North Carolina Community Colleges
Accounting Programs
Accounting programs at community colleges in this state. Financial accounting, managerial accounting, and CPA-track coursework.
50 colleges · 662 sections · 28 unique courses · Spring 2026
Accounting is one of the most direct community-college-to-career pathways in North Carolina: 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 662 sections this term at 50 NCCCS 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 NCCCS programs have tighter articulation with university accounting programs than others.
Earnings & outcomes for Accounting graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 5203 — Accounting and Related Services. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Accounting
Accounting Availability Snapshot
How accounting sections are being offered across 50 colleges in North Carolina this term (662 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person327 (49%)
- online284 (43%)
- zoom30 (5%)
- hybrid21 (3%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)123
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)53
- Evening (5 PM and after)30
- Asynchronous / TBA456
Start dates
Sections begin on 26 distinct dates. 205 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 230 distinct instructors across 50 colleges.
Common Accounting courses
- ACC 120Prin of Financial Accounting(222 sections)
- ACC 121Prin of Managerial Accounting(158 sections)
- ACC 150Accounting Software Appl(46 sections)
- ACC 140Payroll Accounting(36 sections)
- ACC 221Intermediate Acct II(26 sections)
- ACC 129Individual Income Taxes(24 sections)
- ACC 130Business Income Taxes(24 sections)
- ACC 149Intro to ACC Spreadsheets(19 sections)
- ACC 180Practices in Bookkeeping(14 sections)
- ACC 225Cost Accounting(14 sections)
- ACC 227Practices in Accounting(10 sections)
- ACC 269Auditing & Assurance Services(10 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 North Carolina’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
North Carolina's typical pay is about 3% above the typical state — a strong sign of healthy local demand.
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 North Carolina 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. North Carolina's NCCCS 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 North Carolina’s accounting programs stack up.
Other programs in North Carolina
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.