Accounting at Doane University

Doane's accounting program lands squarely in the middle of Nebraska's accounting landscape—40th percentile statewide—with graduates earning $52,160 initially and $59,830 by year four. That's about $2,600 below the state median and roughly $1,500 below the national benchmark. In a state with only 10 accounting programs, this middle-tier positioning is notable: graduates will earn $15,000 less annually than their peers at Creighton and trail Nebraska Wesleyan by about $1,000.

The financial picture is manageable but unremarkable. With $26,324 in median debt and a 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates should be able to handle their loans—they're borrowing slightly above the state median but below national averages. The 15% earnings growth over four years is positive, suggesting solid career progression in the field.

For families focused on value, this becomes a math problem: is Doane worth a premium over University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where graduates earn nearly identical salaries ($54,785) but likely pay significantly less in tuition? Unless location or campus fit strongly favor Doane, the in-state public option appears to deliver comparable accounting credentials at a better price point. Creighton is the clear leader for families who can afford it, but among Nebraska's mid-tier programs, Doane performs about as expected for an open-admission private school.