Online Accounting Degrees: Hiring Perceptions of Accounting Professionals

Abstract Purpose Examine hiring preferences of nonpublic accounting professionals when selecting candidates with online versus traditional face-to-face (FTF) accounting degrees. Methodology/approach Surveys. Findings Consistent with Kohlmeyer, Seese, and Sincich (2011), this study revealed that accounting professionals, in general, indicated a strong preference to hire students with a FTF accounting degree as compared to a candidate with an online (OL) accounting degree. However, there were two significant departures from the results of Kohlmeyer et al. (2011). AACSB accreditation did help mitigate the respondents’ reluctance to hire students with OL degrees. In addition, nonpublic accounting professionals were neutral as to whether they would hire someone with an online accounting degree in the next three years. Public accounting professionals opposed hiring someone with an online accounting degree in the next three years (Kohlmeyer et al., 2011). Practical implications Online programs are going to have to be more proactive in persuading accounting professionals that an online and FTF accounting degree are equally desirable for hiring purposes. Social implications Students need to be aware of accounting professionals’ hiring concerns in regard to candidates with online accounting degrees. Originality/value Little research has examined the hiring preferences of accounting professionals in selecting candidates with either an online or FTF accounting degree.