Program Analysis
At $50,104/yr, Accounting and Related Services graduates from Western Kentucky University land near the $53,724 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
With a 14.8x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Accounting and Related Services career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $22,772 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #199 ranking among 714 Accounting and Related Services programs places Western Kentucky University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 43% earnings increase from $50,104 to $71,617 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.