General ledger bookkeeper education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a general ledger bookkeeper. General ledger bookkeepers usually study accounting, business, or finance. 61% of general ledger bookkeepers hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 886 real general ledger bookkeeper resumes to see exactly what general ledger bookkeeper education sections show.

The most common colleges for general ledger bookkeepers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online general ledger bookkeeper courses to help get the education required to be a general ledger bookkeeper.

There are certain general ledger bookkeeper certifications that you should consider. These general ledger bookkeeper certifications include Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

What education do you need to become a general ledger bookkeeper?

What degree do you need to be a general ledger bookkeeper?

The most common degree for general ledger bookkeepers is bachelor's degree, with 61% of general ledger bookkeepers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 7%.

Bachelor's, 61%

Associate, 24%

High School Diploma, 7%

Master's, 5%

Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a general ledger bookkeeper?

You should major in accounting to become a general ledger bookkeeper. 48% of general ledger bookkeepers major in accounting. Other common majors for a general ledger bookkeeper include business and finance.

Accounting, 48%

Business, 22%

Finance, 6%

Management, 3%

Other Majors, 21%

Most common colleges for general ledger bookkeepers

General ledger bookkeepers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and La Salle University. Here are the most common colleges for general ledger bookkeepers in the US based on their resumes.

General ledger bookkeeper common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	11.43%
DeVry University	8.57%
La Salle University	7.14%
Ferris State University	4.29%
University of Memphis	4.29%

Show more common general ledger bookkeeper colleges

Best majors for general ledger bookkeepers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Accounting	48.5%
2	Business	22.3%
3	Finance	6.4%
4	Management	2.8%
5	Computer Science	2.1%

Show more common general ledger bookkeeper majors

Best colleges for general ledger bookkeepers

The best colleges for general ledger bookkeepers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston University.

A general ledger bookkeeper with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for general ledger bookkeepers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become general ledger 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

20 best online courses for general ledger bookkeepers

Advertising disclosure

1. Financial Accounting-Debits & Credits-Accounting Transaction

4.5

(781)

Masterclass: Learn Accounting Principles, Financial Statements, Transactions & More in this Comprehensive Course...

2. Financial Accounting - Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals

4.5

(580)

Mastering Special Journals and Subsidiary Ledgers: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlined Accounting Practices...

3. Accounting & Bookkeeping Masterclass - Beginner to Advanced

4.5

(4,371)

Accounting, Bookkeeping Introduction, Accounting, Bookkeeping Entries, Accounting, Bookkeeping Adjustments & Reports...

4. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement

4.6

(930)

Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...

5. Bookkeeping in QuickBooks Online (Bookkeeping & accounting)

4.6

(2,599)

Bookkeeping & Accounting with Quick Books Online. Bookkeeping & Accounting is Easy. Bookkeeping & Quick Books software...

6. Accounting, Bookkeeping & Financial Analysis (Accounting)

4.5

(521)

Accounting & Bookkeeping Basics. Accounting & Financial Analysis Concepts. Learn Accounting & Bookkeeping...

7. Financial Accounting: The Complete Introductory Crash Course

4.5

(1,604)

Learn the Basics of Financial Accounting: Financial Statements, Debits and Credits, The Accounting Cycle and More!...

8. Bookkeeping Basics Explained (Bookkeeping & Accounting)

4.5

(1,845)

Bookkeeping and accounting explained. Bookkeeping and accounting basics is easy. Simple Bookkeeping and accounting...

9. Payroll Accounting: Laws, Calculations, and Journal Entries

4.4

(1,649)

Master the complex world of payroll with practical examples, legislation insights, and comprehensive problems...

10. Xero Bookkeeping & Accounting, w/ Set-up & Reporting

4.3

(263)

From Set-up to Bookkeeping, Accounting, Reporting, & Financial Statements in Xero with a Certified Xero Advisor...

11. Principles of Financial Accounting

4.5

(875)

Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...

12. Accounting basics, create financial statements easily

4.5

(280)

Discover, develop, practice your financial information and explore the world of accounting...

13. Financial Accounting & Excel-Comprehensive Accounting Course

4.3

(736)

Comprehensive accounting course to learn the accounting cycle in a practical way and pick up critical Excel fundamentals...

14. Excel Accounting Problem

4.3

(348)

Learn How to Create an Accounting Worksheet Using Microsoft Excel from a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)...

15. Effective Bookkeeping and Payroll

4.6

(1,262)

Effective Bookkeeping and Payroll...

16. Financial Bookkeeping and Accountancy: Complete Accounting

4.3

(501)

A Complete Course on Book-keeping & Accounting Course For Level 1 & 2 aspirants...

17. Managerial Accounting & Bookkeeping (Cost Accounting)

4.6

(297)

Management Accounting & Bookkeeping Basics. Accounting & Bookkeeping Concepts. Learn Accounting & Bookkeeping...

18. Financial Accounting: A Comprehensive Guide with E-book

4.5

(3,466)

Unlock Financial Accounting Mastery: Comprehensive Course for Students, Professionals, and Business Owners...

19. QuickBooks Online-Bookkeeping Business-Easy Way

4.4

(378)

Quick Books Online bookkeeping business plan and examples, walking through bookkeeping engagement & data entry...

20. Accounting Made Easy: A Quick Guide to Financial Accounting

4.5

(2,757)

Accounting is not about Math, it is about concepts. And no one said it has to be hard. Learn the basics in just 2 hours!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for general ledger bookkeepers

The most affordable schools for general ledger bookkeepers are SUNY Farmingdale, baruch college of the city university of new york, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for general ledger bookkeepers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for general ledger 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 general ledger bookkeepers

The hardest universities for general ledger bookkeepers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston University.

Some great schools for general ledger bookkeepers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for general ledger bookkeepers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

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

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 easy-to-apply-to universities for general ledger bookkeepers

The easiest schools for general ledger bookkeepers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a general ledger bookkeeper without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for general ledger bookkeepers.

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 general ledger bookkeeper salary by education level

General ledger bookkeepers with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $47,082 annually. With a Master's degree, general ledger bookkeepers earn a median annual income of $46,547 compared to $46,282 for general ledger bookkeepers with an Associate degree.

General ledger bookkeeper education level	General ledger bookkeeper salary
Master's Degree	$46,547
High School Diploma or Less	$46,165
Bachelor's Degree	$47,082
Some College/ Associate Degree	$46,282

General ledger bookkeeper education FAQs

What is the best college for General Ledger Bookkeepers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.

Search for general ledger bookkeeper jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs