Accounting Degree in Cleveland, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Cleveland, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$86K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.3 yrs
in Cleveland
Cost of Living
96
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Cleveland, OH Overview
Cleveland, Ohio (pop. 372,624) has 20 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 96 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,156/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Cleveland is approximately $59,520.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$11,270/yr
Private Tuition
$49,395/yr
Room & Board
$10,394/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,310/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
69%
Accounting Salary in Cleveland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cleveland's cost of living index of 96 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Cleveland adjustment factor: 0.96x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Cleveland
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Cleveland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,270 | Private avg: $49,395
Cleveland avg aid: $7,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,656
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,920
vs HS diploma in Cleveland
ROI Payback Period
3.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cleveland
$633,344
Lifetime earnings premium ($720,000) minus total education cost ($86,656)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Cleveland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cleveland for Accounting
Case Western Reserve University
private
$56,480/yr
$225,920 total
Cleveland State University
public
$11,270/yr
$45,080 total
John Carroll University
private
$42,310/yr
$169,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cuyahoga Community College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Cleveland
Cleveland offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cleveland Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$64K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$63K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$67K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$65K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Dayton, OH
$64K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$56K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$52K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$53K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Cleveland
Business Analytics
$75K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$67K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$62K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$48K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$48K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$48K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$56K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Cleveland — 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 Cleveland.