Accountingat Washington State University
Graduates earn $57,618/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $705K; scenarios range from $613K to $740K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Washington State University
First-year earnings of $57,618 at Washington State University come in 7% above the national median of $53,724 for Accounting programs.
The 13.6x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $57,618 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #142 out of 714 programs, Washington State University's Accounting program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $57,618 to $77,091 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Washington State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Accounting
How Washington State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Washington State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Washington State University, 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 →Frequently asked about Accounting at Washington State University
How does Washington State University's Accounting program score?
A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Washington State University's Accounting graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Accounting to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Accounting 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 does Washington State University rank so high for Accounting?
The #142 ranking out of 714 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.