Accounting Degree in Philadelphia, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Philadelphia, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$93K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$135K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.8 yrs
in Philadelphia
Cost of Living
150
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Philadelphia, PA Overview
Philadelphia is one of Pennsylvania's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 116,806. Public tuition averages $18,526/year here — near the national average for public universities. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Philadelphia is approximately $93,000.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$18,526/yr
Private Tuition
$59,845/yr
Room & Board
$19,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,866/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
52%
Accounting Salary in Philadelphia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living index of 150 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Philadelphia adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Philadelphia
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Philadelphia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $18,526 | Private avg: $59,845
Philadelphia avg aid: $10,866/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$152,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$40,500
vs HS diploma in Philadelphia
ROI Payback Period
3.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Philadelphia
$972,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,125,000) minus total education cost ($152,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Philadelphia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Philadelphia for Accounting
University of Pennsylvania
private
$63,452/yr
$253,808 total
Temple University
public
$18,526/yr
$74,104 total
Drexel University
private
$56,238/yr
$224,952 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Philadelphia
$6,378/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Philadelphia Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Pittsburgh, PA
$71K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$70K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$73K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$74K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$59K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$74K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$78K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$57K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Philadelphia
Business Analytics
$117K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$105K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$98K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$75K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$75K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$75K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$75K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$87K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Philadelphia — 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 Philadelphia.