Accounting at Mount Mary University

Based on comparable accounting programs across Wisconsin, Mount Mary's estimated outcomes—$56,688 in first-year earnings against $27,000 in debt—land right at the state median for this field. That 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio translates to manageable repayment: graduates would dedicate roughly 5% of their income to loans under standard plans, a workable burden for an accounting career.

What's harder to assess is how Mount Mary's open-access model (93% acceptance rate, significant Pell enrollment) translates into outcomes compared to Wisconsin's top accounting programs. The state's leading schools report actual earnings above $61,000, with UW-Madison and Marquette placing graduates near $68,000—figures that suggest program quality and network matter considerably in this credential-driven field. Whether Mount Mary delivers similar preparation or serves students who face different career trajectories remains unclear without school-specific data.

The practical reality: accounting offers relatively predictable employment, and the estimated debt load here won't trap graduates. But if your child has admission options at UW campuses or other Wisconsin schools with proven accounting outcomes, those programs demonstrate they can launch graduates into higher-paying positions. Without Mount Mary's actual data, you're accepting more uncertainty about whether this program performs at state norms or falls below them.