Accounting Degree in Columbia, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Columbia, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.9 yrs
in Columbia
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Columbia, MO Overview
Columbia, Missouri (pop. 126,254) has 10 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,005/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Columbia is approximately $52,080.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$11,142/yr
Private Tuition
$31,070/yr
Room & Board
$10,910/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,890/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Accounting Salary in Columbia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbia's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Columbia adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Columbia
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Columbia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,142 | Private avg: $31,070
Columbia avg aid: $16,890/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$88,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,680
vs HS diploma in Columbia
ROI Payback Period
3.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbia
$541,792
Lifetime earnings premium ($630,000) minus total education cost ($88,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Columbia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbia for Accounting
University of Missouri
public
$11,142/yr
$44,568 total
Stephens College
private
$31,070/yr
$124,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Moberly Area Community College Columbia
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Columbia
Columbia offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbia Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$58K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$60K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$50K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Independence, MO
$53K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$59K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$54K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$56K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$52K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Columbia
Business Analytics
$66K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$59K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$42K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$42K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$42K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$49K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Columbia — 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 Columbia.