Accounting at Olympic College

Based on comparable accounting programs nationwide, Olympic College's associate degree suggests a manageable debt load of roughly $16,000—about $3,400 less than the national median for this credential. That's paired with estimated first-year earnings of $37,000, which would align with the national median but notably exceed what other Washington community colleges typically report. This 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio falls well within reasonable territory for an associate degree, though it's worth noting that actual outcomes at Olympic remain unpublished due to small graduate cohorts.

The Washington accounting market shows considerable variation, with similar programs producing first-year earnings between $29,000 and $33,000 at schools with reported data. If Olympic's graduates track closer to those state figures rather than the national benchmark used for this estimate, the value proposition shifts somewhat—though even at $31,000, the debt burden would remain serviceable at roughly half a year's income. The lower estimated debt partially offsets uncertainty about where earnings will actually land.

For parents, the key consideration is that you're looking at projected rather than proven outcomes for this specific program. The estimates suggest a reasonable investment, but without track record data, you're relying on the assumption that Olympic's accounting graduates will perform similarly to peers elsewhere. The relatively low debt provides some downside protection if actual earnings fall short of projections.