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The 30 Most Affordable Online Accounting Degree Programs

Accounting Degree Review, a website about accounting degrees and related topics, has released its 2014-2015 ranking of the 30 most affordable online accounting bachelor's degrees. Western Governors University's online program led the way with an ...

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Accounting Degree Review, a website about accounting degrees and related topics, has released its 2014-2015 ranking of the 30 most affordable online accounting bachelor’s degrees. Western Governors University’s online program led the way with an annual tuition of only $5,780. The fifth ranked school, Western International University, was notable because it recently reduced its tuition by 51 percent. When most colleges and universities are raising or keeping their tuition the same, last year Western International University dropped their tuition from $14,900 to $7,600. The school’s current tuition is $7,738.

All the schools in the ranking have a tuition cost lower than $12,300 and the average tuition was just under $10,000 at $9,963. The complete list of programs can be found at http://www.accounting-degree.org/most-affordable-online-bachelors-degrees-in-accounting.

The schools include:

  1. Western Governors University – Salt Lake City, Utah
  2. Chadron State College – Chadron, Nebraska
  3. American Military University – Charles Town, West Virginia
  4. American Public University – Charles Town, West Virginia
  5. Western International University – Tempe, Arizona
  6. Central Methodist University – Fayette, Missouri
  7. Columbia College – Columbia, Missouri
  8. Bemidji State University – Bemidji, Minnesota
  9. SUNY Empire State College – Saratoga Springs, New York
  10. Thomas Edison State College – Trenton, New Jersey
  11. Clarion University – Clarion, Pennsylvania
  12. Southern Oregon University – Ashland, Oregon
  13. Southern New Hampshire University – Manchester, New Hampshire
  14. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine – Standish, Maine
  15. Indiana State University – Terre Haute, Indiana
  16. Colorado State University – Fort Collins, Colorado
  17. Baker College – Flint, Michigan
  18. Liberty University – Lynchburg, Virginia
  19. University of Minnesota, Crookston – Crookston, Minnesota
  20. Washington State University – Pullman, Washington
  21. Belhaven University – Jackson, Mississippi
  22. New England College – Henniker, New Hampshire
  23. Regent University – Virginia Beach, Virginia
  24. University of the Southwest – Hobbs, New Mexico
  25. University of Northwestern Ohio – Lima, Ohio
  26. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale – Carbondale, Illinois
  27. Indiana Tech – Fort Wayne, Indiana
  28. Limestone College – Gaffney, South Carolina
  29. Upper Iowa University – Fayette, Iowa
  30. Bellevue University – Bellevue, Nebraska

(More information on each school, including annual tuition and other factors, can be viewed on the Accounting Degree Review website.)

The ranking was created in response to rising college costs and the student loan epidemic. In the last 30 years, college tuition has grown much faster than the inflation rate. This phenomenon combined with the stagnation of the U.S. economy has left many people saddled with enormous amounts of student loan debt. More and more students are looking to attend a school with low tuition and the ranking helps them compare costs and research schools.

Over 80 regionally accredited schools offering online bachelor’s in accounting degrees were considered for the ranking by Accounting Degree Review. The site restricted their selections to schools with regional accreditation because it the highest form of institutional accreditation and offers advantages over other forms of accreditation.

Dee Barizo, Editor of Accounting Degree Review, was surprised to find so much variety within the top 30 schools. “There were schools with huge enrollments. There were small schools. There were public and private schools. There were nonprofit and not-for-profit schools. Every type of institution seemed to be represented,” Barizo said. “This is great news for students who want an affordable education. Not only are there many schools to choose from with low tuition costs, but the schools are different from each other to meet the needs of different students.”

Accounting Degree Review is an online resource dedicated to helping students that are interested in the accounting industry. The site publishes articles to help individuals succeed in the classroom and workplace. Along with school rankings, Accounting Degree Review covers related topics including accounting scholarships, internships, and jobs.