Use the eLearners or All Business Schools website (see Resources) to identify schools that offer online accounting degree programs.
Assess what type of accounting degree you are interested in receiving. You can get a two-year associate's degree, bachelor's degree or master's degree in accounting. You must have a bachelor's to earn a master's degree, but you can skip the associate's and go right to a bachelor's. If your objective is to get a job in the accounting field, a bachelor's degree is a good place to start.
Evaluate the schools with online accounting programs that you have selected by checking their accreditation with the U.S. Department of Education. It is a good idea to make sure that any potential school is properly accredited, so that the credits you earn will be valid at any educational institution. You will find some schools that are online only while others are just online programs of standard colleges.
Compare prices of the various online accounting degree programs to see which programs meet your budget requirements. Also, evaluate the required courses and number of credit hours to see which programs best meet your needs. Some programs may focus on tax accounting or non-profit accounting, while others may focus on general accounting. Be sure to check to see if the accounting program is affiliated with any employers or offers any job fairs or internships for students.
Select the online school accounting degree program that best meets your needs and submit your application. Typically, you will need to send official school transcripts with the application as well as pay the application fee, which varies. Be sure to select accounting as your major when you complete your application. Once enrolled, just follow the curriculum plan to earn your accounting degree online.