Accountingat North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Graduates earn $57,695/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $626K; scenarios range from $559K to $648K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at North Dakota State
First-year earnings of $57,695 at North Dakota State University-Main Campus come in 7% above the national median of $53,724 for Accounting programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting programs nationally.
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 14% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $57,695 far exceeding the $23,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #178 of 714 nationally, this is a top-5% Accounting program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $67,821 are relatively flat compared to the $57,695 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
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 North Dakota State'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 North Dakota State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at North Dakota State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at North Dakota State, 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 North Dakota State
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
This program scores 76/100 — 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 $559,351 in decade earnings vs $648,317 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes North Dakota State University-Main Campus's Accounting program stand out?
Ranked #178 of 714 programs nationally, North Dakota State University-Main Campus lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.