Accounting at Moraine Park Technical College

Moraine Park's accounting associate's program starts strong with $42,629 in first-year earnings—beating the national median by 15% and landing in the 78th percentile nationally. However, that 60th percentile ranking among Wisconsin programs tells a different story: this is solid but not exceptional performance in a state with generally strong technical college outcomes. Graduates here earn slightly more than the state median but lag behind top performers like Waukesha County Tech and Madison Area Tech by about $3,000 annually.

The real question mark is what happens after year one. Earnings dip to $40,220 by year four, a 6% decline that's unusual for an accounting credential. Meanwhile, the debt load of $16,027 stays below both national and state medians, creating a manageable 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should handle without strain.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could shift significantly with more data, so they're less reliable than programs with hundreds of completers. For families prioritizing immediate employment with reasonable debt, this program delivers that baseline outcome. But if your child is comparing Wisconsin technical colleges, programs at Waukesha, Madison, or Western Tech have shown stronger and more stable earnings trajectories—differences worth considering given similar tuition costs across the state's technical college system.