Accounting: graduate earnings, debt, and careers
Bachelor's programs in Accounting and Related Services (CIP 52.03). CPA licensure has additional state education, exam, and experience requirements.
Median earnings, 1 yr after
$60,798
Bachelor's degree Verified data
Median earnings, 4 yrs after
$76,194
Verified data
Typical program median debt
$23,220
federal loans Calculated estimate
Programs reporting
1,224
40,816 recent graduates Verified data
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 1,224 | 40,816 | $60,798 | $76,194 | $23,220 625 programs |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University CA · Private, nonprofit · 80 graduates measured | $88,383 | $130,087 | $17,000 |
| Bucknell University PA · Private, nonprofit · 39 graduates measured | $87,150 | $130,990 | $26,100 |
| Boston College MA · Private, nonprofit · 94 graduates measured | $85,089 | $126,461 | $19,000 |
| Lehigh University PA · Private, nonprofit · 44 graduates measured | $83,966 | $125,874 | $19,000 |
| Menlo College CA · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $83,837 | $93,619 | Data unavailable |
| Villanova University PA · Private, nonprofit · 89 graduates measured | $83,193 | $120,207 | $24,187 |
| University of San Francisco CA · Private, nonprofit · 24 graduates measured | $82,784 | $95,973 | $18,371 |
| Pepperdine University CA · Private, nonprofit · 21 graduates measured | $82,200 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| College of the Holy Cross MA · Private, nonprofit · 27 graduates measured | $82,078 | $114,088 | $25,000 |
| Binghamton University NY · Public · 59 graduates measured | $81,789 | $106,323 | $15,000 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University CA · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $81,589 | Data unavailable | $24,998 |
| University of Southern California CA · Private, nonprofit · 139 graduates measured | $81,514 | $121,101 | Data unavailable |
| University of Redlands CA · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $81,234 | $79,833 | Data unavailable |
| University of Notre Dame IN · Private, nonprofit · 48 graduates measured | $81,226 | $115,909 | $17,500 |
| Syracuse University NY · Private, nonprofit · 95 graduates measured | $81,076 | $112,682 | $25,500 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Accounting and Related Services
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial managers | $166,570 | +9.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Accountants and auditors | $83,680 | +5.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Budget analysts | $91,640 | +1.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Credit analysts | $83,510 | -4.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial and investment analysts | $102,740 | +7.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial risk specialists | $117,330 | +7.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial examiners | $94,160 | +9.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents | $62,370 | -1.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Tax preparers | $54,920 | +4.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Business teachers, postsecondary | $99,080 | +5.9% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks | $50,670 | -5.6% | Some college, no degree |
| Payroll and timekeeping clerks | $58,260 | -15.9% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Brokerage clerks | $65,750 | -7.6% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Statistical assistants | $50,330 | -1.8% | Bachelor's degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (6)
- 52.0301 Accounting
- 52.0302 Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
- 52.0303 Auditing
- 52.0304 Accounting and Finance
- 52.0305 Accounting and Business/Management
- 52.0399 Accounting and Related Services, Other
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