Accounting
Your career in accounting begins here
The accounting program at Harper College offers day, evening and online courses for students preparing for a career in accounting or bookkeeping in business, industry or government. Through the Associate in Arts program, students can prepare to transfer to an accounting program at a four-year university.
Courses are taught by respected, professionally qualified faculty. All Harper CPA Preparation Certificate courses meet the Illinois Board of Examiners CPA exam requirements.
Start at Harper. Finish at a four-year university.
The Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree prepares you to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, economics, financial services, international business, management and marketing. Speak with your advisor about the best courses to take to meet your academic goals.
Harper also offers institution-specific transfer information to help prepare you to transition to a four-year university. To learn more, visit our Transfer Information page or see your advisor.
Earn a career-ready degree
The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is designed to prepare you for immediate entry into this career field. Course work in the A.A.S. may also prepare you to transfer to a four-year college or university.
Earn a workforce credential
Harper's Accounting Certificate Program has been named one of the top programs in the nation by Intelligent.com in 2021. Intelligent.com Announces The Top Accounting Certificate Degree Programs for 2021 Jumpstart your career by learning new skills through a certificate program. Many of Harper's certificates are stackable to a degree program through additional course work.
- Accounting Bookkeeper/Clerk Certificate
- Advanced Accounting Bookkeeper/Clerk Certificate
- Accounting Assistant Certificate
- Tax Accounting Assistant Certificate
- Professional Accounting—CPA Preparation Certificate
Flexible program options
- Earn Stackable Credentials
- Distance Learning (Earn degrees/credentials by taking all classes online)
Resources
- Accounting Club
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
- Catalog Course Descriptions
- CPA Prep Courses
- Faculty
- FAQs
- Information for High School Students
- Professional Organizations
- Job Placement Resource Center
Next steps
For more information about starting your college education at Harper, please contact Admissions Outreach at 847.925.6700 or fill out our request information form.
Latest News
Get the latest accounting program news at Harper College.

Going It Alone
Ana Sandoval was in her second year of college, studying accounting; the first in her family to go to college. But her family was struggling to make ends meet in Ecuador. The economic crisis was crushing them. Hoping for a... Watch the Video

When "Why You?" Became "Why Not You?"
“When I graduated high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. My parents were going through a bitter divorce, and my mother did not support me going on to college. I decided to go to a community college and see what... Watch the Video

Persistence Pays Off
Jenni Huber has a goal in mind – Earn her associate of applied science (AAS) degree in accounting. But along the way, she’s taking advantage of every opportunity her program of study presents, while discovering that... Watch the Video