Bachelor’s in Accounting Degree Programs in Alabama

Sixteen bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama are accredited to train tomorrow’s CPAs for balancing financial figures within the “Yellowhammer State’s” $204.23 billion economy.

Future accountants can dip their feet into the active financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, and aerospace sectors in America’s 24th most-populous state. Alabama hires accounting grads at major banks like Regions Financial Corporation, BBVA Compass, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo. Accounting majors can also choose from seven Fortune 1000 companies, such as Vulcan Materials, Protective Life, and Retailer Saks Inc.

The BLS states that Alabama employs 15,360 accountants for a mean salary of $67,750. Jump-start your career analyzing financial transactions at the following accounting schools in Alabama.

Featured Programs

Alabama State University

College of Business Administration

Originally founded as the Lincoln Normal School in 1867, Alabama State University is a public, historically black TMCF-member institution carrying an $86.5 million endowment to serve over 5,300 undergrad Hornets from its 172-acre, Georgian-style campus in Montgomery, an All-America City Award winner. Named America’s 236th “Most Liberal College” on Niche, ASU is ranked the 35th best HBCU nationwide by the U.S. News. The College of Business Administration offers one of the ACBSP-accredited bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama with 60 percent retention.

B.S. in Accounting

With a 16:1 student-faculty ratio, ASU’s Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Accounting integrates applied business courses to emphasize the financial reporting principles and analytical skills for professional practice. Delivering an optional Minor in International Business, the 121-credit curriculum spans from income tax and cost accounting to CPA review. Other valuable opportunities include joining the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society, interning with Deloitte, studying abroad in Scotland, and researching in the East Asian Institute.

Accreditation

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

915 S. Jackson Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 229-4134
jcrawford@alasu.edu
Program Link

Athens State University

College of Business

Enrolling around 3,500 Bears, Athens State University is a two-year, upper-division public institution with AASCU membership that’s offering 33 majors, including one of the bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama, from its suburban headquarters in Limestone County near the Tennessee border. Recognized for Alabama’s 17th “Best Professors” on Niche, Athens is ranked in the top 5 percent nationwide for non-traditional students by College Factual. OnlineU.com also applauded the College of Business for the United States’ fifth most affordable accounting education.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

Offering an IMA Student Chapter for career-building, the Bachelor of Science in Accounting gives Athens undergrads the ability to begin their 150-hour journey to CPA licensure with a strong introduction to the fundamentals of financial analysis. Students choose from minors like Acquisition & Contract Management, Finance, Information Assurance, Logistics, and Project Management to specialize their 124-credit degree. Presently costing $274 per credit, ACBSP-accredited courses are accessible online via Blackboard for adult transfers.

Accreditation

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

300 N. Beaty Street
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 216-5373
stacie.hughes@athens.edu
Program Link

Auburn University

Harbert College of Business

Endowed for $646.6 million, Auburn University is a flagship public, land-grant and space-grant ORAU member tracing back to 1856 that’s educating over 22,600 bachelor’s majors from 1,843 urban acres in the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. Recognized for America’s 51st “Best Student Life” on Niche, Auburn is ranked the 99th best national university and 43rd top public school by the USNWR. Celebrating 50 years, the Harbert College of Business is also acclaimed for the 63rd best undergraduate business education and 10th top MBA program.

B.S. in Accountancy

Auburn’s B.S. in Accountancy stands out among bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama for AACSB accreditation and an excellent retention rate of 90 percent. Coursework is delivered primarily on-site, but online learning is offered for second-degree candidates. The 123-credit curriculum model has achieved CPA pass rates 10 times the national average. Majors can pledge Beta Alpha Psi, share resumes on Handshake, land Big Four internships, and participate in the Financial Leadership Society.

Accreditation

• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

405 W. Magnolia Avenue
Auburn, AL 36849
(334) 844-5340
muelljm@auburn.edu
Program Link

Auburn University at Montgomery

College of Business

Led by Chancellor Carl A. Stockton, Auburn University at Montgomery is a public, co-educational branch established in 1967 that’s educating around 4,200 undergrads from a 500-acre suburban campus near the State Capitol. Picked as America’s 198th “Best College with No Application Fee,” on Niche, AUM was ranked the 447th best master’s-level university by the Washington Monthly. Featured in the Princeton Review’s “300 Best Business Schools,” the College of Business awards another of the AACSB-accredited bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama with 79 percent acceptance.

BSBA Accounting Specialization

For a net price of $12,827 per year, the BSBA Accounting Specialization at Auburn Montgomery serves hopeful CPAs in the River Region with advanced financial reporting concepts for ethical business decision-making on money matters. Within the 120-credit framework, students take six core accounting courses and two electives. Majors could also benefit from joining Delta Epsilon Kappa, earning the Watson Robbins Taylor Scholarship, interning with ADECA, and studying in Singapore at Shiga University Perfecture.

Accreditation

• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

7400 East Drive
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 244-3179
srobin38@aum.edu
Program Link

Miles College

Division of Business & Accounting

Affiliated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Miles College is a private, historically black UNCF-member institution founded in 1893 that’s grown to teach over 1,800 Golden Bears yearly from a 76-acre suburban campus in Fairfield just six miles from Birmingham. Deemed Alabama’s 15th “Best Small College” on Niche, Miles was ranked 72nd nationally on HBCU Connect with affordable tuition at $11,604. The Division of Business & Accounting received initial ACBSP approval to confer one of the bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama.

Accounting Program (B.S.)

Consisting of 128 credits, the Accounting Program (B.S.) admits 100 percent of Miles applicants seeking to build critical thinking and communication skills surrounding numbers with real-world business experience. Majors take courses like managerial accounting and federal taxation before senior internships with accounting firms, such as Ernst & Young. Undergrads may also serve with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), join the NABA Student Chapter, interact with Students in Free Enterprises, and minor in International Studies.

Accreditation

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

550 Myron Massey Blvd.
Fairfield, AL 35064
(205) 929-1535
jlmartin@miles.edu
Program Link

Oakwood University

Department of Business & Information Systems

Sitting upon 1,185 urban acres in Huntsville, Alabama’s fourth-largest city, Oakwood University has been a private, historically black master’s-level institution within the United Negro College Fund since 1964 to educate around 1,800 Ambassadors in the Seventh-day Adventist tradition. Declared America’s 288th “Best Christian College” on Niche, Oakwood is ranked the 47th best Southern school and 49th HBCU nationwide by the U.S. News. The Department of Business & Information Systems retains 76 percent of freshmen with seven bachelor’s degrees and four minors.

Accounting (B.S.)

Housed in the McKee B&T Building, the Accounting (B.S.) accepts Oakwood sophomores with at least 30 prerequisite credits who strive to make creative, sound recommendations on organizational finances in today’s transnational economy. Unlike some bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama, this 128-credit curriculum requires a 150-hour internship to practice GAAP principles firsthand and exit examination. Majors could also join Phi Beta Lambda, travel with Adventist Colleges Abroad, and conduct service learning with New Futures, Inc.

Accreditation

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• Adventist Accreditation Association (AAA)

Contact

7000 Adventist Blvd NW
Huntsville, AL 35896
(256) 726-7081
hburton@oakwood.edu
Program Link

South University-Montgomery

College of Business

As one of 110 schools operated by Education Management Corporation (EDMC), South University is a private, for-profit distance learning institution tracing back to 1899 with Draughon’s Practical Business College that’s serving around 18,500 adults from 13 U.S. campuses, including Montgomery. Although South was graded B for academics on Niche, keep in mind that Washington Monthly placed it 20th among the worst colleges based on graduation rates. The College of Business immerses learners in complex, real-world management scenarios with an 18:1 student-faculty ratio.

Dual B.S and M.S. in Accounting

South University offers a unique take on bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama by conferring a Dual B.S. and M.S. in Accounting that fulfills the 150-hour CPA requirement for public practice completely online. Spanning 50 months at $397 per credit, the program is taught by experienced instructors with challenging courses in cost accounting, risk management, financial statement analysis, business law, auditing, and more. The ACBSP-accredited program solely requires a high school diploma or GED certificate with a minimum 2.0 GPA overall.

Accreditation

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

5355 Vaughn Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
(866) 629-2962
materialsreview@southuniversity.edu
Program Link

Strayer University-Birmingham and Huntsville

College of Business

Established by Dr. Siebert Irving Strayer in Baltimore in 1892, Strayer University is a national private, for-profit business-centric institution focused on “Transformation through Education.”

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting

Available online or on-site at 76 locations like Birmingham and Huntsville, the Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting is a more specialized, results-oriented option for undergrads to learn advanced concepts of financial regulation in business. Featuring 40 courses costing $1,525 each, the ACBSP-accredited curriculum map integrates live lectures before an accounting capstone.

Accreditation

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

3570 Grandview Parkway, Suite 200
Birmingham, AL 35243
(205) 453-6300
birmingham@strayer.edu
Program Link

4955 Corporate Drive NW, Suite 200
Huntsville, AL 35805
(256) 665-9800
huntsville@strayer.edu

Troy University

Sorrell College of Business

Belonging to the Sun Belt Conference, Troy University is a flagship public, land-grant ACHE institution endowed for $85.53 million that’s grown since 1887 to educate over 18,300 Trojans yearly from its 650-acre rural headquarters in Pike County. Applauded as America’s 11th “Best Online College” on Niche, Troy is ranked the 69th best Southern college and 23rd top public university by the USNWR. The Sorrell College of Business houses some of the 226th best online bachelor’s, including bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama.

B.S./B.A. Business Administration-Accounting Major

Offered in Troy, Montgomery, Phenix City, and Dothan or online, the B.S./B.A. Business Administration-Accounting Major fulfills ACBSP criteria for esteemed undergrad education rooted in ethical financial principles for the global business climate. The 37-hour Troy major can be concentrated in Public Accounting, Forensic Accounting, or Management Accounting. Students could also declare the Entrepreneurship Minor, participate in the ACFE Anti-Fraud Partnership, join the Accounting Society, and study overseas from Iceland to South Korea.

Accreditation

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

155C Bibb Graves Hall
Troy, AL 36082
(334) 670-3154
ksheridan@troy.edu
Program Link

University of Alabama

Culverhouse School of Accountancy

Within the APLU, the University of Alabama is the state’s largest public, doctoral-granting RU/H institutions endowed for $1.2 billion to educate the Roll Tide of 32,500 undergrads from 1,970 urban acres in Tuscaloosa. Ranked 20th among “Best College Campuses” on Niche, UA is crowned the 103rd best national university and 46th top public college by the U.S. News. Established in 1978, the Culverhouse School of Accountancy belongs to America’s 54th best business school for delivering one of the bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama.

Accounting, B.S.

Requiring a minimum 2.5 GPA, the Accounting B.S. is an upper-division program in Alston Hall that admits juniors seeking the problem-solving skills, business acumen, and ethical behavior to eventually succeed as Certified Public Accountants. During the 27-credit major, students engage in the Spring Internship for placements like Deloitte, Moss Adams, Baker Tilly, and the IRS. Undergrads may also join the Honors College, join the ACFE Chapter, study abroad in Hong Kong, or conduct research in the Alabama Productivity Center.

Accreditation

• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

361 Stadium Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
(205) 348-8392
rhouston@culverhouse.ua.edu
Program Link

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Collat School of Business

Classified with RU/VH status, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public, research-intensive doctoral institution presenting 140+ majors to 18,500 Blazers using a $424.5 million endowment from its 275-acre urban campus in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area. Noted for America’s 65th “Best College Dorms” on Niche, UAB is ranked the 159th best national university and 83rd top public school by the U.S. News. Housing another of the bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama, the Collat School of Business also has the 22nd best online business education.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

Boasting a 91 percent placement rate, the Bachelor of Science in Accounting at UAB prepares undergrads for certified careers with extensive knowledge of financial reporting guidelines for business activities. Whether taken on-site or online, the 120-credit curriculum offers two optional specializations in Forensic Accounting or Information Technology Auditing. Students must fulfill the Experiential Learning Requirement by joining the Honors Program, securing a paid internship, conducting a business analysis project, or traveling abroad from Sydney to Belfast.

Accreditation

• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

1720 2nd Avenue S.
Birmingham, AL 35294
(205) 934-8825
arlsav@uab.edu
Program Link

University of Mobile

School of Business

Opened in 1961 by the Alabama Baptist Convention, the University of Mobile is a private, nonprofit Christian institution led by Chancellor William K. Weaver that’s endowed for $14 million to serve around 1,600 Rams from 880 suburban acres near Prichard. Chosen for America’s 237th “Best College Dorms” on Niche, Mobile is ranked the eighth best Southern school and third most veteran-friendly university by the USNWR. The School of Business has 76 percent retention for ACBSP-accredited education that fosters competent, ethical leadership.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

Presently costing $10,100 per full-time semester, Mobile’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting remains unique among bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama for offering three specialized tracks: Public Accounting, Corporate/Non-Profit, and Integrated 5-Year MBA. The 45-credit major builds financial awareness from a Baptist perspective with face-to-face courses like business analytics, statistics, cost analysis, auditing, and individual taxation. Students learn from doctoral-level professors trained by Duquesne, Nova Southeastern, Mississippi State, and more at a 13:1 ratio.

Accreditation

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

5735 College Parkway
Eight Mile, AL 36613
(251) 422-2281
kdunning@umobile.edu
Program Link

University of North Alabama

College of Business

Attracting around 7,500 Lions from 35 countries, the University of North Alabama is the state’s oldest public, co-educational institution opened in 1830 that’s developed a $30 million endowment for quality teaching on 130 urban acres in Florence. Ranked the 87th best Southern college and 34th top public university by the U.S. News, UNA is applauded for America’s 125th “Best Greek Life” on Niche. The College of Business offers one of the bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama and the 115th best online MBA.

BBA-Accounting

After finishing 45+ credits, admitted sophomores or transfers could enter North Alabama’s BBA-Accounting program to prepare for the CPA exam by building diverse analytical skills for protecting the integrity of financial reports. The upper-division program integrates courses like business valuation, tax accounting, and information system management. Majors may also enjoy joining the Muscle Shoals IMA Chapter, taking the Honors track, learning from the Raburn Eminent Scholar, and adding the 15-credit Global Business Certificate.

Accreditation

• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

311 Keller-Raburn Wing
Florence, AL 35632
(256) 765-4332
mlawrence@una.edu
Program Link

University of South Alabama

Mitchell College of Business

Generating an annual economic impact of $2 billion, the University of South Alabama is the upper Gulf Coast’s only public, land-grant research institution educating over 16,600 Jaguars from a 1,224-acre suburban campus with Mobile’s subtropical climate. Recognized for America’s 105th “Best College Athletics” on Niche, USA is positioned as the 274th best national university by Washington Monthly. The Mitchell College of Business was also distinguished for the 326th best undergrad business education on the USNWR survey.

Accounting (BSBA)

Undergrads seeking bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama with evening courses can consider the Accounting (BSBA), a convenient, 122-credit option for working toward goals like CPA licensure. With an average class size of 20, courses build on the business core for mastery from corporate taxation to accounting information systems. Majors could join Beta Alpha Psi, participate in Accounting Club, serve through the IRS Volunteer Tax Project, and study abroad with Barcelona SAE.

Accreditation

• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

5811 USA Drive South
Mobile, AL 36688
(251) 460-6144
mcob@southalabama.edu
Program Link

University of West Alabama

College of Business and Technology

Occupying a 600-acre rural campus in Livingston just 38 miles from Meridian, Mississippi, the University of West Alabama is a public, co-educational ACHE institution in the Gulf South Conference that’s inspiring over 5,100 students to “Do Something That Matters.” Graded A- for safety and campus food on Niche, UWA is ranked America’s 481st best master’s-level university by Washington Monthly. Charging $7,286 in-state yearly, the College of Business and Technology maintains ACBSP accreditation for one of the cheapest bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama.

Bachelor in Business Administration-Accounting Major

Selectively admitting 73 percent of applicants for an 18:1 student-faculty ratio, the BBA program offers an Accounting Major to West Alabama Tigers who strive for mid- and upper-level business jobs where financial reporting is key. The 40-hour major integrates campus-based or online courses ranging from public speaking to business law and advanced accounting. Undergrads may also conduct the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance practicum, join Delta Mu Delta, study abroad in Geneva, or declare Honors.

Accreditation

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

205 N. Washington Street
Livingston, AL 35470
(888) 636-8800
admissions@uwa.edu
Program Link

According to the AICPA 2015 Trends report, the United States enrolls 207,071 in undergrad accounting majors each year. Both supply and demand are high in accounting with the BLS projecting faster-than-average job growth of 11 percent through 2024. Residents of the “Cotton State” can sew together a lucrative, in-demand career by considering these bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Alabama.

See also: Top 10 Best Online Accounting Degree Programs 2015