How Long Does It Take to Get an Accounting Degree?

So, you have decided to aim for a career in accounting but are confused regarding the time investment required for you to achieve it. The confusion is fair because you might have seen varying results over the internet on the same.

That’s because the course duration of a degree in accounting depends on various factors like – the degree level, your time commitment, your learning pace, and the program you are enrolled in.

Also, the course duration depends on the format of your education – traditional or online, and full-time or part-time. 

To enlighten you in full and to break the walls of confusion here we are with this article discussing the accounting degree levels with their course duration for each degree level, course duration for online degrees, the high-paying careers in accounting, and much more.

So, stay tuned –

Accounting Degree levels with their Course Duration

The choice of degree level in Accounting depends on your career goals, interests, and where you are in your educational journey.

If you’re just starting, an associate’s or bachelor’s degree can provide a solid foundation and then you can advance your education with a master’s.

Considering careers, if you aspire for entry-level jobs you can opt for an associate degree, for mid-level roles a bachelor’s degree is what you need and for higher-level roles, you need a master’s degree.

But if you aspire to educate students, or try out careers in research and administration, then a Ph.D. is what you need besides a master’s degree.

Now, let’s explore the degree levels – 

Associate Degree in Accounting

The Associate degree in Accounting deals with the foundational concepts of accounting, finance, and business. The degree has 60 credits for you to complete. To get an associate degree you might need to invest anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000. 

You will be learning about – financial accounting, managerial accounting, preparation and interpretation of financial statements, US tax laws, Internal Revenue Codes, and sourcing documents relevant to tax returns.

Post-completion of the course, you can either continue to get your bachelor’s or master’s, or you can start earning by joining some entry-level positions.

Now, the time required for you to complete the associate degree in accounting depends on your learning pace and other factors. But, most of the students finish it in 2 years and are enrolled full-time. For part-time enrolments, it might require even 3 years for course completion.

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting

The Bachelor’s degree in Accounting is the most popular degree option among students, and it is the most sought-after degree by employers, as well.

The Bachelor’s degree has 120 credits for you to complete. To get a Bachelor’s degree you might need to invest anywhere around $40,000 or more depending on your school.

You will learn about – Accounting Information Systems, Intermediate Accounting, Federal Taxation, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.

There are many mid-level roles in this field that you could pursue with a Bachelor’s degree, and with it, you could also unlock other roles besides accounting.

Now, the time required for you to complete the Bachelor’s degree in accounting depends on your learning pace and other factors. 

But, most of the students finish it in 4 years, that are enrolled full-time. For part-time enrolments, it might require even 5 or 6 years for course completion.

Master’s Degree in Accounting

A Master’s in accounting degree is an advanced degree for aspirants aiming to acquire CPA licensure and achieve high-level positions like controller, or accounting manager.

The degree has 30 credits for you to complete. To get a Master’s degree you might need to invest anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000.  

You will learn besides accounting – financial management, strategic management, and management communication. 

If you aspire to admin level or research or teaching-related roles, you might need to acquire a Ph.D, besides a master’s degree.

Now, the time required for you to complete the Master’s degree in accounting depends on your learning pace and other factors. But, most of the students finish it in 2 years and for others, it might require even 3 years to earn a Master’s degree in accounting.

Read More:

-> Is an Accounting Degree Worth it?

-> Requirements for Accounting Degree

How Long Does it Take to Get an Accounting Degree Online? 

Online learning is a fantastic choice because it provides flexibility, affordability, and better accessibility.

With an online accounting degree, you get the same valuable knowledge offered by the universities and colleges, and the same valuable certificate, by sitting anywhere, without needing to quit your job or needing to drop your responsibilities. 

More On -> Online Accounting Degree

Also, the online programs are cheaper than the on-campus ones. You also can save more on those by enrolling in some scholarships or aids.

Besides all of these, online programs are faster, as is the case with accounting degrees.

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Course Duration of Online Degrees –

Online Associate Degree in Accounting  

Course Duration – 1 to 2 years (most finish in 14 to 16 months)

Course Credits – 60 to 90

Course Cost – between $10,000 to $20,000

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting

Course Duration – 2 to 4 years

Course Credits – 120

Course Cost – $15,820 to $31,640 (depends on your time commitment)

Online Master’s Associate Degree in Accounting

Course Duration – 2 to 3 years

Course Credits – 30-36

Course Cost – $19,820 to $29,730

High Paying Jobs you can aim for in the field of Accounting

With a degree in accounting, you can aim for any type of job you want, from an accountant to an actuary. But the education most of the roles demand, in most cases, is a bachelor’s degree.

For high-paying jobs, there are many factors that are associated with it – your education qualification, the skills, performance, expertise in an area, and the total experience.

So, it is advisable to aim to acquire a Master’s or overshadow the education limitation with your performance. Anyways, here are the high-paying jobs with their salary in the field of accounting – 

Management analyst – Annual average salary: $93,000

Financial Analyst – Annual average salary: $85,660

Personal Financial Advisor – Annual average salary: $88,890

Actuary – Annual average salary: $108,350

Accounting Manager – Annual average salary: $129,890

Financial Manager – Annual average salary: $131,710

Tax director – Annual average salary: $166,938

Chief Financial Officer – Annual average salary: $184,460

Accounting professor – Annual average salary: $79,640 to $202,080

More On -> What Jobs can you get with an Accounting Degree?

FAQs

Is a 2-year accounting degree worth it?

The Associate degree in Accounting deals with the foundational concepts of accounting, finance, and business. It could serve as the very first step toward your accounting career.

The degree has 60 credits for you to complete. To get an associate degree you might need to invest anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 and it requires around 2 years to complete.

Post-completion of the course, you can either continue to get your bachelor’s or master’s, or you can start earning by joining some entry-level positions.

But your career may be limited due to lack of education qualification because for most of the career opportunities the minimum required education is a bachelor’s. A bachelor’s degree is the most sought-after by employers and is thus popular among students as well.

So, in these times, when your competition has a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, unfortunately, would not be enough to serve the purpose.

However, you can still get a bachelor’s degree online while still working in an entry-level position. But upgrading is necessary for career advancement.

How long on average does it take to become an Accountant?

There are 2 ways you can become an accountant. First, is by getting a bachelor’s degree, which would take you around 4 years to complete. With it, you are eligible for the entry-level accountant role, like Accounting Assistant.

The second way is by getting a master’s degree, which would take you around 2 years to complete. Most aspirants also get their master’s degree after they land a job.

So, it is up to you to take the path that suits you the most.

But, to answer the question directly, to become an accountant you require 4 years on average, but some also prefer to go after jobs post their master’s degree, so that would make it 6 years for them.

What is the most popular type of accountant?

Tax Accountants are the most popular type of accounts. The top tax accountants, as per BLS 2022, earn around $96,610 to even 6-figures (up to $500,000) per year, while their annual average salary is $55,840.

What do they do?

• They prepare and file accurate tax returns for individuals, businesses, and organizations.
• They help clients develop tax-efficient strategies to minimize their tax liabilities.
• They ensure that their clients are following tax codes and filing required documentation on time, preventing potential penalties and legal issues.
• They represent their clients in the event of tax audits or disputes with tax authorities, and tax accountants.

How long does it take to become a CPA?

To become a CPA, you need to have completed at least 150 college credits. That means – there are 2 ways you can become a CPA – Certified Public Accountant.

One way is by getting a master’s degree of 30 credits post your bachelor’s degree of 120 credits. For this path, you must spend 6 years, 4 + 2 in bachelor’s and master’s respectively.

While, the other way, is choosing an Integrated Bachelor’s degree designed for CPA eligibility that has 150 credits to the degree and would require 5 years for completion.

Whatever way you choose, this only makes you eligible to apply for the certification but you need to pass the certification exam to get certified as the public accountant.

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