Which state pays accounting associate's graduates the most?

Minnesota, where the median program pays its graduates $43,520 in their first year, the highest of 5 state rankings. Wisconsin is next, at $42,427.

Which accounting associate's program pays the most?

Austin Community College District in Texas reports the highest first-year pay of the 100 programs ranked here, $58,469. Its median federal debt is $22,215.

How much debt do accounting associate's graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $17,919 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 47% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Accounting (Associate's) Programs in the US

102 programs report first-year pay
5 state rankings
Associate's in Accounting and Related Services

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median accounting associate's program in the US pays its graduates $37,249 in their first year and $44,765 five years after. Minnesota has the highest state median ($43,520), and New York the lowest ($30,942). The median program leaves its graduates with $17,919 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$37,249Across 102 programs

Median pay after 5 years$44,765Across 217 programs

Median federal debt$17,919Across 97 programs

Debt-to-earnings47%Across 81 programs

All 100 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Austin Community College DistrictAustin, TX · public	$58,469	$60,242	$45,864	$22,215	38%
2	Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMarion, IN · private nonprofit	$52,576	$56,334	$53,328	$24,956	47%
3	North Hennepin Community CollegeBrooklyn Park, MN · public	$49,685	$50,380	$56,901	Not reported	Not reported
4	Montgomery County Community CollegeBlue Bell, PA · public	$48,832	$50,047	Not reported	$19,254	39%
5	Keiser UniversityFort Lauderdale, FL · private nonprofit	$48,117	$46,529	$48,502	$29,000	60%
6	College of DuPageGlen Ellyn, IL · public	$47,775	Not adjusted	Not reported	$17,284	36%
7	Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA · public	$47,400	$54,010	$54,763	$22,250	47%
8	Century College (Minnesota)White Bear Lake, MN · public	$46,996	$47,653	$46,826	Not reported	Not reported
9	Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee, WI · public	$45,634	$48,498	$54,658	$22,000	48%
10	Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison, WI · public	$45,333	$48,178	Not reported	$20,252	45%
11	Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte, NC · public	$45,092	$47,804	$38,461	Not reported	Not reported
12	Southeast Technical CollegeSioux Falls, SD · public	$44,850	$50,629	Not reported	$23,746	53%
13	Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC · public	$44,616	Not adjusted	$48,728	$20,953	47%
14	Cuyahoga Community College DistrictCleveland, OH · public	$44,532	$48,001	$52,555	$15,931	36%
15	Rasmussen UniversitySt. Cloud, MN · private for-profit	$43,765	$44,377	$52,198	$23,823	54%
16	Laramie County Community CollegeCheyenne, WY · public	$43,744	Not adjusted	Not reported	$20,417	47%
17	Anoka-Ramsey Community CollegeCoon Rapids, MN · public	$43,520	$44,129	$60,503	$22,083	51%
18	Chemeketa Community CollegeSalem, OR · public	$42,808	$41,416	$41,657	Not reported	Not reported
19	Alaska Career CollegeAnchorage, AK · private for-profit	$42,749	$41,764	$46,399	$20,000	47%
20	Western Technical College (Wisconsin)La Crosse, WI · public	$42,732	$45,414	$53,540	$16,796	39%
21	Moraine Park Technical CollegeFond du Lac, WI · public	$42,629	$45,304	$44,345	$16,027	38%
22	Connecticut State Community CollegeNew Britain, CT · public	$42,591	$41,107	$52,127	Not reported	Not reported
23	American Public University SystemCharles Town, WV · private for-profit	$42,509	Not adjusted	$51,544	$20,097	47%
24	Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha, WI · public	$42,427	$45,090	$47,174	$15,871	37%
25	Greenville Technical CollegeGreenville, SC · public	$41,619	$44,394	$43,873	Not reported	Not reported
26	Asher CollegeSacramento, CA · private for-profit	$41,351	$37,347	Not reported	$17,375	42%
27	Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton, WI · public	$41,261	$43,850	$42,391	$15,835	38%
28	Midlands Technical CollegeWest Columbia, SC · public	$41,233	$43,982	$47,806	$19,675	48%
29	Florida National UniversityHialeah, FL · private for-profit	$41,019	$39,665	$33,900	$24,811	60%
30	Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeGreen Bay, WI · public	$40,925	$43,493	$41,032	$14,536	36%
31	Gwinnett Technical CollegeLawrenceville, GA · public	$40,820	$42,391	$43,371	$17,919	44%
32	Portland Community CollegePortland, OR · public	$40,816	$39,489	$44,473	$20,031	49%
33	Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, NM · public	$40,511	$43,932	$46,256	$10,585	26%
34	Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA · private nonprofit	$40,500	Not adjusted	$45,969	$27,526	68%
35	Mitchell Technical CollegeMitchell, SD · public	$40,475	$45,690	$39,840	$12,000	30%
36	Oakland Community CollegeAuburn Hills, MI · public	$40,424	$42,013	$50,461	$21,496	53%
37	Niagara County Community CollegeSanborn, NY · public	$39,761	$36,843	$55,692	$14,873	37%
38	Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeFergus Falls, MN · public	$39,742	Not adjusted	$40,825	$26,790	67%
39	Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeRome, GA · public	$39,265	$40,777	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
40	Front Range Community CollegeWestminster, CO · public	$38,838	$37,688	$46,512	$21,625	56%
41	University of PhoenixPhoenix, AZ · private for-profit	$38,794	Not adjusted	$43,927	$24,793	64%
42	Purdue GlobalWest Lafayette, IN · public	$38,751	Not adjusted	$46,576	$31,501	81%
43	Stark State CollegeNorth Canton, OH · public	$38,671	$41,683	$48,716	$19,455	50%
44	Harrisburg Area Community CollegeHarrisburg, PA · public	$38,112	$39,060	$43,135	$17,755	47%
45	SNHUManchester, NH · private nonprofit	$37,986	Not adjusted	$49,820	$24,040	63%
46	Northern Essex Community CollegeHaverhill, MA · public	$37,960	Not adjusted	$61,448	$11,633	31%
47	Butler Community CollegeEl Dorado, KS · public	$37,496	$41,631	$41,021	$18,407	49%
48	Finger Lakes Community CollegeCanandaigua, NY · public	$37,433	$34,686	$49,245	$19,618	52%
49	Pima Community CollegeTucson, AZ · public	$37,358	$37,107	$32,401	$12,098	32%
50	Community College of Allegheny CountyPittsburgh, PA · public	$37,297	$38,225	$41,306	$14,874	40%
51	Dakota County Technical CollegeRosemount, MN · public	$37,289	$37,810	$54,934	$21,469	58%
52	Valencia CollegeOrlando, FL · public	$37,209	$35,981	$41,763	$14,806	40%
53	Dallas CollegeDallas, TX · public	$37,031	$38,154	$50,170	$14,527	39%
54	Broward CollegeFort Lauderdale, FL · public	$36,970	$35,750	$41,364	Not reported	Not reported
55	Bryant & Stratton College-BuffaloBuffalo, NY · private nonprofit	$36,958	$34,245	$42,567	$26,291	71%
56	Delaware Technical Community College-TerryDover, DE · public	$36,743	$36,814	$47,115	$7,000	19%
57	York Technical CollegeRock Hill, SC · public	$36,520	$38,955	$37,080	$13,916	38%
58	Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN · public	$36,241	$38,831	$41,011	$13,292	37%
59	Baker CollegeOwosso, MI · private nonprofit	$36,181	$37,604	$44,262	$26,067	72%
60	Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeCincinnati, OH · public	$35,703	$38,484	$57,028	$18,516	52%
61	Bunker Hill Community CollegeBoston, MA · public	$35,602	$33,664	$52,425	$14,250	40%
62	Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids, MI · public	$35,538	$36,935	$50,096	$12,750	36%
63	Nassau Community CollegeGarden City, NY · public	$35,513	$32,906	$56,834	$12,492	35%
64	Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MO · public	$35,169	$38,725	$34,606	$21,907	62%
65	Northwood Technical CollegeRice Lake, WI · public	$35,039	$37,238	$41,572	$13,167	38%
66	Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeMinneapolis, MN · public	$34,808	$35,295	$43,520	$16,323	47%
67	Ohio Business College-SheffieldSheffield Village, OH · private for-profit	$34,785	$37,494	$41,694	$32,361	93%
68	Colorado Technical UniversityColorado Springs, CO · private for-profit	$34,762	Not adjusted	$38,282	$24,263	70%
69	Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut, CA · public	$34,604	$31,254	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
70	Houston City CollegeHouston, TX · public	$34,447	$35,492	$40,274	$18,749	54%
71	Spokane Community CollegeSpokane, WA · public	$33,193	$31,018	Not reported	$21,207	64%
72	Southwest University at El PasoEl Paso, TX · private for-profit	$33,024	$34,025	$28,877	$20,000	61%
73	Wayne Community CollegeGoldsboro, NC · public	$32,979	$34,963	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
74	National American University-Rapid CityRapid City, SD · private for-profit	$32,546	Not adjusted	$47,531	$28,757	88%
75	Northampton County Area Community CollegeBethlehem, PA · public	$32,407	Not adjusted	$48,072	Not reported	Not reported
76	Blinn College DistrictBrenham, TX · public	$32,243	Not adjusted	Not reported	$19,000	59%
77	Stautzenberger College-MaumeeMaumee, OH · private for-profit	$32,132	$34,635	Not reported	$24,750	77%
78	West Virginia Junior College-MorgantownMorgantown, WV · private for-profit	$31,860	$35,599	Not reported	$11,289	35%
79	Hostos Community CollegeBronx, NY · public	$31,397	$29,093	$42,684	$7,250	23%
80	SOWELA Technical Community CollegeLake Charles, LA · public	$31,019	$35,166	$31,658	Not reported	Not reported
81	BMCCNew York, NY · public	$30,942	$28,671	$47,030	$10,197	33%
82	Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau, WI · public	$30,573	$32,492	$41,517	$13,777	45%
83	College of Southern NevadaLas Vegas, NV · public	$30,553	$30,559	$46,013	$9,390	31%
84	Pensacola State CollegePensacola, FL · public	$29,855	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
85	Delgado Community CollegeNew Orleans, LA · public	$29,506	$33,451	$38,072	$25,750	87%
86	Tacoma Community CollegeTacoma, WA · public	$29,188	$27,275	$49,320	Not reported	Not reported
87	Tidewater Community CollegeNorfolk, VA · public	$29,056	$28,739	$46,559	$11,872	41%
88	Essex County CollegeNewark, NJ · public	$29,026	$26,677	$44,577	Not reported	Not reported
89	Vet Tech Institute of IndianaIndianapolis, IN · private for-profit	$28,838	$30,899	$37,637	Not reported	Not reported
90	Hudson County Community CollegeJersey City, NJ · public	$28,818	$26,486	$52,918	$7,500	26%
91	Northwest Mississippi Community CollegeSenatobia, MS · public	$28,725	Not adjusted	$41,440	$10,822	38%
92	West Georgia Technical CollegeWaco, GA · public	$28,346	$29,437	$38,897	Not reported	Not reported
93	City TechBrooklyn, NY · public	$27,467	$25,451	$44,978	Not reported	Not reported
94	Suffolk County Community CollegeSelden, NY · public	$27,170	$25,176	$53,999	$9,784	36%
95	North Georgia Technical CollegeClarkesville, GA · public	$26,968	$28,006	$41,387	Not reported	Not reported
96	Kingsborough Community CollegeBrooklyn, NY · public	$26,953	$24,975	$41,823	Not reported	Not reported
97	NUC UniversityBayamon, PR · private for-profit	$26,373	Not adjusted	$24,132	$16,500	63%
98	Interactive College of Technology-ChambleeChamblee, GA · private for-profit	$26,189	$27,197	$41,957	$13,557	52%
99	Mohawk Valley Community CollegeUtica, NY · public	$26,181	$24,259	Not reported	$7,730	30%
100	LaGuardia Community CollegeLong Island City, NY · public	$20,436	$18,936	$45,254	$6,553	32%

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 83 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 17, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

20 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked. 2 more programs report pay but aren't listed, because College Scorecard's school file doesn't name their schools. The national medians above still count them.

Accounting (Associate's) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's accounting associate's programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Minnesota	7	$43,520	$21,776
2	Wisconsin	9	$42,427	$15,949
3	Ohio	5	$35,703	$19,455
4	Texas	5	$34,447	$19,000
5	New York	11	$30,942	$12,492

Programs in 31 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

LaGuardia Community College, NY$6,553
Hostos Community College, NY$7,250
Mohawk Valley Community College, NY$7,730
Suffolk County Community College, NY$9,784
BMCC, NY$10,197
Nassau Community College, NY$12,492
Northwood Technical College, WI$13,167
Northcentral Technical College, WI$13,777
Dallas College, TX$14,527
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, WI$14,536

Lowest debt for the pay

Hostos Community College, NY23%
Mohawk Valley Community College, NY30%
LaGuardia Community College, NY32%
BMCC, NY33%
Nassau Community College, NY35%
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, WI36%
Cuyahoga Community College District, OH36%
Suffolk County Community College, NY36%
Niagara County Community College, NY37%
Gateway Technical College, WI37%

Only the 33 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to accounting, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Accountants and Auditors

$83,680

Median pay in the US. 1,449,500 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 115,300 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $56,020Top 10%: $144,090

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

$50,670

Median pay in the US. 1,373,680 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to shrink 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 144,100 openings a year. Typical education to start: some college, no degree.

Bottom 10%: $36,000Top 10%: $74,550

Financial Managers

$166,570

Median pay in the US. 841,710 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 10% from 2025 to 2035, with about 65,600 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.

Bottom 10%: $94,310Top 10%: $323,270

Financial and Investment Analysts

$102,740

Median pay in the US. 361,980 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 24,700 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $63,720Top 10%: $180,860

Common questions

The median accounting associate's program in the US pays its graduates $37,249 in their first year and $44,765 five years after.

Accounting (Bachelor's) programs in the US, ranked636 programs by pay and debt Accounting (Certificate) programs in the US, ranked36 programs by pay and debt

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024