Accounting and Related Services at Wartburg College

Waverly, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
68
Optimistic
66
Base Case
63
Pessimistic
Earnings $61,529/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 3.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #479 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 $754K $717K $622K
Earnings Multiple 3.7x 3.5x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 68 66 63

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$204,160
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$90,416
56% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,818
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$79,556
29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Wartburg College's Accounting and Related Services graduates start at $61,529/yr — above the $53,724 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 3.5x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $26,818 in median debt clears quickly against $61,529 in annual earnings.

Ranked #479 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs, Wartburg College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $61,529 to $79,556 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Wartburg College

A 99% acceptance rate means Wartburg College is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 1,446 students in Waverly, IA. The average net cost of $90,416 over four years represents a 56% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Wartburg College →

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 Wartburg College

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting and Related Services at Wartburg College?
This program scores 66/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting and Related Services programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $621,593 in decade earnings vs $754,210 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Wartburg College a hidden gem for Accounting and Related Services?
After financial aid, the average student pays $90,416 over four years — 56% below the $204,160 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →