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Forensic Accounting Degree Online BS in Accounting Concentration

Blake Venable with a computer keyboard and calculator on a desk in front of him and a whiteboard on the wall in the background.

Cost per credit $330

Total courses 40

Term length 8 weeks

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Program Overview Why get a forensic accounting degree online?

Focus your accounting education on the investigation of financial records to detect fraud with Southern New Hampshire University's (SNHU) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting with a concentration in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination online degree.

In this program, you'll build a strong foundation of traditional accounting knowledge, explore the auditing process in depth, deepen your understanding of taxation and gain key investigative skills to identify, document and prevent fraud and cyber crime.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Accounting rules and regulations
  • Financial record and tax return preparation
  • Effective communication of accounting information
  • Financial information and control auditing
  • Ethics applied to conduct and decision-making
Blake Venable at his kitchen table working on his laptop with a glass of water beside him.

Courses & Curriculum Forensic accounting courses built for the modern workforce

In addition to giving you a strong foundation in accounting and financial analysis, SNHU's undergraduate forensic accounting degree can also be a big step toward earning key accounting certifications. The core courses in this program align directly with major content areas of the 2024 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, so you have the opportunity to equip yourself with the skills needed to become a U.S. Certified Public Accountant.

And if you're interested in standing out to employers by becoming a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), this program — which includes forensic accounting courses focused on fraud detection and investigation — is a great place to start. In order to take the CFE exam, you'll need a master's degree and work experience, but an undergraduate forensic accounting degree lays the necessary foundation for this path going forward.

Degree Courses

Online forensic accounting courses

In addition to your core business courses, your forensic accounting courses will dive deeper into the investigation, detection and prevention of fraud. You'll focus on the avoidance of accounting and stock frauds, as well as employee theft and embezzlement.

Plus, you'll learn about the importance of technology in the world of modern financial crime and walk away with the skills you need to handle digital evidence, understand identity theft and present investigative findings.

Courses may include:

Course ID: ACC 201
Students will learn the steps of the accounting cycle and how to prepare financial statements in accordance with industry established rules and regulations. Students will develop skills needed to analyze financial accounting information, communicate this information to stakeholders, and understand the accounting procedures that produce this information.
Course ID: ACC 202
Students will explore the financial impact of short-term and long-term business decisions. By learning how accounting and other productivity information can be used to assess and improve performance of an organization, managers will be provided the essential information they need to execute growth strategies and select opportunities that create business value.
Course ID: ACC 311
In this course, students will gather cost data and behavior trends to support the development of cost reports. Students will analyze the data and communicate findings to stakeholders to support their understanding of business costs and inform business operations and decisions.
Course ID: ACC 317
In this course, students will take an in-depth look at financial statement elements and the interplay of various financial transactions represented on a financial statement. Students will apply theoretical frameworks and research accounting principles and concepts for the proper preparation and interpretation of financial statements. Students will utilize authentic industry tools and technologies to prepare financial statements and connect concepts learned to the importance of financial information for its users.
Course ID: ACC 421
In this course students will learn about classic fraud types and the impact that fraud can have on an organization. Students will identify red flags associated with occupational fraud types and analyze methods to detect, prevent, and deter fraud. Students will discuss the legal impacts of fraud examination procedures.
Course ID: ACC 423
In this course, students will learn how to analyze financial statement fraud to identify and interpret red flags associated with related fraud schemes. Various detection techniques will be used to identify the fraud and assess the risks to an organization. Students will also explore strategies to prevent fraud and make recommendations to stakeholders for approaches to use to mitigate fraud within their organization.
Course ID: ACC 425
In this course, students will take a deeper look into the impact of the legal process on fraud investigations within organizations. Students will learn characteristics of fraudsters and analyze the behaviors of individuals who commit fraud. Students will learn about characteristics of a good interview, interview strategies, and questioning techniques which they will apply to various scenarios.
Course ID: ACC 427
In this course, students will learn about common computer fraud schemes and their impact on organizations. Students will determine digital detection and prevention techniques to address cybercrime by learning about authentic digital forensic tools. Students will present their findings and conclusions to internal stakeholders.

Visit the course catalog to view the full BS in Accounting with a concentration in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination curriculum.

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Our no-commitment application can help you decide if SNHU is the right college for you and your career goals. Apply up until 2 days before the term starts!

Upcoming term starts: June 30, 2025 | September 1, 2025

Next term starts:
May 5, 2025

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Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

8-week terms

Learn around your schedule

24/7 online support

Online Classroom

What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU
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Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

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Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll fill out a form to verify your previous education experience. As part of our admissions process, we'll help you request transcripts from your previous school(s) to see if you can transfer any credits into your SNHU program! (Also for free!)

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

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Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online undergraduate tuition

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 120-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$330
$990
$39,600
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$231
$693
$27,720

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$9,900 $14,850 $19,800 $24,750 $29,700
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 30 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $29,700

If 45 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $24,750

If 60 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $19,800

If 75 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $14,850

If 90 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $9,900

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a bachelor's degree. Most bachelor's degrees require 120 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 90 credits, requiring a minimum of 30 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator, and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with an online forensic accounting degree?

When you earn your forensic accounting degree online, you have the opportunity to gain the skills needed to work at the intersection of law and finance – investigating fraud amidst mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcies and contract disputes. You could also be a key player in identifying white-collar criminals and bringing them to justice. A bachelor's in forensic accounting can serve as a great foundation whether you work for an accounting firm, insurance company, a law office or government agency.

Occupations

With Southern New Hampshire University's BS in Accounting with a concentration in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination under your belt, you may be qualified to step into a wide array of roles, including:

Perform a range of accounting, auditing, tax and consulting tasks for corporations, government agencies and individuals.

Record and analyze the financial information of an organization for use by business managers and company leaders.

Check for mismanagement of an organization’s funds and identify ways to improve the processes for finding and eliminating waste and fraud.

Ensure compliance with laws governing financial institutions and transactions, including reviewing balance sheets, evaluating the risk level of loans and assessing bank management.

20%

Increase in financial examiner positions through 2032, projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).2

$84,300

Median annual salary for financial examiners as of May 2023, according to the BLS.2

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not on SNHU graduate outcomes, and do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Sean Ball '14 '17G '19MBA.
Sean Ball '14 '17G '19MBA.

Working in this field, I have found that many local, state and federal government agencies – as well as private sector companies – consider people with my background critical. I was confident I could perform the work required for the position I was seeking.

Sean Ball '14 '17G '19MBA

Frequently Asked Questions

If you want to become a forensic accountant, a strong foundation of accounting education is key. Accounting jobs typically require at least a bachelor’s degree, and Southern New Hampshire University's (SNHU) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting with a concentration in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination is a great place to start. Keep in mind, though, that some jobs in the accounting field may also require a master’s degree or certification.2

If you're interested in a career in fraud examination, you might want to consider becoming a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). A forensic accounting degree at SNHU can help prepare you to sit for the CFE exam.

Or, maybe you're interested in becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) — if so, a BS in Accounting is a great place to start. The core courses in this program align directly with major content areas of the revised CPA exam, so you'll have the opportunity to gain the skills needed to become a U.S. Certified Public Accountant.  Keep in mind that CPAs are licensed by their state accounting board and typically must have completed 150 hours of college coursework and pass a CPA exam.1 Licensing requirements to sit for the CPA exam vary from state to state, so it’s important to review your state-specific requirements.

If you want to enhance your knowledge even further and advance your forensic accounting career, a forensic accounting master’s degree can be a solid next step. At SNHU, you can pursue an online Master of Science (MS) in Accounting with a concentration in Forensic Accounting. A master’s degree program online can provide the advanced accounting knowledge and professional business skills required to advance a forensic accounting career.

It depends. At some colleges and universities, forensic accounting may be a major. At others, it may be the topic of a course within a traditional accounting degree program.

At Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), forensic accounting is offered as a degree concentration. With a concentration, you get the foundation of a traditional accounting degree with a focus on forensic accounting and fraud examination. In the forensic accounting degree concentration at SNHU, you’ll complete 12 credits of forensic accounting courses. These courses will dive deep into the detection and investigation of financial crime.

After graduating, you’ll be prepared with skills to potentially take on forensic accounting roles in accounting firms, insurance companies, law offices and government agencies.

To become a forensic accountant, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Earning an online forensic accounting degree, like Southern New Hampshire University's (SNHU) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting with a concentration in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination, could be a strong place to start.

In SNHU’s forensic accounting degree concentration, you’ll be taught the basics of how to become a forensic accountant. You’ll learn key accounting practices and gain a deeper understanding of the standards used to evaluate them. You’ll also explore how to review and analyze financial statements for evidence of wrongdoing. With this training, you can be ready to spot the symptoms of fraud in a professional setting.

You can also gain a strong traditional accounting education. Courses will focus on cost accounting, advanced accounting techniques, federal taxation and business law.

Starting salary depends on where you work, what your specific job is and your level of education. Jobs for forensic accountants can be found in a variety of industries, including accounting firms, government agencies and law offices, and starting salaries can vary.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants earned a median salary of $79,880 in 2023.1 And, accountants working in finance and insurance earned the highest median income of all accountants in the same year.1

Absolutely. If you're looking for a rewarding career that brings together the world of accounting with criminal justice, a job in forensic accounting could be right for you.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 4% through 2032, while jobs for financial examiners are projected to grow 20% in the same time period.1

With a degree in forensic accounting, you’ll gain a strong understanding of how technology affects the role of accounting, and you’ll be prepared to use that technology to monitor and detect fraud and financial crimes.

"My proudest accomplishment since starting this program is the fact that every day, in small ways, I can make a meaningful and positive impact in the world around me," said Sean Ball '14 '17G '19MBA. "We are the ones who hold people accountable for taking advantage of others. That has been a rewarding experience that is hard for me to express in words."

SNHU’s forensic accounting degree can give you specialized knowledge you can apply to an accounting job right away. Or, you could use your bachelor's degree learning to advance your education – and your career – with an accounting master’s degree.

Related Articles

Sources & Citations

1Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, The CFE Credential, on the internet, at: https://www.acfe.com/cfe-credential.aspx (viewed May 9, 2024)

2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm (viewed May 28, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-examiners.htm (viewed May 28, 2024)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.