Accounting at Idaho State University

Idaho State's accounting program starts graduates nearly $9,000 below the national median for accounting degrees, landing in just the 17th percentile nationally. Within Idaho, it ranks in the 40th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack among the state's seven accounting programs but trailing significantly behind BYU-Idaho ($56,800) and Boise State ($53,118). The $44,855 first-year salary combined with $24,560 in debt creates a manageable but unspectacular debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55.

The promising news is steady earnings growth: graduates see a 24% increase from year one to year four, reaching $55,786. This brings them closer to competitive levels, though they're still playing catch-up. For Idaho families choosing between in-state options, this program costs about the same as competitors but delivers lower starting returns.

The major caveat here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the data—which means these numbers could swing considerably with just a few outliers. For a family banking on accounting as a reliable career path, this program delivers stability without standout results. If choosing between Idaho State and Boise State or BYU-Idaho, the data suggests those alternatives offer better earning potential from day one without meaningfully higher debt.