Accounting at Centura College-Virginia Beach

A bachelor's in accounting at Centura College carries an estimated debt load of $54,380—more than double what similar programs typically require statewide. Virginia's median debt for accounting degrees sits at $25,812, and the national median is even lower at $25,000. With first-year earnings based on comparable programs hovering around $53,319, you're looking at a nearly dollar-for-dollar debt-to-earnings ratio. That matters because accounting graduates at Virginia's public universities—James Madison, Virginia Tech, George Mason—report first-year earnings in the high $60,000s to low $70,000s while carrying roughly half the debt burden.

The high Pell grant enrollment (71%) suggests Centura serves students who may have fewer financial safety nets, making the debt differential more consequential. Accounting credentials generally lead to stable employment, and the estimated earnings align with state and national norms. But when peer programs in Virginia produce similar or better income with $25,000-$30,000 less debt, the financial math becomes harder to justify. The suppressed data means we can't see this specific program's actual outcomes, which adds uncertainty to an already stretched debt picture.

For families weighing this option, the core question is whether Centura's specific advantages—location, schedule flexibility, student support—justify borrowing twice what comparable Virginia programs require. Without concrete placement rates or earnings data unique to this campus, that's a costly bet to make on estimates alone.