Accounting and Related Services Degree

714 schools compared · Average earnings $53,725/yr

Students study financial reporting, auditing, tax preparation, cost accounting, and the regulatory frameworks that govern financial record-keeping for businesses and individuals. Graduates typically pursue careers as accountants, auditors, tax professionals, financial controllers, and forensic accountants at CPA firms, corporations, and government agencies. Accounting offers strong job stability and a clear career path, with CPAs earning premium salaries.

What Accounting and Related Services Graduates Do

Your first job will likely immerse you in the details of financial data. As a staff accountant or auditor, you’ll spend your days in spreadsheets and specialized software, meticulously verifying financial statements, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring tax compliance for your company or clients. It’s precise, analytical work that forms the bedrock of your career.

With a few years of experience and often a CPA license, you can advance to senior roles or pivot into management. As a financial manager, your focus shifts from granular verification to strategic oversight, directing a company's investment activities and advising executives on financial health. Other paths include becoming a financial analyst, where you’ll build models to evaluate market trends and guide investment decisions.

Be aware that AI is fundamentally reshaping this field. Entry-level, data-heavy roles like bookkeeping and payroll are shrinking rapidly as software automates routine tasks. Your future value lies not in manual calculation, but in your ability to architect and manage automated systems, interpret AI-driven insights, and apply human judgment to complex financial scenarios. While some entry points are narrowing, high-skill positions like financial manager and financial examiner are growing fast, demanding the strategic expertise you’ll develop.

Schools Offering
714
Avg Grad Earnings
$53,725/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
69/100
AI Automation Risk
Very High
63% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Accounting and Related Services graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 451,900 combined openings per year.

Career Path Salary Range Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Financial managers
$161,700
$118K$214K
74,600 +14.8% 50%
Financial risk specialists
$106,000
$80K$145K
4,800 +6.5% 53%
Financial and investment analysts
$101,350
$78K$132K
25,100 +5.7% 46%
Business teachers, postsecondary
$97,270
$63K$140K
8,100 +5.7% 49%
Financial examiners
$90,400
$67K$127K
5,700 +18.5% 50%
Budget analysts
$87,930
$72K$110K
3,100 +1.0% 52%
Accountants and auditors
$81,680
$65K$106K
124,200 +4.6% 56%
Credit analysts
$80,970
$64K$114K
3,700 -4.4% 56%
Brokerage clerks
$62,940
$54K–$77K
4,100 -9.5% 77%
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents
$59,740
$47K$79K
4,300 -1.8% 58%
Payroll and timekeeping clerks
$55,290
$45K–$66K
13,000 -16.7% 84%
Statistical assistants
$51,440
$46K–$64K
800 -2.5% 89%
Tax preparers
$50,560
$38K$76K
10,400 +4.5% 62%
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
$49,210
$41K–$60K
170,000 -5.8% 80%
Financial managers
$161,700
$118K $214K
74,600 openings/yr +14.8% growth 50% AI risk
Financial risk specialists
$106,000
$80K $145K
4,800 openings/yr +6.5% growth 53% AI risk
Financial and investment analysts
$101,350
$78K $132K
25,100 openings/yr +5.7% growth 46% AI risk
Business teachers, postsecondary
$97,270
$63K $140K
8,100 openings/yr +5.7% growth 49% AI risk
Financial examiners
$90,400
$67K $127K
5,700 openings/yr +18.5% growth 50% AI risk
Budget analysts
$87,930
$72K $110K
3,100 openings/yr +1.0% growth 52% AI risk
Accountants and auditors
$81,680
$65K $106K
124,200 openings/yr +4.6% growth 56% AI risk
Credit analysts
$80,970
$64K $114K
3,700 openings/yr -4.4% growth 56% AI risk
Brokerage clerks
$62,940
$54K–$77K
4,100 openings/yr -9.5% growth 77% AI risk
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents
$59,740
$47K $79K
4,300 openings/yr -1.8% growth 58% AI risk
Payroll and timekeeping clerks
$55,290
$45K–$66K
13,000 openings/yr -16.7% growth 84% AI risk
Statistical assistants
$51,440
$46K–$64K
800 openings/yr -2.5% growth 89% AI risk
Tax preparers
$50,560
$38K $76K
10,400 openings/yr +4.5% growth 62% AI risk
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
$49,210
$41K–$60K
170,000 openings/yr -5.8% growth 80% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Accounting and Related Services

Top 20 of 714 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 Binghamton University
Vestal, NY
87
83–89
$74,151/yr 22.9x
2 Brigham Young University
Provo, UT
87
84–89
$68,393/yr 40.3x
3 University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD
86
82–88
$69,821/yr 20.6x
4 California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA
86
83–88
$68,904/yr 30.8x
5 University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
85
82–87
$68,909/yr 20.4x
6 The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
85
82–87
$68,082/yr 19.5x
7 University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
85
82–87
$65,144/yr 33.7x
8 SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, NY
85
82–87
$63,674/yr 24.8x
9 University of Delaware
Newark, DE
84
81–86
$71,491/yr 15.5x
10 Texas A & M University-College Station
College Station, TX
84
81–86
$67,186/yr 18.3x
11 University of Alaska Anchorage
Anchorage, AK
84
81–86
$65,560/yr 25.2x
12 University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
84
81–86
$65,373/yr 19.7x
13 University of Georgia
Athens, GA
84
81–86
$64,058/yr 19.4x
14 California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
84
81–86
$63,366/yr 25.3x
15 Purdue University-Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN
84
81–85
$63,021/yr 21.1x
16 University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Norman, OK
84
81–86
$62,930/yr 22.5x
17 Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH
84
81–85
$61,856/yr 31.4x
18 Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Chillicothe, OH
84
81–85
$61,856/yr 31.4x
19 Ohio University-Southern Campus
Ironton, OH
84
81–85
$61,856/yr 31.4x
20 Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
Lancaster, OH
84
81–85
$61,856/yr 31.4x

Highest Earning Accounting and Related Services Programs

Schools where Accounting and Related Services graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings DW Score
Georgetown University $89,564/yr 79
Washington and Lee University $81,625/yr 74
Santa Clara University $78,417/yr 77
Villanova University $77,966/yr 75
Lehigh University $77,026/yr 76
University of Notre Dame $76,878/yr 74
Fordham University $76,473/yr 74
Bucknell University $75,776/yr 75
Quinnipiac University $75,566/yr 73
Boston College $75,512/yr 75

Best ROI for Accounting and Related Services

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Accounting and Related Services.

School ROI Multiple Earnings DW Score
Indian River State College 47.9x $43,624/yr 71
Brigham Young University-Idaho 45.5x $56,800/yr 84
Dalton State College 43.7x $51,841/yr 77
Brigham Young University 40.3x $68,393/yr 87
Florida State University 38.5x $55,626/yr 84
University of North Georgia 34.9x $49,588/yr 79
Florida Atlantic University 34.3x $56,600/yr 81
University of Florida 33.7x $65,144/yr 85
Western Carolina University 32.7x $40,607/yr 69
Ohio University-Eastern Campus 31.4x $61,856/yr 84
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Related Majors

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Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Accounting and Related Services offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Accounting and Related Services graduates earn?
Across 714 schools, Accounting and Related Services graduates earn an average of $53,725 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $7,035 to $89,564 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Accounting and Related Services?
Accounting and Related Services is rated "Very High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 63% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Accounting and Related Services program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), Binghamton University ranks #1 for Accounting and Related Services with a score of 87/100 and graduate earnings of $74,151/yr.
What's the outlook for a Accounting and Related Services degree?
On average, Accounting and Related Services graduates earn 11.5x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →