Accounting at Mount Marty University

With projected debt of $26,291—higher than both the state and national medians—this associate's degree carries a significant burden before students even enter the accounting field. Based on comparable programs in South Dakota, first-year earnings around $40,475 suggest this isn't an earnings problem; South Dakota's accounting associate programs actually outperform the national median of $37,000. The challenge is the debt load, which appears elevated compared to the state median of $23,746 for similar programs.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 means graduates would owe roughly eight months of their first-year salary. That's manageable on paper, but consider that Southeast Technical College and Mitchell Technical College—both in-state options—report similar or better earnings while likely offering lower debt loads. For a two-year degree, every dollar of debt matters, especially when the credential is widely available across nearly 1,000 programs nationwide. Mount Marty's small program size (which is why these figures are estimated rather than reported) might offer personalized attention, but that benefit needs to justify the premium.

Before committing, compare the actual aid packages from Mount Marty against South Dakota's technical colleges. If Mount Marty's financial aid brings the debt down closer to the state average, the investment makes sense. If not, your child could graduate with the same earning potential but thousands less in debt elsewhere.