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Accounting and Related Services at Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $55,215/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

ROI 18.5x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #119 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Accounting and Related Services graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$710K	$679K	$595K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.3x	18.5x	16.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.6x	6.3x	5.6x
Probability of Field Employment	76%	65%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	81	79	76

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$36,768

Out-of-state: $107,084 (6.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,860

-60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,500

3.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$73,436

33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $55,215 track close to the $53,724 national median for Accounting and Related Services programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 18.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 62% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $16,500 in median debt against $55,215 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #119 out of 714 programs, Central Washington University's Accounting and Related Services program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $55,215 to $73,436 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Central Washington University

Central Washington University has a 90% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 8,081 in Ellensburg, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Financial managers $161,700/yr

Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr

Financial and investment analysts $101,350/yr

View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Central Washington University's Accounting and Related Services program score?

A score of 79/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Central Washington University's Accounting and Related Services graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Accounting and Related Services to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Accounting and Related Services careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 62% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Central Washington University rank so high for Accounting and Related Services?

The #119 ranking out of 714 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →