Accounting at Arapahoe Community College

An estimated $16,000 in debt for an associate's degree in accounting sits well below what peer programs typically produce—comparable programs nationally carry median debt of $19,354, while other Colorado accounting programs average nearly $23,000. That lighter debt load matters when projected first-year earnings of $37,000 put graduates just about even with the $36,800 state median and the $37,000 national benchmark. The 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment, with total debt representing less than half a year's salary.

The challenge here is that accounting associate's degrees show limited earnings growth in Colorado. Front Range Community College's graduates earn $38,838 in their first year—only marginally better than what similar programs suggest for Arapahoe—while Colorado Technical University's outcomes trail at $34,762. This clustering suggests a relatively narrow earnings band for this credential in the state, meaning the value proposition hinges more on cost control than exceptional earning potential.

For parents, the math works if your student plans to use this as an affordable stepping stone—either into the workforce with minimal debt or toward a bachelor's degree. The estimated figures suggest reasonable financial positioning, but know that this credential likely caps earnings growth unless paired with further education or professional certification.