Accounting Degree in Richmond, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Richmond, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$62K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$90K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.8 yrs
in Richmond
Cost of Living
100
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Richmond, VA Overview
Richmond, Virginia (pop. 226,610) has 11 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 100 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $737/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Richmond is approximately $62,000.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$14,676/yr
Private Tuition
$58,570/yr
Room & Board
$10,932/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,068/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
65%
Accounting Salary in Richmond (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Richmond's cost of living index of 100 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Richmond adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Richmond
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Richmond tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,676 | Private avg: $58,570
Richmond avg aid: $9,068/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,000
vs HS diploma in Richmond
ROI Payback Period
3.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Richmond
$647,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($750,000) minus total education cost ($102,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Richmond
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Richmond for Accounting
Virginia Commonwealth University
public
$14,676/yr
$58,704 total
University of Richmond
private
$58,570/yr
$234,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Reynolds Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Richmond
Richmond offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Richmond 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
Norfolk, VA
$58K starting · COL 93
16 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 Richmond
Business Analytics
$78K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$70K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$50K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$50K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$50K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$58K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Richmond — 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 Richmond.