Pennsylvania Community Colleges
Accounting Programs
Accounting programs at community colleges in this state. Financial accounting, managerial accounting, and CPA-track coursework.
10 colleges · 209 sections · 51 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Accounting is one of the most direct community-college-to-career pathways in Pennsylvania: 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 209 sections this term at 10 PA CCs 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 PA CCs 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
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County Community College | 40 | 10 | 25 | 30 | — |
| Community College of Allegheny County | 30 | 7 | 16 | 84 | $41,306 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | 24 | 7 | 8 | 13 | — |
| Community College of Philadelphia | 23 | 7 | 12 | 37 | — |
| Northampton Community College | 20 | 6 | 11 | 45 | $48,072 |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | 19 | 5 | 11 | 23 | $47,368 |
| Delaware County Community College | 16 | 6 | 7 | 26 | — |
| Luzerne County Community College | 15 | 5 | 6 | 27 | — |
| Reading Area Community College | 12 | 7 | 2 | 44 | — |
| Westmoreland County Community College | 10 | 10 | 10 | 21 | — |
Accounting Availability Snapshot
How accounting sections are being offered across 10 colleges in Pennsylvania this term (209 sections total).
Delivery format
- online104 (50%)
- in person89 (43%)
- hybrid12 (6%)
- zoom4 (2%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)60
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)30
- Evening (5 PM and after)24
- Asynchronous / TBA95
Start dates
Sections begin on 16 distinct dates. 80 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 61 distinct instructors across 10 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Community College of Allegheny County3 programs
Reading Area Community College4 programs
Common Accounting courses
- ACCT 101Financial Accounting(19 sections)
- ACC 111Financial Accounting(14 sections)
- ACC 115Computerized Accounting(14 sections)
- ACC 104Financial Accounting(11 sections)
- ACC 203Managerial Acct(11 sections)
- ACC 160Principles of Accounting I(10 sections)
- ACC 150Legal Environment of Business(9 sections)
- ACCT 151Principles of Financial Accounting II(9 sections)
- ACCT 102Managerial Accounting(8 sections)
- ACC 112Managerial Accounting(7 sections)
- ACC 116Managerial Accounting(7 sections)
- ACCT 160Principles of Managerial Accounting I(7 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 Pennsylvania’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Pennsylvania's typical pay for this occupation is roughly in line with the national picture.
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 Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania's PA CCs 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 Pennsylvania’s accounting programs stack up.
Other programs in Pennsylvania
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.