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Business · Accounting Rank #119 of 714

Accountingat Central Washington University

Graduates earn $55,215/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $679K; scenarios range from $595K to $710K depending on AI disruption.

Ellensburg, WA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
79 STRONG
81
Optimistic
76
Pessimistic
Earnings
$55,215
1-year post-graduation
ROI
19.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$679K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Central Washington University

First-year earnings of $55,215 track close to the $53,724 national median for Accounting 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 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.

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
$595K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score76/100
Earnings Multiple16.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$679K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score79/100
Earnings Multiple18.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$710K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score81/100
Earnings Multiple19.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Central Washington 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 Central Washington 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 Central Washington University

Other top programs at Central Washington University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Central Washington 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 Central Washington University

How does Central Washington University's Accounting program score?

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

How vulnerable is Accounting to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Accounting 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?

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.