Home Schools University at Buffalo Accounting
Business · Accounting Rank #157 of 714

Accountingat University at Buffalo

Graduates earn $47,474/yr in their first year — about 12.0% below the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $805K; scenarios range from $682K to $857K depending on AI disruption.

Buffalo, NY Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
77 STRONG
79
Optimistic
75
Pessimistic
Earnings
$47,474
1-year post-graduation
ROI
18.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$805K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University at Buffalo

University at Buffalo's Accounting program produces graduates earning $47,474/yr — within striking distance of the $53,724 national average for this field.

With a 18.7x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 20% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Accounting career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $17,900 in median debt clears quickly against $47,474 in annual earnings.

University at Buffalo ranks #157 among 714 Accounting programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The $47,474-to-$83,438 earnings arc over five years reflects a 76% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

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
$682K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple15.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$805K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score77/100
Earnings Multiple18.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$857K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score79/100
Earnings Multiple19.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at University at Buffalo

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University at Buffalo, 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 University at Buffalo

What does a 77/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Accounting at University at Buffalo?

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 University at Buffalo?

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 University at Buffalo one of the best schools for Accounting?

Among 714 Accounting programs, University at Buffalo's #157 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.