Accounting at DeVry University-California

DeVry's accounting program presents a difficult math problem: graduates earn slightly above the national average but well below typical California accounting graduates, while carrying debt that's more than double the state median. At $54,380 in loans against first-year earnings of $54,264, graduates start with essentially their entire salary in debt—and the situation doesn't improve over time, with earnings flat four years out.

The California comparison is particularly stark. While this program sits just above the national median, it lands in the 40th percentile among California programs, where the typical accounting graduate earns $62,202 with only $23,188 in debt. That's $8,000 more in earnings with less than half the debt burden. When top California programs like Santa Clara and USC are producing graduates earning $70,000-plus, even accounting for their higher sticker prices, the value gap becomes harder to justify.

The combination of above-average debt, below-state-average earnings, and zero earnings growth creates a challenging financial starting point. If attending in California, families should seriously consider public universities or CSU programs, which typically offer stronger earnings outcomes at significantly lower debt levels for accounting majors. The 54% Pell Grant rate suggests many students here are taking on substantial financial risk for outcomes that trail their in-state alternatives.