Accounting and Related Services at University of Southern Mississippi

Hattiesburg, MS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,764/yr (-24% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 14.0x earnings multiple (11.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #577 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Accounting and Related Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $547K $539K $500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.2x 14.0x 13.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.8x 11.6x 10.8x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 62

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,472
Out-of-state: $46,472 (11.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$56,896
-48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,425
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,464
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,764 place University of Southern Mississippi below the $53,724 national median for Accounting and Related Services — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 14.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 62% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $40,764 far exceeding the $18,425 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #577 out of 714 programs, University of Southern Mississippi's financial outcomes for Accounting and Related Services trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,764 to $53,464 shows 31% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Southern Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 9,899 students in Hattiesburg, MS. 47% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Southern Mississippi →

Top Career Paths

Financial managers $161,700/yr
Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr
Financial and investment analysts $101,350/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Southern Mississippi

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Southern Mississippi's Accounting and Related Services program score?
A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Southern Mississippi trails the majority of Accounting and Related Services programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Accounting and Related Services to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Accounting and Related Services careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 62% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Accounting and Related Services earnings lower at University of Southern Mississippi?
Lower starting pay at University of Southern Mississippi may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →