Accounting certificates prepare students for entry-level accounting roles that include managing financial records, analyzing financial operations, and ensuring that clients and employers avoid risks and take advantage of financial opportunities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% growth in accounting professions between 2020 and 2030 as a result of organizations’ increasingly complex and globalized financial activities. Accounting certificate-holders can also pursue bookkeeping and tax examiner positions. Here, we rank the best accounting certificates and provide detailed information about these programs.
The best online certificate in accounting
To ensure our rankings give an accurate picture of the certificate landscape, we pull data from reputable and publicly available sources. The information is then curated by using ZDNet’s ranking methodology.
Unless otherwise indicated, data is drawn from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard.
1. North Arkansas College
Harrison, Arkansas
About the program: Northark’s 30-credit online accounting certificate trains students in accounting principles, financial mathematics, and computerized accounting.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 36%
- Annual net price: $4,702
- Time to completion: One year
- SAT range: Not required
- Minimum GPA: Not required
- Enrollment periods per year: Two to five
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Accreditation: North Arkansas College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
2. Kaskaskia College
Centralia, Illinois
About the program: KC’s 32-credit online accounting certificate provides training in accounting software systems, managerial accounting, and tax accounting.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 47%
- Annual net price: $6,574
- Time to completion: One year
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not publicly available
- Enrollment periods per year: Three
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous
Accreditation: Kaskaskia College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
3. Leeward Community College
Pearl City, Hawaii
About the program: Leeward CC’s 31-credit online accounting certificate trains students in Quickbooks, business principles, and payroll and general excise taxes.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 24%
- Annual net price: $7,657
- Time to completion: One year
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not required
- Enrollment periods per year: Three
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Accreditation: Leeward Community College is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).
4. Yavapai College
Prescott, Arizona
About the program: YC’s 36-credit online accounting certificate trains future accounting assistants in courses that include payroll accounting, intermediate accounting, and basic tax planning.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 23%
- Annual net price: $6,965
- Time to completion: One to two years
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not publicly available
- Enrollment periods per year: Rolling
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Accreditation: Yavapai College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
5. Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, Iowa
About the program: SCC’s online accounting certificate provides training in financial statements, balance sheets, and income tax analysis.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 32%
- Annual net price: $7,223
- Time to completion: Three to four months
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not publicly available
- Enrollment periods per year: Rolling
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Accreditation: Southeastern Community College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
6. Iowa Lakes Community College
Estherville, Iowa
About the program: Iowa Lakes’ 28-credit online accounting certificate trains students in business communications, computer accounting, and cost accounting.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 32%
- Annual net price: $10,509
- Time to completion: One year
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not publicly available
- Enrollment periods per year: Two
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous
Accreditation: Iowa Lakes Community College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
7. Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Worthington, Minnesota
About the program: MWCTC’s 16-credit online accounting certificate features training in spreadsheet concepts and principles of accounting.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 50%
- Annual net price: $11,952
- Time to completion: Three to four months
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not required
- Enrollment periods per year: Three
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous
Accreditation: Minnesota West Community and Technical College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
8. Southwestern Community College
Sylva, North Carolina
About the program: SCC’s four online accounting certificates feature between 16-18 credits. They provide training in accounting and finance, bookkeeping, taxes, and payroll.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 40%
- Annual net price: $5,354
- Time to completion: Three to four months
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not publicly available
- Enrollment periods per year: Three
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Accreditation: Southwestern Community College is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
9. William Rainey Harper College
Palatine, Illinois
About the program: Harper’s 29-credit online accounting certificate includes courses in business software packages, Quickbooks, and introduction to managerial accounting.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 39%
- Annual net price: $7,532
- Time to completion: One year
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not publicly available
- Enrollment periods per year: Three
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous
Accreditation: William Rainey Harper College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
10. Riverland Community College
Austin, Minnesota
About the program: Riverland offers two online accounting certificates for aspiring tax preparers and bookkeepers. Both certificates feature 21 credits in courses like Quickbooks and payroll accounting.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 39%
- Annual net price: $8,893
- Time to completion: One year
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not publicly available
- Enrollment periods per year: Two
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Accreditation: Riverland Community College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
11. Northcentral Technical College
Wausau, Wisconsin
About the program: NTC offers three online accounting certificates, including small business bookkeeping, bookkeeping technology, and Quickbooks. They feature 6-16 credits of courses like math with business applications and accounting fundamentals.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 56%
- Annual net price: $10,131
- Time to completion: Three to six months
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not publicly available
- Enrollment periods per year: Three
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Accreditation: Northcentral Technical College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
12. Des Moines Area Community College
Des Moines, Iowa
About the program: DMACC offers three online accounting certificates, including accounting, payroll, and accounting for entrepreneurs. The programs require between 12-16 credits and feature courses in accounting cycle, payroll, accounting, and Sage computerized accounting.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 24%
- Annual net price: $10,076
- Time to completion: One year
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not publicly available
- Enrollment periods per year: Three
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Accreditation: Des Moines Area Community College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
13. Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, North Carolina
About the program: WCC’s 17-credit online accounting certificate includes courses in payroll accounting, accounting software applications, and spreadsheets.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 23%
- Annual net price: $2,315
- Time to completion: One year
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not required
- Enrollment periods per year: Three
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous
Accreditation: Wayne Community College is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
14. Richmond Community College
Hamlet, North Carolina
About the program: RCC offers six accounting certificates, including two online options in accountant specialist and payroll specialist. These programs feature between 17-18 credits in courses like principles of financial and managerial accounting.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 25%
- Annual net price: $2,598
- Time to completion: One year
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not publicly available
- Enrollment periods per year: Two
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Accreditation: Richmond Community College is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
15. Lone Star College System
Houston, Texas
About the program: LSC offers two online accounting certificates, including an assistant and bookkeeper program and a payroll assistant program. The certificates feature between 112-160 contact hours of training in topics like office accounting and Quickbooks.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 18%
- Annual net price: $8,016
- Time to completion: One year
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not publicly available
- Enrollment periods per year: Three
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Accreditation: Lone Star College System is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
16. Western Wyoming Community College
Rock Springs, Wyoming
About the program: WWCC’s 35-credit online accounting certificate provides training in interpersonal communications and spreadsheet applications.
- Acceptance rate: Not publicly available
- Graduation rate: 40%
- Annual net price: $7,824
- Time to completion: One year
- SAT range: Not publicly available
- Minimum GPA: Not required
- Enrollment periods per year: Two
- Course delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Accreditation: Western Wyoming…