Accounting at Guilford College

Guilford College's accounting program sits in the bottom fifth nationally for earnings, though its position looks less alarming within North Carolina—40th percentile among 37 in-state options. The starting salary of $44,566 trails the NC median by roughly $4,000 and lags significantly behind affordable public options like NC State ($56,606) and Appalachian State ($55,671), both of which likely cost less for in-state students. The 18% earnings growth to year four suggests decent career progression, but graduates are still catching up to where stronger programs start.

The debt load of $27,000 is slightly above state and national medians, creating a manageable but uninspiring debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61. Given Guilford's 84% admission rate and 44% Pell grant population, the school serves students who may have fewer options, but that doesn't change the arithmetic: an accounting degree should typically open doors to higher starting salaries. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but they align with what you'd expect from a program at this price point and selectivity level.

For families shopping in-state, NC State or Appalachian deliver significantly stronger outcomes at likely lower cost. Guilford might work for a student who needs a less selective environment and values the small-college experience, but purely as a financial investment, this accounting program struggles to compete with North Carolina's public alternatives.