Accounting at Adelphi University

Four years out, Adelphi accounting graduates earn $79,507—a figure that puts this program well ahead of the state median and suggests strong mid-career momentum. The challenge is the starting point: first-year earnings estimated around $51,525 based on comparable New York accounting programs. That's right at the state average but notably below schools like Fordham and Syracuse, where graduates start in the mid-$70,000s. The $21,591 in debt is manageable, translating to roughly five months of that fourth-year salary, but the gap between Adelphi's apparent early earnings and top-tier programs is substantial.

The trajectory here matters more than the starting salary. Accounting is one of those fields where CPA credentials and firm placement drive advancement, and that near-$80,000 figure by year four suggests Adelphi graduates are finding their footing in the profession. Still, parents should understand they're likely looking at a program that produces solid accountants rather than Big Four fast-trackers—at least not immediately out of the gate. The debt won't be crushing, but neither will those first paychecks feel generous in the New York metro area.

If your child is committed to accounting and can graduate close to that $21,591 debt figure, the four-year earnings suggest this investment works out. Just set realistic expectations about those first couple of years.