Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

National employment opportunities for accounting degree holders are expected to grow by 6.7% over the next ten years (Source: Lightcast™ – lightcast.io). With a shortage of accounting graduates, many employers are raising the starting salary for this significant role (Source: Wall Street Journal). Ball State University’s bachelor’s in accounting is designed to prepare you for this growth by helping you to develop high-demand skills that you can immediately apply to your current career or utilize in your future career.

In this program, you will gain a solid foundation of financial reporting concepts , as well as knowledge in related areas such as data analytics, economics, finance, management, and more.

 Why Ball State’s Accounting Program

Ball State is one of only 194 institutions with AACSB accreditation (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and the first public school in Indiana to obtain the distinction. All of our classes, both on campus and online, are taught exclusively by full-time faculty instead of adjuncts or TAs. Most of our award-winning faculty are dedicated to teaching and research excellence. All hold one or more professional certifications, with more than half being licensed CPAs. Our faculty have a diverse mix of professional, in-the-field experience in addition to their teaching careers. Our faculty work closely with our students to help them develop educational and career plans for their future.

This online degree offered by Ball State provides you with the same high-quality education as our on-campus program, with all courses meeting rigorous academic standards equal to those met by on-campus programs at Ball State. You will learn from the same highly qualified professors and your program will feature the same course work, experiences, and expectations. Our online program is tailored to ensure that we are following best practices for online learning. Ball State has a long history of online learning and our faculty and staff are experienced and knowledgeable. Ball State’s online bachelor’s degrees rank among the “Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees” according to U.S. News.

A flexible online learning degree allows you to work at your own pace, earning your degree without interrupting your current career or life, while still giving you a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

 What Skills Will I Gain?

An accounting degree provides you with the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills needed for a career in the financial sector. The skills and insights that you will gain give you a competitive edge in a demanding job market and will provide you with tools to apply immediately to your career. With an accounting degree, you’ll gain:

• The ability to develop and dissect financial reports
• Skills enabling you to provide assurance on financial reports, tax planning, personal financial planning, and other professional services such as consulting
• A solid foundation in areas such as data analytics, economics, finance, management, and more
• Knowledge of accounting, analytics, economics, and finance principles (GAAP) that can be utilized in a variety of business applications
• Critical thinking and decision-making skills

Foundational accounting courses are complemented by general management courses, providing a well-rounded education.

 Career Outcomes

A degree in accounting opens the door to a wide variety of career opportunities in a variety of sectors, including government, law, banking, education, business, non-profit, and more. Graduates from Ball State achieve a 95% placement rate with a variety of job titles, including:

• Auditor
• Tax specialist
• Financial analyst
• Credit/loan officer
• Consultant
• Financial advisor
• Underwriter

 What Sets Our Graduates Apart

Our successful graduates (many of whom go on to be Ball State’s generous donors) include CEOs, CFOs, and partners in public accounting firms, including the Big 4. 95% of our graduates find employment or attend graduate school within 6 months of graduation. Our graduates are sought after by the Big 4 and smaller accounting firms, corporations, and government and non-profit organizations.

 Courses You Will Take

While completing your bachelor’s degree in accounting, you will take courses that focus on accounting theories and principles that are useful in the business world and provide you with a foundation to thrive in your career. Your program of study offers you relevant experiences that contribute to your career goals and prepare you for your professional future.

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Ivy Tech and Vincennes Graduates

If you have an associate of science degree in business administration from Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University, and you have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, you can begin earning your Ball State bachelor’s in accounting entirely online, with a Junior status. Accepted graduates of other community colleges’ class standing will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We work with all students who have prior coursework, both in and out of accounting, to help you complete your degree as efficiently as possible.

More about Online Learning

 Ready to Apply?

An application and all required application materials must be received two weeks prior to the start of classes for a given term in order to be considered for admission to Ball State. Our semester start dates can be found in Ball State’s academic calendar.

Whether you are transferring credits in from another university or have never taken college courses before now, we invite you to learn about Ball State's admission requirements and how to apply to this program.

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Students from Other States

Ball State is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to accept online students from all U.S. states. However, if you are considering a program that leads to professional licensure, some states may have additional regulations. Review our state authorization website if you live outside of Indiana and contact us if you have questions.