Accounting and Related Services: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 1,421 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Accounting and Related Services pays
Career outlook for Accounting and Related Services graduates
The job market for the occupations Accounting and Related Services graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks | 1,613,400 | -5.8% | $49,210 | Some college, no degree |
| Accountants and auditors | 1,579,800 | +4.6% | $81,680 | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial managers | 868,600 | +14.8% | $161,700 | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial and investment analysts | 368,500 | +5.7% | $101,350 | Bachelor's degree |
| Payroll and timekeeping clerks | 161,100 | -16.7% | $55,290 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Business teachers, postsecondary | 103,100 | +5.7% | $97,270 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Accounting and Related Services vs similar majors
How Accounting and Related Services stacks up against the closest fields in Business, Management & Marketing on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Accounting and Related Services Business, Management & Marketing · this major | Taxation | Real Estate | Construction Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 70 B | 86 A | 89 A | 91 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $70,020 | $115,802 | $106,858 | $93,418 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $55,202 | $82,899 | $75,222 | $72,735 |
| ROI vs cost | +209% | +744% | +657% | +500% |
| Typical debt | $24,532 | $32,642 | $26,560 | $23,977 |
| Colleges offering it | 1,421 | 30 | 27 | 47 |
Accounting and Related Services earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Accounting and Related Services
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macomb Community College Warren, MI | Certificate | $67,314 | — | +13,691% | Strong return |
| 2 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CA | Certificate | $64,506 | — | +7,947% | Strong return |
| 3 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX | Certificate | $95,949 | — | +7,873% | Strong return |
| 4 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY | Certificate | $100,354 | — | +4,538% | Strong return |
| 5 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | Associate's | $88,833 | $11,000 | +4,251% | Strong return |
| 6 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | Certificate | $114,029 | $19,762 | +3,470% | Strong return |
| 7 | College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CA | Certificate | $56,041 | — | +2,882% | Strong return |
| 8 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NC | Certificate | $55,387 | — | +2,794% | Strong return |
| 9 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NC | Certificate | $53,913 | — | +2,383% | Strong return |
| 10 | Prince George's Community College Largo, MD | Certificate | $65,648 | — | +2,281% | Strong return |
| 11 | California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA | Associate's | $90,327 | $15,007 | +2,223% | Strong return |
| 12 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA | Certificate | $67,613 | — | +2,180% | Strong return |
| 13 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | Associate's | $88,563 | $17,750 | +2,128% | Strong return |
| 14 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY | Associate's | $69,279 | $14,125 | +2,039% | Strong return |
| 15 | American River College Sacramento, CA | Certificate | $61,406 | — | +1,951% | Strong return |
| 16 | Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, OH | Associate's | $80,032 | $25,500 | +1,944% | Strong return |
| 17 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY | Associate's | $66,684 | $12,969 | +1,928% | Strong return |
| 18 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA | Certificate | $51,351 | — | +1,927% | Strong return |
| 19 | CUNY Queens College Queens, NY | Associate's | $69,660 | $10,822 | +1,899% | Strong return |
| 20 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore, MD | Certificate | $77,731 | — | +1,888% | Strong return |
| 21 | Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID | Associate's | $86,620 | $13,709 | +1,841% | Strong return |
| 22 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | Certificate | $110,436 | $20,732 | +1,841% | Strong return |
| 23 | San Jose State University San Jose, CA | Associate's | $96,679 | — | +1,778% | Strong return |
| 24 | Northern Essex Community College Haverhill, MA | Certificate | $61,448 | $8,275 | +1,715% | Strong return |
| 25 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT | Associate's | $107,301 | $9,127 | +1,708% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.