Accounting Degree in Anchorage, AK — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Anchorage, AK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$109K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Anchorage
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Anchorage, AK Overview
Anchorage, Alaska (pop. 291,247) has 18 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 121 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,400/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Anchorage is approximately $75,020.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
18
Public Tuition
$8,100/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$19,313/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,634/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
58%
Accounting Salary in Anchorage (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Anchorage's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Anchorage adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Anchorage
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Anchorage tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,100 | Private avg: $24,000
Anchorage avg aid: $15,634/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$109,652
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$32,670
vs HS diploma in Anchorage
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Anchorage
$797,848
Lifetime earnings premium ($907,500) minus total education cost ($109,652)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Anchorage
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Anchorage for Accounting
University of Alaska Anchorage
public
$8,100/yr
$32,400 total
Alaska Pacific University
private
$24,000/yr
$96,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
UAA Community Campus
$4,300/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Anchorage
Anchorage offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Anchorage Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Other Business Majors in Anchorage
Business Analytics
$94K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$85K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$79K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$61K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$61K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$70K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Anchorage — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Accounting ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Anchorage.