Best Accelerated Online Accounting Degree Programs of 2025

Q: Is an accelerated online accounting degree hard?

It all depends on how well you grasp the material and how much time you can leave for other things in your life to avoid burnout. An accelerated accounting degree will be much more demanding on your schedule than a more traditional degree path, so you’ll need to weigh whether these extra sacrifices would be worth it for you.

Q: Do employers respect accelerated bachelor's in accounting degrees?

It can help you stand out because it’s relatively uncommon. Finding motivated candidates with good grades, a good work ethic, and time management skills is something every employer looks for, so earning an accelerated degree is a great way to demonstrate that. It’s not the only thing employers look for, though. Many also value well-rounded candidates who can fit within their company’s culture, so having an accelerated degree is not the only way to stand out. Beyond your entry-level interviews and job, most employers won’t notice or care about your degree and put much more weight on your work experience.

Q: Is an online degree in accounting worth it?

It can be, but it’s a big commitment that you should only take on if you think you can handle it. Fair or not, many employers screen applications based on GPA, so consider whether the accelerated degree timeline will negatively impact your GPA. Also, consider whether the accelerated degree leaves room for other important resume boosters, like an internship. An accelerated degree with a 3.0 GPA with no internship experience may not qualify for as many roles as a 3.6 GPA with 1-2 internships.

Discover how an accelerated online accounting degree program can cut your study time down and get you working faster.

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Updated May 13, 2025

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At a Glance: BestColleges’ Top Accelerated Accounting Program

#1: St. Catherine University — A low cost per credit and good student outcomes help St. Catherine University land at the top of our list.

An accelerated accounting degree means you start seeing a return on your investment fast.

We’ve compiled online accounting bachelor’s degrees that can be finished fast. We weighed factors including affordability and student outcomes to help you find a program that isn’t just fast, but will also ensure you graduate and land a job.

The three programs on our list take 2-3 years to complete. Read on to learn more.

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In this Article

Best Accelerated Accounting Degrees Online

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

Affordability (30%)
Student outcomes (30%)
Reputation (20%)
Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, MN4 yearCampus + Online

$36,694

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,694

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

94%

Acceptance Rate

64%

Online Enrollment

Why St. Kate's Made Our List

St. Catherine University’s online accounting degree is built for flexibility — that means you can fast-track your education and finish the program in as little as two years.

The ACBSP-accredited accounting program has core courses that cover fundamental accounting concepts and core business skills like analytics. St. Kate's online programs, through its College for Adults, are geared toward working professionals.

Why Attend St. Kate's

Built for Working Professionals: St. Kate's gears its online accounting degree toward working adults who need scheduling flexibility. The university has a College for Adults that focuses on nontraditional college students.
Earn Your Degree in Two Years: The flexible, self-paced nature of the degree means you can earn a bachelor’s in accounting in as little as two years.
Experienced Faculty: Classes are taught by faculty who’ve worked in the accounting field, meaning you’ll be learning from experts with real-world experience.

Know Before You Go

Second Degree Option: If you already have a degree in another field and want to pursue accounting, St. Kate's offers an accelerated degree for which you’ll only need to complete the major’s required courses.
Cost per Credit: The cost per credit is $475, and the program requires 44 credits to graduate.
Portfolio Requirement: You’ll be required to build up a business portfolio using real-world experiences and skills you’ve learned in the program.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,910

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,910

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

3,539

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,694

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,694

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, MN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,694

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,694

Acceptance Rate

94%

Online Enrollment

64%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,910

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,910

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

3,539

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Why St. Kate's Made Our List

St. Catherine University’s online accounting degree is built for flexibility — that means you can fast-track your education and finish the program in as little as two years.

Why Attend St. Kate's

Built for Working Professionals: St. Kate's gears its online accounting degree toward working adults who need scheduling flexibility. The university has a College for Adults that focuses on nontraditional college students.
Earn Your Degree in Two Years: The flexible, self-paced nature of the degree means you can earn a bachelor’s in accounting in as little as two years.
Experienced Faculty: Classes are taught by faculty who’ve worked in the accounting field, meaning you’ll be learning from experts with real-world experience.

Know Before You Go

Second Degree Option: If you already have a degree in another field and want to pursue accounting, St. Kate's offers an accelerated degree for which you’ll only need to complete the major’s required courses.
Cost per Credit: The cost per credit is $475, and the program requires 44 credits to graduate.
Portfolio Requirement: You’ll be required to build up a business portfolio using real-world experiences and skills you’ve learned in the program.

Concordia University, St. Paul

Saint Paul, MN4 yearCampus + Online

$25,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$25,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

75%

Acceptance Rate

78%

Online Enrollment

Why CSP Made Our List

CSP’s online accounting degree has a strong emphasis on human skills in addition to accounting fundamentals. Human skills are set to be important to employers even amid the rise of AI, and the CSP accounting degree combines them with in-depth instruction in the accounting industry to prepare you for the modern workforce.

Why Attend CSP

Focus on Human Skills: CSP emphasizes liberal arts skills in its program, like communication and decision-making. Those skills are important to employers, according to GMAC research.
Good Outcomes for Students: The average yearly salary for students six years after enrolling at CSP is $46,000. That’s the highest average earnings figure for the schools on this list. Accounting majors can make even more than that, based on earnings data from the BLS.
Finish Fast: You can finish the degree in as little as 2.5 years.

Know Before You Go

Generous Transfer Policy: You can cut down dramatically on the time and money required to finish the program by transferring your past college credits. CSP allows you to transfer up to 90 credits from another institution.
More Selective: CSP has a 75% admission rate, making it more selective than the other schools on our list.
Relatively Affordable: The cost per credit for CSP’s accounting degree is $420. That said, you can transfer up to 90 credits from another institution and cut down the total cost of your degree.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,550

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,550

Retention Rate

67%

Students Enrolled

5,854

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$25,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,000

Concordia University, St. Paul

Saint Paul, MN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$25,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,000

Acceptance Rate

75%

Online Enrollment

78%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,550

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,550

Retention Rate

67%

Students Enrolled

5,854

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Why CSP Made Our List

Why Attend CSP

Focus on Human Skills: CSP emphasizes liberal arts skills in its program, like communication and decision-making. Those skills are important to employers, according to GMAC research.
Good Outcomes for Students: The average yearly salary for students six years after enrolling at CSP is $46,000. That’s the highest average earnings figure for the schools on this list. Accounting majors can make even more than that, based on earnings data from the BLS.
Finish Fast: You can finish the degree in as little as 2.5 years.

Know Before You Go

Generous Transfer Policy: You can cut down dramatically on the time and money required to finish the program by transferring your past college credits. CSP allows you to transfer up to 90 credits from another institution.
More Selective: CSP has a 75% admission rate, making it more selective than the other schools on our list.
Relatively Affordable: The cost per credit for CSP’s accounting degree is $420. That said, you can transfer up to 90 credits from another institution and cut down the total cost of your degree.

Herzing University

St. Louis Park, MN4 yearCampus + Online

$12,360

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,360

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

94%

Acceptance Rate

91%

Online Enrollment

Why Herzing Made Our List

Herzing University’s accounting degree focuses on growing your career in both the accounting and broader business fields. The IACBE-accredited program includes instruction in marketing, project management, and other high-demand fields. Coursework also features deep dives into various accounting specializations, including financial, government, and tax accounting.

Why Attend Herzing

Career Focus: Herzing focuses its curriculum on helping you grow your career. That means you’ll get in-depth instruction on business topics like marketing and digital innovation in addition to the core.
High Graduation Rate: Herzing has the highest graduation rate of the schools on our list at 74%.
Self-Paced Learning: You can finish the self-paced program in as little as 36 months.

Know Before You Go

Transfer Up to 91 Credits: If you have past college experience, Herzing allows you to transfer more than 75% of the 120 credits required for this degree.
Entrance Testing Required: If you don’t have prior college credit, you’ll need to take the ACT, SAT, or other entrance exam to qualify for the program.
More Expensive: At $515 per credit, Herzing is the most expensive program on our list.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,100

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,100

Retention Rate

57%

Students Enrolled

752

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,360

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,360

Herzing University

St. Louis Park, MN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,360

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,360

Acceptance Rate

94%

Online Enrollment

91%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,100

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,100

Retention Rate

57%

Students Enrolled

752

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Why Herzing Made Our List

Why Attend Herzing

Career Focus: Herzing focuses its curriculum on helping you grow your career. That means you’ll get in-depth instruction on business topics like marketing and digital innovation in addition to the core.
High Graduation Rate: Herzing has the highest graduation rate of the schools on our list at 74%.
Self-Paced Learning: You can finish the self-paced program in as little as 36 months.

Know Before You Go

Transfer Up to 91 Credits: If you have past college experience, Herzing allows you to transfer more than 75% of the 120 credits required for this degree.
Entrance Testing Required: If you don’t have prior college credit, you’ll need to take the ACT, SAT, or other entrance exam to qualify for the program.
More Expensive: At $515 per credit, Herzing is the most expensive program on our list.

Is an Accelerated Online Bachelor’s in Accounting Right for You?

Pros

Fast-Growing Profession: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects faster-than-average employment growth for accountants and auditors from 2023 to 2033.
Earn While You Learn: Many online accounting degrees are geared toward working professionals. St. Catherine University, for instance, designed its online accounting program with scheduling flexibility for full-time workers.
Fast Return on Your Investment: Finishing your degree fast means you’ll be able to start working and earning money faster than with a traditional four-year degree.

Cons

Intense Pace: The option to finish a 120-credit program in 2-3 years means you’ll need to take on a high workload each term. Even in programs designed for flexibility, that can be a challenge.
Depends on Your Schedule: The programs on our list allow you to finish faster based on what you take on. If your schedule changes or you can’t take on as many classes, you might not finish your degree at an accelerated pace.
Fewer Chances to Specialize: Accelerated degree programs generally have fewer options for electives.

How to Choose the Best Accelerated Online Accounting Degree for You

You should weigh flexibility, affordability, and your career goals when choosing an online accounting degree.

Enrolling in an accelerated degree generally means you’ll have more intensive study over a shorter period of time. Every school handles this differently, so it’s important to understand a program’s pace before applying.

Cost of an Online Bachelor’s in Accounting

Online Bachelor’s in Business

Avg. Tuition & Fees

$10,476

Avg. Net Price

$5,928

Source: NCES PowerStats; latest available data is from 2019-2020

Business Scholarships: Some business scholarships are geared toward accounting students. The AICPA Foundation Two-Year Transfer Scholarship Award, for instance, gives $5,000 to students who want to transfer from a two- to four-year college to finish their studies in accounting or a related field.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid: Filling out the FAFSA gives you access to federal financial aid, including grants and loans.
Student Loans: You can apply for federal loans via the FAFSA, as well as private student loans.
Online Student Scholarships: There are a number of online-specific scholarships for working adults, distance learners, and parents.

Accelerated Bachelor’s in Accounting Program Length

Typical # of Credits

60-120 Credits

Typical Program Length

2-3 Years

Jobs With a Bachelor’s in Accounting

Popular Bachelor’s in Accounting Jobs
Job	Median Annual Salary (May 2024)	Description
Accountant and Auditor	$81,680	Runs the day-to-day financial operations of a business and plays key advisory roles to businesses and individuals
Budget Analyst	$87,930	Analyzes costs and revenue to help business leaders come up with a budget
Cost Estimator	$77,070	Assesses the total cost of a project or business function, including time, labor, and materials
Financial Analyst	$101,910	Creates financial reports and helps business leaders make decisions based on business, market, and economic factors
Financial Manager	$161,700	Leads an organization’s financial planning and operations
Management Analyst	$101,190	Advises organizations on how to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and boost revenue
Personal Financial Advisor	$102,140	Helps individuals make decisions on how to spend and save their money, including planning for retirement

Source: BLS

Education Beyond a Bachelor’s Degree

Accounting Certificates: A number of colleges offer short-term accounting certificate programs, sometimes focusing on specific areas of accounting like payroll or financial accounting. Those include college credits and can help you fulfill CPA requirements.
Professional Accounting Certifications: You can also get a professional certification, such as Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), that includes exams that test your skills in the field. Those certifications can boost your resume.
Master’s in Accounting: A master’s degree in accounting can help you earn the additional college credits you need to become a Certified Public Accountant by covering in-depth topics based on your career goals.

Ask an Expert: Frequently Asked Questions About Accelerated Online Accounting Degrees

Colin Smith

CPA

Colin Smith is a certified public accountant and financial reporting consultant with over 16 years of experience advising public and private companies on a range of complex accounting projects. After spending 10+ years in Big 4 firms and working in public accounting, Colin started his own accounting consulting practice. He also runs an accounting blog where he helps students and young professionals navigate their careers and the challenges of passing the CPA exam.

How fast can I get an accounting degree online?

Assuming you take the maximum allowable course load each semester, even during summer semester, you can complete a bachelor’s degree in 2-3 years. While that may sound appealing, this level of work won’t leave you much room for other things, like a job to pay your bills or an accounting internship to boost your resume, so there are pros and cons to earning a degree as fast as possible.