Accelerated online accounting degrees are 2 to 3-year programs that suit transfer students and working professionals who have at least an associate degree but not a bachelor's.
We've compiled online accounting bachelor's degrees you can finish fast. We weighed factors including affordability and student outcomes to help you find a program that doesn't just cut down time, but will also ensure you graduate and land a job.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Accelerated Accounting Degrees Online
Is an Accelerated Online Bachelor's in Accounting Right for You?
An accelerated online bachelor's in accounting is ideal for students who:
Have prior college credit: Accelerated programs are designed to account for transfer credits, and some accept up to 90.
Self-motivated: Accelerated accounting programs can be self-paced, allowing you to complete your coursework at any point during the week before the deadline. If you can budget your time and energy, you can succeed.
Want to pursue a CPA: Working professionals who want to accelerate their path to a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license will benefit from these programs.
However, these programs aren't for everyone. If you need a lot of structure and guidance, you may have a better educational experience pursuing an accounting program with synchronous classes. If your schedule is busy and you have limited capacity for school or the ability to step back from work, you may prefer a program you can complete part-time over a longer period.
How to Choose the Best Accelerated Online Accounting Degree for You
Your best-fit accelerated online accounting degree may be different from someone else's. Finding the balance between your learning style, educational history, cost, and career/education goals will help you make the best-informed choice.
Types of Accelerated Programs
Not all accelerated programs are built equally. They help you earn your degree faster in different ways, from prioritizing transfer credits to condensing material to even using your past work experience for credit.
| Degree Type | What It Offers | Who It's For |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Completion | Programs that maximize the credit hours you can transfer in and typically require at least an associate degree. These allow you to transfer up to 90 credits or 75% of your degree. | Working adults who have completed some college but haven't earned their bachelor's degree. |
| Accelerated Term | Programs that condense 120 credit hours of coursework into a shorter, more intensive schedule to help you graduate faster. | Students who can pause their careers to pursue their education full-time. |
| Competency-based | Programs that earn you college credit based on your work experiences, training, and certifications. | Students with work experience in the field. |
| Three-year degrees | Newer programs that require only 90 credit hours instead of 120. Only offered at select schools. | Students who don't want an intensive class schedule but who still want to graduate faster than the traditional four years. |
Cost of an Accelerated Online Bachelor's in Accounting
Accelerated accounting bachelor's programs often charge tuition per credit. That means your program's cost depends largely on the amount of credit you transfer in.
The programs on BestColleges' list cost $470 per credit on average. That would make a traditional 30-credit year in school about $14,000 — significantly less than the almost $30,000 average sticker price for a year of college.
But accelerated programs — unless you start from scratch — will expect you to transfer in existing credit, lowering the credits you'd need to graduate down from the typical 120. At the same time, transferring credits cuts down your costs. Let's use this list's average cost per credit as an example.
No Transfer Credits
$470 x 120 credits = $56,400
30 Transfer Credits
$470 x 90 = $42,300
60 Transfer Credits
$470 x 60 = $28,200
However, this sticker price doesn't account for financial aid. In the 2019-20 year, online business bachelor's students (including accounting) paid over 40% less after scholarships and grants, according to NCES.
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How Fast Can You Actually Finish an Accelerated Online Accounting Degree?
A typical accounting bachelor's degree will take about four years if you're enrolled full-time, since bachelor's degrees typically require around 120 credit hours, including general education.
However, depending on the amount of credits you bring in, you could reduce that to just one year. For example, Herzing University's program allows you to transfer up to 91 credits, over 75% of what you need to graduate.
If you're coming in without transfer credits, your time may be closer to 2.5 to three years, depending on your pace. For example, over half (62%) of graduates in Western Governors University's self-paced online accounting program finish in just 24 months.
"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." — Colin Smith, CPA and financial reporting consultant
Jobs With a Bachelor's in Accounting
Some of the most popular jobs for those with an accounting degree make a median annual salary between $81,000 and $102,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While you can enter into any entry-level role with just a bachelor's, a CPA can help you advance to higher-level positions. CPAs earn 21% more than non-CPAs, according to a 2026 analysis by Becker, an accounting exam review provider. Becker found that at the entry level, CPAs made $60,000-$70,000.
Master's in accounting jobs can also boost your salary potential. On average, 2024 master's degree holders in business earned an entry salary of $95,399, compared with bachelor's degree holders, who earned $68,664, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
| Job | Median Annual Salary (May 2024) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant and Auditor | $81,680 | Runs the day-to-day financial operations of a business, and also plays key advisory roles to businesses and individuals |
| Budget Analyst | $87,930 | Analyzes costs and revenues 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, materials, and more |
| 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 |
Ask an Expert: Frequently Asked Questions About Accelerated Online Accounting Degrees
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 consulting practice.
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.
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.
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.
