Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $42,434/yr fall 21% below the $53,724 national median for Accounting and Related Services. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
With a 14.6x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 4% 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 $20,463 in median debt against $42,434 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #595 ranking among 714 Accounting and Related Services programs places Nicholls State University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The limited growth from $42,434 to $46,209 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.