Accounting Degree in Rochester, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Rochester, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$87K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$126K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.7 yrs
in Rochester
Cost of Living
140
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Rochester, NY Overview
Rochester, New York (pop. 211,328) has 13 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 140 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,592/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Rochester is approximately $86,800.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$13,886/yr
Private Tuition
$56,653/yr
Room & Board
$21,356/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,325/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
46%
Accounting Salary in Rochester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Rochester's cost of living index of 140 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Rochester adjustment factor: 1.40x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Rochester
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Rochester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,886 | Private avg: $56,653
Rochester avg aid: $10,325/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$140,968
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$37,800
vs HS diploma in Rochester
ROI Payback Period
3.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Rochester
$909,032
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,050,000) minus total education cost ($140,968)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Rochester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Rochester for Accounting
University of Rochester
private
$60,550/yr
$242,200 total
Rochester Institute of Technology
private
$52,756/yr
$211,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Monroe Community College
$5,504/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Rochester
Rochester offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Rochester Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$103K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$116K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$90K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$76K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$88K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$94K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$90K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Huntington, NY
$84K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Business Majors in Rochester
Business Analytics
$109K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$98K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$91K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$70K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$70K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$70K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$70K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$81K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Rochester — 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 Rochester.