Accounting at Lone Star College System

Lone Star College System's accounting certificate sits in an interesting sweet spot: it ranks in the 80th percentile among Texas programs for earnings while carrying exceptional debt levels—just $6,550 compared to the state median of $8,507. That puts graduates nearly $2,000 ahead on debt while earning $9,000 more than the typical Texas accounting certificate holder. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under three months of gross earnings, which is about as favorable as you'll find for any credential.

The catch? First-year earnings of $31,414 are modest, and this program isn't competing with the state's elite performers—Austin Community College grads earn nearly twice as much. However, for an affordable entry point into accounting work, this represents solid value. The low debt means minimal financial risk, and the strong state-level ranking suggests this program outperforms most comparable options in Texas, even if it's middle-of-the-pack nationally.

One important caveat: the sample size here is small (under 30 graduates), so these figures could shift with more data. Still, for families prioritizing affordability and concerned about debt burden, this program delivers what it promises—a low-cost pathway to accounting work that won't leave graduates struggling with payments.