Accounting Degree in Springfield, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Springfield, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$72K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4 yrs
in Springfield
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Springfield, MO Overview
While Springfield has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Accounting students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,383/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 Springfield is approximately $49,600.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,210/yr
Private Tuition
$33,330/yr
Room & Board
$13,383/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,942/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
52%
Accounting Salary in Springfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Springfield's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Springfield adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Springfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Springfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,210 | Private avg: $33,330
Springfield avg aid: $13,942/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,372
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,600
vs HS diploma in Springfield
ROI Payback Period
4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Springfield
$513,628
Lifetime earnings premium ($600,000) minus total education cost ($86,372)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Springfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Springfield for Accounting
Missouri State University
public
$8,210/yr
$32,840 total
Drury University
private
$33,330/yr
$133,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ozarks Technical Community College
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Springfield
Springfield offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Springfield Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$58K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$60K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Columbia, MO
$52K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$53K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$59K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$54K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$56K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$52K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Springfield
Business Analytics
$62K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$56K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$40K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$40K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$40K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$46K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Springfield — 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 Springfield.