William Paterson University

What you'll study

The degree requires 120 credit hours in total, including 69 credits of major coursework (39 credit hours of core business courses and 30 credit hours of core accounting courses). Specific courses named in the published course list include:

• MATH 1170 Business Math (pre-requisite, 3 credits): algebraic and transcendental functions with applications to business and finance.
• ACCT 2110 Financial Accounting (3 credits): fundamentals of accounting, debit/credit theory, working papers, adjusting/closing/reversing entries, and preparation of basic financial statements; includes use of spreadsheet and word-processing applications.
• ACCT 2120 Managerial Accounting (3 credits): introduction to cost-accounting concepts and managerial decision-making tools.
• ACCT 3200 Accounting Information Systems (listed as satisfying the Information Systems requirement).

The curriculum also covers taxation, auditing, legal and regulatory topics, and trains students to use information technology for data-driven decision-making. Additional university core curriculum and elective credits are required to reach the 120-credit degree total.

Entry requirements

Applicants must submit an online application and a $50 application fee, plus official transcripts from all previously attended institutions (or high school transcript if no prior college). Admission criteria include a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Candidates must be four years post–high school, or two years post–high school with 60 or more college credits; accelerated WP Online programs require applicants to be at least two years post–high school. Transfer credit is accepted for earned credits provided grades meet major requirements; at least 30 credits toward the degree must be William Paterson University credits.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for entry-level and intermediate roles in auditing, budgeting, taxation, cost accounting and systems consulting, among others. The program’s CPA exam partnership (Gleim CPA Review) supports students aiming to become Certified Public Accountants. The curriculum emphasizes using financial information and quantitative analysis to support business decisions—skills applicable in both public accounting firms and corporate finance departments.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The online program uses a pay-by-the-course tuition model; published tuition for the BS in Accounting is $381 per credit hour (listed per-course pricing shown as $1,143). All fees are stated as included in the program tuition. Prospective students should contact admissions or the university’s financial aid office for details on scholarships, grants and other funding options.