Accounting Degree in Arlington, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Arlington, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$84K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
93.5
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Arlington, TX Overview
Arlington, Texas (pop. 394,266) has 14 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 93.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Arlington is approximately $57,970.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,627/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,822/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
51%
Accounting Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 93.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Arlington
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Arlington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Arlington avg aid: $14,822/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,108
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,245
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$599,142
Lifetime earnings premium ($701,250) minus total education cost ($102,108)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for Accounting
Arlington State University
public
$11,254/yr
$45,016 total
University of Arlington
public
$12,320/yr
$49,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$5,331/yr
Texas Technical College - Arlington
$5,252/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Arlington
Arlington offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arlington Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$71K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$74K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$64K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$66K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$63K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$58K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$51K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$53K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Business Majors in Arlington
Business Analytics
$73K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$65K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$47K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$47K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$54K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Arlington — 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 Arlington.