Bachelor’s in Accounting Degree Programs in Kansas
Before taking the certified public accountant exam or taking any other professional licensing exam, you’ll need to get a college degree first, which you can get from any of the bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Kansas. Though Kansas doesn’t have as many big cities as other states do, it does have a number of firms looking for accountants with professional licenses and college degrees. As you look at the top programs in the state, you’ll want to look at the clubs that the schools offer for students, whether you can do an internship while in school and any other opportunities that help you gain more experience.
Baker University
Department of Business and Economics
The Department of Business and Economics at Baker University offers a number of scholarships designed to help students pay their tuition and other costs. Some of these scholarships are smaller in size and can help with minor expenses, but other scholarships can cover the full cost of tuition. The university also awards prizes to the top student majoring in a business subject as a freshman and the top sophomore business major. Baker believes that students learn better through hands-on learning, which is why it requires that each accounting major do at least one internship before graduating.
Accounting
Baker University has a program called the Baker Organizational Observation for Knowledge (BOOK) that it encourages all accounting majors to do. This program asks students to do more research into the companies they want to work for before doing any type of internship. The university believes that this will help students gain more knowledge that they can use when interviewing for an internship position and when working on the job. Baker lets students take up to 16 credits each semester and gain 10 credits over the summer session to graduate in four years rather than the five years it takes to finish other bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Kansas.
Featured Programs
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Though the Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree program offered by Baker University consists of just 60 credits, it is only open to students who completed some or all of the general education courses required by the university. You’ll need to maintain a higher GPA in those courses before declaring your major and taking accounting classes. To help students learn more about the program, Baker hosts several information sessions each year in Baldwin City, Overland Park and other areas. The program includes classes on business communications, internal auditing, financial accounting and tax accounting.
Accreditation
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Contact
618 Eighth St.
Baldwin City, KS 66006
(785) 594-6451
Grantham University
Grantham University is a private university in Leavenworth, Kansas that opened in the 1950s. The university initially offered classes for radio broadcasters and then expanded its curriculum to feature courses and programs on other professional fields of study. It now offers online classes designed for working professionals and other types of busy students. Unlike other for-profit colleges, Grantham took the time to seek accreditation for many of its programs, which lets you know that it takes the education of its students quite seriously. The university offers online support for students who need extra help and programs for military students and their families.
Accounting (Bachelor of Science)
As one of the top online bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Kansas, the BS in Accounting program that Grantham offers teaches you how to analyze any of the financial statements or documents that you come across, how to keep track of financial documents for your clients and the basics of filing taxes on their behalf. Grantham offers reduced tuition rate for any military student and offers financial aid packages to lower costs for all other students. You’ll take 66 credits of electives and general education courses and another 55 credits of core accounting courses like principles of accounting.
Accreditation
International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
Contact
16025 W 113th Street
Lenexa, KS 66219
(888)-947-2684
admissions@grantham.edu
Kansas State University
College of Business Administration
Kansas State University offers a number of business majors through its College of Business Administration, including those in entrepreneurship, marketing and finance. KSU recommends that accounting majors choose a minor in either entrepreneurship or business. The entrepreneurship minor can teach you the basics of setting up your own firm, including how to obtain the financing that you need and how to manage those working for you. If you want to work for a private firm and handle the needs of multiple clients, you may find the business minor more helpful. The courses you take in your minor field count towards your electives.
Accounting
As an accounting major as KSU, you will need to take a number of math classes to ensure that you understand complicated math formulas. You’ll need to take a college algebra class and calculus class at minimum. KSU lets you finish this program in just eight semesters of full-time study. It includes courses on accounting research, managerial reporting, financial reporting and taxation. Unlike other bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Kansas, you can take business electives and other types of electives. You will take two capstone classes as a senior that focus on business strategy and ethics.
Accreditation
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-6011
MidAmerica Nazarene University
The Church of the Nazarene founded Mid-America Nazarene College in 1966, and it kept that name for 30 years before becoming MidAmerica Nazarene University. Also known as MNU, it now offers dozens of college degree programs and welcomes students of all faiths. Many students enjoy the professors working for the university because of the inside knowledge they provide them with and because those professors have a high level of real life experience. Though MNU has many full-time professors working in its accounting department, it also hires adjunct professors who still practice and can give students tips on modern accounting practices.
Accounting
Accounting majors at MNU typically take five to six classes each semester and finish the entire program in four years, but some students opt to take fewer classes during the regular school year and several classes in the summer. Though the university does not require that students do an internship, you can sign up for one and earn course credit as you work for a local accounting firm. This is one of the top bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Kansas and offers courses on the principles of accounting, personal finance, business law, intermediate accounting, management information systems and cost accounting.
Accreditation
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Contact
2030 E. College Way
Olathe, KS 66062-1899
(913) 782-3750
Ottawa University
Ottawa University is one of the oldest schools in Kansas. Missionaries came to the area in the 1850s and began working with the Ottawa tribe. The missionaries not only taught the tribe, but they also provided them with medicine and other services. They later established a small school for the children of the tribe, which grew to include prep courses for high school students and college classes. The university continues working with that tribe today and now provides members of that tribe with free tuition. Ottawa also offers financial aid packages for other students that include grants, loans and scholarships.
Bachelor of Arts in Accounting
The Bachelor of Arts in Accounting program that Ottawa University offers ranks as one of the best bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Kansas. This program prepares you for working many different types of accounting jobs in both the public and private sectors, including a public accountant, budget analyst or tax accountant. It includes several foundation courses like macroeconomics and accounting for business operations, but you will also take 10 required courses from within the major, including intermediate accounting, financing and investing activities and cost accounting. You can take electives that count towards a concentration in one of seven fields, including marketing and actuarial science.
Accreditation
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Contact
1001 S. Cedar St.
Ottawa, KS 66067
(855) 774-7713
University of Kansas
School of Business
The University of Kansas has a 72% job placement rate among its accounting graduates, which makes it one of the most successful bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Kansas. This placement rate only rises as students gain more experience. Students who scored at least 25 on the ACT or 1200 on the SAT and have a high school GPA of 3.25 or higher can immediately enroll in any program available from the KU School of Business. All others must take some classes as a freshmen to prove they can handle college work and then apply for a spot in the program.
Accounting
UK offers an accounting program that requires you take just 25 credits of accounting work. All the other courses you take and work that you do will come from electives and all general education courses that the university requires you take. You must take seven courses that include information systems for accounting, managerial accounting, introduction to the accounting profession, introduction to auditing and introduction to taxation. The university lets you select from different electives like information systems, finance and supply chain management. You can also do an internship that will count as one of your electives.
Accreditation
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
1654 Naismith Drive
Lawrence, KS 66045
(785) 864-7500
bschoolinfo@ku.edu
University of Saint Mary
Founded in 1923, the University of Saint Mary started after the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth moved to the area and decided to open a new school. This school grew and became a full university that offers courses for undergrad, graduate and doctoral students on its Leavenworth campus. It operates a second campus in Overland Park that offers evening classes for working students and some weekend classes. This is one of the only bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Kansas that lets you take online classes too, which can help you finish your degree faster.
Accounting
The University of Saint Mary’s accounting program focuses on several key areas of accounting, including managerial accounting, taxation, financial accounting and auditing. USM designed its program to help you immediately enroll in a graduate program. You can complete an MBA in two years or less after finishing your bachelor’s degree and sit for the CPA exam after finishing one other year of accounting classes. You do not need to take any summer classes, but you will need to take courses like principles of management, principles of marketing, management information systems and taxation. Some courses are just eight-week longs instead of the standard 16 weeks.
Accreditation
International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
Contact
4100 South 4th St
Leavenworth, KS 66048
(913) 682-5151
Richard.Gunter@stmary.edu
Wichita State University
School of Accountancy
Established in 1895, Wichita State University is one of the largest colleges in Kansas and has a student body of more than 14,000 students. Though it accepts around 95% of the students who apply, the university does require that students take an exam like the SAT and submit their official scores as part of the application process. Those enrolled in one of its accounting or business programs can take an internship for credit. They’ll need to meet with their advisers to go over the basics and find a firm willing to let them work. Students can do internships in the summer or during a regular semester.
Accounting Major
To maintain its status as one of the top bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Kansas, WSU requires that students maintain a 2.7 GPS as they take all prerequisite courses. You’ll need to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher in all the accounting and business courses that you take at the 300 level or higher. The university requires that you take at least 90 credits of classes outside of the accounting department. In addition to a course on business writing, you must also take nine courses worth 27 credits that include accounting information systems and taxation of business entities.
Accreditation
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
1845 Fairmount
Box 48
Wichita, KS 67260-0048
(316) 978-3203
carla.mann@wichita.edu
As an accountant, you have the option of working with clients ranging from individuals to major companies. You can help clients keep track of and organize their finances, find loopholes that help them save on their taxes and assist them with filing their taxes. Bachelor’s in accounting degree programs in Kansas teach you how to do these tasks and prepare you for professional licensing exams.
See also: 50 Most Affordable Small Midwest Colleges for an Accounting Degree 2016 (Bachelor’s)