Accounting Degree in Baton Rouge, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Baton Rouge, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$74K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.2 yrs
in Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
82
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Baton Rouge, LA Overview
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (pop. 227,470) has 16 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 82 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $871/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Baton Rouge is approximately $50,840.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$9,889/yr
Private Tuition
$38,908/yr
Room & Board
$13,546/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,166/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
68%
Accounting Salary in Baton Rouge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Baton Rouge's cost of living index of 82 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Baton Rouge adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Baton Rouge
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Baton Rouge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,889 | Private avg: $38,908
Baton Rouge avg aid: $9,166/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,740
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,140
vs HS diploma in Baton Rouge
ROI Payback Period
4.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Baton Rouge
$521,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($615,000) minus total education cost ($93,740)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Baton Rouge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Baton Rouge for Accounting
Louisiana State University
public
$11,962/yr
$47,848 total
Southern University
public
$7,816/yr
$31,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Baton Rouge Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Baton Rouge Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$56K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$61K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$55K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$64K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$50K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$54K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$57K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Baton Rouge
Business Analytics
$64K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$57K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$53K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$41K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$41K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$41K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$41K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$48K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Baton Rouge — 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 Baton Rouge.