Accounting at Marist University

Marist's accounting graduates earn $71,436 right out of college—$20,000 more than what most New York accounting grads make and nearly $18,000 above the national median. Among 76 accounting programs in New York, this lands in the 80th percentile, trailing only top-tier names like Fordham and Syracuse. Four years out, earnings climb to nearly $80,000, showing healthy career progression rather than stagnation.

The debt picture is surprisingly reasonable for a private institution. At $23,250, it's actually below both state and national medians for accounting programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33—meaning graduates earn three times their debt in their first year. That's a manageable starting point for loan repayment while building a career in accounting.

The caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary more than usual. However, the consistently strong performance across both earnings metrics and the comparison to peer institutions suggests genuine program quality rather than statistical noise. For families weighing private school costs against earning potential, Marist's accounting program delivers returns that justify the investment—you're paying for outcomes that rival schools with far more selective admissions (Marist admits 65% of applicants versus Fordham's 58%).