There are various accounting degrees & qualifications available in the State of New York, and depending on which you opt for, upon graduation you will be eligible for either an accounting clerk, book-keeper or accountant position.

To be a fully- qualified accountant the basic requirement is a Bachelor’s degree in accounting which usually takes four years of full-time study. While these degree programs are predominantly geared towards accounting, which will require a good head for numbers, there will invariably be several business credits required.

While it’s generally stated that the bachelor’s Degree in Accounting is the optimal qualification to have, the most practical industry recognized qualification is the CPA (Certified Professional Accountant), and once you’ve passed this exam, you can expect to start receiving more attractive job offers. Studying for the CPA, however, is gruelling and the pass rate is notoriously low.

Choosing An Accounting Degree Program

There are a few good things to look for in a degree program. The first is that the course should be accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) AACSB International. In the event that your prospective college’s program is not accredited by the above association, then at least check that the program is accepted by the New York State Board of Accountants.

Accounting Apprenticeships

The other thing to look at is the careers department of the university and the success rate they have at job placements. Especially in the current economic climate, getting a job as a fresh graduate will be tough, so having a good college careers department to help you get that first foot in the door will be a massive help for your career. Go along and ask them what their placement rates are like and also what type of companies they have on going recruitment relationships with.

The other thing to ask about is the annual recruitment fair, and which companies usually show up. The more the better, but what would be particularly impressive is if the blue chip names are regular attenders.

Accounting Software

Modern accounting makes use of a lot of computer software and these can change from time to time. Make sure you ask exactly what accounting software programs the university will train you on during your course. The following are just some of the most popular accounting programs used: Sage, QuickBooks Pro, Bookkeeper, AccountEdge, DacEasy, Simply Accounting, CYMA, NetSuite Small Business and Cougar Mountain.

150 Credit Bachelors Degrees in Accounting

While most bachelors degrees consist of 120 credits, person intending to sit the CPA exam would be better off going for an optional 150 credit exam. This is because the pre-requisites for sitting the CPA exam, which is set by the New York State Board of Accountancy, is 150 credits. This is usually done in a little over 4 years given the extra credits that are required.

Accounting Degree Programs in New York

The following is a list of colleges currently offering Bachelors Degree programs in Accounting:

1.      Adelphi University
2.      Alfred University
3.      Canisius College
4.      Columbia University
5.      CUNY – Baruch College
6.      CUNY – Brooklyn College
7.      CUNY – Hunter College
8.      CUNY – Lehman College
9.      CUNY – Medgar Evers College
10.    CUNY – Queens College
11.    Daemen College
12.    Dowling College
13.    Fordham University
14.    Hartwick College
15.    Hofstra University
16.    Houghton College
17.    Iona College
18.    Ithaca College
19.    Le Moyne College
20.    Long Island University – Brooklyn Campus
21.    Long Island University – C.W. Post Campus
22.    Long Island University – Southampton Campus
23.    Manhattan College
24.    Marist College
25.    Mercy College
26.    Mount Saint Mary College
27.    Nazareth College of Rochester
28.    New York Institute of Technology
29.    New York University
30.    Niagara University
31.    Pace University
32.    Rochester Institute of Technology
33.    Russell Sage College
34.    Siena College
35.    St. Bonaventure University
36.    St. Francis College
37.    St. John Fisher College
38.    St. John's University
39.    St. Thomas Aquinas College
40.    SUNY at Albany
41.    SUNY at Binghamton
42.    SUNY at Buffalo
43.    SUNY at New Paltz