North Dakota Community Colleges
Accounting Programs
Accounting programs at community colleges in this state. Financial accounting, managerial accounting, and CPA-track coursework.
5 colleges · 36 sections · 15 unique courses · Spring 2026 · Updated today
Accounting is one of the most direct community-college-to-career pathways in North Dakota: 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 36 sections this term at 5 NDUS 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 NDUS programs have tighter articulation with university accounting programs than others.
Colleges offering Accounting
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 →
| College | Sections | Courses | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck State College | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| Dakota College at Bottineau | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| North Dakota State College of Science | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Lake Region State College | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Williston State College | 5 | 4 | 4 |
Accounting Availability Snapshot
How accounting sections are being offered across 5 colleges in North Dakota this term (36 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person18 (50%)
- online18 (50%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)10
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)6
- Asynchronous / TBA20
Start dates
Sections begin on 1 distinct date.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 16 distinct instructors across 5 colleges.
Common Accounting courses
- ACCT 201Elements of Accounting II(13 sections)
- ACCT 200Elements of Accounting I(5 sections)
- ACCT 212Payroll Accounting(2 sections)
- ACCT 215Business In The Legal Environ(2 sections)
- ACCT 207Managerial Accounting(2 sections)
- ACCT 231Income Tax Procedures(2 sections)
- ACCT 118Applied Accounting(2 sections)
- ACCT 225Business Law I(1 section)
- ACCT 315Principles of Taxation(1 section)
- ACCT 331Intermediate Accounting I(1 section)
- ACCT 332Intermediate Accounting II(1 section)
- ACCT 260Accounting Information Systems(1 section)
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 Dakota’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 North Dakota 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 Dakota's NDUS 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 Dakota’s accounting programs stack up.
Other programs in North Dakota
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.