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Business · Accounting Rank #184 of 714

Accountingat Oregon State University

Graduates earn $53,694/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $715K; scenarios range from $620K to $752K depending on AI disruption.

Corvallis, OR Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
76 STRONG
78
Optimistic
73
Pessimistic
Earnings
$53,694
1-year post-graduation
ROI
13.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$715K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Oregon State University

First-year earnings of $53,694 track close to the $53,724 national median for Accounting programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.2x 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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

At $19,962 in median debt against $53,694 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #184 of 714 Accounting programs, Oregon State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $53,694 to $76,958 over five years — a 43% 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
$620K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple11.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$715K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score76/100
Earnings Multiple13.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$752K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score78/100
Earnings Multiple13.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at Oregon State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Oregon State 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 Oregon State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting at Oregon State University?

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 $620,056 in decade earnings vs $751,596 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.