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Business · Accounting Rank #245 of 714

Accountingat University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Graduates earn $57,966/yr in their first year — about 8.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $783K; scenarios range from $667K to $831K depending on AI disruption.

Pittsburgh, PA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
74 STRONG
76
Optimistic
71
Pessimistic
Earnings
$57,966
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$783K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Pittsburgh

At $57,966 per year, Accounting graduates from University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus earn slightly above the $53,724 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.1x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 20% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $24,188 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #245 of 714 Accounting programs, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $57,966 to $85,705 over five years — a 48% 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
$667K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple7.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$783K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple9.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$831K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score76/100
Earnings Multiple9.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Pittsburgh'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 of Pittsburgh 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
Same state (PA)
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 of Pittsburgh

Other top programs at University of Pittsburgh

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Pittsburgh, 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 of Pittsburgh

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?

This program scores 74/100 — 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 $666,553 in decade earnings vs $830,705 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.