Accounting at Madison Area Technical College

Madison Area Technical College's accounting program punches well above its weight nationally, landing in the 95th percentile for graduate earnings—that's $8,000+ more than the typical associate's accounting program. At $45,333 first-year earnings, graduates here are making nearly 23% more than the national median while taking on debt that's just slightly above average.

Within Wisconsin, the picture is more competitive but still solid. The program sits right at the top tier alongside schools like Waukesha County Technical College, essentially tied at around $45,000 in starting earnings. While the 60th percentile ranking suggests it's middle-of-the-pack statewide, that's misleading—Wisconsin's technical colleges cluster tightly at the top nationally, so being in the middle here still means outperforming 95% of programs nationwide. The debt load is higher than Wisconsin's median ($20,252 vs. $16,412), which matters when comparing to similarly-performing in-state options.

The 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, a manageable starting point for most students. For Wisconsin residents weighing technical colleges, this program delivers nationally competitive outcomes, though families should compare the $4,000 debt difference with nearby alternatives like Western or Gateway that offer similar earnings with less borrowing.