Accounting at Florida State College at Jacksonville

In Florida's competitive landscape for associate-level accounting programs, this program carries debt of $22,891 while similar programs across the state typically produce first-year earnings around $39,114. That debt load sits right at the state median for accounting associates, but the earnings picture becomes puzzling when you look at year four: graduates report just $32,144, representing a 20% drop from the estimated first-year figure. This backward trajectory is highly unusual for accounting, where experience typically builds value.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 would be manageable if earnings were trending upward, but something appears off when year-four earnings fall $7,000 below where graduates started. This could reflect reporting quirks in the available data—maybe the year-four sample captured part-time workers or career changers—but it's impossible to know with suppressed first-year figures. What we can say: the debt itself isn't alarming by Florida standards, and many peer programs carry similar balances.

For parents, the core question is whether this specific program can deliver the steady earnings growth that makes accounting associate degrees worthwhile. Top programs in the state push graduates past $48,000, while others plateau around $37,000. Without clear trajectory data for Florida State College at Jacksonville specifically, you're weighing accessible debt against uncertain outcomes. If your student has other local options with transparent track records, those might offer clearer expectations.