Accounting at Camden County College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 suggests manageable borrowing, though the figures here require context. Based on national patterns from similar associate-level accounting programs, first-year earnings around $37,000 align with what these credentials typically produce. However, the estimated $16,000 in debt sits above New Jersey's median of $7,500 for comparable programs—meaning students here may be borrowing roughly twice what their peers at other state community colleges do.

That debt differential matters when you consider that other New Jersey accounting programs report first-year earnings in the $28,000-$29,000 range. If Camden's graduates actually earn closer to the state norm than the national estimate suggests, the value proposition weakens considerably. With nearly 40% of students receiving Pell grants, higher borrowing levels could create real financial strain for families who can least afford it.

The practical question: can your child complete this program with debt closer to the state average through careful planning, scholarships, or part-time enrollment? If borrowing approaches $16,000, insist on understanding actual placement outcomes from Camden's career services—where graduates work, starting salaries, and whether local accounting firms recruit on campus. Without school-specific data, you're making decisions based on national averages that may not reflect New Jersey's accounting job market reality.