Southeast Missouri State University Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting: 2027 Review

Score

59.9 of 100

Cost (20%)

9.8 of 10

Graduate Earnings (20%)

3.8 of 10

Completion (15%)

2.5 of 10

Flexibility (15%)

4.0 of 10

Credential Alignment (10%)

10.0 of 10

Track Record (10%)

6.4 of 10

Program Reputation (10%)

6.7 of 10

Cost per Credit

$305 per credit

Credits

120

Tuition

$36,600

Format

Fully Online

Accreditation

AACSB (confirmed on the official list)

See exactly how we score on the methodology page. We checked the school's figures on October 7, 2026.

SEMO's online accounting major gives you Excel certification, a data analytics course and a menu of forensic accounting electives inside one business degree. Alumni from area accounting firms advise the faculty on program priorities.

Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau offers this Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting through its Donald L. Harrison College of Business and Computing. You complete it fully online. You'll take the same online courses SEMO faculty teach.

• Out-of-state students who want one price: you pay the same online rate whether you live in Missouri or not.
• Future auditors and fraud examiners: electives include Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting and Forensic Accounting Analytics.
• Students aiming for certified public accountant (CPA) licensure: an accelerated master's option lets you start graduate credit before you finish the bachelor's.
• Missouri residents hunting for aid: the major is eligible for the Fast Track grant.

The accounting core runs from Principles of Accounting through three Financial Accounting and Reporting courses. Accounting Analytics and Information Systems teaches you spreadsheet and general ledger work. Accounting and Data Analytics covers how professionals use data to make decisions. The individual taxation course focuses on federal income tax for individual filers.

Auditing and Assurance Services covers audit procedures, ethics and the types of audit opinions. You choose electives from cost accounting, taxation of business entities, government and not-for-profit accounting, and the two forensic courses. Microsoft Excel certification is a zero-credit requirement for every accounting major. The internship is an elective, and you earn 3 credits for 120 working hours, graded credit or no credit.

The degree takes at least 120 credit hours, including at least 39 senior division hours. The sample plan spreads them over eight fall and spring semesters. Juniors and seniors with a 3.25 GPA can apply up to 12 hours of master's-level business credit, at most 6 a semester, at the undergraduate rate.

That shortens your road to the 150 hours every state requires for CPA licensure. A 12-credit internship course, BA573, also counts toward those 150 hours. SEMO also offers credit for experience through portfolio, performance or certification.

Online tuition is $305 per credit hour for every student, with no in-state or out-of-state difference. Fees add to that, and the Fast Track grant may help you if you're a Missouri resident.

You take every course online, and the department publishes a rotation showing which accounting courses run as web sections each term. Principles of Accounting II also runs as a summer web section. Internship and study-abroad options sit alongside the online coursework.

The college holds AACSB accreditation. The degree lays the foundation for the CPA and certified management accountant (CMA). Some department faculty hold CPA credentials. Partners in Progress, a group of alumni from area accounting firms, consults with faculty on program priorities.

Where this degree can lead: Accounting Degree Jobs.

Students reviewing SEMO on OnlineU described responsive staff and professors who want students to succeed. A graduate said the degree was high quality, close to home and low cost. OnlineU reports that 90% of 45 reviewers said SEMO boosted their career and 93% would recommend it to others.

• Which accounting courses run as web sections each term, and when do the forensic electives rotate in?
• When should I take the Excel certification so it does not delay graduation?
• How many accelerated master's hours can I take, and how do I apply to graduate admissions?
• Which experiences can earn credit through portfolio or certification?

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