Accounting and Related Services at Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
79 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
80
Optimistic
79
Base Case
75
Pessimistic
Earnings $58,069/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 15.2x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #115 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 $714K $682K $598K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.9x 15.2x 13.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.7x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 80 79 75

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,952
Out-of-state: $120,552 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,728
-15% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,000
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$74,599
28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $58,069 at Portland State University come in 8% above the national median of $53,724 for Accounting and Related Services programs.

The 15.2x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $58,069 far exceeding the $23,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #115 out of 714 programs, Portland State University's Accounting and Related Services program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $58,069 to $74,599 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Portland State University

Portland State University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 13,619 students in Portland, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Portland 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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Portland State University's Accounting and Related Services program score?
A score of 79/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Portland 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.
Why does Portland State University rank so high for Accounting and Related Services?
The #115 ranking out of 714 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →