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There is no verified basis here for calling any current program a “2022 top pick.” This guide instead compares two online bachelor’s programs using current information available for 2026 and explains how to check accreditation, cost and state CPA eligibility before enrolling. Treat school prices and program details as changeable, and confirm them directly before applying.
How to compare online accounting degrees
A per-credit price or ranking alone cannot tell you what a degree will cost, how quickly you can finish, or whether its courses will count toward CPA eligibility where you live. Compare the full path to graduation and the credential’s fit with your plans.
- Total cost: Estimate tuition for the credits you still need, then add mandatory fees and any residency or state-based pricing differences.
- Transfer credit: Ask for an evaluation before enrolling. The number of credits accepted can change both cost and time to completion.
- Schedule and pace: Check whether classes are asynchronous or scheduled, how often terms begin, and whether required courses are available when you need them.
- Support and access: Confirm the school can enroll students in your state and ask what advising and academic support online students receive.
- Accreditation and CPA rules: Check institutional accreditation, the exact scope of any specialized accreditation, and your state board’s education requirements.
Online accounting degree examples
These programs illustrate different cost and scheduling models; they are not a universal ranking. Verify current tuition, fees, program details and transfer decisions with each school.
| Program | Published details | Who may find it useful |
|---|---|---|
| LSU of Alexandria (LSUA) / LSU Online BS in Accounting | The school describes a fully online, 120-credit program with ACBSP accreditation. Its page lists $353 per credit with no out-of-state surcharge and calculates $42,360 before transfer credit. Eligible students may transfer up to 75% of required credits. LSUA says the degree meets Louisiana’s education requirement to sit for the CPA exam; Louisiana licensure requires 150 total credits. | Potentially worth comparing if you want a fully online route and are evaluating Louisiana CPA eligibility. The school’s Louisiana statement does not establish eligibility in another state. |
| California Baptist University online BS in Accounting | The university describes 100% online accelerated asynchronous courses, with classes starting every eight weeks and three semesters offered year-round. It estimates 24 months only for full-time students who have already completed general education and electives. The page lists $541 plus fees per unit for the current academic year and says the rate may change. It says several Jabs School majors are ACBSP accredited; the page does not establish that this specific accounting major is among them. | May suit students seeking asynchronous coursework and frequent start dates, especially if they have already completed the general education and elective requirements assumed by the completion estimate. |
Sources: LSUA / LSU Online program page; California Baptist University program page.
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How to check accreditation and CPA eligibility
Institutional accreditation and specialized business or accounting accreditation answer different questions. Confirm institutional accreditation through a recognized source, then check whether an AACSB or ACBSP accreditation claim covers the specific program you are considering. A school-wide or department-level statement should not be assumed to apply to every major. AACSB describes its accounting accreditation process as involving self-evaluation and peer review, with periodic review after accreditation; its standards processes are updated annually.
CPA exam and licensure requirements vary by state. Ask the board of accountancy in the state where you plan to qualify how it evaluates your intended degree, course content and credit total. Distinguish permission to sit for the exam from the separate requirements for a CPA license. A school’s statement about Louisiana, for example, is not a nationwide guarantee.
Rank #2
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Accounting.com’s overview recommends checking recognized institutional accreditation, optional programmatic accreditation, state availability and curriculum alignment with applicable CPA education rules: online accounting program comparison and guidance. For AACSB’s accounting standards, see AACSB accounting accreditation standards.
Put tuition figures in context
Broad averages can help frame a budget, but they are not a substitute for a school-specific estimate. AACSB’s 2025 State of Business Education report gives average online undergraduate tuition per study year for 2023–24 of $16.9k in-state, $11.4k out-of-state and $16.6k out-of-country, across its controlled group of 115 institutions. These are business-school sample figures, not accounting-only prices or a prediction of an individual student’s bill. AACSB report.
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For a useful estimate, ask each school to calculate your remaining required credits after transfer review and list tuition, fees and any state or residency pricing that applies. Do not compare one school’s per-credit tuition with another’s estimated total without accounting for credits remaining and extra charges.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use rankings without overreading them
Rankings can help identify programs to investigate, but their order reflects the publisher’s methodology and date rather than a universal measure of quality or graduate outcomes. BestColleges says its 2026 guide verified school facts in November 2025 and weighs factors including affordability, outcomes, accessibility, degree type, prestige and start dates. That describes how its guide was assembled; it does not show that a ranked program will be best for every student. See BestColleges’ ranking methodology.
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Questions to ask before you enroll
- Can the school enroll students who live in my state?
- Which exact accounting and general-education courses will transfer, and how many credits will remain?
- What is my estimated total tuition and fees after transfer credit?
- Are courses asynchronous, and when are required courses offered?
- Does any AACSB or ACBSP accreditation apply to this specific program?
- What does my state board require to sit for the CPA exam, and what additional requirements apply for licensure?
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
