Accounting at Coastal Carolina University

Coastal Carolina's accounting graduates start nearly $10,000 behind the national median for accounting programs, earning $43,812 in their first year compared to the national figure of $53,694. Within South Carolina, the picture isn't much better—this program ranks in just the 25th percentile statewide, with graduates from USC-Columbia and Clemson earning roughly $15,000 more out of the gate. The debt load of $26,848 is close to typical for accounting programs, but when paired with below-average earnings, it creates a debt-to-income ratio that's workable but not ideal at 0.61.

The positive story here is the earnings trajectory: graduates see 24% income growth by year four, reaching $54,441. That's a meaningful jump that helps close the gap with peers from higher-ranked programs. However, even after four years, these graduates still trail the state median for first-year accounting earnings. For a student who can get into USC or Clemson (both have similar admission rates in the 50-70% range), those programs offer stronger immediate earning power. Coastal Carolina might make sense for a student who needs the higher admission rate or coastal location, but parents should understand they're likely trading some earning potential for accessibility—and that gap may never fully close despite solid mid-career growth.