Accounting at Northwest Nazarene University

Northwest Nazarene's accounting graduates earn near the state median but fall roughly $5,000 below the national average—placing them in the 28th percentile nationally while hitting the 60th percentile within Idaho. That gap matters: their first-year earnings of $48,648 trail both BYU-Idaho ($56,800) and Boise State ($53,118), though they do outpace three other Idaho programs. The debt load of $26,750 sits slightly above both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 that's manageable but not exceptional for accounting.

The state percentile tells an important story here—this program performs respectably among Idaho options, suggesting that statewide salary levels may be dampening what would otherwise look like underperformance. Idaho's accounting market simply pays less than many regions, and Northwest Nazarene graduates are competing reasonably well within that context. Still, families should note that Idaho's two largest accounting programs produce higher-earning graduates, likely due to stronger recruiting pipelines from major employers.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty to these figures, meaning individual outcomes could vary significantly. For Idaho families planning to stay in-state, this program offers middle-of-the-pack value. For those willing to relocate to markets with higher accounting salaries, the nearly $27,000 in debt becomes easier to justify—though graduating from BYU-Idaho or Boise State might open more doors in those competitive markets.