Pursuing an online doctoral degree in accounting allows professionals who also have a career, family, and relationships to advance their careers, do research, and pursue the dream of completing a terminal degree while maintaining what they have already worked for. Accounting is a subject that will always require professionals since households, businesses, and corporate entities need financial experts.
Furthermore, becoming a Doctor of Business with a specialty in Accounting grants a much higher capacity to serve in the business world. This terminal degree opens the door to careers such as a professor of accounting, dean of a business school or a researcher in the field of accounting.
quick links
For more information: Accounting Career, Salary and Information Guide and Best Concentrations in Accounting.
Also, see our choices for the Top 20 Online Doctor of Business Administration Programs, 3 Best Online Schools for Doctor of Finance Programs or Best Online Doctorates in Economics
NEED A MASTER’S DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING? Find the link located below in our FAQ section!
*****
Best Online Doctorates in Accounting
METHODOLOGY: OnlineSchoolsCenter.com has located several schools that offer an online doctorate degree in Accounting. To find a program that fits your needs, check out their websites and do your homework, as each one has its own attributes and offerings. Our picks for the Best Online Doctorates in Accounting degree programs were based on the following points:
- Easily attainable through a 100% Online or Hybrid format,
- Offering convenient asynchronous classwork, available to you 24/7,
- Shows proper Accreditation,
- Provides skills and knowledge required to succeed in advanced positions, such as needed in executive or management positions within the field of Accounting,
- Hones accounting research skills to find solutions to business problems and issues found in the world of accounting today,
- Sharpens your critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical thinking skills in the field of Accounting,
- Provides exceptional faculty, online resources, and career counseling programs,
- Demonstrates support through the dissertation process for graduate students focused on earning a DBA degree in Accounting.
See our Methodology page for more information.
*****
Liberty University
DBA in Accounting Distance Learning Degree
Program Standouts: The Doctor of Business Administration in Accounting degree at Liberty University is offered 100% online with optional intensives. The degree program is both theoretical and practical and includes a doctoral research project. Focuses include: thinking ethically through accounting procedures and finding efficient practices. Liberty professors draw from their business and accounting experience to give graduate students in Accounting the ability to responsibly turn theory into practice in the corporate world.
Campus Location: Lynchburg, VA
Accreditation:
- Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033, 404-679-4500
Course Sample:
- Strategic Supply Chain Management
- Advanced Auditing
- Accounting Methods
Admission Requirements:
- Regionally or Nationally accredited master’s degree with a 3.0 or above GPA
- Admission application
- Application fee
- Official college transcripts
- Proof of English proficiency
Degree Outcomes: According to Liberty University’s website, the following potential career options are available to those who graduate with a Doctor of Business Administration in Accounting:
- Accounting Executive
- Auditor
- Budget Supervisor
- Certified Management Accountant
- Certified Public Accountant
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IN ACCOUNTING AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
George Fox University
Online DBA in Accounting
Program Standouts: The Doctor of Business Administration at George Fox University is offered almost completely online. Because it only requires a campus visit twice yearly, it is included on this list. For the concentration in Accounting, the DBA at George Fox begins in the late spring and includes a Seminar in Accounting, Advanced Applications of Ethical Reasoning and Compliance in Accounting and Advanced Topics in Accounting. The program is designed for those who wish to teach, consult or remain in their current industry.
Campus Location: Newberg, OR
Accreditation:
- George Fox University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, 8060 165th Ave NE #100, Redmond, WA 98052
Course Sample:
- Faith and Spirituality in Business
- Conceptual Foundations of Economics
- Foundations of Marketing
Admission Requirements:
- Full-time faculty appointment or five years of professional experience
- Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from accredited colleges or universities with 3.0 GPA
- Evidence of completion of graduate or undergraduate level courses in Accounting, Economics, and Finance
- Admission application
- Application fee
- Official college transcripts
- Resume or CV
- Three short answer essay questions
- Official GRE scores
- Academic writing sample
Degree Outcomes: According to George Fox University’s website, the DBA offers “students the ability to be excellent generalists in the business disciplines; specialists in accounting, management or marketing; leaders in the teaching/training; and bridge the gap between scholars and practitioners.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH A CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING AT GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
Capella University
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SPECIALIZATION IN ACCOUNTING online
Program Standouts:
Capella University offers an online PhD in Business Management, Accounting. This degree, according to the Capella website takes the professional to the next level in accounting research, practice, and education. It also gives students a greater knowledge of how to approach “interrelated issues, processes, and functions within business organizations.” Students will develop their skills in the areas of teaching, consulting and leading.
Campus Location: Minneapolis, MN
Accreditation:
- Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, 230 S LaSalle St #7-500, Chicago, IL 60604
Course Sample:
- Forensic Accounting
- Accounting in the Global Era
- Advanced Accounting Theory
Admission Requirements:
- Regionally or Nationally accredited master’s degree with a 3.0 or above GPA
- Admission application
- Application fee
- Official college transcripts
- Statement of purpose
- Proof of English proficiency
Degree Outcomes: Some careers available to graduates of the Doctor of Philosophy, Accounting at Capella University are:
- Controller
- Full-time faculty
- Chief financial officer
- Business researcher
LEARN MORE ABOUT the doctor of philosophy in business management specialization in accounting at capella university
Northcentral University
online DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION – ADVANCED ACCOUNTING SPECIALIZATION
Program Standouts: The online Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration – Advanced Accounting Specialization at Northcentral University gives students opportunities for gaining research knowledge and a broader outlook on the accounting world. NCU professors in this degree program assist graduate professionals in expanding skills in the subjects of accounting data, business transactions and statements related to assets, liabilities and operating results as well as a more general and specific knowledge of business enterprises and nonprofit organizations.
Campus Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Accreditation: Northcentral University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 533 Irport Blvd, Burlingame, CA 94010
Course Sample:
- Scholarly Literature Review
- Statistics
- Ethics in Business
Admission Requirements:
Direct Entry:
- Regionally or Nationally accredited master’s degree with a 3.0 or above GPA
- Admission application
- Application fee
- Official college transcripts
Evaluation Track allows applicants to have their transcripts evaluated to determine if they meet some or all of the Standard Requirements.
Degree Outcomes: Northcentral University PhD in Advanced Accounting graduates are prepared for and usually go on to pursue senior leadership positions in accounting, auditing, or in academia.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION – ADVANCED ACCOUNTING SPECIALIZATION AT NORTHCENTRAL UNIVERSITY
Trident University
online DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION – CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING/FINANCE
Program Standouts: Trident University offers a 100% online Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting/Finance. The Doctor of Philosophy is designed to create teachers, researchers, and scholars in the business world. The concentration in Accounting/Finance is designed for students who have a foundation in the field of finance, accounting or economics. Those students who continue to their terminal degree in Accounting or Finance will be equipped to contribute to research in many related bodies of knowledge including auditing and financial management.
Campus Location: Cypress, CA
Accreditation: Trident University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 533 Irport Blvd, Burlingame, CA 94010
Course Sample:
- Advanced Strategic Marketing
- Leadership and Strategy
- Business Ethics
Admission Requirements:
- Regionally or Nationally accredited master’s degree with a 3.0 or above GPA on most recent master’s degree
- Admission application
- Application fee
- Written and oral communication skills
- Analytical and critical thinking skills
- Information technology skills
Degree Outcomes: The Ph.D. in Business – Concentration in Accounting/Finance at Trident University equips graduates to research and teach in areas such as international finance, economic growth, and development, financial management, auditing, and taxation.
LEARN MORe about the doctor of philosophy in business administration – concentration in accounting/finance at trident university
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do students enter PhD programs in Accounting?
Students enter PhDs and especially PhDs in Accounting for a variety of reasons. In order to be at the stage of entering a Ph.D. program, a person must have already gone through a great deal of school. These people may find themselves successful at completing coursework or they may not. But they usually like a challenge, enjoy personal growth and mental development as well as the idea of working at a higher level such as teaching as a professor or doing research. They may also enjoy and appreciate the job security that comes with a higher level of degree completion.
What can I do with a PhD in Accounting?
There is a rising demand for Accounting professors which means a job market with potential growth as well as a potentially higher income and more job security. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean income for post-secondary teachers is $103,000. Most people who complete a PhD in Accounting will go on to become professors of Accounting. Others will become researchers in the field of Accounting, doing data analysis, logistics, economical, financial or other research at a university or college. Another aspect of obtaining a PhD in Accounting that may be unfamiliar to some is the ability to choose a track doing research in more behavioral aspects of accounting such as the psychology of how or why people make decisions. If one is interested in both numbers and psychology, the PhD in Accounting, focusing on behavioral research, may be just what they are looking for.
How long does a PhD in Accounting take and how much does it cost?
Most often, obtaining a PhD in Accounting takes between 4-7 years. Becoming a Doctor of Business in Accounting in an online program usually takes around the same amount of time as an on-campus program. However, online students must be careful to manage their time well, as family, work and other responsibilities can infringe on the time they may need for their doctoral studies. Most PhD students are well equipped to work responsibly on their own as they have already established good habits as well as have experience in academics. According to allaccountingcareers, the average cost of completing a PhD in accounting is around 18,000 dollars a year. The long term growth of income is often worth the time and money spent to obtain a terminal degree.