also go through some of the best free online college accounting classes offered by well-known online platforms.
Why Should I Take an Online Accounting Course for Credit?
You should take an online accounting course for credit because such programs offer incredible flexibility while leveling up your education. An online financial accounting course offers convenience as you can earn college credits from the comfort of your home.
The best online accounting courses are just as effective as traditional education programs. A study published by the Journal of Online Learning and Teaching revealed that over 92 percent of all online programs are as effective if not better than traditional in-person education programs.
Moreover, with an online accounting course, you can study at your own pace.
Top 10 Online Accounting Courses for Credit
| Course Title | Provider | Price | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT 5110: Intermediate Accounting I | Auburn University | $775 per credit | 10 Months |
| AC 331: Income Tax Accounting | Bellevue University | $430 per credit | Summer |
| ACCT 102 – Managerial Accounting | Community College of Philadelphia | $193 per credit hour | Year-long |
| ACCT429 – Federal Income Taxation | DeVry University | $514 per credit | Summer |
| ACCT 470 – Auditing | Franklin University | $398 per credit | Summer |
| ACCT 302 – Financial Accounting II | Indiana State University | N/A | Summer |
| ACCT 403 — Governmental and Not-for-profit Accounting | Liberty University | $390 per credit hour | Summer |
| ACCTG 211- Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision-Making | Penn State University | $590/$632 per credit | Summer |
| ACC 550- Cost Accounting | Southern New Hampshire University | $320 per credit | 8 Weeks |
| ACCT 3220 – Accounting Systems | University of Minnesota | N/A | Year-long |
Best Online College Accounting Classes and Courses: Explained
1. ACCT 5110: Intermediate Accounting I (Auburn University)
This course is best suited to those with a degree that wish to change their careers to accounting-related careers. It’s part of Auburn University’s BSBA in Accountancy Online—Second Degree. Auburn University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and the Schools Commission on Colleges.
You must be a US citizen or a green cardholder to attend this course. The director of graduate and online programs will help you meet the educational requirements necessary to take the CPA exam if you want to become a certified public accountant.
2. AC 331: Income Tax Accounting (Bellevue University)
Bellevue University offers this accounting course, which is delivered on-campus or online. This is a three-credit course that is part of Bellevue’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree. This institution is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
This course focuses on procedures used in computing tax liability for individuals and federal income tax provisions. This course also covers income tax determination, problems of computing gross income, deductions and losses, tax credits, tax liability, tax returns, and capital gains and losses.
3. ACCT 102 – Managerial Accounting (Community College of Philadelphia)
The Community College of Philadelphia offers a three-credit course designed to equip students with managerial accounting skills. This course places a strong emphasis on the evaluation of financial statements, statements of cash flows, analysis of financial statements, financial records, cost-volume analysis, capital budgeting, and cost accounting.
You’ll need to take this school’s ACCT 101 – Financial Accounting introductory course before enrolling in this program. The introductory course is a for-credit course that will earn you four credits.
4. ACCT429 – Federal Income Taxation (DeVry University)
DeVry University is a private for-profit institution known for its technology and business programs. This school offers a four-credit program designed to examine the basic concepts of federal income taxation. It also covers core courses like taxation methods, sole proprietorships, limited partnerships, and corporations.
By the end of this program, the online student will be able to develop tax planning skills in various accounting information systems. Other topics you’ll have learned include income inclusions and exclusions, federal taxation, property transactions, tax credits, capital gains, and losses. Consider this program if you are an aspiring tax accountant. However, you’ll need to have completed this school’s ACCT212 before enrolling in this course.
5. ACCT 302 – Financial Accounting II (Indiana State University)
If you’re an advanced online student who wants to further your education while earning credits, consider this program from Indiana State University. Indiana State University is one of the oldest public institutions and is known for its decent educational programs. It offers three credits through this online program.
This course is a continuation of accounting principles. It places a strong emphasis on educational courses, such as accounting for intangible assets, stakeholders’ equity, liabilities, income taxes, investments, leases, and derivatives. To enroll in this course, you’ll need to complete this school’s ACCT 301 course with a C grade or get consent from the department chairperson.
6. ACCT 470 – Auditing (Franklin University)
Franklin University School of Business is a private academic institution that offers a wide array of online classes. This school is known for offering programs that make it easy for busy adult learners to earn their degrees. Franklin University offers an online auditing program that takes anywhere between six to 12 weeks to complete.
Franklin University is known for its generous credit transfer policy. This four-credit program focuses on planning, internal control reviews, liabilities, equities, and financial statement analyses for enterprises. You’ll also learn audit procedures, forensic accounting, professional standards, accounting ethics, and liabilities of professionals in specific accounting careers.
7. ACCT 403 — Governmental and Not-for-profit Accounting (Liberty University)
Liberty University is a large university that houses over 47,988 undergraduate students. This Christian university offers more than 100 undergraduate online degrees and programs, including an online accounting degree. ACCT 403 is an eight-week course that’s part of this school’s online accounting degree program. This course features a policy that allows accounting students to transfer up to 75 percent of the degree total.
By the end of this program, you’ll have learned about international accounting, consolidation of foreign entities, reporting for governments, non-profit organizations, estates, financially distressed entities, and trusts. You’ll also learn more about accounting principles and ethical dilemmas. Consider this course if you are an aspiring government accountant or tax accountant.
8. ACCTG 211- Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision-Making (Penn State University)
If you are new to the accounting field and are looking for introductory classes, consider this program. Penn State University is a large university with about 39,809 undergraduate students enrolled in its programs. This school is known to students for the experiences it offers, as its University Park campus is also known as Happy Valley.
Penn State offers this online program which will earn you four credits. Online coursework features an introduction to accounting and the financial decisions of an investor. The education requirement for this course is a high school diploma or Math 021.
9. ACC550- Cost Accounting (Southern New Hampshire University)
Southern New Hampshire University offers this course designed to teach the concepts and practices of accounting systems. This three-credit program focuses on cost behaviors and accounting tools for planning and control. However, before enrolling, you’ll need to have completed the MBA503 – Financial Reporting Analysis course.
10. ACCT 3220 – Accounting Systems (University of Minnesota)
This three-credit program covers the theory and methodology of analyzing, designing, and implementing accounting information systems. You’ll also learn about data structures and integrated data processing, QuickBooks accounting software, and other aspects of systems designs. You’ll need to have completed the ACCT 2101 course before enrolling in this program.
Top 5 Free Online College Accounting Courses
- Risk and Return | edX. With thousands of students already enrolled, this program is a popular choice for accounting students who want to be taught how to measure risk and returns regarding equity and debt. This program is designed for aspiring professionals who are interested in financial risk services.
- Excel for Accountants: Mapping Tables | Udemy. Excel is a fundamental tool used by most accounting firms. This course is designed for accountants who want to learn how to automate reporting tasks with a mapping table.
- Financial Accounting | edX. This course is offered by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Consider this program if you are starting out in finance as an accounting professional. You’ll learn a wide range of accounting topics, including financial reporting, financial management, financial analysis, and business finance.
- Introduction to Bookkeeping | edX. Over 90,000 students have already enrolled in this program, making this a popular choice for aspiring accountants. In this course, you’ll learn about different types of business transactions, payroll, ledger accounts, reconciliations, sales, and credit transactions.
- Taxes and Decision Making | Indiana University Through edX. This course is designed for those with advanced knowledge of accounting principles and practices. You’ll learn how to use basic finance tools, navigate deferral income tax laws, and align practices with financial accounting standards.
Are Online Accounting College Courses Worth It?
Yes, online accounting college courses are worth it for several reasons. One of the biggest advantages of online education is that you can learn at your own pace, take breaks whenever you want, or increase your learning speed when you have time. Also, learning online tends to be cheaper than studying on-campus, and in most cases, you get the same hands-on experience as with an in-person course.
Moreover, surveys have shown that an online format is just as effective if not better than traditional university learning styles. You should enroll in a highly rated accounting course if you’ve been considering career options in this field.
Online College Accounting Courses FAQ
Yes, accounting is a good career. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that this field will create 96,000 jobs by 2030, as the job demand is expected to grow by 7 percent in the accounting industry. Accountants also earn a relatively high annual wage of $73,560 and have job security as they are usually indispensable members of a company.
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Yes, an online accounting degree is valuable as long as it’s from an accredited institution. Earning an online accounting degree is just as effective, if not better, than earning a degree the traditional way. An accounting degree will also help you pursue a career as a financial analyst for an accounting firm and give you access to large compensation packages.
You can learn accounting for free online by looking up free courses in accounting from massive open online courses (MOOCs). Such MOOCs include edX, Coursera, and Udacity. You could also search for universities offering free accounting courses. Resources such as YouTube are also helpful when satisfying a specific query regarding the field of accounting.
Yes, learning accounting can be hard in college, especially as a major. It incorporates topics such as cost accounting, federal tax, and financial accounting, which require a serious commitment to master. Most accounting curricula are intense, offering very little free time.
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