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Accounting and Related Services at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $70,303/yr (31% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

ROI 13.3x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #54 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs Top 10%

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	$882K	$826K	$697K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.2x	13.3x	11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.0x	5.6x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	76%	65%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	84	82	79

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$61,912

Out-of-state: $146,776 (5.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,160

-54% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,500

3.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$94,502

34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $70,303 put Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Accounting and Related Services program 31% above the national median of $53,724 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting and Related Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting and Related Services'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.

With first-year pay of $70,303 far exceeding the $18,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #54 of 714 programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Accounting and Related Services program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $70,303 to $94,502 over five years — a 34% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

A 57% admission rate makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 30,435 students in Blacksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University →

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting and Related Services at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?

This program scores 82/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Accounting and Related Services nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Accounting and Related Services careers?

With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $696,589 in decade earnings vs $881,805 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →