Accounting at Fort Lewis College

Fort Lewis College's accounting graduates start behind the curve at $45,693—roughly $8,000 below both national and Colorado medians—but the trajectory tells a more encouraging story. By year four, earnings climb 28% to $58,502, landing closer to competitive territory. Among Colorado's 10 accounting programs, this still ranks in just the 25th percentile, trailing schools like Metro State and CSU Pueblo that serve similar student populations but deliver stronger immediate outcomes.

The upside here is manageable debt. At $21,500, Fort Lewis graduates carry about $12,000 less than the typical Colorado accounting major and roughly $3,500 less than the national benchmark. That 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio means less than half a year's starting salary—well within reasonable territory. For comparison, many Colorado programs saddle students with $33,000+ in debt for similar or only marginally better earnings.

The tradeoff is clear: you're accepting a slower start and below-average placement among Colorado accounting programs in exchange for lower financial burden and eventual catch-up growth. That's defensible if your child is committed to staying in the Durango area or values the school's other attributes. But for families prioritizing accounting career outcomes, Colorado State Pueblo delivers comparable four-year earnings with a stronger launch pad, while Metro State offers better numbers at likely lower total cost. Fort Lewis works best when the location or campus culture factors heavily into the decision.