Online Finance Degree Versus Online Accounting Degree – Which Is A Better Degree?

If you want to develop a career which is associated with numbers and calculations, you can either opt for a Degree in Accounting or Finance. Students usually face the dilemma of deciding which path to choose from the above and on which is a better option. There are online degree programs available in both these areas which enable you to pursue the course at your own pace and convenience without discontinuing your existing job.

Pursuing an Online Degree in Accounting

An Online Accounting Degree can help you to develop a lucrative career with attractive salaries in varied industries. Most businesses require qualified accountants to ensure their sound financial health. An Online Master’s Degree in Accounting can help you to even opt for the CPA exam and get the required license. It helps you to choose from a wide variety of career paths with includes:

Auditing, Forensic Accounting, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting.

Other job options include CFO, Controller, General Accountant, Financial Analyst, Financial Planner and maybe even a CEO.

The most important benefit of an Online Accounting Degree is that you can pursue the course even while working full time. This can help you to shift your career to even areas like Management Accounting or Internal Auditing from Public Accounting. You can choose an online degree at various academic levels ranging from entry level associate’s degree to a CPA, Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). These can get you very attractive salary which can increase considerably with experience. 

Pursuing an Online Finance Degree

An Online Degree in Finance can be earned from an accounting school or university at four academic levels like associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and a PhD. With these degree programs, you can enjoy the flexibility of studying even while working.  You can develop a variety of career options like financing officer in commercial banking industry, financial examiner for government. You can even choose the insurance industry and work as claims adjuster, claims representative or underwriter.

Difference Between An Online Finance Degree And Online Accounting Degree

The basic difference between the two forms of online degrees is that a finance degree requires 130 credit hours to complete and most of the accounting degrees require up to 150 hours. Statistics indicate that an accounting degree takes longer but it can help you to pursue CPA. However, there are not many options for specialization for an Online Finance Degree.

If you are contemplating whether an Online Finance Degree or an Online Accounting Degree is better, you need to make a decision based on the career path that you want to pursue. While an accounting degree involves working with numbers, a finance degree helps you to adapt to various financial situations. However, they both offer flexibility to shift from one industry to another and offer a variety of career options.