Accounting Degrees
Certificate in Accounting
If you're interested in pursuing an accounting career, but don't have time to complete a two- or four-year program, then maybe you should check out schools that offer certificates in accounting. Accounting certificates are meant to give the student a thorough grounding in the area of accounting and financial reporting. They come in two forms: introductory certificates and post-baccalaureate certificates.
Associate's Degree in Accounting
If you're interested in pursuing a career in accounting, take note: earning a bachelor's degree is not the only path to your dream job. While a traditional bachelor's degree in accounting can take up to five years to complete, at the cost of $20,000 to $40,000 per year, a student can earn an associate's degree in less than half that time and for less money.
Bachelor's Degree in Accounting
The cost of higher education has risen more than 400 percent in the past 30 years, and there is no reason to believe that this meteoric increase will slow down anytime soon. Fortunately, there is a plethora of government-funded and private financial aid programs aimed at making higher education more financially accessible for the average person. Read on to find out what options are available for you when pursing your accounting degree.
Master's Degree
For those who have settled on accounting as their career path of choice, and who already hold a bachelor's degree in a business-related field, the next rung on the educational ladder is a master's of accounting (MAcc). Created for accounting professionals who want to expand their knowledge or advance into higher level positions, master's programs delve into the more nuanced aspects of the accounting field that aren't covered in most bachelor programs.
MBA in Accounting
Accounting firms are businesses. As such, they require experienced, knowledgeable professionals to lead them. This is why students attend MBA programs—to learn advanced management techniques and to gain the skills necessary to hold high-level managerial positions in the business world. Many schools allow MBA students to choose a particular specialty on which they will focus their studies. This gives students the chance to further their education in a specific field, such as accounting.