Home Schools Buena Vista University Accounting
Business · Accounting Rank #640 of 714

Accountingat Buena Vista University

Graduates earn $53,280/yr in their first year — about 1.0% below the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $559K; scenarios range from $513K to $570K depending on AI disruption.

Storm Lake, IA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
57 SOLID
59
Optimistic
54
Pessimistic
Earnings
$53,280
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$559K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Buena Vista University

Buena Vista University's Accounting program produces graduates earning $53,280/yr — within striking distance of the $53,724 national average for this field.

At 3.5x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.

The 10% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Accounting career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,270 in median debt clears quickly against $53,280 in annual earnings.

A #640 ranking among 714 Accounting programs places Buena Vista University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $53,280 to $58,537 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$513K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$559K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$570K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Buena Vista University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Accounting graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Financial managers
+14.8% 10-yr growth · 74,600 openings/yr
$161,700/yr
High
2
Financial risk specialists
+6.5% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$106,000/yr
High
3
Financial and investment analysts
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 25,100 openings/yr
$101,350/yr
Moderate
4
Business teachers, postsecondary
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 8,100 openings/yr
$97,270/yr
Moderate
5
Financial examiners
+18.5% 10-yr growth · 5,700 openings/yr
$90,400/yr
High
6
Budget analysts
+1.0% 10-yr growth · 3,100 openings/yr
$87,930/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Accounting

How Buena Vista University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Georgetown University
DC · Private nonprofit
79
DW Score
$90K
1-yr earn
5.3x
ROI
Washington and Lee University
VA · Private nonprofit
74
DW Score
$82K
1-yr earn
3.1x
ROI
Santa Clara University
CA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
4.2x
ROI
Villanova University
PA · Private nonprofit
75
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
3.4x
ROI
Lehigh University
PA · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$77K
1-yr earn
3.8x
ROI
Also at Buena Vista University

Other top programs at Buena Vista University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Buena Vista University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

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

Compare Accounting trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Accounting at Buena Vista University

What does a 57/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Accounting at Buena Vista University?

At 57/100, the score looks reasonable — but Accounting is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.

Should I worry about AI if I study Accounting at Buena Vista University?

The 62% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

What do students actually pay for Accounting at Buena Vista University?

The 54% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $160,760. At a net cost of $73,284, the earnings multiple improves substantially.