Accountingat Santa Clara University
Graduates earn $78,417/yr in their first year — about 46.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,067K; scenarios range from $862K to $1,163K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University's prime Silicon Valley location is a significant factor in your future earning potential. The robust Bay Area economy, teeming with tech giants, fast-growing startups, and a strong presence of "Big 4" accounting firms, creates immense demand for skilled financial professionals. SCU's strong regional reputation and well-established recruiting pipelines mean you're directly in the path of employers seeking top talent for roles in financial analysis, audit, and strategic accounting. You'll find graduates quickly integrated into high-paying positions, often within the tech industry itself or firms serving it, leading to accelerated career growth. To maximize this advantage, actively pursue internships with Bay Area companies and firms from your freshman year; early exposure and networking are crucial.
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 Santa Clara University'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 Santa Clara University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Santa Clara University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Santa Clara 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 →Frequently asked about Accounting at Santa Clara University
What does a 77/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Accounting at Santa Clara University?
At 77/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Accounting at Santa Clara University?
The 62% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Santa Clara University one of the best schools for Accounting?
Among 714 Accounting programs, Santa Clara University's #145 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.