We built this website with one mission: to connect the right students with the right schools. We recognize that people from all walks of life -- from single parents, to new high school grads, to those looking to switch careers -- have the same challenges in common: the need for more time and money.

That is why we have done some of the legwork for you and assembled this list of the Top 5 Colleges for Accounting Degree Programs. Many offer classes that are 100 percent online, with flexible schedules, making it easier to fit achieving your goals into your busy life. We also focus on those with relatively more affordable tuition, including colleges and universities offering financial assistance to those who qualify. Together, we hope that this list starts you on your path to success.

Though people can hold various occupations outside of their area of study, many work as accountants or auditors.

Accountants and auditors analyze and prepare financial documents. They are crucial to ensuring that organizations operate efficiently from a financial and tax standpoint. As technology evolves, those that are “ahead of the curve” tend to leverage various accounting software programs to automate routine tasks, while spending most of their day advising and analyzing.

As you compare degree programs, it is important to understand the different concentrations, as this could help shape your studies and your specialty after you graduate. Below are six specializations to look into:

1. Becoming a Forensic Accountant -- Forensic Accounting Degrees: These are the accountants who “follow the paper trail,” working to find financial crime evidence, whether it relates to money-laundering, embezzlement, or investment and credit fraud. Forensic accountants are generally employed by government agencies and law enforcement (think the FBI) or by banks, insurance companies, and accounting firms.
2. Becoming a Managerial Accountant -- Accounting Degrees: Typically working as part of a corporate accounting team, managerial accountants drive the budgeting, forecasting, and bookkeeping efforts within an organization. Some work closely with the investment team, guiding the strategy and operations relating to stocks, bonds, and various other assets, including real estate.
3. Becoming a Government Accountant -- Accounting Degrees: Either working for federal or state/local agencies, government accountants build and analyze various financial records of other organizations and individuals. They conduct audits, and when discrepancies are discovered, their documents ensure that owed tax revenue is collected.
4. Becoming a Public Accountant -- Accounting Degrees: Like working with and helping people? Public accountants advise clients, whether it’s the government, large or small businesses, or individuals. They help their clients take advantage of the latest tax benefits and file important, often legally required, documents in a timely and accurate manner. For businesses, this ensures that their finances run smoothly. Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) can accelerate their career.
   
   Many public accountants pivot to a career in personal financial planning. They can use their knowledge of accounting and taxes to help their clients plan their estates, as well as buy the right stocks, bonds, and other investments for college, retirement, and general savings.
5. Becoming an Environmental Accountant -- Accounting or Environmental Degrees: As businesses grow, so can their environmental footprint. This is where environmental accountants come in and help determine the costs of “going green” or mitigating environmental damage. Whether employed by businesses (such as auto or oil/gas companies) or government agencies (such as the Environmental Protection Agency), environmental accountants make important cost/benefit decisions.
6. Becoming an Auditor -- Accounting or Finance Degrees: Though accounting and auditing often intersect, many choose to specialize as auditors. Internal auditors examine an organization’s financial documents, looking for any discrepancies or signs of mismanagement. For instance, is a certain company really worth as much as they claim? These types of audits are regularly needed, and especially important when companies are bought, sold, or made public. External auditors operate in a similar capacity as internal ones. The main difference is that they work for a firm that is contracted by one or more clients.
   
   A newer field within auditing is Information Technology Auditing. Cyberattacks are on the rise and can be very costly for organizations. IT auditors tend to be tech-savvy, leveraging their accounting background to ensure data accuracy and integrity against those seeking to cause harm.

Begin exploring your accounting degree options and start comparing programs now.