Accounting and Related Services: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 250 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$73,259 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
27.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
−64%Modeled 10-year ROI
$49,138Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$49,138Median reported earnings · year 4
$45,698Average reported earnings · year 5
$19,254Median federal debt
53thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
250Reporting programs
244With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $44,880
- Federal debt
- $13,176
- Reporting programs
- 114
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,138
- Federal debt
- $19,254
- Reporting programs
- 250
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,457
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 856
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $94,664
- Federal debt
- $15,125
- Reporting programs
- 4
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $93,047
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 362
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $122,025
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $84,386
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 26
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $89,896
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$45,333National median$49,13875th percentile$54,262
244 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Prince George's Community College$66,7932Austin Community College District$65,9933College of the Canyons$64,0254Northern Virginia Community College$63,9035Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion$62,8916Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global$62,8917Oakland Community College$62,7448Nassau Community College$62,1569Florida State College at Jacksonville$62,08110Des Moines Area Community College$62,072Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Accountants and AuditorsSOC 13-2011 · 4 crosswalk linksBusiness Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1011 · 4 crosswalk linksAppraisers of Personal and Business PropertySOC 13-2022 · 3 crosswalk linksFinancial Risk SpecialistsSOC 13-2054 · 3 crosswalk linksBudget AnalystsSOC 13-2031 · 2 crosswalk linksFinancial ExaminersSOC 13-2061 · 2 crosswalk linksFinancial ManagersSOC 11-3031 · 2 crosswalk linksFinancial and Investment AnalystsSOC 13-2051 · 2 crosswalk linksTax PreparersSOC 13-2082 · 2 crosswalk linksBookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSOC 43-3031 · 1 crosswalk linksBrokerage ClerksSOC 43-4011 · 1 crosswalk linksCredit AnalystsSOC 13-2041 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince George's Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Largo, MD | $66,793 | Not available | +103% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $65,993 | $22,215 | +104% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | College of the CanyonsAssociate's Degree | Santa Clarita, CA | $64,025 | Not available | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Northern Virginia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Annandale, VA | $63,903 | Not available | +72% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionAssociate's Degree | Marion, IN | $62,891 | $24,956 | +32% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalAssociate's Degree | Marion, IN | $62,891 | $24,956 | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Oakland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Auburn Hills, MI | $62,744 | $21,496 | +75% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Nassau Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Garden City, NY | $62,156 | $12,492 | +65% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleAssociate's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $62,081 | $22,891 | +74% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Des Moines Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ankeny, IA | $62,072 | $22,250 | +52% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Florida Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Melbourne, FL | $61,624 | Not available | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Johnson County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Overland Park, KS | $61,190 | Not available | +37% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Hennepin Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn Park, MN | $59,204 | Not available | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Saint Louis Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bridgeton, MO | $59,184 | Not available | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Normandale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bloomington, MN | $59,082 | $21,128 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Connecticut State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Britain, CT | $58,568 | Not available | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Northern Essex Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Haverhill, MA | $58,193 | $11,633 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Springfield Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Springfield, MA | $58,081 | Not available | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Columbus State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $57,957 | Not available | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | Century CollegeAssociate's Degree | White Bear Lake, MN | $57,635 | Not available | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | Sinclair Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dayton, OH | $57,157 | Not available | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | St Cloud Technical and Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saint Cloud, MN | $56,802 | Not available | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityAssociate's Degree | Manchester, NH | $56,716 | $24,040 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | California Aeronautical UniversityAssociate's Degree | Bakersfield, CA | $56,657 | Not available | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Suffolk County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Selden, NY | $56,569 | $9,784 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | Metropolitan Community College AreaAssociate's Degree | Omaha, NE | $56,324 | $7,370 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | Essex County CollegeAssociate's Degree | Newark, NJ | $56,282 | Not available | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiAssociate's Degree | Delhi, NY | $56,164 | Not available | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Eau Claire, WI | $55,729 | Not available | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Mt San Antonio CollegeAssociate's Degree | Walnut, CA | $55,653 | Not available | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | University of Alaska AnchorageAssociate's Degree | Anchorage, AK | $55,363 | Not available | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Front Range Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Westminster, CO | $55,308 | $21,625 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | CUNY New York City College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $55,240 | Not available | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 34 | Strayer University-District of ColumbiaAssociate's Degree | Washington, DC | $55,081 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 35 | Strayer University-VirginiaAssociate's Degree | Arlington, VA | $55,081 | Not available | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Strayer University-MarylandAssociate's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $55,081 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 37 | Strayer University-TennesseeAssociate's Degree | Nashville, TN | $55,081 | Not available | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Strayer University-PennsylvaniaAssociate's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $55,081 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 39 | Strayer University-FloridaAssociate's Degree | Tampa, FL | $55,081 | Not available | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Strayer University-DelawareAssociate's Degree | Wilmington, DE | $55,081 | Not available | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Strayer University-AlabamaAssociate's Degree | Birmingham, AL | $55,081 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 42 | Strayer University-North CarolinaAssociate's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $55,081 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 43 | Strayer University-New JerseyAssociate's Degree | Piscataway, NJ | $55,081 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 44 | Strayer University-West VirginiaAssociate's Degree | Scott Depot, WV | $55,081 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 45 | Strayer University-ArkansasAssociate's Degree | Little Rock, AR | $55,081 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 46 | Strayer University-GeorgiaAssociate's Degree | Chamblee, GA | $55,081 | Not available | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Strayer University-MississippiAssociate's Degree | Jackson, MS | $55,081 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 48 | Strayer University-South CarolinaAssociate's Degree | Greenville, SC | $55,081 | Not available | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Strayer University-TexasAssociate's Degree | Farmers Branch, TX | $55,081 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 50 | Strayer University-Global RegionAssociate's Degree | Washington, DC | $55,081 | Not available | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Santa Ana CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Ana, CA | $54,492 | Not available | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $54,262 | $18,516 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Pikes Peak State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $54,225 | Not available | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Rasmussen University-FloridaAssociate's Degree | Ocala, FL | $53,756 | $23,823 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Rasmussen University-MinnesotaAssociate's Degree | St. Cloud, MN | $53,756 | $23,823 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Rasmussen University-North DakotaAssociate's Degree | Fargo, ND | $53,756 | $23,823 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 57 | Rasmussen University-IllinoisAssociate's Degree | Rockford, IL | $53,756 | $23,823 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Rasmussen University-WisconsinAssociate's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $53,756 | $23,823 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 59 | Rasmussen University-KansasAssociate's Degree | Topeka, KS | $53,756 | $23,823 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Fox Valley Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Appleton, WI | $53,601 | $15,835 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Helena College University of MontanaAssociate's Degree | Helena, MT | $53,281 | $20,503 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Schoolcraft Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Livonia, MI | $52,940 | Not available | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Community College of Allegheny CountyAssociate's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $52,824 | $14,874 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | South Puget Sound Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Olympia, WA | $52,662 | Not available | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $52,608 | $11,499 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | San Joaquin Delta CollegeAssociate's Degree | Stockton, CA | $52,499 | Not available | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Lorain County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Elyria, OH | $52,479 | Not available | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Community College of Baltimore CountyAssociate's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $52,449 | $15,000 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Wake Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $52,259 | $20,953 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Portland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Portland, OR | $52,211 | $20,031 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Hudson County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jersey City, NJ | $52,195 | $7,500 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | South Central CollegeAssociate's Degree | North Mankato, MN | $51,971 | Not available | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Cuyahoga Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Cleveland, OH | $51,858 | $15,931 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Reading Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Reading, PA | $51,817 | Not available | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Southeast Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sioux Falls, SD | $51,789 | $23,746 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Mott Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Flint, MI | $51,784 | $13,746 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Bunker Hill Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Boston, MA | $51,514 | $14,250 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | North Hennepin Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn Park, MN | $51,469 | Not available | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Kent State University at AshtabulaAssociate's Degree | Ashtabula, OH | $51,445 | Not available | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Kent State University at East LiverpoolAssociate's Degree | East Liverpool, OH | $51,445 | Not available | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Kent State University at TrumbullAssociate's Degree | Warren, OH | $51,445 | Not available | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Kent State University at TuscarawasAssociate's Degree | New Philadelphia, OH | $51,445 | Not available | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Kent State University at KentAssociate's Degree | Kent, OH | $51,445 | Not available | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Island City, NY | $51,368 | $6,553 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $51,345 | $16,323 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Owens Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Perrysburg, OH | $51,210 | Not available | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Northwest State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Archbold, OH | $50,926 | Not available | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Monroe UniversityAssociate's Degree | Bronx, NY | $50,837 | $15,435 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Central New Mexico Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $50,812 | $10,585 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Finger Lakes Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Canandaigua, NY | $50,761 | $19,618 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Delta CollegeAssociate's Degree | University Center, MI | $50,678 | Not available | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Western Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | La Crosse, WI | $50,531 | $16,796 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Saint Paul CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $50,492 | Not available | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Davenport UniversityAssociate's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $50,373 | $22,830 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Sullivan UniversityAssociate's Degree | Louisville, KY | $50,266 | $28,081 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Stark State CollegeAssociate's Degree | North Canton, OH | $50,158 | $19,455 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Ridgewater CollegeAssociate's Degree | Willmar, MN | $50,108 | Not available | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | Chemeketa Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Salem, OR | $49,948 | Not available | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $49,935 | $10,197 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Moraine Park Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fond du Lac, WI | $49,909 | $16,027 | -55% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.