Which Schools Offer Accounting Degree Programs in Kansas City, MO?

There are a number of schools in the Kansas City area with bachelor's degree programs in business, to prepare you for a career as an accountant. You may also choose to start with a two-year associate's degree program, or further your education with a master's degree.

What You Need to Know

Associate's degree programs take about two years to complete, and the curriculum prepares you for entry-level accounting jobs. The coursework includes general education classes, and some programs may offer internships.

Bachelor's degree programs typically are four years in length, and the coursework include gen-ed requirements. Some programs offer you specialization options, and others may offer a 5-year track that awards both the bachelor's and master's degrees.

Master's programs may take a few years to complete, depending on your undergraduate background. Classes may be available in the evenings, and completing this degree could prepare you for licensure as a CPA.

Associate Degree Programs in the Kansas City Area

Kansas City Kansas Community College

Located about 10 miles from Kansas City, MO, this school's associate degree program prepares you for entry-level accounting and business positions or allows you to continue your studies in a 4-year degree program. Accounting coursework covers managerial, computerized and intermediate accounting, personal finance, business law and income taxation. You may also complete a tax preparation internship during your studies.

• Program: Associate in Applied Science in Accounting
• Program Length: 61-64 course credit hours (about 2 years)
• Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $3,120 for in-district students; $3,300 for in-state students; $6,510 for out-of-state students
• School Type: 2-year, public; 5,885 students (all undergraduates)

Bachelor's Degrees in the Kansas City Area

Avila University

This program's curriculum includes a core set of business classes along with several accounting courses. Business-focused coursework covers marketing, management, statistical analysis, business law and economics. Regardless of specialization, you complete courses in auditing, tax accounting, information systems and accounting issues. The public accounting track requires additional courses in quantitative analysis, business law and economics. The school also offers a joint bachelor and Master of Business Administration in Accounting program that prepares you to sit for the CPA exam in either Missouri or Kansas.

• Program: Bachelor of Science in Accounting
• Specializations: Corporate accounting or public accounting
• Program Length: Minimum of 128 credit hours (around 4 years)
• Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $19,900 for in-state and out-of-state students
• School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; 1,649 students (1,246 undergraduates)

University of Missouri-Kansas City

This program's curriculum includes coursework in financial, managerial and intermediate accounting, auditing, taxation, governmental accounting and accounting systems. The program also includes business courses in topics like economics, marketing, management and business law. You may complete part of your studies abroad. The school also offers a Unified Five-Year Program, which enables you to earn both a bachelor and master's degree in accounting in five years.

• Program: Bachelor of Science in Accounting
• Program Length: 4 years
• Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $8,178 for in-state students; $20,207 for out-of-state students
• School Type: 4-year, public; 16,375 students (11,319 undergraduates)

Park University

This program prepares you for a career in accounting or to pursue graduate study in accounting or a related discipline. The accounting curriculum includes courses in income taxes, auditing, intermediate accounting and advanced accounting. During your studies, you also complete courses in managerial principles, financial management, business policy, economics, operations management and others. The school's Parkville campus, located about 10 miles from Kansas City, offers a bachelor's degree in accounting.

• Program: Bachelor of Science in Management
• Course of Study Options: Accounting
• Program Length: Minimum of 120 credit hours (about 4 years)
• Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $11,572 for in-state and out-of-state students
• School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; 11,415 students (9,569 undergraduates)

Master's Degree Programs in the Kansas City Area

University of Missouri-Kansas City

The length of time it takes to complete this master's degree accounting program depends on your undergraduate background. If you have a bachelor's degree in accounting, you can focus your graduate studies in accounting, auditing or taxation and complete the program with 30 credit hours of coursework. If you lack a background in accounting, you must complete foundational courses in the discipline in addition to graduate program coursework. Graduate-level classes you may take include not-for-profit accounting, managerial accounting and advanced taxation.

• Program: Master of Science in Accounting
• Specializations: Accounting/auditing or taxation
• Program Length: 30-63 course credit hours (1.5-3.5 years)
• Graduate Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $10,605 for in-state students; $25,216 for out-of-state students
• Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree
• Admission Requirements: GMAT
• School Type: 4-year, public; 16,375 students (11,319 undergraduates)

Avila University

In this program, depending on your academic background, you may need to complete certain prerequisite courses prior to beginning master's degree coursework. The master's degree program includes a business core of classes comprised of classes in management, organizational behavior and marketing. You also complete classes in topics like management information systems and advanced auditing. Classes in this program are available in the evenings.

• Program: Master of Business Administration
• Specializations: Accounting
• Program Length: Minimum of 30 credit hours (dependent upon undergraduate background)
• Graduate Tuition and Fees (2018-2019): $6,734 for in-state and out-of-state students
• Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree
• Admission Requirements: GMAT
• School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; 1,649 students (1,246 undergraduates)

To summarize, some schools near Kansas City, MO, such as Avila University and University of Missouri offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting, and others in the area will allow you to study at the associate's through master's degree level.