The Best Associate's in Accounting Programs for 2026

College of the Canyons splits its accounting offerings into two distinct AS and Certificate of Achievement tracks. The transfer-focused Accounting track requires 22-23 units: Principles of Accounting I and II at 5 units each, Business Law at 3 units, and 9-10 units chosen from macroeconomics, microeconomics, or statistics. The separate Accounting Technician track requires 20 units, built around Bookkeeping and Accounting, Entrepreneurial Finance, and Business Law, with electives in Business English or QuickBooks Pro, a path for students who want bookkeeping-level skills without the full transfer sequence.

Canyons earns a Hakia Score of 95, fourth in this group, on a 45% graduation rate, the lowest of the four schools here. Tuition stays cheap regardless: $1,104 a year in-state, identical to Irvine Valley, against $10,896 out-of-state, nearly 10 times as much. With 18,075 students enrolled, Canyons is the largest school in this group. It suits a student who wants to test bookkeeping or entry-level accounting work through the Technician track before committing to the longer transfer-degree path.

College of San Mateo's Associate in Arts in Accounting is a 23.5-unit core built for both transfer and quick employability. Students take Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, and two dedicated QuickBooks courses (Set-up and Service Business, then Payroll and Merchandising Business), plus a Spreadsheets course and six units of accounting or business electives. The program points students to the state's Assist course-articulation tool to map lower-division accounting and business coursework for transfer into the CSU and UC systems, and pairs the degree with standalone certificates in Accounting Assistant, Enrolled Agent Exam Preparation, and Tax Preparer I and II for students who want a credential before finishing all 60 units.

The numbers back the fit for cost-conscious transfer students. California residents pay $1,288 a year, versus $11,384 for out-of-state students, nearly a 9-to-1 gap that makes non-resident enrollment a poor deal here. 61% of students graduate, and Hakia's ranking model, which weighs outcomes like graduation rate against cost and access, scores the program at 94.9, good for 5th among 2026's top associate's accounting programs nationally. With 9,901 students enrolled campuswide, this fits someone who wants low-cost, transfer-ready accounting training rather than a narrow professional certificate.

Foothill's AA in Accounting is structured around California's CPA licensure pipeline: the program page states all its courses meet the CPA unit requirement, and directs students toward the Accounting 67 and 68 series specifically to prepare for the Enrolled Agent exam. Beyond the AA, the department offers a stack of narrower certificates built off the same coursework: four separate CPA Exam Preparation certificates (Audit, Business Environment and Concepts, Financial Accounting Reporting, and Regulation), plus Bookkeeping, Tax Specialist, Payroll Preparation, and Accounting Ethics certificates. The program page also states the AA can be completed fully online.

Foothill's 56% graduation rate and 94.4 Hakia Score put it 6th among 2026's top associate's accounting programs, just behind College of San Mateo. In-state tuition runs $1,395 against $12,420 for out-of-state students, an 8.9-to-1 gap. Enrollment across the college is 12,949 students. This program suits someone targeting California CPA or Enrolled Agent licensure specifically, since the curriculum is built around those unit requirements rather than a general transfer track.

Ultimate Medical Academy's Healthcare Accounting program is a specialized Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science built for the intersection of accounting and medical billing, not general accounting or CPA prep. The 165-credit, 18-month online curriculum runs Principles of Accounting I and II, Accounting Software Applications, Cost Accounting, and Payroll Accounting alongside healthcare-specific coursework: Medical Terminology, Introduction to Diagnostic and Procedural Coding, Optimizing the Reimbursement Cycle, and Healthcare Settings, Claim Cycle, and Claims Processing. UMA states plainly that graduates are not prepared to sit for the CPA exam; the program targets entry-level roles like patient services representative, revenue billing specialist/claims analyst, and insurance benefits specialist, and caps class sizes at 25 students.

55% of UMA students graduate, and the program earns a 94.4 Hakia Score, matching Foothill's score but placing 7th among 2026's top associate's accounting programs, with 8,932 students enrolled across the school. UMA runs rolling admissions with new classes starting every 2 to 3 weeks rather than fixed semester start dates, and its program page states the school carries institutional accreditation through the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). This fits someone set on healthcare-sector accounting and billing work specifically, not a stepping stone to a CPA license.

Fox Valley Technical College's Accounting AAS is a 63-credit program available in Appleton or fully online, part-time or full-time. Coursework covers the full accounting cycle: internal controls, cost accounting, income tax accounting, payroll processing, and financial statement analysis, plus Excel spreadsheet skills. Admission requires an academic skills assessment, waived with a 2.75 high school GPA, a prior associate degree or higher, a qualifying ACT score, or a $15 Accuplacer test. The college holds Higher Learning Commission accreditation and states it maintains credit transfer agreements with multiple two- and four-year schools for students who continue toward a bachelor's degree.

FVTC posts the highest graduation rate of this group at 65%, backing a 94.3 Hakia Score, 8th among 2026's top associate's accounting programs. Wisconsin residents pay $4,485 a year against $6,728 for out-of-state students, a $2,243 gap, far smaller than the roughly 9-to-1 spread at the California schools in this group. The program's own cost estimate for the full 63-credit AAS runs $12,062.28 in tuition and fees, plus $105.49 in supplies and $429.68 in textbooks, about $12,597 total to complete the degree. Enrollment across the college is 10,670. This fits a student who wants a fixed, transparent total price and the option to finish entirely online.

Mt. San Antonio College's Associate of Science in Accounting is a 28 to 29 unit degree built around six required courses: Principles of Accounting Financial, Principles of Accounting Managerial, two semesters of Intermediate Accounting, QuickBooks for Accounting, and Excel for Accounting, plus Principles of Business. Students also pick one elective from Cost Accounting, Federal Income Tax Law, or Personal Financial Planning. The program targets entry-level roles in general accounting, cost accounting, payroll, accounts receivable and payable, and budgeting and forecasting, and the college advises students planning to transfer into a bachelor's program to confirm course transferability with a counselor first.

The program carries a 93.9 Hakia Score, the ranking basis here, and sits at #9 nationally among associate's accounting programs. Its 45% graduation rate is the lowest of this group of four, a tradeoff that comes with scale: Mt. SAC enrolls 29,971 students, by far the largest campus on this list. Tuition is where the program wins: $1,288 a year in-state versus $10,388 out-of-state, roughly an 8x gap, making this a strong fit for California residents who want dedicated software training built into the degree rather than left as an elective.

Diablo Valley College's Business Accounting program centers on an Associate in Science in Accounting, backed by three stackable certificates: Advanced Accounting, Bookkeeping, and General Accounting. The program page states it prepares students for careers in bookkeeping, accounting, auditing, and financial services, and specifically for a path toward CPA licensure; students can also route the AS into a business administration transfer plan toward a four-year university.

DVC posts a 93.7 Hakia Score, good for #10 nationally, with a 49% graduation rate, four points ahead of Mt. SAC's 45%. Tuition runs $1,288 in-state and $10,296 out-of-state, essentially the same roughly 8x in-state discount seen across California's community college system. At 17,228 students, DVC is about 40% smaller than Mt. SAC, a middle-ground pick for students who want the CPA-track framing without the largest possible campus.

Eastern Florida State College's Accounting Technology AS is a 60-credit-hour degree students can complete entirely on campus, in a hybrid format, or fully online, across four campuses in Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville. Coursework moves from Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting into Intermediate Accounting and Federal Tax Accounting, where students prepare an actual Form 1040 with supporting schedules. Admission is open enrollment with rolling start dates, and graduates can continue directly into EFSC's Organizational Management Bachelor of Applied Science with an accounting specialization track.

The program holds a 92.4 Hakia Score, good for #11 nationally, and a 52% graduation rate, the second-best of this group behind Gaston's 63%. In-state tuition runs $2,048 a year against $8,399 out-of-state, a narrower roughly 4x gap than the California schools on this list; the program's own page separately cites approximately $6,240 in total in-state tuition and fees to complete the full 60-credit degree. With 14,053 students enrolled, EFSC fits students who want a fully remote option without leaving a public, multi-campus system.

Gaston College's Accounting and Finance program awards an Associate in Applied Science, offered both online and on campus, alongside a one-year diploma and four certificates: Bookkeeping, Federal Income Tax, Financial Accounting, and Managerial Accounting. Each certificate can be finished in as little as 15 credit hours and every credit stacks toward the diploma or the full AAS, letting students test the field before committing to two years.

Gaston shares a 92.4 Hakia Score with Eastern Florida but posts a 63% graduation rate, the highest of these four programs and 11 points ahead of Eastern Florida's 52%, the next best. In-state tuition is $2,432 a year versus $8,576 out-of-state, roughly a 3.5x gap, the narrowest premium on out-of-state students in this group. At 6,443 students, Gaston is the smallest school here, a fit for students who want an online-capable AAS inside a smaller college.

Santa Fe College is a public institution in Gainesville, FL. Its Associate's in Accounting program ranks #13 of the 25 analyzed here with a 92.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 5.4 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 53% of its students, below the 54% average across the ranked schools. Santa Fe College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%.

On cost, Santa Fe College charges $1,872 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $7,418 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $3,744 in tuition for residents, against $14,836 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. The spread makes the program a clearer value for FL residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Pasadena City College is a public institution in Pasadena, CA. Its Associate's in Accounting program ranks #14 of the 25 analyzed here with a 92.2 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 5.5 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 48% of its students, below the 54% average across the ranked schools. Pasadena City College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%.

On cost, Pasadena City College charges $1,104 a year in-state, roughly 10x the $10,848 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $2,208 in tuition for residents, against $21,696 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. The spread makes the program a clearer value for CA residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Saddleback College is a public institution in Mission Viejo, CA. Its Associate's in Accounting program ranks #15 of the 25 analyzed here with a 91.9 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 5.8 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 48% of its students, below the 54% average across the ranked schools. Saddleback College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%.

On cost, Saddleback College charges $1,380 a year in-state, roughly 11x the $14,760 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $2,760 in tuition for residents, against $29,520 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. The spread makes the program a clearer value for CA residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Southern Crescent Technical College is a public institution in Griffin, GA. Its Associate's in Accounting program ranks #16 of the 25 analyzed here with a 91.9 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 5.8 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 58% of its students, above the 54% average across the ranked schools. Southern Crescent Technical College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%.

On cost, Southern Crescent Technical College charges $2,568 a year in-state, roughly 2.0x the $5,136 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $5,136 in tuition for residents, against $10,272 for non-residents. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. The spread makes the program a clearer value for GA residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with an online option.

Golden West College is a public institution in Huntington Beach, CA. Its Associate's in Accounting program ranks #17 of the 25 analyzed here with a 91.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 5.9 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 49% of its students, below the 54% average across the ranked schools. Golden West College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%.

On cost, Golden West College charges $1,288 a year in-state, roughly 9x the $11,536 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $2,576 in tuition for residents, against $23,072 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. The spread makes the program a clearer value for CA residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

Based in Palatine, IL, William Rainey Harper College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Accounting program lands at #18 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 91.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 5.9 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 48% of its students, below the 54% average across the ranked schools. William Rainey Harper College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%. The university enrolls 13,988 students overall.

On cost, William Rainey Harper College charges $9,492 a year in-state, versus $11,304 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $18,984 in tuition for residents, against $22,608 for non-residents. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 6x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Central Georgia Technical College is a public institution in Warner Robins, GA. Its Associate's in Accounting program ranks #19 of the 25 analyzed here with a 91.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 6 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 47% of its students, below the 54% average across the ranked schools. Central Georgia Technical College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%.

On cost, Central Georgia Technical College charges $2,568 a year in-state, roughly 2.0x the $5,136 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $5,136 in tuition for residents, against $10,272 for non-residents. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. The spread makes the program a clearer value for GA residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Orange Coast College is a public institution in Costa Mesa, CA. Its Associate's in Accounting program ranks #20 of the 25 analyzed here with a 91.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 6.3 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 48% of its students, below the 54% average across the ranked schools. Orange Coast College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%.

On cost, Orange Coast College charges $1,288 a year in-state, roughly 9x the $11,536 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $2,576 in tuition for residents, against $23,072 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. The spread makes the program a clearer value for CA residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Utah Valley University is a public institution in Orem, UT. Its Associate's in Accounting program ranks #21 of the 25 analyzed here with a 91.2 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 6.5 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 45% of its students, below the 54% average across the ranked schools. Utah Valley University holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%.

On cost, Utah Valley University charges $5,818 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $17,800 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $11,636 in tuition for residents, against $35,600 for non-residents. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. The spread makes the program a clearer value for UT residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Based in Woodland Hills, CA, Los Angeles Pierce College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Accounting program lands at #22 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 90.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 6.8 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 46% of its students, below the 54% average across the ranked schools. Los Angeles Pierce College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%.

On cost, Los Angeles Pierce College charges $1,196 a year in-state, roughly 9x the $10,530 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $2,392 in tuition for residents, against $21,060 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. The spread makes the program a clearer value for CA residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Based in Eau Claire, WI, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Accounting program lands at #23 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 90.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 6.9 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 50% of its students, below the 54% average across the ranked schools. Chippewa Valley Technical College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%. The university enrolls 8,330 students overall.

On cost, Chippewa Valley Technical College charges $4,485 a year in-state, versus $6,728 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $8,970 in tuition for residents, against $13,456 for non-residents. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 12x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public institution in Fennimore, WI. Its Associate's in Accounting program ranks #24 of the 25 analyzed here with a 90.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 7.1 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 66% of its students, above the 54% average across the ranked schools. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 2,849 students.

On cost, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College charges $4,485 a year in-state, versus $6,728 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $8,970 in tuition for residents, against $13,456 for non-residents. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 12x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.

Based in Alfred, NY, SUNY College of Technology at Alfred is a public institution. Its Associate's in Accounting program lands at #25 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 89.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 93 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 7.9 points behind top-ranked De Anza College. The program graduates 55% of its students, above the 54% average across the ranked schools. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred admits 76% of applicants, less selective than the 72% average for the group. That is more open than the 67% rate at Rochester Institute of Technology, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 45% to 70%.

On cost, SUNY College of Technology at Alfred charges $7,070 a year in-state, roughly 2.1x the $15,015 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $14,140 in tuition for residents, against $30,030 for non-residents. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,104 at Irvine Valley College to $58,260 at Rochester Institute of Technology. Graduates step into a field with a $54,920 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.