Accounting at Oakland City University

Peer accounting programs in Indiana suggest first-year earnings around $38,750, which aligns precisely with the state median—a solid middle-of-the-pack outcome for this credential. However, the estimated debt load of $26,291 creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68, higher than both the state median ($24,956) and significantly above the national median ($19,354) for associate's programs in accounting. That gap matters: you're looking at roughly $2,000-7,000 more in borrowing than typical for this degree.

The challenge here is visibility. With too few graduates to generate actual reported data, you're flying blind on what Oakland City specifically delivers. Compare that to nearby Ivy Tech Community College, which reports actual earnings of $36,241—slightly lower earnings but likely with lower costs at a public institution. Indiana Wesleyan's graduates, meanwhile, are earning $52,576, though that's a bachelor's-granting university with different program structures and likely higher costs.

For an associate's degree in accounting, the estimated numbers here suggest reasonable earning potential but above-average borrowing. Before committing, get specific answers from Oakland City about actual graduate outcomes, job placement rates, and why debt runs higher than state norms. If they can't provide concrete evidence that their small program outperforms the state average, the estimated figures suggest you might find better value elsewhere in Indiana's accounting programs.