Accounting Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Recording, classifying, and reporting financial transactions for organizations.
Starting Salary
$62K
median
Mid-Career
$90K
salary
ROI Payback
3.8 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
2.5%
rate
Accounting Overview
Recording, classifying, and reporting financial transactions for organizations.
Category
Business
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
74%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
12%
Lifetime Premium
$750K
Female Graduates
52%
Accounting Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$17,100
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$17,100
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$732,900
Lifetime earnings premium ($750,000) minus net degree cost ($17,100)
Accounting Salary Progression
Common Accounting Careers
Accountant
Auditor
Tax Specialist
CPA
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Accounting
#1
University of Texas
#2
University of Illinois
#3
BYU
#4
Notre Dame
#5
Indiana University
Related Majors
Accounting Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Accounting Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for accounting programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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