Median Earnings (1yr)
$48,888
29th percentile
40th percentile in Florida
Median Debt
$42,124
68% above national median

Analysis

Florida Institute of Technology's online accounting program charges significantly more in debt than most alternatives while delivering below-average earnings. Graduates carry a median debt of $42,124β€”nearly double the Florida median and substantially higher than 95% of accounting programs nationally. That debt load yields first-year earnings around $49,000, which places graduates in the 40th percentile among Florida accounting programs and the 29th percentile nationally. For context, University of Florida accounting grads earn $65,000, and even mid-tier state options like UCF deliver $55,000.

The most concerning pattern here is stagnation: earnings essentially flatline between year one and year four, showing no meaningful growth. Combined with the elevated debt burden, the 0.86 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates will spend years working through this loan balance while peers from other programs enjoy both higher starting salaries and lighter debt loads. Nearly half of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from families who can least afford prolonged debt repayment.

For an anxious parent, the math is straightforward: your child would pay premium prices (in debt) for bottom-third outcomes. Unless there are compelling personal circumstances requiring online-only delivery, Florida's public universities offer substantially better valueβ€”lower debt, higher earnings, and stronger job market positioning. The convenience of online learning here comes at a steep financial cost that traditional programs don't impose.

Where Florida Institute of Technology-Online Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Florida Institute of Technology-Online graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Florida Institute of Technology-Online$48,888$48,986+0%
University of Florida$65,144$75,355+16%
Florida State University$55,626$74,193+33%
The University of Tampa$52,690$71,151+35%
Florida International University$54,963$68,602+25%

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Accounting bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (42 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Florida Institute of Technology-OnlineMelbourne$12,240$48,888$48,986$42,1240.86
University of FloridaGainesville$6,381$65,144$75,355$18,0030.28
University of North FloridaJacksonville$6,389$58,514$66,355$22,6150.39
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton$4,879$56,600$60,630$19,4310.34
Florida State UniversityTallahassee$5,656$55,626$74,193$18,6250.33
University of Central FloridaOrlando$6,368$55,203$68,209$19,7360.36
National Medianβ€”$53,694β€”$25,0000.47

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 Florida Institute of Technology-Online, approximately 49% 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 39 graduates with reported earnings and 50 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.