Accounting and Related Services at Northern State University

Aberdeen, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $51,239/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 15.5x earnings multiple (11.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #303 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 $557K $548K $505K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.7x 15.5x 14.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.6x 11.5x 10.6x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,380
Out-of-state: $47,788 (11.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,376
-93% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,764
11% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Northern State University's Accounting and Related Services program produces graduates earning $51,239/yr — within striking distance of the $53,724 national average for this field.

The 15.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 62% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $25,000 in median debt clears quickly against $51,239 in annual earnings.

Ranked #303 out of 714 programs, Northern State University's Accounting and Related Services offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $51,239 to $56,764 over five years (11% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Northern State University

A 93% acceptance rate means Northern State University is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 1,239 students in Aberdeen, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern State University →

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 Northern State University

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

How does Northern State University's Accounting and Related Services program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Northern State University'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 →