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Accounting and Related Services at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $57,618/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

ROI 13.6x earnings multiple (6.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #142 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	$740K	$705K	$613K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.2x	13.6x	11.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.4x	6.1x	5.3x
Probability of Field Employment	76%	65%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	79	78	74

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$51,988

Out-of-state: $116,292 (6.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,604

-11% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$77,091

34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $57,618 at Washington State University come in 7% above the national median of $53,724 for Accounting and Related Services programs.

The 13.6x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $57,618 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #142 out of 714 programs, Washington 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 $57,618 to $77,091 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Washington State University

Washington State University accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 21,583 students enrolled in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington State University's Accounting and Related Services program score?

A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Washington 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 Washington State University rank so high for Accounting and Related Services?

The #142 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 →