Accounting Degree in Athens, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Athens, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$93K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.2 yrs
in Athens
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Athens, GA Overview
Athens, Georgia (pop. 127,064) has 11 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $743/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Athens is approximately $63,860.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$12,080/yr
Private Tuition
$42,791/yr
Room & Board
$10,251/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,146/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
50%
Accounting Salary in Athens (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Athens's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Athens adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Athens
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Athens tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,080 | Private avg: $42,791
Athens avg aid: $13,146/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,324
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,810
vs HS diploma in Athens
ROI Payback Period
3.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Athens
$683,176
Lifetime earnings premium ($772,500) minus total education cost ($89,324)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Athens
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Athens for Accounting
University of Georgia
public
$12,080/yr
$48,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Athens Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Athens
Athens offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Athens Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$63K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$52K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$51K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$63K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$59K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$70K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$67K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$70K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Athens
Business Analytics
$80K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$72K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$67K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$52K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$60K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Athens — 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 Athens.