Accounting Degree in Syracuse, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Syracuse, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$85K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$123K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.7 yrs
in Syracuse
Cost of Living
137
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Syracuse, NY Overview
Syracuse, New York (pop. 148,620) has 10 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 137 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,093/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Syracuse is approximately $84,940.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$14,304/yr
Private Tuition
$57,750/yr
Room & Board
$19,896/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,141/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
62%
Accounting Salary in Syracuse (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Syracuse's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Syracuse adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Syracuse
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Syracuse tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,304 | Private avg: $57,750
Syracuse avg aid: $16,141/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$136,800
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$36,990
vs HS diploma in Syracuse
ROI Payback Period
3.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Syracuse
$890,700
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,027,500) minus total education cost ($136,800)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Syracuse
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Syracuse for Accounting
Syracuse University
private
$57,750/yr
$231,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Onondaga Community College
$5,504/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Syracuse
Syracuse offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Syracuse 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
Rochester, NY
$87K starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Other Business Majors in Syracuse
Business Analytics
$107K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$96K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$89K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$69K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$69K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$69K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$69K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$79K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Syracuse — 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 Syracuse.