Est. Earnings (1yr)
$52,373
Est. from SC median (9 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,936
Est. from SC median (3 programs)

Analysis

Presbyterian College's accounting program lands right at the state median for South Carolina, with comparable programs suggesting around $52,000 in first-year earningsβ€”slightly below the national benchmark of $54,000 but reasonable for the market. The estimated debt of $24,000 is actually lower than both state and national medians, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 that signals manageable repayment.

What's worth noting is the gap between Presbyterian and South Carolina's top performers. Bob Jones and USC-Columbia graduates earn roughly $7,000 more annually in their first yearβ€”a meaningful difference that compounds over time. With a 72% admission rate and mid-range SAT scores, Presbyterian occupies a middle tier among SC accounting programs, and the earnings estimates reflect that positioning.

For parents evaluating this program, the core financial math works: estimated debt is modest, and the credentials should lead to stable employment. However, if your child can access one of the higher-earning programs in the state, the investment might pay off faster. The limited data here means you're making decisions based on what similar South Carolina accounting programs produce, not Presbyterian's specific track recordβ€”so connecting with recent alumni directly would help fill in what the numbers can't tell you.

Where Presbyterian College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all accounting bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina

Accounting bachelors's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (24 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Presbyterian CollegeClinton$43,300$52,373*β€”$23,936*β€”
Bob Jones UniversityGreenville$23,400$59,332*$65,948$23,936*0.40
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia$12,688$59,283*$72,537$25,826*0.44
Clemson UniversityClemson$15,554$56,419*$69,904$23,250*0.41
Anderson UniversityAnderson$33,580$55,127*$55,705$23,750*0.43
Strayer University-South CarolinaGreenville$13,920$52,373*$56,398$54,989*1.05
National Medianβ€”$53,694*β€”$25,000*0.47
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with accounting graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Accountants and Auditors

Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

$81,680/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents

Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

$59,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

$49,210/yrJobs growth:Some college, no degree

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

Compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees' time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks.

$48,650/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Presbyterian College, approximately 28% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 9 similar programs in SC. Actual outcomes may vary.