Accounting at American InterContinental University System

At first glance, $46,628 for accounting graduates seems workable—until you realize earnings actually drop to $44,503 by year four. That backward trajectory is unusual for any business degree and should raise immediate questions about career progression. While this program sits at the 40th percentile among Arizona accounting programs, that's modest comfort when you're starting $10,000 below Arizona State or University of Arizona graduates who are earning close to $60,000.

The debt picture amplifies these concerns. At $51,848, graduates here carry roughly double the debt of typical accounting majors nationally ($25,000) and significantly more than Arizona's state median ($32,684). With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.11, these students will likely face monthly payments that consume 15-20% of their take-home pay for a decade. That's a heavy burden for earnings in the bottom quarter nationally, especially when those earnings are trending downward rather than up.

For an accounting degree specifically, this is troubling. Unlike some fields where early earnings don't predict career potential, accounting typically offers steady, predictable advancement. The combination of declining earnings and elevated debt suggests graduates may be struggling to land the traditional accounting roles—at firms or corporations—that justify the investment. Arizona State's online program costs less and produces graduates earning $14,000 more annually, which would save your child roughly $100,000 over a career while avoiding the debt trap.