Location: Belmont, NC•In-State Tuition: $19,500•Admission Rate: 90%•Avg SAT: 1082
Median Earnings (1yr)Small sample
$55,224
56th percentile
60th percentile in North Carolina
Median DebtReported
$25,982
4% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.47 ManageableSample: 23 graduates Limited data

Based on U.S. Department of Education data (October 2025 release).

Analysis

Belmont Abbey's accounting graduates start at $55,224, placing them solidly above both the national median and well ahead of North Carolina's typical accounting graduate who earns $48,489. In a state with 37 accounting programs, landing in the 60th percentile is noteworthy—these graduates are outearning most NC accounting programs, including larger state schools like UNC Asheville.

The debt picture looks manageable at $25,982, translating to a 0.47 ratio against first-year earnings—meaning graduates owe roughly half their starting salary. This is better than the national median debt, and earnings grow to just over $60,000 by year four. For context, only programs like Elon (a much more selective institution) and NC State significantly outpace these results in North Carolina.

The significant caveat: this data comes from a small sample of fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could vary widely. However, for families considering a moderately-priced accounting degree in North Carolina, these outcomes suggest Belmont Abbey delivers competitive preparation without the debt loads that often accompany private colleges. The program appears to position graduates well for entry-level accounting roles in the regional market.

Where Belmont Abbey College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all accounting bachelors's programs nationally

Belmont Abbey CollegeOther accounting programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Belmont Abbey College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Belmont Abbey College earns $55k — 56th percentile among accounting bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Belmont Abbey College$55,224$60,099+9%
Elon University$69,764$87,359+25%
North Carolina State University at Raleigh$56,606$70,576+25%
Appalachian State University$55,671$67,922+22%
University of North Carolina at Charlotte$50,928$64,596+27%

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Accounting bachelors's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (37 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont$19,500$55,224$60,099$25,9820.47
Elon UniversityElon$44,536$69,764$87,359$20,0000.29
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh$8,895$56,606$70,576$20,9460.37
Appalachian State UniversityBoone$7,541$55,671$67,922$23,2620.42
University of North Carolina AshevilleAsheville$7,461$53,705$55,852$22,6120.42
Strayer University-North CarolinaGreensboro$13,920$52,373$56,398$54,9891.05
National Median—$53,694—$25,0000.47

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with accounting graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Accountants and Auditors

Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

$81,680/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents

Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

$59,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

$49,210/yrJobs growth:Some college, no degree

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

Compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees' time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks.

$48,650/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Explore Related Programs

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About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Belmont Abbey College, approximately 25% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 23 graduates with reported earnings and 32 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.