Accounting at Bryant & Stratton College-Parma

Bryant & Stratton College-Parma graduates earn just above the state median for accounting associate's degrees, landing at the 60th percentile among Ohio programs. With first-year earnings of $36,958 climbing to $38,715 by year four, these numbers beat about half the programs nationally but trail community college alternatives like Cuyahoga Community College, where graduates earn $44,532. The moderate 5% earnings growth over four years suggests steady but unspectacular career progression.

The debt load here tells a more concerning story. At $26,291, graduates carry roughly $6,000 more than the national median for this degree—putting this program in the 5th percentile for debt levels (meaning only 5% of programs nationwide burden students with more). That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71, which means your child would owe about three-quarters of their first year's salary. With two-thirds of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are borrowing to bridge a gap that community colleges fill for less.

The practical question: Is $6,000 extra debt worth it compared to nearby Cuyahoga Community College, where graduates not only carry less debt but earn $7,500 more? Unless Bryant & Stratton offers scheduling flexibility or support services that dramatically improve your child's chances of completing the degree, the numbers favor exploring the community college route first.