{"id":44232,"date":"2023-06-28T05:55:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T05:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.collegeconsensus.com\/?post_type=ranking&p=44232"},"modified":"2023-07-12T15:57:41","modified_gmt":"2023-07-12T15:57:41","slug":"best-free-online-accounting-courses","status":"publish","type":"ranking","link":"https:\/\/www.collegeconsensus.com\/rankings\/best-free-online-accounting-courses\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Best\u00a0Free Online Accounting Courses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Entering into the field of accounting can be a bit intimidating. Free online accounting courses are an excellent option. They are great for anyone considering going into the field of accounting to test out content. Business school candidates can work through basic and advanced level courses. These courses do not carry a semester-long commitment or university tuition rates. Students also do not have to fear an unsuccessful attempt at a class negatively impacting GPA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The following free online accounting courses are beneficial as continuing education for current accountants. They can also be a resource for individuals who run their own business and would like to know more about maintaining their finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online Free Accounting Classes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The free online accounting classes on our list are offered by notable universities. They hail from some of the top business schools in the nation. The courses are often presented by some of the same highly regarded staff as those who teach traditional online or on-campus classes. Because of this, participants can expect an extremely high level of education, all free of charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flexibility of free accounting courses is also an added benefit. Many of the courses on this list do not require any prerequisites and offer rolling start dates. This means that students can start learning as soon as they are ready. There is no waiting for semesters to start. Several of the options are offered in a self-paced format, which gives you the ability to work at your own pace. In contrast, others are instructor-led. This option is great preparation for taking courses towards a university degree.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Recommended Online Accounting Degree Programs<\/h3>

Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.<\/p>\n <\/he-editorial-listings>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Methodology: What are the Best Free Online Accounting Courses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To find the best free online accounting courses, we identified all of the free, online, accounting-focused courses offered on Coursera and edX. All of these schools have a Consensus score, meeting basic requirements for College Consensus. Courses are presented in alphabetical order by school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Babson College<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business <\/h3>\n\n\n
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Among the best free online courses, Financial Accounting Made Fun: Eliminating Your Fears<\/a>, is brought to the edX platform by Babson College. It is a self-paced introductory level course in financial accounting fundamentals that required four to six hours of study time over about a month. Each week, students will cover balance sheets and transaction analysis, accounting principles, income statements and cash flow statements, ratio analysis, and forecasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key learning goals are to have a greater understanding of how primary financial statements are constructed, the difference between cash flow and profit, calculating important performance ratios to evaluate the performance of a business, and creating a financial forecast that allows entrepreneurs to confidently present to investors and creditors. This course also offers the option to purchase a certificate for $199. The content offered in Financial Accounting Made Fun is an excellent resource for those entering into the field of finance and accounting. It is also packed with information that anyone who runs their own business will certainly benefit from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Columbia University<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Columbia Business School<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Students can learn how to measure the risk and return of equity and debt through Columbia University\u2019s Risk & Return<\/a> edX course. There are multiple windows to sign up for this free online accounting class. Risk and Return can be taken either as a stand-alone course or as a part of Corporate Finance professional certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over four weeks, learners will be introduced to the concepts of measuring risk, estimating the expected return of an asset, adjusting the risk of the equity and debt when a firm changes its capital structure, and calculating the weighted average cost of capital. Modules are completed in a self-paced format, with most students spending an average of three to four hours per week studying. Before starting this course, it is suggested that participants have a basic understanding of accounting and Microsoft Excel. Learners will best be prepared for Risk & Return if they have also completed edX\u2019s free Introduction to Corporate Finance and The Free Cash Flow Method for Firm Valuation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sloan School of Management <\/h3>\n\n\n
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Financial Accounting<\/a> is an edX course sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Over 21,000 students have enrolled in this free online accounting course that is a component of the Micromasters Program. To participate, students must sign up for a start date and then follow along with the curriculum path over a period of 12 weeks. The course is free of charge, but those who complete the program can add a verified certificate for $450. This option is easily shareable as an addition to resumes or can be added directly to a LinkedIn profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The content delivered in MIT\u2019s Financial Accounting is considered advanced. Students should be prepared to spend 10 to 14 hours studying per week to fully utilize the course. Expected outcomes include understanding key accounting terms, how financial statements are constructed, reading financial statements, and how to gather inputs to valuation and models for corporate decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Purdue University <\/h2>\n\n\n
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Purdue University offers Business Accounting Basics<\/a> through the EdX platform for entrepreneurs to learn the basics of accounting. Students learn to use the four most basic forms of financial statements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n