Accounting at Indiana Institute of Technology

Indiana Institute of Technology's accounting graduates start strong with $62,287 in first-year earnings—well above both the national median ($53,694) and Indiana's median ($57,029). The debt load of $29,048 is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 that's better than most programs nationwide. On paper, this looks like a solid investment that outperforms 60% of Indiana accounting programs and 80% nationally.

However, the earnings trajectory tells a troubling story: by year four, typical earnings drop to $52,151, a 16% decline that's unusual for accounting graduates who normally see steady growth early in their careers. This backward slide could reflect graduates taking lower-paying positions after initial jobs, leaving the field, or other factors we can't determine from the data alone.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making any conclusions tentative at best. A few outliers—whether recent graduates who started unusually high or experienced accountants who changed careers—could dramatically skew these numbers. For anxious parents, this means the strong first-year number is promising but not guaranteed, and you'd want to talk directly with the school about typical employer outcomes and why earnings might be declining for their graduates. The low debt gives you room for this program to work out even if your child doesn't hit that high initial number.