Virginia Community Colleges
Accounting Programs
Accounting programs at community colleges in this state. Financial accounting, managerial accounting, and CPA-track coursework.
23 colleges · 333 sections · 22 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Accounting is one of the most direct community-college-to-career pathways in Virginia: 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 333 sections this term at 23 VCCS 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 VCCS 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | 99 | 13 | 46 | 139 | $67,613 |
| Tidewater Community College | 44 | 14 | 33 | 60 | — |
| Brightpoint Community College | 33 | 8 | 24 | 10 | — |
| Germanna Community College | 24 | 7 | 14 | 56 | — |
| Reynolds Community College | 21 | 8 | 16 | 28 | — |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | 20 | 5 | 14 | 15 | — |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | 10 | 5 | 7 | 18 | — |
| Virginia Western Community College | 10 | 5 | 8 | 16 | — |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | 9 | 4 | 7 | 12 | — |
| Blue Ridge Community College | 8 | 5 | 5 | 9 | — |
| New River Community College | 8 | 7 | 6 | 20 | — |
| Rappahannock Community College | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | — |
| Southside Virginia Community College | 7 | 3 | 7 | — | — |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | 7 | 5 | — | 4 | — |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | — |
| Central Virginia Community College | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Eastern Shore Community College | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| Patrick & Henry Community College | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | — |
| Camp Community College | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Mountain Empire Community College | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Wytheville Community College | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Danville Community College | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Accounting Availability Snapshot
How accounting sections are being offered across 23 colleges in Virginia this term (333 sections total).
Delivery format
- online197 (59%)
- in person69 (21%)
- hybrid54 (16%)
- zoom13 (4%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)76
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)23
- Evening (5 PM and after)51
- Asynchronous / TBA183
Start dates
Sections begin on 16 distinct dates. 93 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Blue Ridge Community College2 programs
Brightpoint Community College2 programs
Germanna Community College4 programs
Laurel Ridge Community College1 program
Student Development (1 cr)
- SDV 100College Success Skills (Fall Spring Summer)39 sections
Written Communication (6 cr)
Art, Humanities & Literature (3 cr)
- PHI 220Ethics and Society (Fall Spring Summer)7 sections
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 cr)
Communications (3 cr)
Information Literacy (3 cr)
- ITE 152Introduction to Digital Literacy and Computer Applications (Fall Spring Summer)15 sections
Major Requirements (39 cr)
- ACC 211Principles of Accounting I (Fall Spring Summer)5 sections
- ACC 212Principles of Accounting II (Fall Spring Summer)2 sections
- ACC 215Computerized Accounting (Spring Only)not offered
- ACC 221Intermediate Accounting I (Fall Only)1 section
- ACC 222Intermediate Accounting II (Spring Only)not offered
- ACC 231Cost Accounting I (Fall Only)1 section
- ACC 261Principles of Federal Taxation I (Fall Only)1 section
- ACC 262Principles of Federal Taxation II (Spring Only)not offered
- ACC 298Seminar and Project (Spring Only)not offered
- BUS 100Introduction to Business (Fall Spring Summer)5 sections
- BUS 240Introduction to Business Law (Fall Summer)4 sections
- BUS 242Business Law II (Spring Only)not offered
- MTH 130Fundamentals of Reasoning (Fall Spring Summer)1 section
Program Total: 61 Credits
61 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
New River Community College2 programs
Northern Virginia Community College4 programs
Piedmont Virginia Community College1 program
Required Courses
- SDV 100College Success Skills(1 cr)33 sections
- ENG 111College Composition I(3 cr)24 sections
- ENG 112College Composition II(3 cr)13 sections
- ACC 211Principles of Accounting I(3 cr)5 sections
- ACC 212Principles of Accounting II(3 cr)2 sections
- ACC 221Intermediate Accounting I(3 cr)1 section
- ACC 222Intermediate Accounting II(3 cr)not offered
- ACC 231Cost Accounting I(3 cr)not offered
- ACC 261Principles of Federal Taxation I(3 cr)1 section
- ACC 290Coordinated Internship(3 cr)not offered
- ELEC XXXor Elective(3 cr)not offered
- BUS 100Introduction to Business(3 cr)7 sections
- BUS 200Principles of Management(3 cr)1 section
- BUS 240Introduction to Business Law(3 cr)not offered
- ITE 152Introduction to Digital and Information Literacy and Computer Applications(3 cr)1 section
- ITE 215Advanced Computer Applications and Integration(4 cr)1 section
- MTH 154Quantitative Reasoning(3 cr)12 sections
- MTH 155Statistical Reasoning(3 cr)5 sections
- ECO 201Principles of Macroeconomics(3 cr)5 sections
- FIN 215Financial Management(3 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
Rappahannock Community College1 program
Reynolds Community College5 programs
Southwest Virginia Community College1 program
Powered by Modern Campus Catalog™.
First Semester
- ACC 211Principles of Accounting I2 sections
- ELEC XXXElective: Social Science Elective 3 Credits*not offered
- ENG 111College Composition I8 sections
- MTH 154Quantitative Reasoning6 sections
- SDV 101Orientation to (Discipline)6 sections
- ITE 152Introduction to Digital and Information Literacy and Computer Applications6 sections
Second Semester
Third Semester
Fourth Semester
Source: College catalog
Tidewater Community College3 programs
Virginia Highlands Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
65 credits- SDV 101Orientation to College Success(1 cr)13 sections
- ENG 111College Composition I(3 cr)15 sections
- ACC 211Principles of Accounting I(3 cr)3 sections
- MTH 132Business Mathematics(3 cr)1 section
- BUS 100Introduction to Business(3 cr)3 sections
- ITE 119or ITE 152(3 cr)1 section
- ACC 212Principles of Accounting II(3 cr)not offered
- BUS 200Principles of Management(3 cr)not offered
- ITE 140Spreadsheeting for Business(3 cr)1 section
- ACC 215Computerized Accounting(4 cr)not offered
- ACC 221Intermediate Accounting I(4 cr)1 section
- ACC 231Cost Accounting I(3 cr)1 section
- BUS 240Introduction to Business Law(3 cr)1 section
- CST 100Principles of Public Speaking(3 cr)5 sections
- ACC 261Principles of Federal Taxation I(3 cr)1 section
- ACC 222Intermediate Accounting II(4 cr)not offered
- PSY 200Principles of Psychology(3 cr)6 sections
- FIN 215Financial Management(3 cr)not offered
- BUS 225Applied Business Statistics1(3 cr)not offered
- SDV 106Preparation for Employment(1 cr)1 section
Recommended Course Sequence
32 credits- ACC 211Principles of Accounting I(3 cr)3 sections
- MTH 132Business Mathematics(3 cr)1 section
- ENG 111College Composition I(3 cr)15 sections
- BUS 100Introduction to Business(3 cr)3 sections
- SDV 101Orientation to College Success(1 cr)13 sections
- ACC 212Principles of Accounting II(3 cr)not offered
- ACC 215Computerized Accounting(4 cr)not offered
- BUS 240Introduction to Business Law(3 cr)1 section
- ITE 140Spreadsheeting for Business(3 cr)1 section
- CST 100Principles of Public Speaking(3 cr)5 sections
Source: College catalog
Virginia Peninsula Community College3 programs
Virginia Western Community College1 program
First Semester: 7-Week 1
First Semester: 7-Week 2
Second Semester: 7-Week 1
- ECO 150Economic Essentials: Theory and Application1 section
Third Semester (Summer): 7-Week
- CST 100Principles of Public Speaking16 sections
Fourth Semester: 7-Week 2
- ITE 140Spreadsheeting for Business2 sections
Fifth Semester: 7-Week 1
- BUS 240Introduction to Business Law3 sections
Source: College catalog
Common Accounting courses
- ACC 211Principles of Accounting I(150 sections)
- ACC 212Principles of Accounting II(82 sections)
- ACC 221Intermediate Accounting I(18 sections)
- ACC 231Cost Accounting I(13 sections)
- ACC 261Prin. of Federal Taxation I(13 sections)
- ACC 215Computerized Accounting(12 sections)
- ACC 219Gov't. and Non-Profit Accounting(6 sections)
- ACC 241Auditing I(6 sections)
- ACC 124Payroll Accounting(5 sections)
- ACC 222Intermediate Accounting II(5 sections)
- ACC 117Essentials of Accounting(3 sections)
- ACC 262Prin. of Federal Taxation II(3 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 Virginia’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Virginia's typical pay is about 8% 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 Virginia 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. Virginia's VCCS 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 Virginia’s accounting programs stack up.
Other programs in Virginia
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.