Madison College Accounting associate degree graduates are in high demand by employers in your community!
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Accounting
Program Number: 101011
Your Degree:
Associate Degree
Area of Study:
Business
Delivery Method:
100% Online
Some Online/Some In Person
Estimated Time to Complete:
62 Credits | Finish degree in 2 years
financial aid icon Financial Aid Available
transfer icon Program Transfers
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What You'll Pay
Use our Net Price Calculator to estimate your tuition costs.
Estimated Program Cost
$11,524.34
Financial Aid
Applying for financial aid and scholarships help you pay for your education.
  • Program Overview

    Madison College students choose to pursue a degree in accounting because of the variety of exciting career paths it offers.

    Accounting Careers

    Accounting professionals are in high demand by companies and organizations everywhere, so you can apply your skills to work in your community or take them anywhere. Employment opportunities in accounting exist in all industries, including financial, manufacturing, retail, service, non-profit and government institutions.

    Madison College's two-year Accounting associate degree will get you ready for a range of professional positions in the field of accounting, including staff accountant, public accountant, cost accountant, tax accountant, account manager, account specialist or payroll accountant.

    Real-world, Hands-on Learning

    Madison College's accounting program teaches you real-world accounting concepts through hands-on learning. Our expert faculty will support your academic success by providing valuable feedback on your coursework to ensure you develop your accounting skills correctly.

    Accounting Year 1

    In your first year, you’ll learn essential accounting principles and develop a general understanding of business, finance and taxes. In addition, you’ll be skilled in using business tools like Microsoft Office Excel and QuickBooks.

    Bonus: You'll automatically earn the Accounting Assistant technical diploma after completing the first-year curriculum!

    Accounting Year 2

    You'll expand your accounting knowledge in your second year learning intermediate accounting concepts, and gaining experience in cost management, payroll systems, economics and business law.

    In your final term, you'll confidently complete a project demonstrating the accounting knowledge and skills you acquired in the program to perform real-world accounting for a small business. This capstone project is an instant resume-builder for you to showcase your newly acquired accounting talents to prospective employers.

    Flexible Course Offerings

    You can attend full- or part-time while taking courses in-person or online. Study close to home, whether in Madison at Truax or Goodman South campuses or regionally at our Reedsburg, Portage, Fort Atkinson or Watertown campuses.

    Start Your Four-Year Degree Here!

    Your accounting associate degree credits transfer if you plan to earn your bachelor’s degree to advance to a higher-level position in the field. We have transfer agreements with many four-year colleges, both inside and outside the state of Wisconsin.

    What Is Accounting?

    three account students in lab

    Learn more about accounting careers and Madison College accounting program options.

  • Curriculum and Experience

    Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2025-2026 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.

    Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:

    • Progress toward your specific requirements
    • Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

    If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.

    First Semester
    10-101-111
    4 credits
    10-102-134
    3 credits
    10-106-109
    3 credits
    10-804-144
    3 credits
    10-801-195
    3 credits
    Second Semester
    10-101-113
    4 credits
    10-101-123
    4 credits
    10-101-143
    2 credits
    10-106-190
    1 credit
    10-114-130
    3 credits
    Third Semester
    10-101-121
    4 credits
    10-101-125
    4 credits
    10-101-138
    3 credits
    10-801-196
    3 credits
    10-809-199
    3 credits
    Fourth Semester
    10-101-122
    4 credits
    10-101-142
    3 credits
    10-102-160
    3 credits
    10-809-195
    3 credits

    Exciting careers in business are waiting for you at Madison College.

    Watch the video to learn more.

    Business Area of Study | Madison College
    iframe added here via JS.
  • Admission

    To Apply

    Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!

    International students who wish to apply for, maintain, or transfer their F-1 student visa status to Madison College are required to complete the International Admission Process.

    Note: It is recommended to only apply for a semester that has already started if you are currently enrolled in classes or you have verified that classes are still available for that semester.

    Application Dates

    Summer 2025

    • Application open
    • Application completion deadline is July 15, 2025

    Fall 2025

    • Application open
    • Application completion deadline is November 15, 2025

    Spring 2026

    • Application open
    • Application completion deadline is April 15, 2026

    Admission Requirements

    All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.

    1. Admission Application

    The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.

    2. Education Completion

    Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:

    • High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
    • GED/HSED completion
    • College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
      • Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
      • At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
        • The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
        • Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
        • Credits completed at Madison College are evaluated and do not require a transcript

    All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.

    Additional Notes

    • Class capacity is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis.
    • Course prerequisites differ from admission requirements; admission into a program does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses or success in the program. Refer to program curriculum for details.

    After Acceptance

    Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College. 

    Questions?

    Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.

    apply for admission

    Get Started!

    Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Accounting career.

    It's Free to Apply

  • Transfer Opportunities

    UW System Schools

    The terms of the B.S in Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete selective A.A.S or A.A.A. degrees and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis at UW-Oshkosh. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
    This program-to-program articulation agreement between UW-Platteville and Madison College provides students with guaranteed admission into the UW-Platteville Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Accounting major and to be awarded a minimum of 48 Associate Degree credits toward the BBA Accounting major after successful completion of their Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)-Degree at Madison College.
    This program-to-program articulation agreement between UW-Stevens Point and Madison College allows the opportunity for Madison College students who have earned the Associate Degree in Accounting, to be awarded 62 credits upon entry to the UWSP School of Business and Economics, Accounting major at a Junior level standing. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: 1. Associate degree graduates must have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.50. An ineligible candidate may appeal for consideration through the Head, School of Business and Economics. 2. UWSP’s Practicum in Computing - Excel course (CIS 102) will be waived for incoming transfer students per this articulation agreement. 3. The acceptance of credits applies only to this Program-to-Program Articulation. 4. For acceptance of equivalent courses, Madison College courses must have been completed within the last 5 years. Beyond this period, course equivalents will be assessed on an individual basis.

    Wisconsin Private Schools

    Students with an AA, AS or AAS are Advanced Core. Advanced Core requires students to have earned at least 60 credits. Students transferring prior to completion or with less than 60 credits are standard core and credits are evaluated course by course.
    Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.
    Completion of an A.A.S. Degree at Madison College after 2015, and meeting admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a B.B.A degree in Technical Sales at MSOE.
    Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Leadership

    Out-of-State Schools

    Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement.
    Per the agreement, students must complete the associates of arts, associates of science or associates of applied science with an overall GPA of a 2.0 prior to transferring.
    Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global.
    Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of Madison College graduates with an AA, AS, or AAS. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer up to 94 additional credits toward their baccalaureate degree.
  • Career Outcomes

    After completing the Accounting program at Madison College, you will be able to:

    • Process financial transactions throughout the accounting cycle
    • Evaluate financial information to support decision making
    • Process payroll
    • Perform cost accounting tasks
    • Perform income tax accounting tasks
    • Apply internal controls to minimize risk
    “I can immediately apply what I've learned to my job.”
    Julie K.
    Recent Accounting Graduate
    • Graduate Summary

      Graduate Report Summary Overview

      202220232024
      Number of Program Graduates423145
      Number of Surveys Sent413145
      Number of Surveys Returned221723
      Percent of Surveys Returned
      Available for Employment211417
      Percent Available for Employment95.5%82.4%73.9%
      Not in Labor Market
      Percent Not in Labor Market4.5%17.6%8.7%
      Available for Employment

      202220232024
      Graduates Employed201416
      Percent of Graduates Employed95.2%100.0%94.1%
      Employed in Related Occupation161112
      Percent Employed in Related Occupation80.0%78.6%75.0%
      Employed in Unrelated Occupation434
      Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation20.0%21.4%25.0%
      Employed - No Response000
      Percent Employed - No Response0.0%0.0%0.0%
      Seeking Employment101
      Percent Seeking Employment4.8%0.0%5.9%
      Reaction To Training at Madison College

      202220232024
      Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4)3.53.53.8
      Number of Satisfaction Responses221619
      Very Satisfied (4)10816
      Percent Very Satisfied45.5%50.0%84.2%
      Satisfied (3)1283
      Percent Satisfied54.5%50.0%15.8%
      Unsatisfied (2)000
      Percent Unsatisfied0.0%0.0%0.0%
      Very Unsatisfied (1)
      Percent Very Unsatisfied0.0%0.0%0.0%
      Primary Reason for Attending Madison College

      202220232024
      Number of Primary Reason Responses221719
      Preparation for Getting a Job
      Percent Preparation for Getting a Job
      Career Change
      Percent Career Change
      Improvement of Existing Skills
      Percent Improvement of Existing Skills
      Preparation for Further Education
      Percent Preparation for Further Education
      Personal Interest
      Percent Personal Interest
      Other
      Percent Other0.0%0.0%0.0%
      When Employment was Obtained

      202220232024
      Number of When Employment Obtained Responses201416
      Before Enrollment646
      Percent Before Enrollment30.0%28.6%37.5%
      While Attending the College865
      Percent While Attending the College40.0%42.9%31.3%
      After Training at the College645
      Percent After Training at the College30.0%28.6%31.3%
      Location of Employment (related and unrelated)

      202220232024
      Number of Employment Location Responses201420
      In College District171216
      Percent In College District85.0%85.7%80.0%
      In Wisconsin, Not in District310
      Percent of In Wisconsin15.0%7.1%0.0%
      Outside of Wisconsin010
      Percent Outside Wisconsin0.0%7.1%0.0%
      Employer Location Unknown004
      Percent Location Unknown0.0%0.0%20.0%
      Salary Trend
      Salary Trend202220232024
      Full Time Employment (Related Job)Full Time Salary Count14119
      Average Monthly Wage$3,900$4,637$4,284
      Average Hourly Wage$22.67$26.96$24.91
      Average Work Hours per Week40.740.040.4
      Part Time Employment (Related Job)Part Time Salary Count23
      Average Hourly Wage$26.50$26.10
      Average Work Hours per Week22.523.0
    • Graduate Employers

      Graduate Employers for academic year: 2024
      Employer(s)Job TitleCity*State**Positions
      Berndt CPAAccounting Assistant
      Columbia CountyAccounting AssistantWyocena
      Culver's Franchising SystemAccountant-Restaurant & PricingPrairie du Sac
      Dane County CourthouseClerk of Courts
      Express Employment AgencyAccounting Clerk
      Facility Gateway CorporationAccounting Clerk
      Madison Metropolitan School DistrictAccounts Payable Clerk
      Masters Building SolutionsAccounts Payable Specialist
      Midwest Family BroadcastingGroup Accountant
      Off the Cuff AccountingAccounting Assistant
      UW - MadisonFinancial Specialist
      Wisconsin Legistative Audit BureauFinancial Analyst Assistant

      * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.

      ** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.

      *** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu

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