Bachelor's-to-master's accounting degree programs offer an efficient path to earning dual degrees. Students in these fast-paced programs can obtain an accounting bachelor's and an accounting master's without applying to another program, saving time and potentially tuition costs.
Accelerated accounting degrees leading to both undergraduate and graduate credentials offer several benefits. For example, they provide a quicker path to completing the educational requirements for taking the certified public accountant (CPA) licensing exam. Use this guide to compare program details and explore a ranked list of the best dual accounting degrees.
Popular Online Accounting Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Accelerated 5-Year Accounting Programs
Why Pursue a Combined Bachelor's-Master's Program?
CPA Certification
Most five-year accounting programs are designed with CPA certification in mind. Coursework meets specific requirements for the CPA exam, and your classes may help you prepare for the exam itself. Your program may also help you fulfill professional experience requirements for CPA certification.
Save Time and Money
Enrolling in a five-year accounting program helps you complete your education faster, which can help you save money on tuition. Spending five years in school, rather than six, can reduce your overall tuition expenses. You can also enter the workforce faster and begin earning money sooner.
Better Professional Training
A five-year accounting program gives you more training than a graduate accounting certificate. Your courses build deeper skills and more specialized knowledge. Taking the extra step of earning a master's degree can also prepare you for more advanced career paths with increased leadership responsibilities.
Trade-Offs in Getting Two Accounting Degrees Faster
No Choice of Grad School: A five-year accounting program locks you into an extra year at the same school. This isn't ideal if a program's graduate concentration options don't match your professional goals. It can also be useful to earn a master's at a new school, meeting new professors and classmates.
Fewer Course Options: In a five-year accounting program, you must complete a specific set of courses to graduate on time. While this helps you move through your education faster, you may have fewer opportunities to take elective or other special courses. An accelerated program may give you fewer course options overall.
No Time Off Between Degrees: A five-year, fast-[aced program may not give you time off between earning your bachelor's and master's degrees. If you already know you want to become a CPA, this likely won't affect your decision. But some students may want time off after undergrad to explore their professional options.
What to Expect From a Dual-Degree Accounting Program
Most five-year accounting programs include 120 credits for a bachelor's in accounting and 30 additional credits for a master's. This course load meets the 150-credit requirement for CPA certification in some states. These programs go by many names, including:
Bachelor's-master's pathway
3+1 or 4+1 degree
5-year program
Dual-degree program
Five-year programs are different from bachelor's degree completion programs, which require you to hold an associate degree or equivalent credits. They're also different from traditional accelerated programs, which allow you to complete a single degree faster.
Many five-year accounting programs break down into four years of undergraduate coursework and one year of graduate coursework.
Many five-year accounting programs break down into four years of undergraduate coursework and one year of graduate coursework. However, these programs let you start your graduate classes earlier to complete your master's in one year rather than two.
In many instances, your undergraduate accounting coursework can fulfill graduate accounting requirements. In some jurisdictions, you'll always need to complete 150 credits for CPA eligibility, but a five-year program can get you there faster.
Learn More About Accelerated Accounting Programs:
Degree and Concentration Options
Accounting programs offer different degrees and concentration options to prepare you for various career paths. Many programs offer a BS in accounting, though you can also earn a bachelor of business administration or a bachelor of accountancy.
Degree options at the graduate level may include a MS in accounting, an MBA in accounting, or a master of accountancy. Course requirements and professional outcomes vary among these degrees. For instance, an MS in accounting may focus more on technical skills, while an MBA includes more general business and management training.
Some common accounting concentration options include:
Assurance and advisory services
Generalist
Taxation
Accounting information systems
Financial reporting
Admissions Process
For many five-year accounting programs, the undergraduate application process is similar to any other degree. You'll need to submit your high school transcripts or GED certificate, complete an online application, and pay an application fee. Some schools also maintain a GPA minimum and require you to submit SAT scores.
In many programs, you apply for admission to the graduate track during the final year of your undergraduate studies. At others, you may need to apply for the five-year track when you declare your accounting major. Regardless of timeline, most programs require you to complete a full graduate application even if you're already an accounting major.
Regardless of timeline, most programs require you to complete a full graduate application even if you're already an accounting major.
Graduate application requirements are typically more rigorous than undergraduate requirements. For many programs, you'll need a minimum 3.0 GPA on your undergraduate coursework, particularly for courses in accounting. Many schools also require you to submit letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a graduate application fee.
You may also need to submit either GMAT or GRE scores as part of your graduate application. In a five-year program, you'll typically need to take one of these exams during your senior year. The GRE focuses on general subject matter, while the GMAT focuses more specifically on business concepts.
Popular Accounting Undergraduate Courses
In a five-year accounting program, you can often take courses in an accelerated format, helping you earn credits quickly and graduate faster. In an accelerated program, you may be able to take condensed courses that last just 5-10 weeks, rather than a full semester. You may also be able to take a heavier course load each semester.
Regardless of course length, all accounting programs include standardized classes that teach you fundamental accounting concepts. While course titles may change between programs, the basic course topics should stay the same. Common undergraduate courses include:
Principles of Accounting: This core course introduces the basics of accounting, such as asset valuation, the accounting cycle, and revenue and expense recognition. Students learn how companies measure financial data and record transactions. This foundational course forms a basis for further accounting study, helping students understand generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
Financial Accounting and Reporting: Financial reports are a key tool for businesses, allowing organizations to analyze financial data such as revenue and spending. This course focuses on the principles of financial reporting, including how to perform analysis of complex financial statements.
Auditing: This course highlights the practices and ethics of auditing, which examines and regulates business finances. Students learn the specifics of the audit process and how businesses make decisions related to auditing. Common course topics may include legal liability, risk assessment, and the business regulatory environment.
Federal Income Taxation: Federal income tax affects all individuals and businesses, which makes it key knowledge for accountants. This course focuses on major concepts related to taxation, such as business and personal deductions, tax credits, and capital asset transactions. Students also learn about federal tax law and its impact on business and accounting practices.
Popular Accounting Graduate Courses
Graduate coursework in accounting builds on the skills and knowledge you gained in a bachelor's degree. In a five-year accounting program, you may begin taking graduate-level courses as part of your bachelor's curriculum, reducing your degree completion time.
Graduate programs often include special course requirements, such as a thesis or capstone. A thesis is more academic and includes significant research, while a capstone focuses more on practical business applications for accounting.
Advanced Accounting: This course expands on introductory and intermediate accounting knowledge, deepening students' understanding of financial reporting in more complex settings. Building on concepts such as inventory policies and asset valuation, the course requires students to combine skills from previous courses. Common topics include business combinations, foreign operations, and cash flow statements.
Managerial Accounting: At the highest employment levels, accountants perform complex financial analysis that can help businesses make major decisions. This course highlights the relationship between accountants and managers, including how to prepare management reports. Other course topics may include strategic analysis, cost control and budgeting, and operational assets.
Business Entity Taxation: Ethical and legal issues for business taxation differ from individual taxation, requiring accountants to understand different methods and concepts. This course focuses on taxation practices for business entities such as corporations, partnerships, estates, and trusts. Students may also examine relevant concepts in the taxation of non-business entities.
Graduate Internship: Many accounting programs include an internship component that helps students build experience in a professional setting. In a five-year accounting program, your internship may help you fulfill work experience requirements for CPA certification. Internships allow you to work part time for school credit.
How Much Do Accounting 3+1 or 4+1 Programs Cost?
Tuition rates for accounting degrees vary widely among schools. However, some combined accounting programs require fewer credits than two separate degrees, which can translate to less money spent on tuition. Exploring tuition rates for affordable bachelor's degrees and cheap master's degrees can give you a sense of whether a combined program will save you money.
Some combined accounting programs require fewer credits than two separate degrees, which can translate to less money spent on tuition.
Some schools charge a flat tuition rate per semester, regardless of your credit load, which can potentially save you money if you can take extra courses each semester. You may also take graduate courses as part of the bachelor's curriculum, helping you fulfill credit requirements faster and more affordably.
You have many options to fund your accounting degree. Grants, fellowships, and scholarships offer the best deal, since you never have to repay them. Federal and private loans can be a practical choice, but they must always be paid back. Filling out the FAFSA can help you determine what aid you qualify for.
Questions About 4 or 5-Year Accounting Programs
A traditional bachelor's in accounting takes four years of full-time study to complete. However, a bachelor's-to-master's accounting program usually takes five years. These programs combine bachelor's and master's coursework, helping you graduate faster.
