Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $41,717/yr fall 22% below the $53,724 national median for Accounting and Related Services. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
With a 18.2x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 17% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Accounting and Related Services career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $18,832 in median debt against $41,717 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #354 ranking among 714 Accounting and Related Services programs places Mississippi State University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
The $41,717-to-$71,913 earnings arc over five years reflects a 72% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.