Accounting at Marquette University

Marquette's accounting graduates earn significantly more than most of their peers nationally, but the program's premium over other Wisconsin schools is less dramatic than the numbers might suggest. Starting at $67,665 and climbing to $80,539 by year four, these grads place in the 95th percentile nationally—well above the $53,694 median for accounting programs. However, within Wisconsin's competitive accounting landscape, they're landing at the 60th percentile, trailing UW-Madison by a small margin and only marginally ahead of several other state schools.

The debt picture is straightforward: $25,000 is exactly the national median for accounting programs, yielding a healthy 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio that grads can reasonably manage. The 19% earnings growth over four years suggests solid career progression, and starting salaries already exceed what many accounting grads reach even after several years of experience.

For Wisconsin families, Marquette delivers strong outcomes, but whether it's worth any tuition premium over UW-Madison or other in-state public options depends on your specific financial aid package. The program clearly opens doors to quality accounting positions, but it's not creating a separate tier of opportunity compared to Wisconsin's flagship. If Marquette comes in at a similar net cost to Madison or La Crosse, you're making a good bet—but paying significantly more for nearly identical career outcomes requires careful consideration.