Virginia Commonwealth University Accounting (BS): 2027 Review

Score

59.6 of 100

Cost (20%)

2.5 of 10

Graduate Earnings (20%)

5.5 of 10

Completion (15%)

8.0 of 10

Flexibility (15%)

4.0 of 10

Credential Alignment (10%)

10.0 of 10

Track Record (10%)

7.5 of 10

Program Reputation (10%)

8.1 of 10

Credits

120

Format

Fully Online, On Campus

Accreditation

AACSB (confirmed on the official list)

AACSB Accounting

Accounting accreditation listed by AACSB

See exactly how we score on the methodology page. We checked the school's figures on October 8, 2026.

VCU walks you through a three-part Intermediate Accounting sequence and a full Auditing course, then ties the degree to a September accounting fair where firms meet students. You'll be able to take the same degree on campus in Richmond or fully online.

The Department of Accounting in the VCU School of Business offers the Bachelor of Science in Accounting at Virginia Commonwealth University. You can complete it on campus or fully online. The school lists AACSB accounting accreditation.

• Students who want hands-on experience: ACCT 493 puts you in on-the-job accounting training for about 20 hours a week.
• Tax-minded students: ACCT 311 trains you for an IRS certification exam, then you help community members prepare returns.
• Students who like spreadsheets: Data Analytics for Accountants is a required senior course.
• Career changers who already hold a degree: the department offers a post-baccalaureate certificate and a Master of Accountancy for the extra credit hours.
• Students who want a mentor: the business mentoring program connects you with VCU business alumni.

The accounting sequence starts in the spring of freshman year with Introduction to Financial Reporting, then Introduction to Managerial Accounting. Intermediate Accounting I, II and III follow across junior and senior years. You'll cover standards, property and equipment, income taxes, pensions and leases. Along with the individual income tax course, Cost Accounting and Accounting Systems build the technical core.

Seniors take Data Analytics for Accountants and Auditing, which covers both external and internal audits. The last semester pairs Auditing with Strategic Management. Advanced Tax Accounting is an elective that covers trusts, partnerships and corporations. Beta Alpha Psi and the Student Managed Investment Portfolio are among the student organizations.

The published plan runs eight semesters and totals 120 credit hours. Certified public accountant (CPA) licensure takes 150 hours, so the department points you to a post-baccalaureate certificate or a Master of Accountancy for the rest. The program qualifies you to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination in Virginia. The school's major map advises sitting for as many exam sections as possible in the summer after your fourth year.

VCU reports about $1,230 per credit.

You choose between studying on campus and finishing the degree fully online. Accounting internships recruit heavily in the fall of junior year, so Business Career Services reviews your resume before that summer. Meet the Firms, an accounting fair, takes place each September. The School of Business also holds career fairs in fall and spring.

The Department of Accounting lists specialized AACSB accreditation. The program page links CPA exam research requirements and resources from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Scholarships come through the Controllers Executive Roundtable and the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Where this degree can lead: Accounting Degree Jobs.

Niche's 2026 profile of VCU says students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching, and describes them as approachable and supportive. The same profile says students feel confident they'll find a job in their field.

An alumnus on a student forum credited accounting professors, internships and Beta Alpha Psi for an easy job search, and said the small major builds a bond among classmates. The school's own award profiles name student internships at BDO, KPMG and Keiter CPAs, and a Deloitte audit internship for summer 2025.

• Which Big 4 and regional firms attend Meet the Firms each September?
• How do ACCT 493 internship credits fit into the 120-hour plan?
• Which route to 150 hours fits me best, the certificate or the Master of Accountancy?
• Is the Community Income Tax Assistance course open to online students?

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