An associate's degree program in accounting requires an average of 60 credit hours to complete; a bachelor's degree program requires an average of 120 hours. A full-time student can complete an associate's degree in accounting in approximately two years, while a bachelor's degree in accounting requires an average of four years to complete.
The curriculum for an associate's and bachelor's degree in accounting are the same for the introductory courses. Both programs require business courses such as economics, information systems and business management. Both degrees also require students to complete core accounting courses, including financial and intermediate accounting. The bachelor's degree in accounting requires additional courses that provide a more comprehensive knowledge of accounting, including cost accounting, federal taxation, audit and information systems.
The total cost to complete an associate degree in accounting is generally less than the total cost of a bachelor's degree, primarily due to the cost of additional courses that are required to complete a bachelor's degree. According to a 2006-2007 estimate, the average annual tuition cost for a two-year college was $2,272; the annual average in tuition for a four-year public college was $5,836 "CollegeBoard".
Individuals with an associate degree in accounting are able to pursue career opportunities such as a bookkeeper or clerk in payroll, audit or accounting. Those possessing a bachelor's degree in accounting are often employed as auditors, analysts, accountants and controllers at differing levels of management. Career opportunities are also based on an individual's work experience.