Accounting at Baker College

Baker College's accounting program saddles graduates with debt levels that place it in the bottom 5% nationally—$42,556 versus a $25,000 national median—while delivering earnings that trail most Michigan programs. Starting at $46,471, graduates earn about $6,000 less than the state median and roughly $7,000 below the national benchmark. Among Michigan's 37 accounting programs, this ranks solidly middle-of-the-pack (40th percentile), but the state's top programs like Michigan State and Central Michigan produce graduates earning $15,000-$19,000 more right out of the gate.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.92 means graduates face nearly a full year's salary in loans—a heavy burden for an entry-level accountant. While earnings do grow 8% to $50,380 by year four, that trajectory still lags behind what graduates from comparable programs achieve. The moderate sample size suggests these figures are reasonably reliable indicators of typical outcomes.

For a family considering this program, the fundamental question is whether the college's 88% acceptance rate and accessibility justify taking on twice the typical debt for below-average earnings. Unless your child has received substantial scholarship aid that dramatically reduces that $42,556 figure, Michigan's public universities offer accounting programs with better return profiles at lower cost.