Accounting at Lourdes University

Based on comparable accounting programs in Ohio, Lourdes produces graduates earning around $56,441 in their first year—right at the state median and above the national benchmark of $53,694. With estimated debt of $27,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 suggests manageable repayment, roughly half of what a typical graduate would earn in their first year. However, the four-year earnings figure of $54,300 actually drops below that first-year estimate, which is unusual for accounting and worth investigating further.

The challenge here is that these figures are drawn from peer programs across Ohio rather than Lourdes's actual outcomes. While the estimates align with state norms, they don't tell you how Lourdes specifically positions its graduates. The state's top programs—Case Western, Miami, and Ohio State—produce earnings 10-20% higher, suggesting that school choice matters significantly in this field. Whether Lourdes competes in that upper tier or operates closer to the median remains unclear without its actual data.

For a parent evaluating this program, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value at face value: debt under control, earnings near state norms. But the lack of reported outcomes means you're making this decision somewhat blind. If your student has admission options at Ohio schools with reported accounting data—particularly the larger public universities—those programs offer more transparency about what graduates actually achieve.