Accounting at Butler Community College

Butler Community College's accounting associate program produces graduates earning slightly below the Kansas median—landing at the 40th percentile statewide—though debt levels run lower than typical Kansas programs at $18,407 versus the state median of $21,115. The first-year earnings of $37,496 match national norms but trail in-state competitors like Rasmussen by about $6,000 annually. More concerning: earnings actually decline to $35,016 by year four, suggesting graduates may struggle to advance or are taking lateral moves in the local job market.

The debt load itself isn't alarming—less than half a year's income—but the negative earnings trajectory raises questions about career progression. For Kansas families, this becomes a calculation: you're paying less than average but also earning less than most Kansas accounting grads, with no apparent growth trajectory in those critical early career years. The program serves a sizable portion of Pell-eligible students (31%), suggesting it plays an access role, but that doesn't change the economic reality of falling real wages over time.

Keep in mind the sample size here is very small, so these outcomes could shift dramatically year to year. If your child is considering this route, the smart move is weighing whether staying local in El Dorado offers enough non-financial benefits to offset earning $5,000+ less annually than peers at other Kansas programs with clearer upward mobility.