Tennessee Community Colleges
Accounting Programs
Accounting programs at community colleges in this state. Financial accounting, managerial accounting, and CPA-track coursework.
12 colleges · 229 sections · 17 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Accounting is one of the most direct community-college-to-career pathways in Tennessee: 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 229 sections this term at 12 TBR 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 TBR 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
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pellissippi State Community College | 29 | 6 | 1 | 22 | — |
| Nashville State Community College | 25 | 6 | — | 37 | — |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | 24 | 11 | 7 | 16 | — |
| Chattanooga State Community College | 22 | 7 | 15 | — | — |
| Northeast State Community College | 21 | 7 | 11 | 22 | — |
| Columbia State Community College | 18 | 3 | 8 | — | — |
| Walters State Community College | 18 | 9 | — | — | — |
| Cleveland State Community College | 17 | 6 | 3 | — | — |
| Dyersburg State Community College | 17 | 8 | 7 | — | — |
| Motlow State Community College | 17 | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| Volunteer State Community College | 15 | 4 | 8 | — | — |
| Jackson State Community College | 6 | 2 | 3 | — | — |
Accounting Availability Snapshot
How accounting sections are being offered across 12 colleges in Tennessee this term (229 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person160 (70%)
- online66 (29%)
- zoom3 (1%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)69
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)24
- Evening (5 PM and after)22
- Asynchronous / TBA114
Start dates
Sections begin on 9 distinct dates. 12 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 36 distinct instructors across 12 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Chattanooga State Community College1 program
Detailed course requirements are not yet available for this program. View in college catalog
Source: College catalog
Cleveland State Community College2 programs
Columbia State Community College1 program
First Year - Fall Semester - Credit Hours: 16
First Year - Spring Semester - Credit Hours: 15
Second Year - Fall Semester - Credit Hours: 13
Second Year - Spring Semester - Credit Hours: 16
Source: College catalog
Dyersburg State Community College2 programs
Jackson State Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
60 credits- ENGL 1010English Composition I(3 cr)66 sections
- ENGL 1020English Composition II(3 cr)16 sections
- COL 1030College to Career Navigation(3 cr)45 sections
- MATH 1530Statistics(3 cr)38 sections
- INFS 1010Computer Applications(3 cr)10 sections
- COMM 2025Fundamentals of Communication(3 cr)32 sections
- MATH 1710Precalculus Algebra/Finite Mathematics(3 cr)7 sections
- MATH 1830Applied Calculus(3 cr)1 section
- ACCT 1010Principles of Accounting I(3 cr)4 sections
- ACCT 1020Principles of Accounting II(3 cr)2 sections
- ECON 2100Principles of Macroeconomics(3 cr)3 sections
- ECON 2200Principles of Microeconomics(3 cr)3 sections
Source: College catalog
Motlow State Community College1 program
GENERAL EDUCATION (41 credit hours)
41 creditsSee catalog for course list
Communications (9 credit hours)
9 creditsHumanities/Fine Arts (9 credit hours)
9 credits- ELEC XXXThree of the following:not offered
- ART 1035Introduction to Art16 sections
- ART 2000Art History Survey I4 sections
- ART 2020Art History Survey II3 sections
- ENGL 2045Introduction to Literature21 sections
- ENGL 2055African American Literature5 sections
- ENGL 2130Topics in American Literature7 sections
- ENGL 2235Topics in British Literature3 sections
- ENGL 2310Early World Literature2 sections
- ENGL 2320Modern World Literature2 sections
- ENGL 2330Topics in World Literature2 sections
- ENGL 2860Introduction to Film5 sections
- ENGL 2900Creative Writing I4 sections
- MUS 1030Introduction to Music21 sections
- MUS 1035History of Jazz2 sections
- RELS 2020Religions of the World1 section
- THEA 1030Introduction to Theatre17 sections
Social/Behavioral Sciences (6 Credit Hours)
6 creditsHistory (6 credit hours)
6 credits- ELEC XXXOPTION 1 Two of the following, taken in any order:not offered
- HIST 2310Early World History7 sections
- HIST 2320Modern World History3 sections
- HIST 2350The Modern Middle East1 section
- ELEC XXXOR OPTION 2 Two of the following, taken in any order:not offered
- HIST 2010Early United States History43 sections
- HIST 2020Modern United States History11 sections
- HIST 2030Tennessee History5 sections
- HIST 2060African American History1 section
Natural Science (8 credit hours)
8 credits- ELEC XXXTwo of the following:not offered
- ASTR 1010Solar System Astronomy4 sections
- BIOL 1010Introduction to Biology9 sections
- BIOL 1110General Biology I19 sections
- BIOL 1120General Biology II3 sections
- BIOL 1510Environmental Science I2 sections
- BIOL 2010Human Anatomy and Physiology I11 sections
- BIOL 2020Human Anatomy and Physiology II9 sections
- CHEM 1010Introduction to Chemistry4 sections
- CHEM 1110General Chemistry I13 sections
- CHEM 1120General Chemistry II2 sections
- GEOL 1030Survey of Geology7 sections
- PHYS 2010Non-Calculus Physics I2 sections
- PHYS 2020Non-Calculus Physics II1 section
- PHYS 2110Calculus-Based Physics I3 sections
- PHYS 2120Calculus-Based Physics II1 section
- PSCI 1030Survey of Physical Science1 section
Mathematics (3 credit hours)
3 creditsAREA OF EMPHASIS REQUIREMENTS (19 credit hours)
19 creditsSemester One (15 credit hours)
15 creditsSemester Two (15 credit hours)
15 creditsSemester Three (16 credit hours)
16 creditsSemester Four (14 credit hours)
14 creditsSemester One (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester Three (9 credit hours)
9 creditsSemester Four (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester Five (7 credit hours)
7 creditsSemester Six (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Seven (7 credit hours)
7 creditsSemester Eight (7 credit hours)
7 creditsSemester Nine (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSource: College catalog
Nashville State Community College4 programs
Northeast State Community College2 programs
Southwest Tennessee Community College4 programs
Volunteer State Community College1 program
General Education Core Requirements - Credits (41)
- COMM 2025^Fundamentals of Communication14 sections
- COMM 2045^Public Speaking (3)5 sections
- ENGL 1010^English Composition I84 sections
- ENGL 1020^English Composition II20 sections
- ELEC XXXHumanities and/or Fine Arts (At least one course in Literature) Credits: (9) 1not offered
- MATH 1630^Finite Mathematics1 section
- MATH 1710^Precalculus Algebra (3)6 sections
- ELEC XXXNatural Sciences Credits: (8)not offered
- ECON 2100^Principles of Macroeconomics7 sections
- ECON 2200^Principles of Microeconomics5 sections
Area of Emphasis Requirements - Credits (19)
- ACCT 1010Principles of Accounting I10 sections
- ACCT 1020Principles of Accounting II3 sections
- BUSN 1305*Introduction to Business11 sections
- INFS 1010Computer Applications17 sections
- MATH 1530^Introductory Statistics24 sections
- MATH 1830^Applied Calculus2 sections
- ELEC XXXOR Advisor Approved Credits (3) 5not offered
- ELEC XXXUniversity Parallel Electives (Any Non-Asterisk Course) Credits: (1)not offered
First Year - Fall Semester - Credits (15)
First Year - Spring Semester - Credits (13)
Second Year - Fall Semester - Credits (16)
- ACCT 1010Principles of Accounting I10 sections
- ECON 2200^Principles of Microeconomics5 sections
- MATH 1830^Applied Calculus2 sections
- ELEC XXXOR Advisor approved Credits: (3) 5not offered
- COMM 2025^Fundamentals of Communication14 sections
- COMM 2045^Public Speaking (3)5 sections
- ELEC XXXNatural Sciences (See General Education Core Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (4)not offered
Second Year - Spring Semester - Credits (16)
- ACCT 1020Principles of Accounting II3 sections
- MATH 1530^Introductory Statistics24 sections
- ELEC XXXNatural Sciences (See General Education Core Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (4)not offered
- ELEC XXXHumanities and/or Fine Arts (Literature Course - See General Education Core Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3) 1not offered
- BUSN 1305*Introduction to Business11 sections
Source: College catalog
Walters State Community College1 program
Fall Term (15 semester credit hours)
Spring Term (15 semester credit hours)
Fall Term (16 semester credit hours)
Spring Term (14 semester credit hours)
Communication (9 hours)
Behavioral/Social Sciences (6 hours)
Mathematics (3 hours)
- MATH 1630Finite Mathematics11 sections
Area of Emphasis Requirements (19 semester credit hours)
Source: College catalog
Common Accounting courses
- ACCT 1010Principles of Accounting I(117 sections)
- ACCT 1020Principles of Accounting II(51 sections)
- ACCT 2321Intermediate Accounting I(12 sections)
- ACCT 2331Tax Accounting(11 sections)
- ACCT 2341Cost Accounting(9 sections)
- ACCT 2382Accounting Systems Applications(9 sections)
- ACCT 2399Accounting Capstone(7 sections)
- ACCT 2301Payroll Accounting(2 sections)
- ACCT 2362Forensic Accounting - Combo of online/on-campus instruction(2 sections)
- ACCT 2392Accounting Internship(2 sections)
- ACCT 2322Intermediate Accounting II(1 section)
- ACCT 2332Topics in Taxation(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 Tennessee’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Tennessee's typical pay is about 3% below the typical state — common for lower cost-of-living states, but worth weighing against tuition savings.
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 Tennessee 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. Tennessee's TBR 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 Tennessee’s accounting programs stack up.
Other programs in Tennessee
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.