Looking for a cheap, accredited college that has online accounting bachelor's degree

Franklin's curriculum does sound interesting. Thanks for the link.

 

Hi Vinipink, if it's ok, since you seem to enjoy accounting, I have a few questions:

1. With accounting, I always worry that I might mess up the numbers, and end up on the front page of some financial publication; is there a way to make sure everything is kosher? Does the software keep you from making mistakes, or is it a skill that must be learned and perfected?

2. Having a somewhat entrepreneurial spirit (not to mention a really messed up sleeping schedule), is accounting something that can be done freelance, from home, on your own terms, on your own hours?

3. Is there any law (ethical or otherwise) that would keep me from doing accounting work while traveling outside the United States (for US clients, of course)?

4. Can accounting be an international career? In other words, is there reciprocity with other countries?

Finally, what made you choose accounting as career in the first place? For me, it probably would make the 'rents happier than say CS or liberal arts, not to mention, I have always been "good with numbers", but what's your reason? Sorry for all the questions, feel free not to answer them if you are not in the mood. Whatever the case, thanks in advance.

 

You will mess up,and it will be your job to follow GAAP (General Accepted Accounting Principles) and catch the errors. Unless you do things intentional, you should be fine as long you follow GAAP.

Yes to all accounts.

Not really, but it will be your job to stay on top of your clientele,you will be known as a consultant.

Yes and there will be lots of jobs. The increasing approval of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as a basis for U.S. financial reporting symbolizes an essential change for the U.S. accounting profession and engineered by the American Institute of CPAs, in a joint venture with the IFRS it will make available a comprehensive set of resources for accounting professionals, auditors, financial managers, audit committees and other users of financial statements. So, this is work in progress and something that the International community is working on.

I like numbers, to balance things etc.. with that said, accounting professionals are always in demand, no matter the industry. So, I was thinking about been employable more than anything.

 

Thank you for the quick and informative response. Truly appreciated.

 

Great Thread

Great thread and great forum! Exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Like the OP poster, I'm looking for a cheap, fully-accredited college for my 25 year old son. He will have completed 113 credits in another couple of weeks...39 from a community college, the rest from a state university. Here's the problem...he will need 28 credits at his current university and he's feeling overwhelmed and lost in large accounting classes. He does fine (aka he passes!) online business or accounting classes. I was thinking of signing him up for a couple of accounting classes from LSU (I read the old threads :} ) for January and then figuring out where he can transfer with most or not all his credits (including LSU's) with the goal of completing a BS/BA in accounting as soon as possible and as inexpensively as possible. He would like to eventually work towards a CPA but that will have to wait til he's at least working.

Do you think the LSU (can't beat those prices!) course will be worthwhile (aka transfer)?

Which schools would be your first, second, third choices based on price, transferability of credits / degree completion, reputation and accessibility (online)?

My son is adamant that the degree be "Accounting" and not just a speciality in accounting or whatever. Is he right? Does it matter how the degree reads? (i.e. BS/BA in Accounting vs BS/BA in Business with a speciality in accounting?)

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the OP thread, but I thought this might be the best place to ask vs starting a new thread.

TIA,
PS

 

I took one of the LSU accounting classes and finished with an "A" but I really didn't want to take any more after that. The classes are in the old "correspondence" format where they send you a little study guide. You finish assignments from your book and submit them by mail and then wait for feedback. Also, you have to arrange a proctor to watch you take 2-3 exams during the course as well. This may be fine for some but I tend to prefer the online format. It was a personal preference for me. You shouldn't have any problems transferring LSU courses to other schools.

I think that Peru State College and Indiana State College have really nice accounting programs by DL. Also, there's always Thomas Edison State College, Excelsior College, and Charter Oak State College.

I don't think it really matters whether it's a business degree with a specialization in accounting or a straight up accounting major. Both options will land you an accounting job.

 

That's like saying a paralegal certificate from the community college and a JD from Harvard will both land you a legal job.

Of course, if you want the accounting equivalent of a paralegal job then sure, it doesn't matter what kind of accounting degree or from which school.

 

Perpetual Student stated that he was looking for a cheap and accredited program. He made no mention of academic ranking or prestige. Also, the selection you quoted and responded to was in reference to whether it mattered whether the degree was a business degree with an accounting specialty or an accounting major. I have never heard of an employer making any distinction, whether it be from an Ivy school or lower-tier. School ranking or prestige was an irrelevant factor in the original question.