Accounting Degree in Lawrence, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Lawrence, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$67K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$97K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.6 yrs
in Lawrence
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Lawrence, KS Overview
While Lawrence has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Accounting students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,971/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 Lawrence is approximately $66,960.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$5,898/yr
Private Tuition
$33,400/yr
Room & Board
$12,971/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,187/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
53%
Accounting Salary in Lawrence (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lawrence's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Lawrence adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Lawrence
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Lawrence tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,898 | Private avg: $33,400
Lawrence avg aid: $12,187/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$75,476
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$29,160
vs HS diploma in Lawrence
ROI Payback Period
2.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lawrence
$734,524
Lifetime earnings premium ($810,000) minus total education cost ($75,476)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Lawrence
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lawrence for Accounting
University of Kansas
public
$11,166/yr
$44,664 total
Haskell Indian Nations University
public
$630/yr
$2,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Johnson County Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Lawrence
Lawrence offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lawrence Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$64K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$64K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$51K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$60K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$52K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$54K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$60K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$59K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Business Majors in Lawrence
Business Analytics
$84K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$76K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$70K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$54K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$54K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$54K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$63K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Lawrence — 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 Lawrence.