Accountingat Gustavus Adolphus College
Graduates earn $64,094/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $781K; scenarios range from $666K to $829K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Gustavus Adolphus College
At $64,094 per year, Accounting graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn slightly above the $53,724 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
The 3.6x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.
AI risk is moderate — 62% task exposure — and the 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $26,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #376 out of 714 programs, Gustavus Adolphus College's financial outcomes for Accounting trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $64,094 to $87,570 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Gustavus Adolphus College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Accounting
How Gustavus Adolphus College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Gustavus Adolphus College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Gustavus Adolphus College, 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 →Frequently asked about Accounting at Gustavus Adolphus College
How does Gustavus Adolphus College's Accounting program score?
A score of 69/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Gustavus Adolphus College trails the majority of Accounting programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
How affordable is Accounting at Gustavus Adolphus College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $217,240, but the average net cost is $107,580 — a 50% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.