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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Accounting and Related Services bachelor's degree at Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are below similar programs.

$14,848 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
32.6% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−30% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$61,346 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+50%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$40,607 → $61,038
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
19Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
30Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
50Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$19,471Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

155Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
96Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
100Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
34Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,203Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$61,346$29,143 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$13,315

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$20,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$61,346

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$212/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$13,315Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$19,992Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE81.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE60.3%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$40,607Year 1
$61,346Year 4
$61,038Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.1% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$5,112
Estimated loan payment$212
50borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$61,346 vs. $76,194

$14,848 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Accountants and Auditors$82,050 median wageNC estimate · 49,270 jobs · 13-2011$65,120–$108,090 middle 50% of NC wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 115,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBusiness Teachers, Postsecondary$79,600 median wageNC estimate · 2,960 jobs · 25-1011$61,720–$131,980 middle 50% of NC wages+5.9% projected U.S. growth · 7,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeFinancial Risk Specialists$132,040 median wageNC estimate · 3,200 jobs · 13-2054$99,010–$167,830 middle 50% of NC wages+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 4,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAppraisers of Personal and Business PropertyNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 13-2022Financial Managers$166,780 median wageNC estimate · 22,460 jobs · 11-3031$129,780–$223,540 middle 50% of NC wages+9.7% projected U.S. growth · 65,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFinancial and Investment Analysts$102,390 median wageNC estimate · 12,710 jobs · 13-2051$76,510–$131,440 middle 50% of NC wages+7.2% projected U.S. growth · 24,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFinancial Examiners$100,730 median wageNC estimate · 2,610 jobs · 13-2061$76,910–$126,430 middle 50% of NC wages+9.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBudget Analysts$82,350 median wageNC estimate · 1,830 jobs · 13-2031$68,060–$100,360 middle 50% of NC wages+1.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTax Preparers$48,130 median wageNC estimate · 2,710 jobs · 13-2082$43,820–$72,840 middle 50% of NC wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 9,400 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentCredit Analysts$94,570 median wageNC estimate · 3,270 jobs · 13-2041$76,030–$124,270 middle 50% of NC wages-4.3% projected U.S. growth · 3,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$61,950 median wageNC estimate · 1,300 jobs · 13-2081$53,780–$77,990 middle 50% of NC wages-1.0% projected U.S. growth · 4,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBrokerage Clerks$60,950 median wageNC estimate · 400 jobs · 43-4011$55,630–$75,840 middle 50% of NC wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS

Where graduates work five years later

The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.

01

Finance and Insurance

about 13.6%
02

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

about 13.0%
03

Retail Trade

about 8.4%
04

Manufacturing

about 7.3%
05

Educational Services

about 7.1%

How to read this: This is an observed industry mix, not a list of job titles or proof that every graduate worked in the field studied. Counts and shares are approximate because Census privacy protections add statistical noise.

Coverage is limited to institutions and states participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program. These figures do not affect DegreeVerdict ROI calculations.

Download the official Census source file →
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Greensboro, NC

North Carolina A&T State University

$16,594 higher earnings · $2,469 lower annual net price

Earnings
$77,940
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$10,846
View outcomes →
Greensboro, NC

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

$9,043 higher earnings · $2,350 lower annual net price

Earnings
$70,389
Debt
$21,633
Annual net price
$10,965
View outcomes →
Asheville, NC

University of North Carolina Asheville

$8,126 higher earnings · $1,065 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,472
Debt
$22,612
Annual net price
$12,250
View outcomes →
Elon, NC

Elon University

$44,361 higher earnings

Earnings
$105,707
Debt
$20,000
Annual net price
$41,555
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

30 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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