Accounting at Bucknell University

Bucknell's accounting program produces graduates who significantly outperform both Pennsylvania and national peers—earning $75,776 right out of college puts them in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile statewide. That's 41% above the national median and 31% above what typical Pennsylvania accounting graduates earn. Among the state's competitive accounting programs, Bucknell trails only Villanova and Lehigh, yet costs families roughly $27,000 in student debt—actually below Pennsylvania's median. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.35, most graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under five months of gross earnings.

The trajectory looks equally strong: four years out, median earnings reach $93,021, representing solid 23% growth. This isn't simply Bucknell's selective admissions filtering for high achievers (though that helps)—the program itself delivers tangible market outcomes. For a parent evaluating the return on a Bucknell education, accounting emerges as one of the clearest success stories: top-tier earnings, manageable debt, and a credential that commands respect in Pennsylvania's financial services and corporate accounting markets. The moderate sample size means individual experiences will vary, but the fundamentals here are remarkably strong for a liberal arts university competing against business-focused institutions.