Accounting Degree in Long Beach, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Long Beach, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$72K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$104K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.8 yrs
in Long Beach
Cost of Living
116
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Long Beach, CA Overview
Long Beach, California (pop. 466,742) has 14 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 116 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,546/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Long Beach is approximately $71,920.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$4,169/yr
Private Tuition
$9,960/yr
Room & Board
$17,446/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,553/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
60%
Accounting Salary in Long Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Long Beach's cost of living index of 116 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Long Beach adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Long Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Long Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $4,169 | Private avg: $9,960
Long Beach avg aid: $15,553/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,460
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$31,320
vs HS diploma in Long Beach
ROI Payback Period
2.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Long Beach
$783,540
Lifetime earnings premium ($870,000) minus total education cost ($86,460)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Long Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Long Beach for Accounting
California State University, Long Beach
public
$6,798/yr
$27,192 total
Long Beach City College
public
$1,540/yr
$6,160 total
Pacific Coast University School of Law
private
$9,960/yr
$39,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Long Beach City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Long Beach
Long Beach offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Long Beach Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$87K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$87K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$80K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$71K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$73K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$69K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Oakland, CA
$82K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$83K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Business Majors in Long Beach
Business Analytics
$90K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$81K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$75K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$58K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$58K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$58K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$67K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Long Beach — 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 Long Beach.