Median Earnings (1yr)
$41,532
83rd percentile
60th percentile in North Carolina
Est. Median Debt
$15,516
Est. from national median (26 programs)

Analysis

This community college certificate punches well above its weight class. First-year earnings of $41,532 place Davidson-Davie graduates in the 83rd percentile nationally for accounting certificates—substantially higher than the national median of $31,684. Even within North Carolina's competitive accounting landscape, these earnings land at the 60th percentile, essentially matching programs at larger institutions like Wake Tech.

The estimated debt of around $15,500 creates a manageable 0.37 ratio to first-year earnings, meaning graduates would need roughly four-and-a-half months of gross pay to cover their educational investment. This estimate is based on national patterns for similar community college programs, since Davidson-Davie's actual debt figures aren't publicly available due to small graduate cohorts. For context, the typical accounting certificate in North Carolina carries debt closer to $17,000, suggesting this program likely runs somewhat leaner than state averages.

For families seeking a quick credential that delivers immediate earning power, this program shows promising signals. The strong earnings data suggests Davidson-Davie's connections to local employers in the Thomasville area translate into genuine job placement advantages. Just understand you're working with estimated debt figures—the actual number could vary, though it's unlikely to deviate dramatically from the $15,500 benchmark given how community college certificate programs typically price out.

Where Davidson-Davie Community College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Davidson-Davie Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Accounting certificate's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (52 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville$1,978$41,532—$15,516*—
Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh$2,336$38,258$37,019$16,592*0.43
Catawba Valley Community CollegeHickory$2,367$35,972——*—
National Median—$31,684—$13,047*0.41
* 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 Davidson-Davie Community College, approximately 30% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 17 graduates with reported earnings and 15 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.