AAS vs BBA in Accounting: Which Degree is Right for You?

You know you want a career in accounting. What you don’t know yet is whether to spend two years getting there or four. That’s not a small decision, and it deserves a straight answer.

Accountants are in demand across just about every industry — healthcare, government, manufacturing, retail, nonprofits. The real question isn’t whether an accounting degree is worth it. It’s which one makes sense for you, right now, given where you’re starting and where you want to go.

At Bryant & Stratton College, you have two main paths: the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Accounting and the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting. Both are solid, career-focused programs. Both are available online or on campus. But they serve different goals, different timelines, and different people.

Here’s a clear-eyed look at what sets them apart — and how to figure out which one fits your life.

What Is an AAS in Accounting?

The AAS in Accounting at Bryant & Stratton College is a 60-credit associate degree you can finish in under two years. It’s built for people who want to develop real, usable skills and get into the workforce without a long runway.

The coursework is practical and focused. You’ll work through accounting principles, computerized accounting systems, income tax, cost accounting, payroll records, and spreadsheets — the kind of skills employers actually ask about on day one. Business fundamentals, economics, and workplace writing round it out.

Careers typically open to AAS graduates include roles like accounts payable clerk, billing and rate clerk, tax preparer, and bookkeeper. These aren’t dead-end positions. They’re genuine entry points into the accounting world where you can learn the field from the inside, build experience, and grow.

And if you decide later that you want more? The AAS at Bryant & Stratton College is designed to stack directly into the BBA program. Your completed coursework carries forward — so you’re not starting over if you come back for the bachelor’s degree.

What Is a BBA in Accounting?

The BBA in Accounting is a 120-credit bachelor’s degree that typically takes 32 to 40 months to complete. It goes deeper into accounting — Intermediate Accounting I and II, Financial Analysis, Managerial Accounting, Business Taxation, Auditing, Advanced Accounting — while also building your understanding of the broader business world through courses in management, finance, operations, marketing, and business law.

That combination matters. Employers hiring for roles like staff accountant, internal auditor, financial analyst, or budget analyst generally expect a bachelor’s degree. The BBA gives you the credential and the business context to step into those roles with confidence.

One thing worth knowing upfront: the BBA in Accounting at Bryant & Stratton College does not prepare you to sit for the CPA exam. The CPA requires at least 150 credit hours of post-secondary education — more than a standard bachelor’s degree covers. If becoming a CPA is your specific goal, you’d need to plan for additional coursework beyond the BBA. That said, for a wide range of accounting careers in business, government, industry, and nonprofits, the BBA prepares you well.

AAS vs BBA in Accounting: Side by Side

	AAS in Accounting	BBA in Accounting
Total Credits	60	120
Typical Length	Under 2 years	32–40 months
Focus	Core accounting skills	Accounting + business strategy
Entry-level careers	Bookkeeper, payroll clerk, tax preparer	Staff accountant, auditor, financial analyst
Online available?	Yes	Yes (all states except NY)
On-campus available?	Yes	Yes
Stacks into BBA?	Yes — credits carry forward	—
Path toward CPA?	First step	Partial path (additional credits needed)

Who Should Choose the AAS?

The AAS is worth a serious look if you want to get working sooner. Maybe you’re changing careers and need to build financial skills without a four-year commitment. Maybe you’re drawn to accounting but want to explore it before going all in. Maybe time and cost are real factors in your decision right now.

All of those are legitimate reasons — and the AAS is a legitimate credential. It can open real doors in accounting firms, payroll departments, tax offices, small businesses, and accounting teams across every industry.

It’s also worth considering if you plan to grow over time. Because Bryant & Stratton College’s programs are designed to be stackable, you can earn your associate degree, get working, and then come back for your BBA when the timing works — without losing the ground you’ve already covered.

If you’re the kind of person who thinks, “I want to start contributing quickly and keep building from there,” the AAS is a strong place to start.

Who Should Choose the BBA?

If you already know you want to work as an accountant — not just in accounting support — the BBA is likely your target from the beginning. The bachelor’s degree is the standard credential employers expect for roles with more responsibility, more complexity, and more earning potential.

It’s also the better fit if you’re thinking about management-track careers, or if you’re drawn to areas like auditing, financial analysis, or business taxation. These fields expect someone who understands accounting and how the numbers connect to larger business decisions. The BBA covers both.

If you’re coming in with some college credits already — from a previous school, a transfer, or prior coursework — you may be closer to a BBA finish line than you realize. Bryant & Stratton College accepts transfer credits, which can meaningfully shorten your path to graduation.

The Stackable Advantage

Here’s something that sets Bryant & Stratton College apart: the AAS and BBA in Accounting aren’t two separate programs that happen to share a name. They’re designed as a connected system.

Start with the AAS. Finish in under two years. Get working. Build your resume. Then, when you’re ready — whether that’s a year later or five years later — pick up where you left off with the BBA. Your credits count. Your progress doesn’t disappear.

For busy adults who can’t always plan a decade ahead, this matters. You get a real credential at each step, real career options at each level, and the freedom to keep moving forward on your own schedule.

“The AAS in Accounting is a great program for students who want to work in entry-level accounting positions for any company. It opens the doors to becoming a bookkeeper, accounting clerk, or general tax preparer,” says Katie Oneill, Associate Professor at Bryant & Stratton College. “The AAS is even a great way to start the BBA process. A BBA in Accounting will open even more doors of opportunity as it pairs what you learn in our AAS program with a more in-depth study with specialized topics that will open doors to becoming a financial analyst, internal or external auditor, financial manager, or even financial investigative specialists with a wide variety of government agencies.”

What Can You Do With These Degrees?

Accounting is one of the more durable career fields out there. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects roughly 124,200 job openings per year for accountants and auditors through 2034 — and that’s before you account for the demand for bookkeepers, payroll specialists, and financial support roles.

With an AAS in Accounting, you can pursue roles like:

• Accounts payable or receivable clerk
• Bookkeeper
• Payroll specialist
• Tax preparer
• Billing and rate clerk

With a BBA in Accounting, you can pursue roles like:

• Staff accountant
• Internal auditor
• Tax accountant
• Budget analyst
• Financial analyst
• Management accountant
• Business manager

Both paths lead somewhere real. The BBA leads to higher-level roles with more responsibility and generally higher compensation — but the AAS gets you in the door and building experience while others are still in school.

Online or On Campus — Your Choice

Both programs are available online and on campus, and the curriculum is the same either way. If you need flexibility — you’re working, raising a family, or just prefer learning from home — the online option gives you that without sacrificing rigor or support. If you thrive in a classroom environment, Bryant & Stratton College has campus locations across New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The online AAS is open to students in all states. The online BBA is available in all states except New York.

No matter which format you choose, you’ll have access to the same faculty, career services, and internship connections that students have depended on since 1853.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Choosing between an AAS and a BBA in Accounting comes down to where you’re starting, how fast you want to get moving, and where you’re trying to go. Both programs at Bryant & Stratton College are built to meet you where you are.

Request more information about the AAS or BBA in Accounting — an admissions advisor can help you compare your options and find the right fit. 

Apply for free today or request more information about which accounting program is the right fit for you.