Accounting and Related Services at Western Colorado University

Gunnison, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
71
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,204/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 13.1x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #366 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs

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 $598K $583K $530K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.5x 13.1x 11.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.3x 6.2x 5.6x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 69 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,332
Out-of-state: $94,732 (6.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,092
-51% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,215
28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Colorado University's Accounting and Related Services program produces graduates earning $47,204/yr — within striking distance of the $53,724 national average for this field.

The 13.1x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #366 out of 714 programs, Western Colorado University's financial outcomes for Accounting and Related Services trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $47,204 to $60,215 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Western Colorado University

A 97% acceptance rate means Western Colorado University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 1,653 students in Gunnison, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Colorado 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 Western Colorado University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Western Colorado University's Accounting and Related Services program score?
A score of 69/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Western Colorado University trails the majority of Accounting and Related Services programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 →