Accounting Degree in Virginia Beach, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Virginia Beach, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$79K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
in Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
88
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Virginia Beach, VA Overview
Virginia Beach, Virginia (pop. 459,470) has 13 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 88 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $975/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Virginia Beach is approximately $54,560.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,210/yr
Private Tuition
$28,926/yr
Room & Board
$9,485/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,610/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Accounting Salary in Virginia Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Virginia Beach's cost of living index of 88 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Virginia Beach adjustment factor: 0.88x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Virginia Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Virginia Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,210 | Private avg: $28,926
Virginia Beach avg aid: $12,610/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,780
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$23,760
vs HS diploma in Virginia Beach
ROI Payback Period
3.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Virginia Beach
$577,220
Lifetime earnings premium ($660,000) minus total education cost ($82,780)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Virginia Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Virginia Beach for Accounting
Regent University
private
$19,100/yr
$76,400 total
Virginia Wesleyan University
private
$38,752/yr
$155,008 total
Old Dominion University
public
$11,210/yr
$44,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Virginia Beach Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Virginia Cities
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
Roanoke, VA
$55K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Virginia Beach
Business Analytics
$69K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$62K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$57K 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 Virginia Beach — 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 Virginia Beach.