Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $46,905 track close to the $53,724 national median for Accounting and Related Services programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
A 5.9x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.
The 11% 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.
At $20,812 in median debt against $46,905 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #599 ranking among 714 Accounting and Related Services programs places Columbia College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 26% earnings increase from $46,905 to $59,113 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.