Accounting at Keystone College

Keystone College's accounting graduates earn significantly less than typical Pennsylvania accounting majors—about $15,000 less annually than the state median. Landing in the 25th percentile statewide means three-quarters of accounting programs in Pennsylvania deliver better starting salaries. The gap widens when comparing to regional competitors: University of Scranton, less than 20 miles away, sees graduates earning $70,453 versus Keystone's $42,863. While the debt load of $27,949 sits close to state norms, that 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio looks less favorable when your starting salary is substantially lower.

The small sample size here matters—we're talking fewer than 30 graduates, so these figures could swing considerably year to year. That said, the 11th percentile ranking nationally suggests a consistent pattern of lower outcomes rather than a statistical fluke. The 10% earnings growth to year four brings graduates to $47,118, which still trails far behind what other Pennsylvania accounting programs deliver in year one.

For families considering this program, understand that Keystone serves a different student population (45% receive Pell grants, 80% admission rate) and may provide value through accessibility and support. But purely from an earnings standpoint, Pennsylvania families have numerous accounting programs that deliver $20,000-$30,000 more in annual earnings with similar debt levels. That difference compounds significantly over a career.