Minnesota Community Colleges
Accounting Programs
Accounting programs at community colleges in this state. Financial accounting, managerial accounting, and CPA-track coursework.
23 colleges · 232 sections · 140 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Accounting is one of the most direct community-college-to-career pathways in Minnesota: graduates with an associate in accounting step into bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, and entry-level staff accountant roles at small businesses and CPA firms across the state. The 232 sections this term at 23 Minnesota State colleges cover financial accounting, managerial accounting, tax prep, payroll, and QuickBooks.
For students aiming at the CPA license, an associate's covers roughly the first two years of the 150-credit-hour requirement — the rest comes from a bachelor's in accounting plus enough upper-division coursework to hit the threshold. Compare college below by graduate earnings and award counts; some Minnesota State programs have tighter articulation with university accounting programs than others.
Colleges offering Accounting
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Accounting is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
Accounting Availability Snapshot
How accounting sections are being offered across 23 colleges in Minnesota this term (232 sections total).
Delivery format
- online162 (70%)
- in person37 (16%)
- hybrid33 (14%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)30
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)18
- Evening (5 PM and after)13
- Asynchronous / TBA171
Start dates
Sections begin on 1 distinct date.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 78 distinct instructors across 23 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College2 programs
Century College4 programs
Dakota County Technical College1 program
First Year - Fall Semester: 16 Credits
16 creditsFirst Year - Spring Semester: 16 Credits
16 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Inver Hills Community College1 program
Transfer Pathway Curriculum: 30 Credits
30 creditsSee catalog for course list
General Education Curriculum: 30 Credits
30 creditsSemester 1: 15 Credits
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester 2: 16 Credits
16 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester 4: 16 Credits
16 creditsSemester 1: 8 Credits
8 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester 2: 10 Credits
10 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester 3: 11 Credits
11 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester 4: 9 Credits
9 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester 6: 5-6 Credits
5 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester 7: 7-8 Credits
7 creditsSource: College catalog
Saint Paul College3 programs
Common Accounting courses
- ACCT 2251Financial Accounting(9 sections)
- ACCT 1215Accounting Cycle - Early 8 Week(6 sections)
- ACCT 2217Financial Accounting(6 sections)
- ACCT 2410Spreadsheet Concepts and Applications for Accounting(5 sections)
- ACCT 2111Financial Accounting(5 sections)
- ACCT 2011Accounting Principles I (Financial)(4 sections)
- ACCT 1010Introduction to Accounting(4 sections)
- ACCT 2020Financial Accounting(4 sections)
- ACCT 1410Financial Accounting Principles I(4 sections)
- ACCT 2252Accounting Internship(4 sections)
- ACCT 1810Introduction to Accounting(4 sections)
- ACCT 1814Payroll Accounting(4 sections)
Career outlook for Accounting graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Minnesota’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I become a CPA with just an associate degree?
- No. The CPA license requires 150 college credit hours (typically a bachelor's plus 30 extra hours) — an associate is 60 hours. The associate is a great first step that covers the intro accounting sequence at much lower tuition, but you'll need to transfer to complete the bachelor's plus the extra credits.
- What's the difference between bookkeeping and accounting jobs?
- Bookkeepers record day-to-day transactions, manage AP/AR, and produce monthly trial balances. Accountants analyze the books, produce financial statements, handle tax compliance, and advise on financial decisions. An associate in accounting qualifies you for full-charge bookkeeper and staff-accountant roles; the higher-paying senior accountant and controller titles typically require a bachelor's.
- Does Minnesota have a high demand for accountants?
- Yes. Accounting is one of the most stable, highest-employment occupations in every state — every business needs at least one bookkeeper, and the field is largely recession-resistant because tax compliance and AP/AR don't go away in downturns. BLS projects 4% employment growth nationally through 2032.
- Does accounting credit transfer to a bachelor's in accounting?
- Yes, with the usual caveats — both colleges (CC and 4-year) must use the AICPA model curriculum for the credits to fully apply toward the upper-division accounting major. Minnesota's Minnesota State accounting programs are generally well-articulated with the state's flagship universities. Compare colleges below; articulation strength varies.
Compare Accounting programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Minnesota’s accounting programs stack up.
Other programs in Minnesota
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.