Accounting Degree in Roanoke, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Roanoke, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$80K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Roanoke
Cost of Living
88.5
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Roanoke, VA Overview
While Roanoke has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Accounting students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,393/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 Roanoke is approximately $54,870.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,393/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,213/yr
Unemployment
2.8%
Graduation Rate
63%
Accounting Salary in Roanoke (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Roanoke's cost of living index of 88.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Roanoke adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Roanoke
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Roanoke tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Roanoke avg aid: $11,213/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,372
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$23,895
vs HS diploma in Roanoke
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Roanoke
$549,378
Lifetime earnings premium ($663,750) minus total education cost ($114,372)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Roanoke
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Roanoke for Accounting
Roanoke State University
public
$14,684/yr
$58,736 total
University of Roanoke
public
$12,724/yr
$50,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Roanoke Community College
$5,068/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Roanoke
Roanoke offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Roanoke 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
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
Other Business Majors in Roanoke
Business Analytics
$69K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$62K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$44K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$44K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$44K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$44K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$51K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Roanoke — 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 Roanoke.