Best institutions to study Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
A program that prepares individuals to provide technical administrative support to professional accountants and other financial management personnel.
644 U.S. institutions graduated 18,452 Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.0302, a specialization of Accounting and Related Services (CIP 52.03), and leads most directly to the Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks occupation (BLS SOC 43-3031).
About Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping programs
A program that prepares individuals to provide technical administrative support to professional accountants and other financial management personnel. Includes instruction in posting transactions to accounts, record-keeping systems, accounting software operation, and general accounting principles and practices.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping program prepares individuals to provide essential technical administrative support to professional accountants and financial management personnel. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in the financial sector, focusing on bookkeeping and accounting practices.
Students in this program will gain skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and active listening, along with knowledge in customer service, administrative tasks, and accounting principles. Coursework typically includes instruction in accounting software operation, record-keeping systems, and general accounting practices.
Credentials awarded
What Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year9,201 graduates / yr · 353 institutions50%
- Associate's degree5,666 graduates / yr · 414 institutions31%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years2,924 graduates / yr · 283 institutions16%
- Award of less than 12 weeks487 graduates / yr · 24 institutions2.6%
- Bachelor's degree170 graduates / yr · 7 institutions0.9%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years4 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 23,845 |
| 2013 | 22,479 |
| 2014 | 22,674 |
| 2015 | 23,155 |
| 2016 | 21,243 |
| 2017 | 20,861 |
| 2018 | 20,241 |
| 2019 | 20,208 |
| 2020 | 19,804 |
| 2021 | 19,792 |
| 2022 | 19,103 |
| 2023 | 16,862 |
| 2024 | 17,347 |
| 2025 | 18,452 |
Top 50 institutions for Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 690 | 40% | — | $23,271 |
| 2 | Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 637 | 39% | — | $36,970 |
| 3 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 546 | 41% | — | — |
| 4 | Ensign College Salt Lake City, UTPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 512 | 43% | $11,149 | — |
| 5 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 284 | 50% | — | $51,355 |
| 6 | College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 255 | 45% | — | — |
| 7 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 235 | 36% | — | — |
| 8 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 198 | 32% | — | $19,762 |
| 9 | Valencia College Orlando, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 187 | 48% | — | $37,209 |
| 10 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 185 | 37% | — | — |
| 11 | Portland Community College Portland, ORPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 179 | 18% | — | $40,816 |
| 12 | SOWELA Technical Community College Lake Charles, LAPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 174 | 43% | — | $31,019 |
| 13 | Delgado Community College New Orleans, LAPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 172 | 24% | — | $30,393 |
| 14 | Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud, MNPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 168 | 53% | $19,944 | $47,506 |
| 15 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 146 | 38% | — | — |
| 16 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 144 | 34% | — | $39,076 |
| 17 | Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 139 | 58% | — | $42,629 |
| 18 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 134 | 48% | — | $31,747 |
| 19 | Miami Dade College Miami, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 133 | 46% | — | — |
| 20 | Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 133 | 32% | — | $40,820 |
| 21 | Ventura College Ventura, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 129 | 38% | — | — |
| 22 | Ohlone College Fremont, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 126 | 52% | — | — |
| 23 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 124 | 37% | — | — |
| 24 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 116 | 45% | — | $34,604 |
| 25 | Irvine Valley College Irvine, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 115 | 57% | — | — |
| 26 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 112 | 51% | — | $37,881 |
| 27 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 111 | 25% | — | $52,724 |
| 28 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 110 | 31% | — | — |
| 29 | Whatcom Community College Bellingham, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 104 | 36% | — | — |
| 30 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 99 | 65% | — | $41,261 |
| 31 | Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater, FLPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 99 | 55% | $20,584 | — |
| 32 | Southwestern College Chula Vista, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 97 | 35% | — | — |
| 33 | West Georgia Technical College Waco, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 95 | 35% | — | $28,346 |
| 34 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicBachelor's | 95 | 67% | — | $52,363 |
| 35 | Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 92 | 34% | — | — |
| 36 | Austin Community College District Austin, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 91 | 20% | — | $62,261 |
| 37 | Strayer University - Global Region Washington, DCPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 91 | 14% | $18,144 | $52,373 |
| 38 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 90 | 50% | — | — |
| 39 | San Bernardino Valley College San Bernardino, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 89 | 28% | — | — |
| 40 | Suffolk County Community College Selden, NYPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 89 | 29% | — | $27,170 |
| 41 | Eastern Florida State College Melbourne, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 88 | 52% | — | — |
| 42 | Lanier Technical College Gainesville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 88 | 34% | — | — |
| 43 | Northwood Technical College Rice Lake, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 88 | 56% | — | $30,586 |
| 44 | CUNY LaGuardia Community College Long Island City, NYPublicAssociate's | 87 | 24% | — | $20,436 |
| 45 | Moorpark College Moorpark, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 86 | 44% | — | — |
| 46 | Riverside City College Riverside, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 86 | 37% | — | — |
| 47 | Sacramento City College Sacramento, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 86 | 33% | — | — |
| 48 | MiraCosta College Oceanside, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 83 | 41% | — | — |
| 49 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NMPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 81 | 31% | — | $40,511 |
| 50 | Bellevue College Bellevue, WAPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 80 | 36% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Accounting and Related Services field (CIP 52.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 52 states & territories
Where Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping graduates come from. Each state links to all Accounting and Related Services programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 43-3031, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping program can pursue careers as Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks, among other roles. While the job outlook indicates a decline of 5.8%, there are still approximately 170,000 annual openings, with a median wage of $49,210. Typical education required is some college, but no degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.0302
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerksprimary SOC 43-3031 | $50,670 | -5.8% Decline | ~170,000 | Some college, no degree |
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks SOC 43-3051 | $58,260 | -16.7% Decline | ~13,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Tax Preparers SOC 13-2082 | $54,920 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~10,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Brokerage Clerks SOC 43-4011 | $65,750 | -9.5% Decline | ~4,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Statistical Assistants SOC 43-9111 | $50,330 | -2.5% Decline | ~800 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information.
- Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
- Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Operate 10-key calculators, typewriters, and copy machines to perform calculations and produce documents.
- Receive, record, and bank cash, checks, and vouchers.
- Code documents according to company procedures.
Tools and technology used
Other Accounting and Related Services specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Accounting and Related Services (CIP 52.03).
- AccountingCIP 52.030160,383 graduates / yr1,352 institutions
- Accounting and FinanceCIP 52.03043,776 graduates / yr134 institutions
- Accounting and Business/CIP 52.0305
Management 1,487 graduates / yr101 institutions - Accounting and Related ServicesCIP 52.0399643 graduates / yr39 institutions
- AuditingCIP 52.0303208 graduates / yr17 institutions
Common questions
What types of credentials can I earn?+
You can earn various credentials, including an Award of at least 12 weeks, an Associate's degree, or an Award of less than 12 weeks.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You'll develop skills in mathematics, critical thinking, active listening, and knowledge of accounting principles and software.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk, Payroll Clerk, Tax Preparer, and more.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 5.8%, but there are still around 170,000 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping?+
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping is CIP 52.0302 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Accounting and Related Services (CIP 52.03). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to provide technical administrative support to professional accountants and other financial management personnel. Includes instruction in posting transactions to accounts, record-keeping systems, accounting software operation, and general accounting principles and practices.
How many institutions offer Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping programs?+
644 U.S. institutions reported Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 52 states & territories, awarding 18,452 credentials in the year. That is 21.7% of all Accounting and Related Services graduates.
How much do Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks occupation, which Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping most directly leads to, pays a median of $50,670 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Accounting and Related Services field report median earnings of $40,820 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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