Accounting at North Carolina Central University

North Carolina Central University's accounting program sits at exactly the state median for earnings—$48,489 matches the typical graduate's salary across NC's 37 accounting programs. That 60th percentile state ranking is somewhat misleading since the median itself is what's being measured here. However, the program falls notably behind top NC options like Elon ($70K) and NC State ($57K), while also underperforming the national median of $54K by about $5,000 annually.

The manageable $27,000 debt load—below both state and national medians—partially offsets the lower earnings. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, graduates can realistically handle payments, unlike programs where debt approaches or exceeds first-year salary. The 16% earnings growth to $56K by year four shows steady professional advancement, which matters for building an accounting career. For families concerned about cost (57% of students receive Pell grants), this represents an accessible entry point into the profession without crushing debt.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers potentially unstable. For families prioritizing return on investment, NC State offers 16% higher starting salaries at comparable debt levels and serves as the stronger public university option. NCCU works best for students who need the access that a 90% admission rate provides and can accept middle-of-the-pack earnings in exchange for manageable debt and a clear path to CPA eligibility.