Accounting Degree in Jersey City, NJ — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Jersey City, NJ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$79K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$114K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4 yrs
in Jersey City
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Jersey City, NJ Overview
Jersey City is one of New Jersey's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 26,694. Public tuition averages $12,750/year here — near the national average for public universities. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Jersey City is approximately $78,740.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$12,750/yr
Private Tuition
$40,360/yr
Room & Board
$21,714/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,349/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
50%
Accounting Salary in Jersey City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jersey City's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Jersey City adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Jersey City
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Jersey City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,750 | Private avg: $40,360
Jersey City avg aid: $10,349/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$34,290
vs HS diploma in Jersey City
ROI Payback Period
4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jersey City
$814,644
Lifetime earnings premium ($952,500) minus total education cost ($137,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Jersey City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jersey City for Accounting
Saint Peter's University
private
$40,360/yr
$161,440 total
New Jersey City University
public
$12,750/yr
$51,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hudson County Community College
$5,040/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Jersey City
Jersey City offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jersey City Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Newark, NJ
$84K starting · COL 135
14 colleges
Paterson, NJ
$80K starting · COL 129
5 colleges
Elizabeth, NJ
$72K starting · COL 115.5
6 colleges
Edison, NJ
$73K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Lakewood, NJ
$80K starting · COL 128.8
5 colleges
Woodbridge, NJ
$70K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Toms River, NJ
$73K starting · COL 117.7
4 colleges
Trenton, NJ
$83K starting · COL 134
8 colleges
Other Business Majors in Jersey City
Business Analytics
$99K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$89K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$83K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$64K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$74K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Jersey City — 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 Jersey City.