Accountingat Southern Methodist University
Graduates earn $68,643/yr in their first year — about 28.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $831K; scenarios range from $700K to $887K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Southern Methodist University
At $68,643 per year, Accounting graduates from Southern Methodist University significantly outpace the $53,724 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.
An earnings multiple of 3.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.
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 21% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $16,200 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #362 of 714 Accounting programs, Southern Methodist University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $68,643 to $94,535 over five years — a 38% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 Southern Methodist 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 Southern Methodist University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Southern Methodist University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Methodist 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 Southern Methodist University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting at Southern Methodist University?
This program scores 70/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $699,834 in decade earnings vs $887,326 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.