Accounting and Related Services at Central College

Pella, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
68
Pessimistic
Earnings $58,850/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 8.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #292 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs Top 50%

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 $714K $683K $598K
Earnings Multiple 8.5x 8.1x 7.1x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 68

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$83,952
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$89,412
-7% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$74,897
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $58,850 at Central College come in 10% above the national median of $53,724 for Accounting and Related Services programs.

At 8.1x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 62% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $58,850 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #292 out of 714 programs, Central College's Accounting and Related Services offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $58,850 to $74,897 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Central College

Central College accepts 79% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,062 in Pella, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Central College's Accounting and Related Services program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Central College's Accounting and Related Services graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →