The CSU Global Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting is accredited by the ACBSP, and is a mix of Core Degree Courses, General Education Courses, Elective Courses and optional Degree Specializations and Certificates
Flexible Schedule
Like all courses at CSU Global, our Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting students can work full time, spend time with family and friends, and still be part of a rigorous degree program.
100% Online
Our 100% online learning environment means you don’t have to put life on hold to pursue a degree, and with asynchronous classes, you can complete coursework from anywhere.
Request Information
Secure Your Future with an Online Accounting Degree from an Accredited University
Accountants are trusted, valued, and crucial to almost all businesses, organizations, and industries. Regardless of where you find your role, an accounting professional may be responsible for the following:
Â
Preparing, analyzing, and confirming accuracy of financial records.
Organizing and maintaining financial records.
Ensuring taxes are paid properly and on time.Â
Identifying ways to increase value, reduce costs, and improve the bottom line.
As a B.S. in Accounting online student, you gain the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute successfully to an organization from an accounting perspective. Develop an understanding of accounting fundamentals when you earn a CSU Global accounting degree and a comprehensive view of organizational management issues, including:
Legal Compliance and Ethics
Finance
Marketing
Leadership
Economics
Qualitative Decision Making
Business Intelligence
Use your CSU Global accounting degree to get your dream job in the private, public, not-for-profit, or government sectors. With an ACBSP accredited degree in accounting, you’ll be in high demand.
Third-Party Licensure & Certification Pathways
In addition to the comprehensive knowledge that you’ll earn through a degree, industry certifications are an excellent way to demonstrate your proficiency in a specific area. As you complete your Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, you will be prepared to take several industry-recognized exams:
To sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in the United States, you typically need to fulfill certain qualifications, which may vary slightly depending on the state in which you plan to become licensed. After earning a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, you need approximately 30 additional hours of coursework, such as what you would complete during a Master's in Professional Accounting, as well as other educational requirements that vary by state.Â
We recommend students consult their state’s Board of Accountancy for the most accurate and up-to-date information. See state CPA requirements here.Â
To sit for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam, you need to fulfill certain qualifications determined by the CFA Institute, including earning a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education/work experience, a minimum of four years of professional work experience in a related field, and be a) enrolled in the CFA Program and b) be a member of the CFA Institute. We recommend students consult CFA Institute for the most accurate and up-to-date information. See CFA requirements here.
To sit for the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam, you need to fulfill certain requirements set by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), including earning a bachelor’s degree. The CMA does not have specific work experience requirements to sit for the exam, however, there are additional employment requirements that you must meet within seven years of passing the exam in order to earn the CMA designation. See CMA requirements here.
NOTE: CSU Global’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting program is an Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) Endorsed school. Our students are eligible to apply for IMA scholarships which cover exam fees for first-time exam takers, an exam review course, and three years of IMA membership.
As an Enrolled Agent (EA) with the IRS, you are able to represent taxpayers before the IRS, including preparing and filing tax returns, communicating with the IRS on behalf of clients, and handling tax matters and disputes. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting will prepare you academically to sit for the EA exam, however, students must pass all three sections of the EA exam and apply for enrollment with the IRS, including completing and submitting Form 23 Application for Enrollment to Practice Before the Internal Revenue Service, fingerprinting, and a background check. See Enrolled Agent requirements here.
The Financial Services Audit Certificate (FSAC) is a specialized certification offered by the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA). To sit for the FSAC exam, you must be an active member of the ACCA and have relevant experience in the financial services sector. Finally, you must complete a set of online learning modules determined by the ACCA. See Financial Services Audit Certificate requirements here.
To prepare for the Internal Audit Practitioner Exam, it is recommended that you successfully complete the course ACT450 Auditing, preferably in the later stages of your program. See Internal Audit Practitioner requirements here.
To prepare for the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam, which is administered by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), it is recommended that you obtain a bachelor's degree, preferably in accounting, and have a minimum of two years of internal auditing experience or its equivalent. See Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) requirements here.
To prepare for the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam, students must obtain a bachelor's degree, preferably in accounting, and have a minimum of two years of fraud-related experience. See Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) requirements here.
There are a number of requirements in order to prepare for the Chartered Global Management Accountant exam, but students must obtain a bachelor's degree in accounting and a minimum of three years of accounting experience or relevant work-based experience. See Chartered Global Management Accountant requirements here.
Courses in this Program
CSU Global’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting program requires the completion of 120 total credits, including a mix of Core Degree Courses in Accounting, General Education Courses, Elective Courses, and optional Degree Specializations and Certificates.
CSU Global’s General Education Courses are more than a bachelor’s degree requirement. They are designed to help you develop and strengthen valuable skills demanded in the workplace.
Already taken some courses? Up to 90 total credits (and 64 from community colleges) can be transferred into a bachelor’s degree at CSU Global. Request a Transcript Evaluation Summary to see how close you already are to graduation!
When you earn your bachelor’s degree through CSU Global, you can choose to customize it with an undergraduate specialization in a subject that matches your professional goals or personal interests.Â
The remainder of your online accounting degree is comprised of courses of your choice that support your educational goals and needs. Including a specialization reduces the number of elective credits you'll need to complete your bachelor's degree.
Learning Outcomes
As a student in the online B.S. in Accounting program, you will develop the problem-solving skills to address accounting, data analysis, and business intelligence issues and strategies. Specific learning outcomes include:
Apply accounting principles, standards, and practices to analyze data in an environment of artificial intelligence (AI).
Collaborate using automation, business intelligence, and data analytics to perform business functions, communicate information, and facilitate workplace solutions.
Analyze relevant ethical and regulatory trends affecting domestic and international accounting in the global business environment.
Evaluate accounting processes, systems, and financial data to identify opportunities for continuous improvement of business processes and application of business intelligence (BI).
Demonstrate accounting and leadership skills using automation, business intelligence, and data analytics.
Â
Affordable Tuition
As a not-for-profit public university, our goal at CSU Global is to make your online tuition cost as affordable as possible. We offer low-cost online degree tuition rates without taking anything away from the quality of the education you receive. We also lock in that low tuition rate with our tuition guarantee, and we provide additional discounted tuition rates for members of the armed forces and employees of our corporate affiliate partners.
Typically, it takes 4 years to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. However, if you choose to study Accounting at CSU Global, you may be able to get your Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Accounting substantially faster. Why? Because we offer several paths to Alternative Credit Options, including Credit by Exam, Self-Study Assessments (SSA) and our Prior learning Assessment (PLA). PLAs alone have been known to save our students 75% on our already low Tuition Rates.
Costs vary depending on how long it takes you to complete your Bachelor’s Degree Program, and whether you choose to study at a Public School or Private University. As a Not-for-Profit Public University, CSU Global is dedicated to making your Bachelor’s Degree affordable. We offer Low Tuition Rates, a Tuition Guarantee that locks your rate in for the entirety of your program, a 10% Employer Discount, and Financial Aid opportunities to help reduce the costs of your degree.
Incomes vary by position, experience, location, and other factors, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides some excellent information about the average annual income for Accountants and other types of Financial Professionals. Their 2019 reports provide the following estimates of annual incomes:
Earning your BS in Accounting will open a whole host of career paths and job opportunities to you, including a wide variety of positions as a Financial Professional. Some of the most common roles for graduates of Accounting Bachelor’s Programs include:
Accountant
Financial Examiner
Tax Examiner
Budget Analyst
Auditor
Credit Analyst
By combining your BS in Accounting with additional credentials, licenses and certifications, you may also be eligible for a more advanced role, such as in any of the following positions:
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified Financial Analyst (CFA)
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Enrolled Agent (EA)
Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA)
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Chartered Global Management Accountant
Absolutely! While it may take hard work and dedication to complete your Accounting Degree Program, this is an excellent industry to get into and CSU Global’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting is one of the best ways to enter the field. Why should you consider becoming an accountant?
Accounting roles show higher than average job growth, with accounting positions projected to grow 10% through 2026. The average growth rate for all occupations is just 7%!
90% of CSU Global’s Alumni from the BS in Accounting Program report working in the accounting field, with the most common job titles being Accountant, Bookkeeper, and Staff Accountant.
Graduates from our Bachelor’s of Accounting Program report an excellent starting salary, with our alumni reporting an estimated annual starting salary above $65,000.
Career Outlook and Outcomes
Higher Than Average Job Growth
Employment of accounting positions is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
90% of Alumni Working in the Field
Bachelor’s of Accounting alumni from CSU Global report extremely high rates of working in the field of accounting after completing the program.
$77k+ Starting Salary
According to the BLS, the average annual salary for accountants in 2021 was over $77k.
Want To Know More?
Ready to learn more about how to move forward with CSU Global? Complete the form below and we’ll be in touch to answer any questions and help you get started.
Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) means your degree comes from a top-quality, trusted university.
I wanted an B.S. Accounting degree [and] I had already completed 60 credits twelve years ago. I'm now a stay at home Mom and with the ability to transfer these credits I am on my way to finish my Accounting degree.
