Accounting and Related Services at North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, ND · Public · Bachelor's Degree
76 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
78
Optimistic
76
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $57,695/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 14.4x earnings multiple (10.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #178 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs Top 25%

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 $648K $626K $559K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.9x 14.4x 12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.4x 10.1x 9.0x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 78 76 73

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,428
Out-of-state: $62,044 (10.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,336
-50% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$67,821
18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $57,695 at North Dakota State University-Main Campus come in 7% above the national median of $53,724 for Accounting and Related Services programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting and Related Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting and Related Services's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $57,695 far exceeding the $23,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #178 of 714 nationally, this is a top-5% Accounting and Related Services program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $67,821 are relatively flat compared to the $57,695 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About North Dakota State University-Main Campus

North Dakota State University-Main Campus accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 9,567 students in Fargo, ND.

See all programs and financial aid at North Dakota State University-Main Campus →

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

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting and Related Services at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
This program scores 76/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Accounting and Related Services nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Accounting and Related Services careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $559,351 in decade earnings vs $648,317 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes North Dakota State University-Main Campus's Accounting and Related Services program stand out?
Ranked #178 of 714 programs nationally, North Dakota State University-Main Campus lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →