Accounting and Finance Degree Programs at Purdue University Global
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Purdue University Global offers online degree programs for students in Indiana and other states. The options for undergrads include both an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting. Students in the associate program take 90 credits of courses that each last for 10 weeks. It includes courses such as Managerial Accounting, Federal Tax and Introduction to Management. The bachelor’s program features the same 10-week classes but includes 180 credits of courses such as Business Law, Finance and Microeconomics.
Undergrads can also earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance from the online university. This program allows students to choose from multiple fields of focus, including real estate, wealth management and investments. There is also a version of the program designed for those who will enter the university’s Master of Science in Finance program. It prepares students for that program and the advanced courses they will take. Courses in the undergrad finance program include Corporate Finance, Financial Statement Analysis and Financial Markets.
The courses in the university’s Master of Science in Accounting program includes six-week classes that and requires that students take 52 credits of courses. It has multiple start dates that allow students to start during almost any month out of the year. Some of the concentrations available in this program include tax accounting, government accounting, finance, and auditing. Though each concentration includes some required courses, all accounting majors will take some core classes such as Regulation, Advanced Auditing, Advanced Managerial and Cost Accounting, and Financial Accounting and Reporting.
An alternative to the Purdue University Global accounting graduate program is its certificate program in accounting. Designed for graduate students, it includes 16 credits of online classes. Students take the same required courses that those in the degree program take, but they can finish their certificates in just a few months. The university also offers a Master of Science in Finance degree program with concentrations in financial analysis and financial planning. Some of the required courses in both concentrations include Investment Management, Financial Markets, Banking, Corporate Finance, and Financial Planning.
About Purdue University Global
Purdue University Global is a large online university system affiliated with Purdue University in Indiana. Though only established in 2018, it has a long history. The American Institute of Commerce opened in 1937 and became Quest College in 1999. Kaplan took over the operations of the college in 2000 and renamed it Kaplan College and then Kaplan University. Purdue University announced that it would purchase and take over the campuses within that system and rename each school Purdue University Global. All the schools in the system use the Purdue University Global and PG names.
Though PG did shut down some of the campuses owned by Kaplan, it still owns and operates 13 campuses in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Maine, Maryland, Indiana and Wisconsin. Most of its students take online classes though. PG now offers dozens of programs through seven schools, including the School of Business and Information Technology, which oversees its accounting and finance programs. Enrollment at PG includes more than 30,000 online and traditional students.
Purdue University Global Accreditation Details
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) awarded PG regional accreditation, which is why it can offer degree programs online to students across the United States. HLC accreditation is also why the university can accept the financial aid given to students by the state and federal governments. All the finance and accounting programs offered online have accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) also.
Purdue University Global Application Requirements
Both the accounting and finance graduate programs at PG require that students have a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as business and that they took courses in college that taught them about financial and accounting subjects. Prospective students can request information from the university and speak with a representative before they apply. The application process for graduate students includes the PG application and transcripts from all the colleges they attended. Those transcripts should show that the student took all prerequisite courses and list the date the student earned his or her degree. If a student needs to take one or more prerequisites, the university will require that they do so before starting the graduate program.
Undergrads must be 18 to start a PG program or have a parent/guardian sign an approval form. They must also understand the English language and complete the online application. PG recommends that students talk with an admissions advisor and request more information before they apply. Students only need to have a high school diploma, GED or a home study certificate or transcript to enroll. PG asks for transcripts from all high school and home school students as a way to gauge whether the student is ready for college. Some students may need to take entrance exams to show that they understand the subjects they will study in a degree program.
Tuition and Financial Aid
PG offers different ways for students to save money on their tuition and other costs. It has a discount for military students that reduces their tuition costs by 55% when they enroll in an undergrad program. Students who are veterans can save 38% on their undergrad classes. Similar discounts are available for the spouses and children of military professionals and veterans. PG partners with many different organizations and companies too and will grant discounts to the employees of its partners. Students can also transfer credits from other schools into a PG program. The costs that online students pay before any discounts or financial aid is $371 per credit hour for all associate and bachelor programs and $485 per credit hour for all graduate degree programs. Students in a certificate program will pay the same rates that students in degree programs do.
Any student who wants to apply for financial aid and plans on attending PG can submit the FAFSA. Though some think that there aren’t as many programs for online students as traditional students, online students can still qualify for federal loan programs and grants such as a Pell grant. They can submit the FAFSA when they apply to the university or later. All the accounting and finance degree programs at Purdue University Global accept the financial aid that students receive.
