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Business · Accounting Rank #243 of 714

Accountingat Elon University

Graduates earn $69,764/yr in their first year — about 30.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $909K; scenarios range from $753K to $978K depending on AI disruption.

Elon, NC Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
74 STRONG
76
Optimistic
71
Pessimistic
Earnings
$69,764
1-year post-graduation
ROI
4.8x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$909K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Elon University

First-year earnings of $69,764 put Elon University's Accounting program 30% above the national median of $53,724 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.1x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 23% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $69,764 far exceeding the $20,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #243 of 714 Accounting programs, Elon University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $69,764 to $103,374 over five years — a 48% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career 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
$753K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple4.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$909K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple5.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$978K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score76/100
Earnings Multiple5.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at Elon University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Elon 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 Elon University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting at Elon University?

This program scores 74/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Accounting nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Accounting careers?

With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $753,400 in decade earnings vs $978,462 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.