Accounting

U.S. Career Institute’s self-paced, online Accounting Associate Degree is designed to prepare you for a role in Accounting in as little as 16 months. Position yourself for success in a growing field!

When you become an Accounting specialist, you may work with tax filings or bookkeeping or work as a financial consultant. Your online Accounting degree will teach you the skills you need to succeed in many types of accounting careers. Each of our accounting online courses explores a different topic in depth. The pacing of our training program allows you to truly master skills as you work toward getting your online associate degree in Accounting. Because you take one class at a time, you will be able to thoroughly master each subject as you learn the ins and outs of the accounting field.

Program goal: To prepare students to obtain entry-level employment in the accounting and business fields.

• Complete in 16 months, part-time
• DEAC Accredited
• 100% online, self-paced classes, on your phone or computer
• 5-day money-back commitment
• One-on-one career coaching and instructor support
• Start learning today - no waiting period!
• A+ BBB Rating, 45 years in distance education, and 97% of students would recommend U.S. Career Institute to a friend.
• The DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.

Lead instructor/course expert. Valerie Monahan, has more than 25 years of progressive experience in the field of accounting, including payroll, auditing and tax. She has worked in public and private practice and owns her own company, assisting clients in bookkeeping and tax by providing advice, guidance and training for employees. She has extensive knowledge of all types of accounting software, including Quickbooks, NetSuite, Ajera and various other add-ons to accounting software packages.

Students must be 18 years of age; exceptions will be made with guardian approval and the appropriate education, and students under 16 years of age will not be admitted.

• Students must submit a signed enrollment application.
• Students must attest to having successfully graduated from a state-recognized high school or earned a GED. Students who have completed 30 semester hours or more from a college accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may submit official college transcripts to meet this requirement. International or homeschooled students must provide a letter of substantial equivalency or GED transcript. Without one, students can still be considered for admission providing they sign a waiver provided by the school and show ability to benefit from the program’s instruction in the first 12 semester hours completed at U.S. Career Institute.
• Students must be able to read and write in English. Applicants whose native language is not English must meet one of the listed requirements, such as a minimum total score of 61 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.0 on the IELTS, 44 on the Pearson Test of English Academic, 95 on the Duolingo English Test, or a high school diploma completed at an accredited/recognized high school where the medium of instruction is English.
• Transcripts not in English must be evaluated and translated by an appropriate third party; U.S. Career Institute accepts translation services from any NACES member.

U.S. Career Institute is an open enrollment school: as long as the applicant meets the admissions requirements for minimum education, age and English skills, they will be accepted into the school. Since applicants self-certify their high school completion information, U.S. Career Institute reserves the right to verify it by requiring a transcript. Enrollment begins on the date the school receives a student’s signed enrollment application.

Transfer credit. U.S. Career Institute grants credit for previous education or experience that is equivalent to its degree courses, including courses completed at a college accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, CLEP, ACE, DSST and Excelsior College Exams. Students may transfer a maximum of 50% of the total program credits required for graduation, and receive a tuition discount of $125 per credit hour for each course granted transfer credit.

Prospective students are expected to research regulatory (including licensing) and employer requirements in their state, county or city of residence prior to enrolling to ensure their chosen program will meet their needs.

The Associate of Applied Science in Accounting is taught over four semesters. Students can complete it in 16 months, studying part-time. Classes are 100% online and self-paced, on your phone or computer, with no due dates or deadlines.

One year per semester. Each semester must be completed within one calendar year of enrollment, and students control the pace of course completion within each semester. A student unable to complete a semester within a year may request an Academic Extension in writing.

Automatic course shipments. Each course has a trigger quiz that automatically ships the next course in the program. The first course in the next semester is sent upon receipt of the second assignment in the last non-transfer course of the current semester, and the start date for each semester is the day its first course is shipped.

Proctored exams. Some courses have a proctored exam: students schedule the exam with an approved proctor, present valid government-issued photo identification, and complete the exam within a 3.5-hour time allotment.

U.S. Career Institute is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Mountain Standard Time; instructors return calls Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

U.S. Career Institute is committed to making your accounting education affordable and inclusive. Start a new career that you’ll love and find fulfilling without a mountain of debt. Make an investment in yourself today!

• Option 1, pay in full: $1,689 per semester (save $300); the application charge is waived.
• Option 2, monthly auto payments: $1,989 per semester at $139 a month, with a first payment of $139, plus a $40.00 shipping and handling charge.

First payment includes $24 tuition and $40 shipping and handling and $75 Application Charge. Shipping and Application Charge non-refundable.

U.S. Career Institute’s Accounting program consists of four semesters. The total Accounting program cost for all four semesters and fees is $8,191, which is $1,989 plus $40 for shipping per semester and a one-time application charge of $75.

The 2026 degree catalog states that tuition is currently $1989 plus $40 shipping/handling per semester; the school cannot guarantee the current cost per semester will remain the same for the student’s entire enrollment, but tuition for a semester in which a student is actively completing coursework will not increase. Students may pay for each semester in full or make monthly payments.

5-day money-back commitment. After you receive your first lesson, you have 5 full days to decide if our program is the best route for you.

Employer tuition reimbursement. You may be eligible for full or partial reimbursement of your tuition by your employer. Students should check with their supervisor or personnel department to see if they have an employer‑sponsored tuition reimbursement program.

Military and VA benefits. Use your military and VA benefits to further your and/or your spouse's career. U.S. Career Institute is approved for or affiliated with VA education benefits including GI‑Bill® benefits and MyCAA benefits. Reservists may also qualify for veterans' training. If you think you may be eligible, contact your base's Education Officer or the Veterans Administration.

Funding. U.S. Career Institute participates in military education benefit programs and the MyCAA spouse support tuition program; specific questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the Veterans Administration by calling 1-888-GIBILL1. U.S. Career Institute also participates in various employer-paid and Vocational Rehabilitation programs. U.S. Career Institute does not participate in other financial aid programs.

Choose a career that offers flexibility with an Accounting Services diploma from U.S. Career Institute. You can work in many interesting and exciting places: the entertainment, fashion and advertising industries, or for lawyers, doctors, business executives or politicians. Maybe you'd enjoy working in the travel and hospitality industry. You might work for businesses and corporations of all kinds: stockbrokers, banks, retail stores, airlines, insurance companies, accounting firms, realtors, the list goes on and on! No other single career offers so many choices. An accounting career offers job security, the potential for advancement, and a good, steady income. And your online Accounting degree can give you a competitive edge. When you earn your degree from U.S. Career Institute, you'll be well-positioned for career success!

Beginner-Friendly Lessons. Classes are designed for anyone to easily learn, and are broken up into digestible sections that build as you progress through our program. No due dates or deadlines.

Engaging Curriculum. Reading lessons, supplemental videos, interactive exercises, note taking, read‑aloud and disability features, and open note multiple choice exams and essay questions with no time limit.

Student support and coaching. Your tuition includes access to instructors through the LMS, phone and email. Degree programs include Career Development Strategies, GE200. In this course, students learn in-depth networking and job search skills

Learning materials included. Your tuition includes e‑books, study guides, supplemental videos, and interactive exercises. Everything is included—no hidden fees after enrollment.

Method of training. Each U.S. Career Institute program is specifically designed for guided independent study via distance learning. Each course includes instructional materials with clear directions for each assignment, and the school provides one copy of the textbook and/or workbook, in electronic or physical form, as part of tuition. Students earn credit for a course when they have completed all required assignments for the course, and the faculty point out areas that need special attention.

Students who obtain a 3.72 or higher grade point average in a semester are awarded a seat on the Dean’s List.