Accounting at Florida Southern College

Florida Southern College's accounting graduates start at $36,669—nearly $15,000 below the state median and $17,000 below the national average for accounting degrees. Among Florida's 42 accounting programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of similar programs produce better outcomes. For perspective, even mid-tier state schools like University of Central Florida and Florida Atlantic University see graduates earning $55,000-$57,000 their first year out. The debt load of $24,187 is reasonable on its own, but when paired with these modest earnings, it creates a debt-to-income ratio that makes the financial math less favorable than it should be for an accounting degree—a field typically known for solid entry-level pay.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the gap between this program and Florida's other accounting options is substantial enough to warrant serious consideration. Accounting is one of those fields where where you earn your degree matters less than in many professions, yet Florida Southern's outcomes trail far behind both flagship universities and regional comprehensives.

For parents investing in private school tuition (likely $40,000+ per year), these returns don't justify the premium. State universities deliver significantly stronger outcomes at lower total cost.