Accounting Degree in Lincoln, NE — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Lincoln, NE. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$77K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
in Lincoln
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Lincoln, NE Overview
Lincoln, Nebraska (pop. 291,082) has 9 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $867/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Lincoln is approximately $52,700.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$9,242/yr
Private Tuition
$36,730/yr
Room & Board
$10,611/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,317/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
57%
Accounting Salary in Lincoln (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lincoln's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Lincoln adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Lincoln
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Lincoln tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,242 | Private avg: $36,730
Lincoln avg aid: $13,317/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,412
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,950
vs HS diploma in Lincoln
ROI Payback Period
3.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lincoln
$558,088
Lifetime earnings premium ($637,500) minus total education cost ($79,412)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Lincoln
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lincoln for Accounting
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
public
$9,242/yr
$36,968 total
Nebraska Wesleyan University
private
$36,730/yr
$146,920 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Southeast Community College
$3,540/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Lincoln
Lincoln offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lincoln Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Nebraska Cities
Other Business Majors in Lincoln
Business Analytics
$66K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$60K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$43K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$43K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$43K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$43K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$49K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Lincoln — 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 Lincoln.