Accounting Degree in Arlington, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Arlington, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$88K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$128K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.2 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
142.5
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Arlington, VA Overview
Arlington, Virginia (pop. 238,643) has 9 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 142.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,040/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 $88,350.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$16,293/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,637/yr
Unemployment
2.2%
Graduation Rate
60%
Accounting Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 142.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 1.43x 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: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Arlington avg aid: $10,637/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$121,972
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$38,475
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
3.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$946,778
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,068,750) minus total education cost ($121,972)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for Accounting
Arlington State University
public
$14,920/yr
$59,680 total
University of Arlington
public
$14,115/yr
$56,460 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$6,397/yr
Virginia Technical College - Arlington
$5,927/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 Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$55K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$56K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$58K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$62K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$57K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$63K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$60K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$55K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Arlington
Business Analytics
$111K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$100K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$93K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$71K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$71K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$71K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$71K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$83K 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.