Study Accounting in Texas

Texas has one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. That’s good for you as a prospective accounting student in the Lone Star State!

Better still, many of Texas’ colleges and universities offer online accounting programs, so you don’t have to go to classes on campus. Instead, you can work remotely and finish your degree with a much greater level of flexibility. You can do so without sacrificing the quality of your education, either.

Below is a list of some of the popular online accounting programs to consider. While this isn’t an exhaustive list of all the accounting degrees available online in Texas, it represents some of the most popular options.

Best Accredited Online Accounting Degrees and Schools in Texas - Associate's, Bachelor's and Masters

Online Accounting Degrees in Texas

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online accounting degrees in Texas:

  • University of Texas Permian Basin
  • Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
  • Texas A&M University
  • University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
  • Walden University
  • University of Texas at Dallas
  • West Texas A&M University
  • Purdue Global
  • Southern New Hampshire University
  • North Central University

University of Texas Permian Basin

Online Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

The Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas Permian Basin is a 120-credit online program that traditionally takes four years to complete. This works out to about 15 credits per spring and fall semester. However, taking summer courses or an additional course each fall and spring can significantly cut the time you need to finish this program.

This degree includes coursework in several separate categories. A large portion of your classes (44 credits) fall under the general education requirements. These courses survey broad fields of study ranging from history to art to the physical sciences. You’ll also complete courses in math, English, and the social sciences.

The next component of the degree is lower-level business courses. Think of these as foundational classes that introduce you to essential business topics. For example, you’ll take Principles of Financial Accounting I and II, Principles of Statistics, and Macroeconomics, to name just a few. From there, you’ll take business core courses, which include more advanced studies in the following:

  • Business Communications
  • Principles of Finance
  • Production Operations Management
  • Principles of Marketing
  • Information System Fundamentals

You must also complete 24 credits of major-area courses in accounting. These courses comprise the bulk of your accounting training and include Intermediate Accounting I and II, Cost Accounting Principles, and Federal Income Tax, among others. Elective coursework in accounting and business are also required. Accounting options include, but are not limited to, Accounting for Healthcare, Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting, and Forensic Accounting/Fraud Examination. Available electives in business include, but are not limited to, Introduction to Business Analytics, Organizational Behavior, and Healthcare Law.

The final portion of this program is a summative capstone in strategic management. The capstone experience focuses on developing your skills related to formulating strategic decisions, implementing those decisions, and conducting environmental analyses.

This program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and aligns with accounting industry standards for competency and practice. As a result of your studies, you will have a wide range of skills pertaining to analyzing financial problems, developing solutions, and implementing those solutions on behalf of your clients.

Furthermore, you’ll have skills that can be applied in various settings. You might find employment with private businesses or organizations, government agencies, or perhaps even work for yourself as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Graduates of this program have gone on to work in numerous fields, including the following:

  • Budget Analyst
  • Financial Examiner
  • Revenue Agent
  • Tax Preparer
  • Credit Analyst

Other options you might consider include Purchasing Agent, Business Intelligence Analyst, or Compliance Manager.

The application for admission to UT Permian Basin is available online. The following requirements must be met to be considered for admission:

  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Submit official high school transcripts showing class rank, GPA, and expected graduation date. If you completed a GED program, submit your GED scores.
  • Provide SAT or ACT scores

The following requirements must be met if you’re a transfer student:

  • Have at least 24 transferable college credits from a regionally accredited institution
  • Have a 2.0 GPA or higher in all previous college courses
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended

Texas A&M University Corpus Christi

Online Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

At Texas A&M Corpus Christi, you can complete a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting online. The program is designed to provide you with generalist knowledge of accounting that is applicable to the four most common areas of employment for accountants: public accounting, management accounting, government accounting, and accounting education.

This 122-credit program includes a broad range of studies both inside and outside the major. As is typical of bachelor’s degrees, this one requires you to complete general education courses as part of your studies. As noted earlier, these courses explore topics ranging from American history and world history to the arts and humanities. You must also satisfy requirements for math, the social sciences, the physical sciences, and more. All told, the general education requirements account for 44 credits.

Another component of this program is the business core, which accounts for 45 of the 122 credits needed to graduate. As you’d assume, the business core dives into business-related topics relevant to accounting. For example, you’ll take Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting. But you’ll also explore other business topics, such as:

  • Legal Environment of Business
  • Principles of Management
  • Business Strategy
  • Management Information Systems Concepts
  • Operations Management

There is an international business portion of this curriculum, too. You’re only required to take one three-credit course: Multinational Entities – Accounting and Consolidations.

The accounting core is where you’ll focus extensively on gaining the knowledge and skills you need to start your career. Six courses are required, each of which is three credits:

  • Intermediate Accounting I
  • Intermediate Accounting II
  • Cost Accounting
  • Federal Income Tax I
  • Accounting Information Systems
  • Auditing Principles and Procedures

You must also take two three-credit accounting electives. These courses allow you to tailor your studies a little more and focus on topics of interest or value to you. For example, you can take a Data Analytics course or learn about Oil, Gas, and Energy Accounting. You might also take a class on Government and Not-For-Profit accounting or a class on Fraud Examination. You can choose to complete an internship to satisfy part of the elective requirements, too.

Once you graduate, you’ll have the necessary qualifications to pursue any number of accounting jobs. This includes working as an actuary, a tax advisor, or a management accountant. You’ll also possess skills that might lead to a job as a financial analyst, forensic accountant, or a personal financial advisor.

To apply as a first-year student, you must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Have a high school diploma or the equivalent, including coursework in the following areas:
    • English (4 credits)
    • Lab Sciences (4 credits)
    • Mathematics (4 credits)
    • Social Studies (3 credits)
    • Foreign Language (2 credits)
  • Submit official high school transcripts
  • Submit official ACT or SAT scores (this is optional)

If you meet the above criteria, you may qualify for automatic admission. However, if you don’t meet these criteria, the university will conduct a holistic review of your academic performance and other factors to determine your eligibility for conditional admission.

If you’re a transfer student, the process requires you to additionally provide official transcripts from every college and university from which you’ve earned credit.

Texas A&M University

Online Master of Science in Accounting

The Mays Business School at Texas A&M University offers a Master of Science in Accounting that’s worth your while if you’ve already completed your undergraduate studies. Most students who enroll in this program are already working in accounting and want to use this degree to help them qualify for the CPA exam.

This 36-credit program includes synchronous online classes in which you “meet” with your classmates and professors at set times in an online classroom environment. It also includes asynchronous coursework that foregoes the set class meeting times in favor of a work-at-your-own-pace format. Since this is what’s known as a lockstep program, you will take each course in the same order as everyone else in the program.

The curriculum includes two types of classes: core courses and specialization courses. The core coursework is foundational in nature; it focuses on broad topics yet provides more depth and detail than undergraduate studies. For example, your core courses include the following:

  • Financial Reporting I and II
  • Income Tax
  • Financial Statement Analysis
  • Data Analytics
  • Accounting Ethics

Core courses also include studies of Auditing, International Accounting, and Critical Accounting Communication.

You will supplement these courses with your choice of one of two specializations: Assurance Services/Information Management or Tax Consulting/Financial Planning. Both specializations require you to take nine credits. The Assurance Services/Information Management track includes classes in Accounting Information Systems, Business Application Modeling, and IT Auditing. Meanwhile, the Tax Consulting/Financial Planning option includes classes in Corporate Taxation, Tax Research and Policy, and Partnership and Real Estate Taxation.

Additionally, if you haven’t already, you must satisfy prerequisite requirements prior to enrollment. This includes coursework in Introduction to Financial Accounting and Introduction to Business Computing. Additional prerequisites might be required if you apply to the program with a bachelor’s degree outside of the accounting or finance fields.

As noted earlier, many students in this program use it to prepare for the CPA exam. As a graduate of this program, you will satisfy the 150-hour educational requirements to take the exam. Furthermore, you can choose to participate in a review course during your final semester to prepare for the exam. During that time, you’ll complete most sections of the exam prep.

Another benefit of this program is the access you’ll get to the Mays Business School’s career management services department. With a world-class reputation for helping students secure employment after graduation, you can rely on the expertise of the career management services department personnel to assist you in promoting yourself and your abilities to potential employers.

To qualify for admission, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
  • Submit unofficial transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended
  • Submit a resume
  • Provide two letters of recommendation
  • Write a personal essay

It’s recommended that you take the GRE or GMAT. However, this is not required. You must provide TOEFL/IELTS scores if you are an international student.

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Online Master of Accountancy

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers yet another online option for completing your master’s degree in accounting. The degree, which is a Master of Accountancy, is an accelerated program requiring you to complete 30 credits. This can be done in just 12 months.

Each class is just seven weeks long, making your studies rapid-paced and intense. However, you can focus on fewer classes at a time and lighten your overall workload to accommodate the quick pace of each course.

The coursework revolves around required courses and prescribed electives. Required courses introduce you to advanced studies in crucial accounting topics, such as Advanced Accounting, Professional Ethics, and Business Law for Accountants. You’ll also take a course on Information Technology for Accounting and Control.

The accounting electives can be any combination of taxation-related and auditing-related coursework, depending on your interests and career goals. For example, you can take classes in Internal Auditing, Fraud Examination, and Financial Statement Analysis. You can also take classes on Corporate and Partnership Taxation, Tax Research and Communication, and International Taxation, to name a few.

A capstone is also required. This three-credit course occurs in your final semester of the program and involves detailed research in the accounting field. You must present your findings in an academic paper and defend those findings in an oral presentation. Not only is this an opportunity to refine your research and communication skills, but it’s also an opportunity to synthesize what you’ve learned throughout the program.

It should be noted that if your undergraduate degree is not in accounting or a closely related field, you will most likely have to complete specific prerequisite courses. These courses include the following:

  • Accounting for Managers
  • Intermediate Accounting I
  • Intermediate Accounting II
  • Cost Accounting and Management
  • Accounting Information Systems
  • Auditing

This program is valuable from a knowledge-added standpoint in that you’ll gain advanced knowledge and skills that will benefit you as a practicing accountant. But it offers another advantage: completing this degree satisfied the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy requirements to sit for the CPA exam. The Board requires applicants to complete 150 hours of education. Combined with a 120-credit bachelor’s degree, this master’s program meets that threshold.

You can apply to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley at any time. The admissions requirements for the Master of Accountancy program are as follows:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
  • Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in the final 60 credits of study
  • Submit a curriculum vitae
  • Submit a letter of intent
  • Provide official GMAT scores

The GMAT requirement might be waived if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • You have an active CPA license
  • You have a graduate degree from a university accredited by the AACSB
  • You graduated from a bachelor’s degree program with a 3.25 GPA or higher in your accounting coursework and overall

This program offers early admission, too. If that’s of interest, you must have a BBA undergraduate major and have completed at least 90 credits of coursework, including four or more upper-level accounting courses. You must also have a 3.5 GPA or higher in accounting and overall.

If admitted, you must maintain a 3.5 GPA for the remainder of your undergraduate program. You are allowed to take up to six credits of graduate courses in the Master of Accountancy program during the final year of your undergraduate program. The GMAT requirement is also waived in this situation.

Walden University

Online Bachelor in Business Administration-Accounting

The Bachelor in Business Administration-Accounting from Walden University is available across the nation. This program allows you to learn alongside a diverse group of students and from professors with experience in various parts of the country and the world.

In this business administration degree with an accounting major, you will take courses in business, management, finance, marketing, and accounting, among other areas. Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), this program ensures you acquire essential knowledge and skills valued by businesses and industries across various sectors.

Walden University operates on the quarter system, requiring you to complete 181 quarter credits to graduate. These credits are divided into several categories:

  • General education courses
  • Business courses
  • Concentration courses
  • Elective courses
  • Capstone course

The general education courses at Walden provide a broad foundation in many liberal arts subjects, helping you develop widely applicable skills such as improved reading, speaking, and writing abilities.

In addition to the 46 credits of general education courses, you will take 55 credits of business classes in foundational areas. For example, you will take Fundamentals of Accounting, Introduction to Management, and Business Law. Additionally, you will study Microeconomics, Business Statistics, and Data Science Essentials.

The lower-division courses are complemented by upper-division studies in specific business areas. For instance, a required Human Resource Management course explores the role of an organization’s mission and goals from a human resource perspective. Other upper-division business courses include:

  • Financial Management
  • Information Systems in Enterprise
  • Marketing
  • Operations Management

You must also complete 15 credits of accounting coursework to graduate. Each course is five quarter credits and covers topics such as Managerial Accounting, Financial Accounting, and Intermediate Accounting. These courses provide valuable knowledge on applying accounting techniques in various business and individual financial situations.

To fulfill your degree requirements, you will take 60 credits of elective courses. You can choose classes from different categories, including those from other bachelor’s degrees offered by Walden. Alternatively, you can pursue the Accelerate Into Master’s program, allowing you to take graduate credits that count towards both your bachelor’s degree and a future master’s degree. This option is beneficial if you aim to complete a graduate degree in accounting.

Walden University has a generous transfer policy, allowing you to transfer up to 135 of the 180 credits needed to graduate. You must complete at least 45 credits through Walden to be eligible for your degree. This policy maximizes the value of your previously earned credits while minimizing the time required to graduate.

To apply, you must be a high school graduate (or have the equivalent of a high school diploma). Additionally, you must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Be at least 21 years of age or older.
  • Be less than 21 but have completed 12 or more quarter college credits.
  • Be an active military member or a veteran.
  • SAT/ACT scores are not required.

What Degree Do You Need to Become an Accountant in Texas?

To become an accountant in Texas, typically you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a closely related field such as finance or business with a concentration in accounting. This degree usually involves coursework in areas like financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, and taxation.

After completing your degree, if you aim to become a CPA in Texas – a common credential sought by many accountants – you must meet additional requirements. This includes completing 150 semester hours of college coursework (30 hours more than what a typical bachelor’s degree provides), passing the Uniform CPA Examination, and completing one year of full-time work experience under the supervision of a licensed CPA. Many prospective CPAs opt to fulfill the 150-hour requirement by pursuing a master’s degree in accounting or an MBA with a focus on accounting.

Additionally, Texas requires CPAs to pass an exam on the Board’s Rules of Professional Conduct and apply for licensure through the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, which includes a background check and application fees.

How Long Does It Take to Become an Accountant in Texas?

As mentioned above, to become an accounting in Texas, you must first complete a bachelor’s degree, which generally takes about four years of full-time study. Since a typical bachelor’s program comprises 120 credit hours, you will need additional coursework to meet Texas’ requirement of 150 credit hours.

This extra study could take about one year, depending on whether you choose to earn a master’s degree in accounting or complete individual courses. Additionally, you must acquire one year of full-time supervised experience, during which time you will likely also prepare for and take the CPA examination.

In total, starting from the beginning of your undergraduate education, the process of becoming an accountant in Texas is likely to take around six years at a minimum.

How Much Does a CPA Make in Texas?

As of May 2024, the average salary for a CPA in Texas is $91,052. However, top earning CPAs in Texas make well over $150,000 per year.

Moreover, CPAs who hold senior or managerial positions, or who have specialized skills in areas like tax planning or financial analysis, can earn even higher salaries. Additionally, bonuses, profit-sharing, and other forms of compensation can significantly increase a CPA’s total earnings.

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