Accounting Degree in Lowell, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Lowell, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$70K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$101K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.1 yrs
in Lowell
Cost of Living
112.5
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Lowell, MA Overview
While Lowell has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Accounting students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,748/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 Lowell is approximately $69,750.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,748/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,502/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
73%
Accounting Salary in Lowell (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lowell's cost of living index of 112.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Lowell adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Lowell
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Lowell tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
Lowell avg aid: $14,502/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$30,375
vs HS diploma in Lowell
ROI Payback Period
4.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lowell
$720,358
Lifetime earnings premium ($843,750) minus total education cost ($123,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Lowell
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lowell for Accounting
Lowell State University
public
$16,448/yr
$65,792 total
University of Lowell
public
$18,005/yr
$72,020 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lowell Community College
$6,184/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Lowell
Lowell offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lowell Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$85K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$73K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$82K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$82K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Brockton, MA
$67K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$80K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$64K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$73K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Lowell
Business Analytics
$88K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$79K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$73K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$56K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$56K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$56K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$65K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Lowell — 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 Lowell.