Accounting at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs

Colorado Technical University's accounting graduates earn about $20,000 less than the typical Colorado accounting graduate four years out—landing in just the 25th percentile statewide. More troubling is the debt load: at $45,340, it's substantially higher than both the state median ($33,668) and national median ($25,000), putting it in the worst 5% nationally for debt burden. That means graduates start their careers owing more than their first-year salary, a red flag for any program but especially problematic given the below-market earnings.

The 14% earnings growth to $48,311 by year four helps, but graduates still trail peers from Metropolitan State University of Denver and Colorado State University Pueblo by roughly $6,000 annually—a gap that compounds over a career. With 68% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are taking on significant debt for outcomes that lag meaningfully behind more affordable in-state alternatives.

For families weighing this program, the math is stark: you're likely paying premium private school debt for below-average accounting salaries. Colorado has several public universities delivering stronger earnings at lower cost. Unless there are compelling personal circumstances making those alternatives impractical, this represents a tough financial bargain for an accounting degree.