Accounting (Associate's Degree) at Dakota College at Bottineau

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,001

Est. from national median (118 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$15,979

Est. from national median (70 programs)

Analysis

At $16,000 in estimated debt, this associate's degree appears manageable on paper, particularly when similar community college accounting programs nationally carry median debt closer to $19,000. The challenge lies in what that debt buys: first-year earnings around $37,000 based on peer programs fall notably short of what other North Dakota accounting programs produce. Rasmussen's graduates in the same state earn nearly $44,000, suggesting location alone doesn't explain the gap.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 means roughly five months of gross income to cover educational debt—a reasonable burden if those earnings grow. But North Dakota's accounting market clearly rewards some programs more than others, and without actual outcome data from Bottineau, parents are essentially betting on whether this specific program will match its peers or lag behind them. The state's robust energy and agricultural sectors typically provide strong accounting employment, yet first-year figures from comparable programs suggest graduates start at entry-level positions that don't immediately capitalize on that regional advantage.

Before committing, compare this estimated picture against programs with verified outcomes. If Rasmussen or another North Dakota school with reported data offers similar convenience and cost, that removes considerable guesswork about your child's actual earning potential in the state's job market.

Where Dakota College at Bottineau Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all accounting associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in North Dakota

Accounting associates's programs at peer institutions in North Dakota (5 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Dakota College at BottineauBottineau	$5,347	$37,001*	—	$15,979*	—
Rasmussen University-North DakotaFargo	$12,715	$43,765*	$44,358	$23,823*	0.54
National Median	—	$37,000*	—	$19,354*	0.52

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with accounting graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Accountants and Auditors

Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

$81,680/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents

Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

$59,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

$49,210/yrJobs growth:Some college, no degree

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

Compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees' time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks.

$48,650/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Dakota College at Bottineau, approximately 12% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 118 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.