Accounting at Holy Family University

Holy Family's accounting graduates start behind and stay behind. With first-year earnings of $47,059, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile among Pennsylvania's 76 accounting programs—meaning three-quarters of PA schools deliver stronger initial outcomes. That gap widens when comparing to the state median of $57,966, a difference of nearly $11,000 annually that compounds over a career.

The 26% earnings growth to $59,397 by year four helps close some ground, but graduates still lag Pennsylvania's typical accounting grad. The $27,000 debt load matches the state median, which sounds reasonable until you consider the lower earnings mean slower payoff. That said, the 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable—graduates aren't drowning in debt, they're just earning less than peers at other Pennsylvania schools.

The program serves a primarily regional, working-class student base (74% admission rate, 40% on Pell grants), but even accounting for that mission, the outcomes gap is substantial. With a small sample size adding uncertainty to these figures, families should weigh whether the $11,000 annual earnings difference versus the state median justifies choosing Holy Family over alternatives. For students needing to stay local in Philadelphia, this provides a path into accounting, but recognize you'll likely start your career at a competitive disadvantage compared to graduates from Pennsylvania's stronger programs.