Associate Degree
Accounting
Online Associate Degree Program
CLASSES START
Jan 6th
20 Mo. Program Length | 65 Credits |
Online Format | $515 Cost Per Credit |
Associate Degree
Accounting
Online Associate Degree Program
Gain a career-focused college education
| Accreditation | IACBE accredited,1 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Transfer credit | Up to 48 approved credits |
| Certification | Prepare for the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) exam from the American Payroll Association (APA) |
| Pathways | Degree pathways to continue advancing your career (BS in Accounting, Master of Business Administration) |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2023 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2023 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Overview: Associate of Science in Accounting
The Associate of Science/Applied Science in Accounting is a 65-credit undergraduate program which prepares you for a wide variety of potential career pathways in accounting.
The online associate degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in payroll accounting, microeconomics, taxation, business law, marketing, project management, and much more.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
You can take classes during the day or in the evening. We strive to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Learn More Today!
Curriculum
Associate degree in accounting classes & curriculum details
Our associate degree curriculum combines core accounting classes as part of our diploma in bookkeeping and payroll accounting with additional business courses and general education requirements typical in undergraduate degree programs.
You will build a strong academic foundation in the principles of accounting and develop computer skills such as accounting software, spreadsheets and payroll systems. The curriculum prepares you for entry-level positions in accounting areas including payables, receivables, bookkeeping, payroll and taxation.
All classes are delivered online in a virtual learning environment with a required research project or internship (if allowed in your state).
| Program | Monthsi | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Associate and Associate of Applied Science in Accounting | 20 | 65 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program
Program availability varies by location
Required Business Core Courses
All courses, 36.00 semester credit hours, are required.
General Education Requirements
Students enrolled in this associate degree must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline. 9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities (must include 3 semester credit hours of cultural diversity) 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Science 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Personal and Professional Development Courses
2.00 semester credit hours are required.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Associate of Science in Accounting program is $515 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.
Requirements
Admissions requirements
Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing University Accounting associate degree program include:
- Prior education requirement. Completion of high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- Entrance testing. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to succeed in college-level courses via prior ACT/SAT scores, completion of prior college credit, or additional entrance testing.
- Availability of time, personal commitment, and a professional attitude. We exist to help enthusiastic students fully committed to reaching their highest career goals. Our faculty and leadership are dedicated to helping you reach them.
You will need to meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor and complete an enrollment application to be admitted into the program.
If you have any additional questions regarding admissions into the program, please contact our admissions team.
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District Of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands.
Classes Start January 6th
Waived Enrollment FeeWhat can I do with an associate degree in accounting?
An associate degree program in accounting equips you with the solid accounting background needed to thrive in entry-level roles in bookkeeping and accounting.
Possible jobs you may qualify for with an associate degree include:
- Bookkeeper
- Accounting Clerk
- Accounts Payable Clerk
- Accounts Receivable Clerk
- Auditing Clerk
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk
How can I advance my career? Complete an associate degree and you can transfer credit into a bachelor’s degree in accounting program with Herzing University. After earning a bachelor's degree you may choose to continue a business and managerial-focused graduate degree path with an MBA.
Job outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of accountants and auditors is expected to increase 4% from 2022-2032, higher than the estimate for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks.*
Students looking to become an accountant or auditor can best qualify for those types of jobs by advancing their education with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes!
Earning an associate degree in accounting represents your foot in the door in a career path with upward mobility and potential employment opportunities in many types of businesses.
A key difference between a diploma and a degree in accounting is required coursework.
Typically, an accounting diploma takes 6-8 months, while a degree may take two or more years. In a diploma program, you'll take classes specific to the field of accounting with no general education courses.
It's a cost-effective way to get foundational knowledge in a subject and can help you qualify for an entry-level job.
All acronyms represent different names for associate degrees. AA stands for Associate of Arts, AS stands for Associate of Science, and AAS stands for Associate of Applied Science.
The difference between Herzing’s associate degree options (AS, AAS) is in name only based on state requirements. There is no difference between curriculums – both are built to help you develop career-focused skills in accounting to prepare you for entry-level positions.
Yes! All of Herzing’s accounting programs can be completed online on your schedule, at your pace.
After earning an associate degree in accounting, you can typically look for entry-level work as a bookkeeper, accounting assistant, payroll clerk or tax preparer.
With Herzing University you can transfer credit earned from an associate degree into a bachelor’s degree program (up to 90 approved credits). Some students prefer to gain real-world work experience before later continuing on for their bachelor’s degree.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn an average salary of $49,580 per year ($23.84 per hour).*
Pay can vary based on many factors, including the education you’ve earned, experience in the field, specific responsibilities of the job, and state of employment.
While you may not be required to hold a degree to qualify for jobs that include bookkeeping and accounting tasks, employers may prefer earning a degree if you plan to become an accountant and continue advancing your career in accounting and finance. It’s difficult to obtain senior-level roles in accounting without earning an accounting-specific undergraduate degree.
Many states require that you must have a bachelor’s degree plus additional credit hours to sit for the exam to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). State-specific requirements may vary.2
There are many different types of accountants with varying levels of required education. Herzing offers the following undergraduate accounting degree options:
- Associate of Science in Accounting/Associate of Applied Science in Accounting
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting
We also offer an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Accounting and Finance.
Program Finder
Associate and Associate of Applied Science in Accounting Degree Programs
Showing 1 program for the Online campus
This accounting program provides students with a solid accounting background. The curriculum includes academic core courses, business courses, and education in computer skills related to accounting such as computerized accounting software, spreadsheets, and payroll systems. This program provides career opportunities in accounting areas such as payables, receivables, bookkeeping, payroll, and taxation.
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Accreditation
Accreditation & Disclosures
1. The Business Division at Herzing University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11960 Quivira Road, Suite 300, Overland Park, Kansas, USA. For a list of accredited programs please refer to our IACBE member status page.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
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