Accounting Degree in Norfolk, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Norfolk, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$84K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.2 yrs
in Norfolk
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Norfolk, VA Overview
Norfolk, Virginia (pop. 238,005) has 16 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $956/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Norfolk is approximately $57,660.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$10,571/yr
Private Tuition
$25,348/yr
Room & Board
$9,443/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,816/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Accounting Salary in Norfolk (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Norfolk's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Norfolk adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Norfolk
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Norfolk tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,571 | Private avg: $25,348
Norfolk avg aid: $15,816/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,056
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,110
vs HS diploma in Norfolk
ROI Payback Period
3.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Norfolk
$617,444
Lifetime earnings premium ($697,500) minus total education cost ($80,056)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Norfolk
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Norfolk for Accounting
Old Dominion University
public
$11,210/yr
$44,840 total
Norfolk State University
public
$9,932/yr
$39,728 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College Norfolk
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Norfolk
Norfolk offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Norfolk Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$55K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$56K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$88K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Richmond, VA
$62K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$57K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$63K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$60K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$55K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Norfolk
Business Analytics
$73K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$65K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$47K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$47K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$54K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Norfolk — 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 Norfolk.