Accounting at Portland Community College

Portland Community College's associate degree in accounting comes with an unusual pattern: graduates earn slightly more than the national median for this credential right out of the gate, but their income actually drops by 7% over the next three years. That early earning advantage—$40,816 versus $37,000 nationally—places this program in the 68th percentile nationwide, but here's the catch: within Oregon, it falls to just the 40th percentile. Translation: there are better accounting programs in your own state, including Chemeketa Community College where graduates earn about $2,000 more annually.

The $20,000 in typical debt is manageable at first glance—about half of first-year earnings—but becomes harder to justify when earnings actually decline to $37,812 by year four. For an associate degree that should be a stepping stone to either immediate work or further education, this backward trajectory raises questions about whether graduates are finding the right opportunities or hitting a ceiling quickly.

If your child is set on accounting and staying in Oregon, this program isn't necessarily a bad choice, but it's measurably weaker than other in-state options. The debt load is reasonable enough that it won't be crushing, but you're not getting Oregon's best value for this particular credential.