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Business · Accounting Rank #287 of 714

Accountingat The Catholic University of America

Graduates earn $69,915/yr in their first year — about 30.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $852K; scenarios range from $714K to $911K depending on AI disruption.

Washington, DC Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
72 STRONG
74
Optimistic
69
Pessimistic
Earnings
$69,915
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$852K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Catholic University

Your strong earnings potential here stems directly from the program's location within the dynamic Washington D.C. labor market. The nation's capital is a hub not just for government, but also for government contractors, major non-profits, and a dense concentration of financial and consulting firms serving these sectors. This creates a specialized and highly competitive demand for accounting professionals, particularly those skilled in auditing, compliance, and financial management for large, complex organizations.

You’ll find recruiting pipelines leading to Big Four firms with large DC offices, federal agencies like the Treasury or GAO, and major defense contractors. Your degree from Catholic University, a respected regional institution, provides a reputable entry point into this network. Given the high AI risk for basic accounting tasks, focus on developing strong analytical and advisory skills, and leverage the robust local alumni network to secure roles that emphasize strategic financial oversight.

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
$714K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$852K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple3.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$911K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple4.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at Catholic University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Catholic 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 Catholic University

What does a 72/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Accounting at The Catholic University of America?

At 72/100, 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 The Catholic University of America?

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.