In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for bookkeepers. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.
Best Colleges And Majors For Bookkeepers
Best Colleges For Bookkeepers
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
8. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Enrollment
9,394
9. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
10. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
Bookkeeper Education Requirements
The education needed to be a bookkeeper is normally a bachelor's degree. Bookkeepers usually study accounting, business or finance. 46% of bookkeepers hold a bachelor's degree and 29% hold a associate degree. We found these by analyzing 101,416 bookkeeper resumes to investigate the topic of bookkeeper education more precisely.
The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a bookkeeper are University of Phoenix and California State University - San Bernardino. We also broke down what colleges provide the best overall education for a bookkeeper. Students have a great path to earning their bookkeeper qualifications at the following schools:
- University of Pennsylvania
- Northwestern University
- University of Southern California
If you're interested in getting a college degree in an affordable college for bookkeepers - SUNY Farmingdale is an excellent option for you. If your SAT or ACT score aren't as high as you'd like, you can look at Notre Dame de Namur University, as the admission requirements aren't too selective. On the other end of that spectrum are the Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania and Boston University.
For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in bookkeeper education paths.
We prepared a list of a bookkeeper certifications that you should consider. The necessary certifications that bookkeepers must have to succeed are Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Bookkeepers Certification.
What Education Do You Need To Become a Bookkeeper?
What degree do you need to be a Bookkeeper?
The most common degree for bookkeepers is bachelor's degree 46% of bookkeepers earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 29% and rounding it off is high school diploma with 13%.
- Bachelors, 46%
- Associate, 29%
- High School Diploma, 13%
- Masters, 5%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What Should I Major in to Become a Bookkeeper?
Most bookkeepers, 41% to be exact, major in accounting. Some other common majors for a bookkeeper include business and finance majors.
- Accounting, 41%
- Business, 28%
- Finance, 4%
- General Studies, 3%
- Other Majors, 24%
Most Common Colleges For Bookkeepers
Here are the most common colleges for a bookkeeper career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in University of Phoenix, California State University - San Bernardino, and Monroe College .
| Bookkeeper Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 27.40% |
| California State University - San Bernardino | 5.66% |
| Monroe College | 5.55% |
| DeVry University | 5.19% |
| University of Houston | 5.06% |
Best Majors For Bookkeepers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accounting | 41.1% |
| 2 | Business | 28.1% |
| 3 | Finance | 3.7% |
| 4 | General Studies | 2.8% |
| 5 | Psychology | 2.7% |
20 Best Online Courses for Bookkeepers
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20. Financial Accounting Closing Process
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Top 10 Affordable Universities For Bookkeepers
If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for bookkeepers.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
2. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,262
Cost of Attendance
14,046
3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,942
Cost of Attendance
14,469
5. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,238
Cost of Attendance
21,567
8. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,064
Cost of Attendance
15,576
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,556
Cost of Attendance
19,434
10. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,419
Cost of Attendance
17,697
Top 10 Hardest Universities To Get Into For Bookkeepers
Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
20%
SAT Average
1,419
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
6. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
29%
SAT Average
1,407
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
4%
SAT Average
1,497
8. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
43%
SAT Average
1,338
9. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
40%
SAT Average
1,376
10. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions Rate
42%
SAT Average
1,380
Top 10 Easier To Apply Universities For Bookkeepers
Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
82%
SAT Average
983
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
4. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
100%
SAT Average
1,072
5. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
994
6. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
999
7. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
92%
SAT Average
1,031
8. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
992
9. Manor College
Jenkintown, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
94%
SAT Average
898
10. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
93%
SAT Average
1,026
Average Bookkeeper Salary by Education Level
Bookkeepers with a Bachelors degree earn more than those without, at $42,186 annually. With a Masters degree, bookkeepers earn a median annual income of $41,725 compared to $41,496 for bookkeepers with an Associate degree.
| Bookkeeper Education Level | Bookkeeper Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $41,395 |
| Master's Degree | $41,725 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $42,186 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $41,496 |
Bookkeeper Education FAQs
What Degree Do You Need To Be A Bookkeeper?
You do not need a degree to be a bookkeeper. While a high school diploma was once the only requirement for entering the bookkeeping field, changes in technology and company expectations, as well as a competitive job market, suggest that an aspiring bookkeeper should seek formal training. On-the-job experience is also very important in landing a job as a bookkeeper.
What Is The Best College For Bookkeepers?
The best college for Bookkeepers is University of Pennsylvania
Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.