Accounting Degree in Fort Lauderdale, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Fort Lauderdale, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$57K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$83K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.6 yrs
in Fort Lauderdale
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Fort Lauderdale, FL Overview
While Fort Lauderdale has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Accounting students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $11,777/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Fort Lauderdale is approximately $57,040.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,805/yr
Private Tuition
$33,650/yr
Room & Board
$11,777/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,111/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
47%
Accounting Salary in Fort Lauderdale (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Fort Lauderdale adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Fort Lauderdale
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Fort Lauderdale tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,805 | Private avg: $33,650
Fort Lauderdale avg aid: $7,111/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,328
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,840
vs HS diploma in Fort Lauderdale
ROI Payback Period
3.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fort Lauderdale
$599,672
Lifetime earnings premium ($690,000) minus total education cost ($90,328)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Fort Lauderdale
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fort Lauderdale for Accounting
Nova Southeastern University
private
$33,650/yr
$134,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Broward College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fort Lauderdale Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$73K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$61K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$63K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
Orlando, FL
$60K starting · COL 96
16 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$60K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$48K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$61K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$55K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Other Business Majors in Fort Lauderdale
Business Analytics
$72K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$46K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$46K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$53K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Fort Lauderdale — 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 Fort Lauderdale.