Accounting and Related Services at Nichols College

Dudley, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
68 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
70
Optimistic
68
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings $53,761/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 4.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #421 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs

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 $841K $791K $673K
Earnings Multiple 5.2x 4.9x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 68 65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$161,500
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$124,260
23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$84,976
58% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $53,761/yr, roughly in line with the $53,724 national median for Accounting and Related Services. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 4.9x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting and Related Services's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 20% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $53,761 far exceeding the $23,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #421 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs, Nichols College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $84,976 show a 58% jump from the $53,761 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Nichols College

Nichols College accepts 88% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 1,152 students in Dudley, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Nichols College →

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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Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting and Related Services at Nichols College?
This program scores 68/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting and Related Services programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Accounting and Related Services careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $672,529 in decade earnings vs $840,872 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →