Accounting at Muskingum University

Starting at $48,949 puts Muskingum's accounting graduates roughly $7,500 behind the typical Ohio accounting graduate and $5,000 below the national median. With an estimated debt load around $27,000—based on what comparable Ohio private schools report—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 sits in reasonable territory. But the earnings gap matters: when top Ohio programs like Miami University and Ohio State produce starting salaries in the low-to-mid $60,000s, Muskingum's outcomes trail by roughly $13,000-$18,000 annually.

The 19% earnings growth to year four brings graduates to $58,248, which narrows the gap somewhat but still leaves them below where many peers start. For a field like accounting where credentials and skills are relatively standardized, this difference likely reflects employer preferences and regional recruiting patterns rather than program quality alone. Accounting roles at larger firms or in major metro areas—the positions that drive higher salaries—may be less accessible from Muskingum's smaller network.

If your child is drawn to Muskingum for fit or financial aid that substantially reduces that $27,000 figure, the program won't derail their career—accounting offers steady employment and clear paths forward. But if cost of attendance is similar to Ohio's public flagship or nearby competitors, the earnings data suggests you'd be paying similar money for meaningfully different early-career outcomes. The CPA exam is the same everywhere; where you take it appears to matter.