Accounting programs usually lead to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. An associate’s degree typically takes two years, while a bachelor’s degree takes four years. Coursework for both types of degrees will include information on economics, financial and managerial accounting, personal and business tax laws, marketing, and software applications. Students who complete a four-year degree will delve into various subjects, learning advanced accounting and finance principles.
After earning an accounting degree, students can take additional courses to qualify to take the CPA exam. Becoming a CPA requires a total of 150 hours of relevant courses. Many of these hours are completed during graduation. It usually takes an additional year to meet this requirement.
How old is the average graduate student?
The average graduate student is 33 today. Students in doctoral programs are slightly older. However, the average graduate student in the late 1990s was just under 33 years old. In fact, according to the Council of Graduate Schools, the age of graduate students has changed over the past few decades. Although there is no increase in age, there is an increase in the number of non-traditional students. In other words, according to data from the Council of Graduate Schools, fewer returning students are choosing the traditional brick-and-mortar education. So, the question might not be: what is the average age of a graduate student? Now, the question might be, what is the average age of a student graduating from a traditional college program versus those enrolled in an evening, part-time, summer, or online degree program? This age is definitely increasing.
Some people have died of fatigue at the end of a four-year degree program. They are burned. Forbes Magazine says the four-year program is not a reality for the majority. Most students take longer to earn degrees. In fact, according to Forbes, only 58% of students graduate in six years.
Many people never graduate from college. After all this time and all this debt, most people just want to get out of the education system for a while. Moreover, college is a singularly unbalanced way of life. Many people drop out of college after earning their bachelor’s degree so they can start a family and gain work experience. However, most experts agree that our society has moved from an industry-based economy to a knowledge-based economy. The postgraduate degree is now the professional standard and people are going back to school to improve their skills and make them more competitive. Master’s degree holders earn $10,000 more each year than bachelor’s degree holders.
When is it too late to get a doctorate?
As an academic career coach, more than one person has asked me if it’s too late to get a PhD. Some of these people were as young as 20 years old, fearing they would inevitably be banned from working for two years after graduating from elementary school in the Academy classrooms.
Others were past middle age and were looking for a career change. Either way, the answer is ultimately no, it’s not too late to get a PhD. However, there are some important things to keep in mind if this is something you’re considering.
Why big in finance?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in finance, such as investment banking, corporate finance, private equity and wealth management, will increase 5% over the next 10 years. That’s faster than average for all jobs. It doesn’t matter if you have a BA Finance vs. BS Finance, or your job title or specialty, an on-campus or online finance degree can connect you to great job opportunities and job security.
Find a program that fits your schedule
Flexibility is essential for an older student, especially if you have children or plan to work part-time or full-time during your studies.
Online programs can be ideal, especially ones that deliver all classes asynchronously with no set class times. Many of these programs are designed for working professionals and only accept applicants with years of work experience.