Accounting at National American University-Rapid City

National American University's accounting graduates face a challenging start, earning roughly $8,000 less than the South Dakota median for this program and landing in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's significant when you're carrying nearly $29,000 in debt—considerably more than both the state and national medians for associate-level accounting programs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.88 means graduates owe almost a full year's salary, which can make those first few years financially tight, especially when peers at Southeast Technical or Mitchell Technical are starting $8,000-$12,000 ahead.

The 28% earnings bump by year four brings graduates closer to competitive levels, which suggests the degree does build marketable skills over time. However, that growth isn't enough to overcome the initial gap and debt burden. With 57% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already stretching financially—making the higher-than-average debt particularly concerning.

The very small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers might not represent every student's experience, but the pattern is clear enough to warrant serious consideration. If accounting is the goal, the data suggests looking at Southeast Technical or Mitchell Technical first, where graduates start stronger and typically carry less debt. This program could work, but only if other options aren't accessible.