Why Earn Your Accounting Degree at Saint Leo University?
Saint Leo's BS in Accounting program prepares you to succeed in a variety of industries around the world, from multinational corporations to museums to tech-savvy start-ups. Accountants are the lifeline of every business. They steer an organization's financial course, prevent fraud, and help businesses make sound decisions about managing their money.
The major in accounting is designed to prepare a university graduate for entry-level accounting positions in profit, not-for-profit, and governmental environments. The program establishes a foundation for students who wish to continue their education to become a certified public accountant (CPA) or certified management accountant (CMA).
Learning Experience:
Campus
Education Center
Online
Est. Time to Complete:
4 years
Credit Hours:
120 hours
Undergraduate Accounting Program Details
Providing one-on-one attention, faculty members mentor and coach you to be successful not only in the classroom, but in the workplace. Faculty members have placed students in internships with Big 4 accounting firms every summer, tapping into their professional networks from years of working in the corporate sector.
Learn Your Way:
Online, On Campus, or Near You
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What are the on-campus facilities like?
Students who pursue their degrees at Saint Leo’s main campus near sunny Tampa Bay, Florida, join a community of enthusiastic learners just like them.
Accounting students enjoy plenty of engaging learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, as well as exciting departmental events.
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What are the benefits of earning your accounting degree online?
Saint Leo University’s online learning experience provides a well-rounded education with the flexibility to tailor your course of study to meet your individual needs. We know our students have lives outside school, and we seek to meet them where they are. Online students can count on receiving excellent academics as well as opportunities for hands-on learning, such as research projects and opportunities to attend national conferences.
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Taking online classes has afforded me the opportunity to learn while maintaining a job. They give me some flexibility to study at times that work more cohesively with my schedule and allow me to utilize resources such as the library 24 hours a day.
Bentley Streat | Hayes, VA
Are education centers near you offering accounting degree programs?
You may also choose to pursue your degree through one of our education centers, which merge a traditional in-person education with the flexibility to match your lifestyle. Education centers offer eight-week academic terms as well as evening and weekend classes.
Career Outlook
No matter which learning experience you choose, you will receive plenty of professional development opportunities, industry knowledge from expert professors, and support from the Saint Leo community. All this together means that you will be ready for a successful career or continued studies upon graduation.
What skills will you learn?
- Cost Accounting
- Auditing
- International Accounting
- Financial Statement Anaylsis
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How will you gain real experience?
Get ready to become certified once you master challenging concepts, such as advanced auditing, financial statement analysis, cost accounting and forecasting. Whether interning for a CPA firm or listening to alumni lecture about their field experiences, you'll understand the importance of accounting in the real world and your ethical responsibilities as a practitioner.
What can you do with an undergraduate accounting degree?
Most graduates find entry-level accounting positions in profit, not-for-profit and government organizations. Graduates from our BS in Accounting degree program are currently employed in positions like Auditors, Chief Financial Officers, IRS Investigators, Tax Accountants and much more.
What are the top accounting degree jobs?
| Career | Growth | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Auditor | 7% | $73,560 per year |
| Financial Analyst | 6% | $83,660 per year |
| Financial Examiners | 18% | $81,430 per year |
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020.
Where are Saint Leo accounting graduates now?
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Ernst & Young
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
- Entegra
- SK Financial Services
- Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
- CPA
College of Business
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Saint Leo University’s Donald R. Tapia College of Business provides a values-centered education that develops tomorrow’s business leaders. Our students create a personal legacy of character and integrity, developing into responsible global citizens ready to contribute to society across numerous fields. As the largest Catholic business College in the U.S., students find flexible degree program options at University Campus, education centers in five states, and online.
From associate to doctoral offerings, our accredited degree programs infuse student-centered teaching, future-paced research, entrepreneurial leadership, and professional networking opportunities. Students publish papers in esteemed academic journals, present original research at national conferences, and travel around the world to learn about the complexities of overseas markets. Faculty bring decades of practical experience to the coursework, ensuring students are on the cutting edge of their desired field to achieve career success.
Student Stories
"Saint Leo's online MBA program in Supply Chain Management provided me the opportunity for flexible learning alongside other supply chain professionals in my industry. With this MBA, I expanded upon educational and professional abilities within the field of Supply Chain Operations."
Paige Holt- MBA Student specializing in Supply Chain Management
Paige is one of our MBA students who has taken full advantage of the opportunities offered by Saint Leo's online MBA program in Supply Chain Management.
“Learning ignites my passion to seek and find information that intrigues my soul, spirit, and mind. Education at Saint Leo University has had an extremely positive influence on my life and my development as a person. It has made me more confident and enabled me to steer into my destiny. Saint Leo University has provided me with different learning experiences that has enabled me to branch out and work with people effectively. It has helped me develop a great amount of self-discipline and, aside from teaching me some very important life skills, Saint Leo University has opened many doors for my future.”
Karen Sislava Reyes - MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING
Karen came to Saint Leo from Flagler College where she earned her undergraduate accounting degree. Karen has worked as an intern for CliftonLarsonAllen. She plans on sitting for the CPA exam this year and will then pursue a doctorate degree.
''As a graduate now pursuing my masters of science in accounting, I’m even more thankful for how well Saint leo equipped me and not just educationally but as a leader, student, and even on a personal level. It is truly a privilege to have been taught by professors whose efforts go beyond the classroom.”
Tayhana Taylor - Undergrad Bachelor of Science- Accounting
Tayhana has completed four prestigious internships, including two with the BIG 4 CPA firms of Ernst & Young and Deloitte in New York City. These internships were highly competitive, and Tayhana engaged in both audit and tax while in these roles, gaining experience with leading-edge accounting protocols. She has been offered a full-time position with Deloitte in 2025. Tayhana has published three articles with faculty in the Tapia College of Business. The most recent titled, "The Impact of COVID-19 on the Airline Industry," was published in the Journal of Finance and Accountancy in Fall 2023
Saint Leo University has truly been a stepping stone for me. When I entered this university 4 years ago, I was unaware of what I’d be like when I left. Now, 3 weeks away from graduating, I am so thankful that I was a student here. Your time at Saint Leo University is what you make of it, and Saint Leo students are provided with so much opportunity to succeed.
O'shea Williams - Bachelor of Arts Developmental Psychology
“Saint Leo is not just an academic institution, it’s a formation institution. Saint Leo embraced me for who I am, showed faith that I could be my best, and solidified the light that was shining within me.”
Charles Onyeneke ’17
University Campus, Theology
“As a child, my great-grandmother taught me how to pray and to lean on God. Saint Leo inspired us all to learn with compassion and reminded me to keep the faith.”
Brent Patterson ’21
Center for Online Learning, Religious Studies
News
Accreditation
Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.